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Finance a Free Education (or near enough)


Let’s face it, university can be tough. I think from the standpoint of many students that have to keep
up with food bills, housing, textbooks, coffee, and TUITION of course, money can get pretty tight.

The answer to some of your worries… scholarships. Scholarships have gotten me a long way (as well as some grants) throughout all undergraduate years so far. One of the biggest misconceptions about scholarships is most people thinking that you need outlandish grades and the wildest extracurricular activities (although it doesn’t hurt) to pocket some extra money for your studies.

Did you know, MILLIONS of dollars in scholarship money goes unclaimed every year in Canada? Why you ask?
Mistake 1. Most students think they are unqualified.
Mistake 2. Most students equate a scholarship to a really long essay.

Did you know, only 24% of scholarships require high academic standing? That means 86% of scholarships are available to students who don’t have a strong academic record. 86% is a lot.


I’ve listed out some pretty big baller scholarships with deadlines closing in soon so, apply away!
Google Anita Borg Memorial Scholarship
Prize: $5,000
Eligibility: Undergraduate, Masters, Doctorate students who demonstrate a strong academic
standing in the field of computer science/engineering or related fields.

CEMF Awards
Prize: $5,000 - $10,000
Eligibility: Undergraduate (not in final year) female student in an accredited engineering program. Must have Canadian Citizenship or Permanent Residency Status.

Amelia Earhart Fellowship
Prize: $10,000
Eligibility: Women of any nationality pursuing a Ph.D./doctoral degree, who demonstrate a superior academic record in the field of aerospace-related sciences/engineering.

My tip for applying to scholarships is to dedicate time to actually apply. Try challenging yourself with a scholarship a weekend. If that’s too much, dedicate an hour every weekend. Still too much, try a scholarship every month (make sure to take note of the deadlines).

Below are also some of the sites that I keep bookmarked to help achieve some of those goals:


Until next time,
Fatima


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