Scholarships
have always been a reward for students academic intelligence,
outstanding performances and potential. But beyond that, many of us
scout for scholarships as a means of financial support for our academic
pursuits especially in the university or college. Before scholarships
are awarded to students as we are well aware, they are shortlisted for
scholarship examinations or tests on the basis of their application and
are selected for the awards on the basis of their performance in these
scholarship exams or tests.
Preparing for Scholarship Examinations
As I will always believe, the success of any endeavor has a lot to do with how well it is planned and how preparations are carried out. I hope that after going through this post which I have carefully crafted from my wealth of experience in the pursuit and acquisitions of high-paying scholarships, you will be better equipped to map and draft out plans and adequately prepare for scholarships.
1. Start early to do your due diligence.
Start on time to scout for scholarships and try to recognize the most viable and possible options for you. If you are in the university, for example, you need to start to do your due diligence and scout for viable scholarships from your first year in the university. My success in the attainment of scholarships while in school can be traced back to my first year when I began on time to scout for scholarships.
2. It all starts with your application.
The application form you are usually asked to fill, perhaps online or otherwise and the details usually requested for by scholarship sponsors are the greatest determinants of the chances you have of being awarded the scholarship(s). It is how you advertise yourself, so don’t fill it in a haste, do it very carefully and smartly as you would when applying for a job position or office. Remember, that you will be shortlisted on the basis of your application.
3. Ensure that you made your UTME and O-level papers.
While this is very important, it should discourage you from making a try if you didn’t have very good UTME (JAMB and Post-UTME) and O-level papers. Even though merit as well as academic performance and track-record are one of the major bases for awarding scholarships, there are so many other criteria used to determine qualified scholarship candidates.
Preparing for Scholarship Examinations
4. Develop your cognitive skills and reasoning ability.
Most scholarship examinations and tests are prepared in such a way that they test your academic and cognitive skills through quantitative reasoning, logical reasoning, critical thinking and management skills. So, it is advisable that you develop these skills by practice. G-MAT Job and Aptitude Test Kits will help you here. You can download a FREE practice copy here.
5. Improve on your general knowledge.
A lot of scholarship examiners also include general knowledge tests mostly but not limited to current affairs. They want to test if their scholars are up-to-date, well-read and adequately knowledgeable about other fields of study and sectors of society. This is the reason why you should be versatile and improve on your general knowledge.
6. Go through G-MAT Job and Aptitude Test Kits.
Laying your hands on scholarship past questions depending on the type of scholarship you are seeking will do you a lot of good in preparation but if that is not possible, G-MAT Job and Aptitude Test Kits are a very reliable aid to adequate preparation for scholarship exams and tests, because most scholarship sponsors work with exam, job and aptitude test contractors and G-MAT Job and Aptitude Test Kits is a very good compilation of the patterns of questions they usually set.
7. Practice as many time-tests as possible.
Practicing time-tests is a process of setting fixed time frames similar to exam situations and attempting questions within that given time frame. This process if carried out as many times as possible prepares you adequately for scholarship examinations. You can be assured of that. Since a good number of scholarship exams and tests are computer-based. Practicing computer-based tests will surely be very helpful. Testden.com is a website that provides great computer-based tests for practice.
8. Write as many scholarship examinations as possible.
In scouting for scholarships, because it can at times be an uncertain venture depending on the criteria of different scholarship sponsors, it is absolutely not advisable to put all your eggs in one basket. Apply for as many as you can and make every efforts to try each and every one of them out. You never know which one will click.
Preparing for Scholarship Examinations
9. Work to maintain a good CGPA while in the university.
Your Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) in some cases will determine whether you will be awarded the scholarship especially if you have spent some time in the university or college – more than a year. However, in other cases, where you are awarded the scholarship before resuming in the university or while just resuming, your CGPA will largely determine whether you will keep receiving the scholarship – in the case of a per annum scholarship – throughout your stay in the university or college.
10. Be positive and optimistic.
Many students I know and have heard of gave up just too soon on scholarships because of negativity and pessimism. Some ask, “With all the people applying, how am I even sure that I will shortlisted, in the first place before we even begin to talk about being awarded the scholarship?” You must be positive, hopeful and optimistic as this will help you apply and prepare with right frame of mind for the scholarships and whatever testing method the sponsors and their contractors may want to use. Like I said earlier, so many criteria are involved. Have you failed before, once you spot another opportunity, please try again.
NOTE: You can download G-MAT Free Practice Test Copy and Scholarship Past Questions and Answers Here
If you have any questions, please feel free to leave your questions and comments behind.
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Good writeup
Nice blog! I'm an undergraduate in my final year with CGPA up to 4.0 and above but my o-level isn't that good though enough. I have credit in all my required subjects except chemistry and further mathematics with D7 and F9. Would I still be eligible or stand chance of winning a local/international scholarship?