Tips in Preparing for The FALL 2023 SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATION

 

Tips in Preparing for The FALL 2023 SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATION

As you prepare for the Fall 2023 application, you need to prepare yourselves for the application and post-application period.

Please, find below the expected challenges encountered by prospective scholars and their solutions:

Financial Challenges

Lack of finance is the most common challenges faced by prospective scholars as money is needed to pay for application fees, WES evaluation, official transcripts and standardized tests.

It is important to reduce application costs by the following means:

Ø  Apply to schools offering app fee waivers, have low app fee like most universities in Florida, USA with app fees of $30 or external scholarships like Chevening and ERASMUS that do not charge app fees.

However, please note that schools or scholarships with zero app fees are usually competitive due to the higher number of applicants applying since it's free.  Hence, it will be wise to apply to few schools that do not offer app fee waivers in addition to the numerous ones with app fee waivers. This could increase your chances of securing funding

 

Ø  Opt for schools that do not require WES evaluation or official transcripts until funding is secured. However, note that WES evaluation of transcripts could be beneficial for those with low grades or HND degree holders interested in pursuing grad studies in the USA.

Ø  Apply to organizations like Education USA, iScholar and others that covers application and post application costs for selected applicants.

 

 

 

Document Review

 It is important to have a second eye review your application materials prior to submitting them. Drafting your essays long time before deadline will give you ample time to get numerous persons to review your essays and give you quality feedback.

Failure to draft your documents early enough would lead to the submission of haphazard documents due to little or no time for third party reviews. Start drafting your essays now!

 

Securing a Supervisor

It is general knowledge that securing a supervisor before applying improves your chances of securing funding. However, not having a supervisor should not make you quit applying for Fall 2023. Not all schools or scholarships require you to get a supervisor before applying. Search for schools that offer a lab rotation policy for incoming graduate students and submit a very competitive application. Apply for external scholarships and keep all hopes alive. Lack of a supervisor is not a dead end.

 

Standardized Test Preparation

Having excellent standardized test scores could be the game changer especially if other areas are weak. However, note that the preparation for the exams is daunting and rigorous. To make your journey easier, network with other persons preparing for same exams and possibly join groups created for such exam preparations. This will keep you motivated and provide you with better insights and secrets on how to ace your exams. Remember, two good heads are better than one.

 

 

 

Waiting Period

The period of waiting for admission decisions is the toughest part of the application journey. However, it is important that you stay positive and engage in other activities that would distract you from over thinking. You can use this period to learn some statistical, programming and software tools that would be helpful for your graduate studies.

Also, you could prepare for upcoming applications in other less popular destinations as your backup plan. However, in all you do, stay positive and guide your mental health.

 

Dealing with Interviews

Getting an interview invite signifies that you are a competitive applicant. Ensure you prepare well by engaging in mock interviews with other scholars in your field. Do not panic or fidget, you got this covered.

 

Handling Rejections

 It is soothing to always have in mind that every rejection brings you closer to that desired scholarship letter. Every scholarship recipient has been rejected before. Instead of beating yourself up, ask for constructive feedback on your application from the graduate programme coordinator you applied to. Also, reach out to other scholars to go through your application document so as to proffer possible ways to make your application better to achieve your scholarship goals. It's okay to cry but do not give up.

 

 

 

 

In summary, follow these steps:

 

- Review your previous application materials.

- Restrategize

- Relaunch a more competitive application.

 

Good Luck!!