10 Most Common Scholarship Requirements and How to Get Them
Applying for a scholarship but feeling overwhelmed with the requirements needed and you don’t know where to get them?
Looking for the right scholarship is one thing. But gathering all of your documents can eat away your time if you don’t know where to look for them.
So before you can start worrying about the scholarship that matches you and the tuition expenses you’ll need to set aside, here are ten of the most common scholarship requirements you’ll need to prepare:
Report Card / Transcript of Records
Of course, scholarships will need a copy of your grades. For incoming first year college applicants, a certified true copy of your complete high school report card will be enough, or if you’re an incoming second to fourth year college applicant, your college transcript containing all of your grades from the previous year is greatly needed.
Grade cut-offs are also dependent on the type of scholarship but most have a range from at least 85% or higher in all subjects. Some scholarships offer at least 83%, however.
To get your report card or your transcript, drop by your school registrar or school principal’s office for more information.
Essay
Some scholarships such as De La Salle University’s Lasallian Scholar Program will ask applicants to write essays. The topic depends on the scholarship offered, such as the Iskolar ni Juan scholarship by the Gokongwei Brothers Foundation, which requires students to write why they deserve to be one of their scholars. Other scholarships that cover a specific course, such as Hult International School’s Entrepreneurship Impact Scholarship, also ask for applicants to answer innovation-related questions for prospective entrepreneurs. In both cases, stick to the topics given and be creative with your essay – after all, you’re pitted against other candidates and you’ll need to stand out, right
Letter of intent
If scholarships don’t ask for essays, other scholarships would ask for a letter of intent. They might sound similar but essays require a bit of creativity to attract its readers’ attention. Letters of intent, however, are more straightforward and ask for a more formal but direct way of addressing your need for a scholarship.
Photocopy of Diploma
For incoming college students, scholarships might also need this as proof that you’ve graduated from high school. Either present a photocopy of your diploma or ask for one in your high school registrar.
Certifications
Aside from report cards and transcripts, some scholarships also ask for a certification from the school principal or registrar stating the final average grade (for incoming first year applicants) or the overall cumulative GPA/GWA of the applicant (for incoming second to fourth year applicants.) These GPA/GWA certifications should also include the percentage equivalent grade from your previous school.
Some scholarships also ask for certifications supporting leadership experience, along with awards and certifications received detailing your achievements and community involvements in high school. Were you a student government member in the past? Attended all sorts of seminars and conducted talks? Were there photos that were taken from the event? Collect all the certificates you’ve received over the years – they’ll all come in handy for your portfolio.
Online Application Form
Most schools already have forms that are easily accessible online as long as you have a stable internet connection. You can either opt to fill up the printed forms you’ve downloaded online and bring them to your chosen school or access your chosen scholarships online.
ID-Sized Photo of Yourself
Some requirements also ask for a 1×1 or a 2×2-sized recent photo of yourself. Make sure to get a professional, decent photo!
Certificate of Good Moral Character
Scholarship foundations also ask for this to show that you have no misconduct record of any sort. Some scholarships would ask for a conduct grade of at least 80% as well; for high school students, ask your school’s guidance office to make you one.
Income Tax Return or Certificate of Indigency
Some scholarships would require this as proof that you would require financial assistance. In this case, these scholarships would require that the total family income net should not exceed at least P100,000 to P500,000 per annum. To get this, fill out BIR’s application form.
Proof of Citizenship
For LGUs that offer scholarships such as the Muntinlupa Scholarship Program, they’ll need requirements to prove you’re a bonafide citizen of that particular city. In this case, a Voter’s ID of your parents will be asked from you, and if your city has an ID card (e.g. Muntinlupa Care Card for Muntinlupa citizens), you’ll need to get these from your respective city halls, too.
All in all, just don’t forget to have these requirements well before the deadline of submission and you’ll set yourself up for a better chance at your dream scholarship!
Want to know what scholarship opportunities are available for you? Find them on our Scholarships page or go to Edukasyon.ph to learn more!
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