Stardate: 3/13/2008 Scholarship Talk

I gave an informal talk today from 4-5:30pm to the Kharkiv National Polytechnic University's Career Club. This is in essence the tips that I gave them from my experience writing scholarship and grants as well as the webpages to databases for scholarships, fellowships and grants. There are even internship and leadership websites.

TIPS
1) Search out scholarships often. Constantly be on the look out. Register at online databases, so that they will email you the scholarships that come up that correspond to your criteria. Make sure you find an EXACT match for your needs and qualifications; this can be trickier than it seems.

2) Work as far as possible in advance! Give yourself time to think and readers time to give you feedback. Do not procrastinate! Do not wait until the last minute.

3) Talk to the scholarship/grant agency if you have questions about whether you qualify or to find out if they have specific information they can share with you.

4) When writing the necessary scholarship application essays, make the best case possible for yourself. Explain clearly and succinctly why you deserve it over someone else. Indicate what you are going to do with it and share realistic and doable goals for learning while on the scholarship. Indicate how you intend to share your experiences with others when you return home from abroad. State outright how you meet the eligibility criteria; reviewers are reading quickly to check off on a checklist if you meet the criteria. Make it easy for them to see that you do meet them. When writing don't be modest or self critical, but don't brag/boast; strive for the "golden middle." Be unique, outstanding and different in your writing, but not weird. Definitely use your most formal academic writing. Make it well written with no errors! Do not plagiarize or purchase your essay. Do not make false statements, fabrications, or exaggerate accomplishments.

*Remember to keep a running list of all your activities and to get involved in extracurricular activities in order to demonstrate your difference and potential. They want to see a strong, long-term track record of involvement. If you are involved with activities with professors and community leaders, these are future recommendation letter writers!

*Volunteer in your community or make volunteer opportunities for yourself. For example, there are many places in Kharkiv, like the Kharkiv Art Museum and many restaurants, that need English translations, but cannot afford to pay for them. Approach the manager or director in a professional manner and volunteer to do the translations. Do internships or co-ops.

5) Complete the application thoroughly. Don't skip anything. It may be disqualified if you skip even a simple question.

6) Get readers* to proofread and review your writing with a critical eye. You want someone who knows grammar, punctuation, etc and who will give you detailed feedback. Have multiple readers read your essays. Revise, revise, revise.

*Remember, you need to find people you trust and who are reliable, but you must be willing to return the favor! Or make sure to do something nice for those who read for you regularly, because they may feel imposed upon if you don't take good care of them!

7) When it comes to scholarships and grants, it's all a numbers game. You must apply for many scholarships/grants in order to get one. Apply, apply, apply for everyone that you qualify for.

8) Remember the competition and scholarship reviewers change from year to year. One year you may have numerous excellent competitors and another year there may be only a couple good applications. The scholarship application reviewers change from year to year, too, as do their preferences and areas of focus. One reviewer may focus more on the essay format and not as much on the content while another may focus on the content and disregard the form. Remember, the reviewers have been in your shoes and are not necessarily against you.

9) If rejected (and you will be from time to time), seek feedback about why your application was not accepted. Many agencies are willing (and allowed) to give you reasons why your application was not accepted; other agencies are not allowed or do not keep the records. Simply ask if they can and are allowed to do so. Gather the feedback in a polite, non-personal manner. Use the feedback constructively; strive to incorporate feedback into your future applications. Don't let the rejection get to you personally. Persevere.

*Remember to ask the scholarship/grant organizers if and when the scholarship/grant will be available again. Try for the next deadline; work in advance!

10) You improve your scholarship/grant writing abilities with time and attempts. Try, try, try.

SCHOLARSHIP DATABASES for studying in English-speaking countries, studying English, and/or for Ukrainians.

www.macquil.com/scholarships.php
www.scholarshipsnet.info
http://ukrainianscholarships.org/blog/?page_id=20
www.irex.kiev.ua.en
http://2p.iatp.org.ua/ird/DIR/Scholarships.htm
http://exchanges.state.gov/education/fulbright/nonusflb.htm
http://foreign.fulbrightonline.org
http://educationusa.state.gov/finaidlinks.htm
www.scholarshipscanada.com
www.usukraine.org/scholarships.shtml
www.thewashingtongroup.org/Opportunities/2002/Scholarships.htm
http://fellowships.ssrc.org/overview/
FUTURE LEADERS PROGRAM (may have scholarship lists for members): www.fmlu.org.ua

INTERNSHIPS
www.aatseel.org/internships