How I got paid to go to Post-Secondary 💰
Going to post-secondary is an exciting - and nerve wrecking- decision to make! It is not the only choice after high school, but for those that choose post-secondary I would like to offer my experience to you! Post-secondary education is expensive, but it should NEVER stop you from going. As an undergrad myself, I know all about the challenges of funding your education. My tuition for first year was just under $7000, and I struggled to find a way to afford this on my own. After a few months of hard work I had received enough funding to pay for my tuition entirely with some money to spare. Actually $5000 to spare!
Yes, I was actually PAID $5000 to attend the program of my choice! Impossible? Nope!
Every year millions of scholarship dollars goes unclaimed in Canada. This money can be claimed by you if you are willing to do some hard core hunting. It is very time consuming to hunt for education funds, I personal spent hours sifting through scholarships on websites, newspapers, emailing organizations, and emailing financial advisors. It helps to know WHERE to look for scholarships in the first place, as the whole process is very overwhelming.
I have split financial assistance into five, bite-sized categories.
Post-Secondary Assistance
High-school Assistance
External Assistance
Personal Assistance.
Government Assistance
Let’s break these down a bit more so you know what your looking for…
Post-Secondary Assistance
This includes any financial aid you can receive from the post-secondary institution you will be attending. You can find these on the website of the post-secondary institution you apply to. I would also recommend emailing their financial aid office if you have any questions. Examples of post-secondary assistance include…
Grade-Based Scholarships
Entrance Awards
Bursaries
Work-study Programs
Emergency Loans
High-School Assistance
This includes any financial aid that you can receive from your current high-school. Talk to your guidance counsellor about the aid offered at your school, and how you can be nominated. Examples fo high-school assistance include…
Nominated scholarships
Area based awards through the school (At Lakehead, there is a North Simcoe Citizen Scholarship for students who live in the area)
External Assistance
This includes financial aid from anywhere other than your high-school or post-secondary school. For me, this was the Ted Rogers Scholarship I was nominated for by my manager at the YMCA. I received $10,000 over four years from this scholarship!
Places you or your parents work
Your Township or County
Local Groups
Bank Loans
Alumni groups your parents are a part of
Online scholarship sites
*** PAUSE***
A bit more information about Online Scholarship sites. When you register online with sites like Scholarships Canada and Student Awards, they do the hunting for you! By registering, you provide general information such as academic marks, field of study, schools you are applying to, hobbies, community service, etc. The site is able to match you with scholarships, bursaries and awards based on the information you provide. Your matches will be sent to you mailbox so you never miss one.
Government Assistance
In Ontario there is something called the Ontario Student Assistance Program - OSAP. It is a program that offers grants and loans to Ontario post-secondary students based on their financial need. You can read more about OSAP here, or by contacting the guidance counsellor at your high school or financial counsellor at the post secondary institution you have been accepted into.
Personal Assistance
This includes any financial aid you can provide for your self. I had to support my education 100% by myself, but I did get some help from my Grandma! I also worked part-time during school, and full time during the summer. Most of this money went into a savings account or an investment account.
Savings
Parents & relatives
Summer job
Investing
My Tips to Successful Scholarship Hunting!
START EARLY! The application process can be time consuming, and you may spend between 1-10 hours completing one application. Give yourself time so you are able to apply to as many scholarships as possible.
Consider the smaller scholarships too, they often have fewer applicants.
Develop a general cover letter and resume to save you time. Remember to base them on the field you are applying for, highlighting relevant skills and experience. For me, I highlighted the environmental clubs I was apart of.
Keep a record of your community service.
Treat scholarships like homework! Schedule 1-2 hours a week for applications.
Many scholarships are based on grades, but many others are looking for your hobbies, interests, and other skills. It can be helpful to understand your assets when applying for scholarships. Anything that sets you apart from the other applicants is important!
trekogeko