Unlike we use to think, applications for various scholarships are not limited only to applicants with the highest scores. Indeed, famous scholarships such as the Gate Cambridge Scholarship or the Youtex Future Leaders 2023 require more than academic records for candidates who wish to apply, factors such as Leadership skills, or even organizational and/or professional experiences.
It is therefore suitable to say that anyone can apply for scholarships even if they do not have excellent academic marks, as long as they possess a good will and a strong motivation which can attract scholarship providers. Here is a list of some things to consider that can boost your application if you don't have excellent score:
To begin, you should look for a scholarship that has admission requirements more or less similar to your current level, in order to meet the registration requirements. After learning about the scholarships you can apply for, prepare the required documents immediately!
Note that applying for scholarships can be time consuming. Take all the time you need to organize the scholarships you want to apply for. Devote at least an hour a day to researching scholarships and preparing the various required documents, because a well-designed offer will help you make the application process less stressful.
You will increase your chances of being accepted . for a scholarship by taking your time to complete each application. Let go of the urge to copy and paste. Don't skip the optional questions either, as they're a great way to share more information about yourself and your goals.
If you feel that you are not academically superior, you can increase your non-academic experience and achievements by participating in organizations, committees, communities, community service, or various competitions. Even when compared to academic factors such as transcripts , non-academic experience will generally be given more consideration by scholarship selectors . However, make sure that these non-academic experiences correspond to the fields of study you wish to apply for.
Having a good letter of recommendation is so important especially if you don't have high marks. Letters of recommendation help give the scholarship committee an outside opinion of your character. If you can get letters of recommendation from someone who can attest to why you deserve the scholarship, it can really boost your application.
Indeed, scholarship organizers need a letter of recommendation to validate your activities and your behavior at school or on campus. Letters of recommendation are usually given by the homeroom teacher or supervisor. To make it easier to get letters of recommendation, build an image and establish good communication with close people likely to recommend you, so that they don't hesitate to give positive opinions about yourself.
Depending on the countries where you wish to apply, scholarship providers will generally require a foreign language certificate with a predefined minimum score. Examples include the DELF or DALF for French-speaking countries, and the famous IELTS or TOEFL for English-speaking countries. To increase your chances of success, keep practicing so that your foreign language proficiency score can meet or even exceed the minimum limit set by each scholarship.
One of the key documents to qualify for a scholarship is the cover letter. You may not have the best grades, but sometimes judges are looking to invest their money in unique students. The Scholarship Search Committee values creativity, independence and determination. Let that side of you shine in your essay and you may have a chance of winning the scholarship, even without good grades.
Indeed, selectors who might not initially be interested in your profile might change their minds after reading the cover letter. As its name suggests, the motivation letter contains your motivation to apply for a scholarship . Do not write cliché motivations! Connect your motivation to the field of study you want to choose, the experience you have and your future plans using the storytelling method to make it more convincing and logical.