Scholarships: Landing the prestigious grant

So, you're finally in your senior year. Feels good, eh? You act the boss, the juniors look up to you, and you're only a few months away from a full-fledged 'grown-up' life. But are those butterflies in the stomach you feel every time the word 'college' flashes in your mind—the only time senior year seems more nerve-wracking than glorious? College admissions can be tough, there's no question about that. But it's especially trying if you're vying for a scholarship at the same time. The subject, by no means, should be taken lightly. To the relief of many prospective scholars, there is more than one avenue one can approach for a scholarship, thus broadening the scope and probability of hitting the nail on the head. For example, there are government scholarships offered by one's home country; in our case, the Higher Education Commission (HEC). The HEC offers several scholarships for both local and foreign universities. While the foreign scholarships are offered mostly for post-graduate studies, such as masters and PhD focused on research, they do offer scholarships for funding studies at renowned local universities as well. An example is the USAID funded merit and needs-based scholarship programme which supports students' enrolled in indigenous universities. Besides this, the university that you would be applying to will also have its scholarship programme. The Rhodes scholarship is an example of a prestigious university-specific scholarship for outstanding students aspiring to become a part of the University of Oxford. Besides Rhodes, almost every university offers its own scholarship programme to international students. You will have to check with each of the universities you plan to apply to. If you have chosen a foreign college, checking out the scholarships offered to applicants to colleges in that particular country is also an option. For example, applicants for US-based colleges might be interested the Fulbright, while applicants for universities in UK can benefit from the Chevening scholarship. Different countries have different programmes, and there may be more than one programme for a single country. In addition to these, many local communities and organisations also offer scholarships. You'll need to find out from the community administration as to how to go about that. Many organisations also offer scholarships to bright students from certain countries. The Rotary Foundation's Ambassadorial scholarships and the Aga Khan Foundation's International Scholarship Programme are cases in point. However, scholarships are designed around the required talent and skills at particular countries or areas. Some organisations fund students of developing countries on the condition that they should return to their home country and do good for their fellow citizens. These criteria of the relevant scholarship need to be respected. Needless to say, you have to assess the requirements of each grant against your talents and skills, and the discipline you wish to study. Sometimes, while you may have the skills to apply for a scholarship, it might be a good idea to gain some relevant work experience and apply a little later. This brings us to an essential question of the time duration needed to apply for a scholarship. Expecting miracles to happen in a short while is very idealistic and unrealistic. You need to give yourself at least a year to prepare your essays, get them read and corrected by a counsellor or professor or someone who's been a recipient of the relevant scholarship. You also need time to line up your references and allow them time to draft their recommendation statements for you. The essay is a crucial part of any scholarship application, and you need to make sure that you highlight the skills relevant to the requirements of the grant. The importance of getting the scholarship essay read and assessed by a relevant and responsible individual cannot be stressed enough. Having said that, your individual circumstances and needs matter tremendously. Some students would be happy to have just their books and accommodation covered, while others would need full tuition and accommodation covered by the grant. Don't forget to convey to the organisation providing the funds if you're open to a partial scholarship as well; it may increase your chances a bit. Finally, it's important to put your best foot forward and brace yourself for what can be a long, impatient wait. Just hang in there and keep your spirits high.