ECS S GUIDANCE & CAREER EDUCATION S ERVICES Helping to Finance Y our Post-S econdary Pathway Scholarships, Bursaries, Awards, Grants, and Loans
AGENDA Useful resources • Financing your education • Definitions of terms • • S chool Nominated vs. S elf-Nominated S cholarships Variety of ways to qualify • Diverse criteria • Beginning the search • • S pecific upcoming application deadlines and other opportunities Questions •
FIRS T S TEP… Is to explore the Guidance link at: www.yrdsb.ca/ schools/ emilycarr.ss/ pages/ default .aspx
US EFUL RES OURCES ON THE ECS S WEBS ITE • Present ations • S cholarship/ Awards Informat ion Applicat ion and Deadlines • Helpful Info S heet s: ▫ Tips for S upplement ary Applicat ion Forms ▫ How t o Prepare and Writ e a S cholarship Applicat ion ▫ Helpful Hint s for t he Applicat ion Process ▫ S amples of Exemplary Essay Responses by Winning Applicant s ▫ Final Checklist for Applicat ions • S uggest ed Websit es t o Help Y ou Get S t art ed • Budget and OS AP Informat ion (present at ion dat e TBA)
FINANCING YOUR EDUCATION invest your savings RES P bank loans parents/ guardians and relatives summer j ob part-time j ob on campus (work-study) time off from your education to work – .a.k.a. Gap Y ear College/ University Co-operative Education programs OS AP Loan or Grant S cholarships, Bursaries, Awards, Grants, Fellowships
DEFINITIONS OF TERMS All of these may: be awarded to attract students to a post-secondary institution • • have academic criteria be awarded for non-academic criteria • • be awarded for financial need be offered by schools, private agencies, public agencies, businesses, private • citizens, government officials, etc. S cholarships, fellowships, grants, and bursaries are always a monetary gift. Awards may be either monetary or some other form of recognition (e.g. certificate, pin, trophy, plaque, medal, book).
GRANTS VS . LOANS OS AP-Loan • Loans eventually need to be paid back • Online application process When submitting your application for OUAC or OCAS you can click the OS AP button • www.osap.gov.on.ca will not update this year’ s application • until later this year OS AP-Grant • Grants are gifts money you don't have to repay designed for students entering a public college or university program from high school must apply within four years of graduating from high school • Y ou can apply for this program without applying for OS AP
S CHOOL NOMINATED S CHOLARS HIPS • There are some scholarships that require a nomination from the school in order for you to apply. • Let your guidance counsellor know if you are interested in any of these. • A chart of school nominated scholarships is posted online as well There will be an ECS S internal deadline for those scholarships – usually • one to two weeks before the official deadline. • The decision will be based on an adj udication of the applications, transcripts and references reviewed by the S cholarship Committee made up of faculty from the school. Once the committee meets and an applicant is chosen, then he/ she will • be notified to send his/ her package(s) along.
S ELF-NOMINATED S CHOLARS HIPS • S tudents apply directly for these scholarships and do not need “ endorsement” or nomination from the school. • However, it is highly recommended you meet with your counsellor or a teacher to help you review your S cholarship application.
VARIETY OF WAYS TO QUALIFY FOR S CHOLARS HIPS • Automatic - Academic Achievement considerations exist for all pathways – there is no action required for these. • Most scholarship applications are open to any graduate who meets the criteria , and they require an application to be sent in by the student by a specific deadline. • S ome are open to school nominations only and it is up to the school to submit these nominations. • Our school graduation awards recipients are selected by a team of staff members who review the nominations received by students and staff. Visit the ECS S website at the Guidance link: www.emilycarr.ss.yrdsb.ca.
DIVERS E CRITERIA Academic Merit Leadership & Financial Need Volunteering Fine & Performing Arts Religion Geographic Location S pecial Needs Heritage and S ports & Athletics S Background tudent & Parent Language Membership Originality and Passion Disabilities First generation in family Innovative Ideas Talent to attend college or university
S TART YOUR S EARCH- Ready, S et, Go! Does your chosen College, Universit y or Apprent iceship Training organizat ion provide aut omat ic considerat ion based on final marks? Make sure t o check out t he S cholarships and Financial Aid Informat ion available at t he post -secondary inst it ut ion you are t hinking of at t ending. This informat ion usually includes t he complet e list of scholarships and bursaries, as well as eligibilit y and renewal crit eria. Every college and universit y has t his informat ion on t heir websit e. Research! Explore as many websit es as possible: t here will be suggest ed sit es on t he Valuable Resources Guide and on t he ECS S websit e under t he Guidance Link. Check out and ask t he leaders about scholarship funds: • Ext ra-curricular clubs • Communit y clubs, civic organizat ions, local businesses • Religious / fait h organizat ions • Parent / Guardian employers
S EARCH CONT’ D… Prepare your own Personal Activity Tracking S heet for future applications and resumes. Always network with family and friends. Make sure you have your S ocial Insurance Number (S IN) and your Ontario Education Number (OEN) handy. Don’ t delay requesting official transcripts from Mrs. Genova in the Guidance and Career Education Office – we require at least one day’s notice. Give referees at least two weeks notice and provide them with a résumé. It takes a great deal of time to apply for S cholarships, Bursaries, or Awards. This is why so many are unclaimed.
8 TIPS FOR S UBMITTING A GREAT S CHOLARS HIP APPLICATION 1. Passion for the S ubj ect - Only apply for an award if you actually have an interest in the subj ect matter. Y our passion or disinterest will be reflected in your writing. 2. Research - Do the appropriate background work and find out exactly what a specific scholarship panel is looking for. Read the rules and regulations / terms and conditions. 3. Clarity of Thought - Be clear and concise. “ How” you communicate is j ust as important as “ what” you’ re trying to communicate. Answer the essay question and only provide relevant information. Do not go over the word limit count. 4. Not a Résumé - Y our scholarship application essay is not a substitute for your résumé so don’ t simply re-write your résumé in essay form. Don’ t list, discuss! Expand on your personal experience and clearly articulate your goals.
8 TIPS FOR S UBMITTING A GREAT S CHOLARS HIP APPLICATION CONT’ D… 5 . S tructure, S pelling, & Grammar - Be aware of proper essay structure. Always double- check your spelling & grammar and have someone proof read your work. 6. References – Ideally, references should be professionals at your school or organization that can vouch for your participation. Inform your references and make sure that their contact information is up-to-date. Assume that the scholarship administrator will check your references. 7. Complete All Requirements - Follow the instructions and make sure that you have collected and provided all the required materials. Making a checklist of all the elements will help. 8. Don’ t miss the application deadline and apply early - Don’ t procrastinate. Give yourself plenty of time to fill out the application and to gather required documents (reference letters and transcripts).
WHERE TO S TART YOUR S EARCH: • www.yconic.com S cholarship service, become a member, take the test and get matched with Canadian scholarships. Financial awards for all kinds of students. • S cholarship Report Y our ECS S Guidance and Career Education Team emails you a PDF of this report bi-monthly.
THE S CHOLARS HIP REPORT V ALUABLE TOOL -LINK was emailed to you on your gapps account. • • bi-monthly digital information resource for high school students and parents. current national and provincial scholarship listings • • helpful tips in the search for all forms of post-secondary funding. Information on University/ College Open Houses, application deadlines and fees, • the Ontario S tudent Assistance Program (OS AP) and other material pertinent to the graduating high school student is also provided. • The S cholarship Report also includes listings of other types of awards as well as programs and activities that will enhance students’ skills as well as their scholarship applications! • It is sent to your email on a bi-monthly basis with direct links to the scholarship providers.
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