Financing University/College

What you need to know about scholarships and bursaries

So what’s a scholarship? Monetary award based primarily on

academic merit Selection criteria may also include

• leadership• sports & extracurricular activities• volunteer work & community involvement

Two types:1. automatic

considerationhttp://ceosatgsu.files.wordpress.com/2011/08/question_clipart.gif

2. need to apply

SCHOLARSHIPS:(1) Automatic consideration

entrance scholarships no application necessary automatically awarded upon entrance to a

school or program based on high school grades:

* Scholarships are renewable with an A- standing

Entrance Scholarships

Value Admission average

$16,000 $4,000 x four years*

95 – 100%

$12,000 $3,000 x four years*

90 – 94.9%

$8,000 $2,000 x four years*

85 – 89.9%

$4,000 $1,000 x four years*

80 – 84.9%

Queen Elizabeth IIAiming for the Top Scholarship

WHO IT’S FOR: Ontario students who have shown academic excellence in high school

AMOUNT OF AID: • minimum of $100• maximum of $ 3,500 per year

HOW TO APPLY: • Complete OSAP Application for Full-Time Students• If you want to apply for the basic merit amount only ($100), complete the QEIIA4T Application for Basic Merit Amount

YOU SHOULD ALSO KNOW:

•Students who maintain the scholarship eligibility criteria can automatically be considered for renewal (for up to four years in total)

(2) Need to apply

& what’s a bursary? Based primarily on financial need

Application process may also include other selection criteria such as• leadership• sports & extracurricular activities• volunteer work & community involvement

Scholarships and bursaries are different from loans because theydo NOT have to be paid

back!

Where to look for additional scholarships

and bursaries…… for which you will need to APPLY

University & College Websites Universities & colleges offer various

scholarships and bursaries Go to the institution’s website and

search under financial aid, awards, bursaries• Algonquin College:

www.algonquincollege.com/prospective/finance_general.htm

• Carleton University: www.carleton.ca/awards/• University of Ottawa:

http://www.registrar.uottawa.ca/Default.aspx?tabid=2658

Research Websites Use online databases such as

www.scholarshipscanada.comwww.studentawards.com

• Create a profile for FREE and log in• A personalized list of scholarships and

bursaries will be generated• Read through descriptions & criteria and apply

• Application process may include essay writing, questionnaires, reference letters, etc.

AWARDSis a general term that includes

both scholarships and bursaries

School & Community Awards

The Ottawa Catholic School Board sponsors a number of awards:www.occdsb.on.ca/content.php?doc=729

1. The Director of Education Graduate Student Award2. Ottawa Catholic Student Award3. Ottawa Catholic Trustee - Student Service Award 4. Ontario Youth Apprenticeship Program Award5. Pathways for Success Destination Employability

Award

OSAP:Ontario Assistance Student Program

Government loans and grants

Eligibility typically based onparental income

Go to https://osap.gov.on.ca/OSAPPortal for information about who is eligible and how to apply

Tips Start your search early

• see what’s out there and be aware of deadlines

Try to keep your resume updated• this will help you fill in application forms quickly

Contact your references in advance to give them time to write a strong letter

The more you apply to, the better!• no award is worth ‘too little’• many awards go unclaimed due to zero applicants• you can accumulate a large sum of money by applying to

(and hopefully winning) a number of awards!