While scrolling through this page you will find definitions and descriptions of various types of awards, the best places to look for opportunities, and application tips.
Definition and Descriptions:
Scholarship: A monetary award given to a student based on academic achievement to use toward education fees.
Bursary: A monetary award given to a student based on student need to use toward education fees.
Award: A scholarship, bursary, or other award given to a student.
Local: Awards provided by individuals, organizations, or companies from Altona and the surrounding area to which only W.C. Miller students may apply.
Outside: Awards provided by individuals, organizations, or companies to which any eligible student from any high school may apply.
Where to look:
Post-Secondary School Websites: If you know which school(s) you are applying to, go to their website and look for the financial aid and awards page. This page will list entrance scholarships, some you may be automatically considered for just by applying before the deadline, and other scholarships, awards, and bursaries they offer may require an application.
Application-based scholarships often have low application rates and many go unawarded because no one applied for them! This is usually a place you only need to look at once, as they don't often add awards throughout the year. Take a good look though, you may be eligible for quite a few! If you are not sure if you are eligible, call the awards office and they can help you sort that out.
W.C. Miller Information Hubs: Be sure to check Miller News, this website, and the WCMC Post-Secondary Squad Team for information about opportunities the Guidance Department is made aware of. You will need to request (with the guidance teacher) to be added to this team. This is also where you will find information about how to apply for the local awards available to you.
ScholarTree: This is the number one place to look for scholarships outside of educational institutions. ScholarTree requires you to set up a profile and then filters the available awards so that you only see ones you are likely eligible for. They have an app which makes it more convenient to check regularly which you should do as they add new opportunities all the time, even in the summer before you start post-secondary school. They advertise millions of dollars worth of scholarships and awards every year. Check out their website at ScholarTree.ca
Tips and Tricks
Presentation: ScholarTree has a PowerPoint presentation that you can view with their best tips and tricks. You can see the presentation here.
Answering Application Questions: Read application questions at least twice and make a note of what information they are looking for. Pay attention to the question words and whether they are asking for one piece of information, or multiple pieces of information. Once you complete your answer, check back with your notes and make sure you have given all the information they are looking for. It is also important to know what format of an answer they are looking for and make sure you follow their guidelines. Some will ask for very specific things such as font and margin sizes. You wouldn't want to be denied because you used the wrong front size!
Proofreading: Proofread your application answers and essays out loud. Mistakes are often skipped over when we read in our head but we pick up on the minor ones more easily when we read out loud. It is also advisable to ask someone else to proofread answers for you.
Reference letters: When asking someone to write a reference letter for you, let them know what the criteria is for the particular award and what information or accomplishments you would like them to highlight for you. This will enable them to write a more informative letter that is shaped around what the donor is looking for. Also, make sure you give your reference at least 2 weeks notice. The longer someone has to write a letter, the more thought and effort they can give it, making a better opportunity for you.