Navigation

Archive | Scholarships

By on November 14, 2017 in Scholarships

Photo by Steven Pahel on Unsplash

That’s right – even if you would classify your smoking habit as just ‘occasional’ or ‘once in a while’, or even as ‘social smoking’, studies have shown that it still carries cardiovascular risks. Despite warnings from experts, however, most middle and high school students believe that smoking cigarettes sometimes (but not every day) poses a significantly lower risk for their health.

So, exactly how many is ‘most students’?

Well, if we take a look at the data from the 2012 National Youth Tobacco Survey, we’ll see a rather worrying statistic – two-thirds of surveyed students believe that non-daily smoking is not harmful. In fact, if you light up only a few cigarettes when you are out with friends (let’s say two or three times a week), the adverse health effects you’re exposing yourself to are equal to those projected for heavy daily smokers.

These adverse health effects include:

  • Increased probability of heart disease
  • Likelihood of lung damage
  • Increased chances of alcohol abuse (social smokers indulge in alcohol more)
  • Exposing others to secondhand smoke

Prevalence of Smoking in High School and College

On a positive note, the number of underage smokers has declined since 2011. In 2016, only 2.2% of middle and high school students reported current smoking. Still, that’s a pretty alarming number and we should aim to bring it down in the future.

Unfortunately, that positive trend doesn’t continue in the college environment. A whopping number of college students report smoking either occasionally or semi-occasionally – close to 23% of them. 18 to 19 year-olds tend to smoke a bit less – 5.5 to 8.3% of them report as current smokers. However, the number of those who smoke occasionally is larger.

Why is there such an uptick in college smokers?

There are several reasons we can attribute this rise to:

  • Social pressure – some social circles require you to smoke if you want to fit in and be cool. There’s a good amount of peer pressure that goes into turning college nonsmokers into smokers – they do it to be accepted by their social group.
  • Increased stress levels – every change is stressful, but going to college is probably the most stressful thing a young adult has faced up until that point. Nicotine has calming properties (among others), and some students will smoke to ‘take the edge off’.
  • Lack of supervision – up until this point, everything a young adult wanted to do required parental permission. Finding themselves on their own, most college students want to get a first-hand experience at things that their parents didn’t allow them to do.
  • Rite of passage – smoking is a ‘grown up’ thing and since most college kids consider themselves to be grown ups, it’s only natural for them to mimic the behaviors they’ve seen expressed in their youth.

As we already know, colleges and universities are places where young people learn to experiment with things. Add to that the lack of parental controls (for out-of-state-students) and it’s really not a surprise that the number of smokers goes up.

However, research has shown that colleges that implement a smoke free policy on their campuses and enforce it, manage to reduce the number of smokers. As of October 2, 2017, there are 2064 100% smoke free campuses in the United States. Only seven years ago that number was less than 500, so it’s a great improvement.

ECR Is Awarding Three $5,000 Scholarships

Although statistics indicate that smoking is no longer as popular as it was, we as a society still have a long way to go if we want to completely eradicate it. To do that, we need your help and are prepared to award your efforts in spreading the smoking cessation message that we at ECR are working hard to promote.

ECR will award three $5,000 scholarships to high school, college, and university students in 2018. It’s our sincere wish to help you through your, often very expensive, educational years.

What do you need to do for a chance to win?

  • Be accepted or enrolled in high school, college, or university in the United States.
  • Be older than 14 years.
  • Familiarize yourself with scholarship rules.
  • Submit an application form.
  • Write and send in a 1000 – 1500 word essay.

The essay in question needs to be thought out and informative and offer your view on smoking. What we’re looking for, namely, is to find out what you think about how smoking is negatively impacting our society and what we can do about that.

The deadline for submissions is May 30, 2018, and the winners will be notified via email on or about August 30, 2018. For more information about the scholarship, please visit the ECR Scholarship page.

Help us help active smokers quit by showing them your version of the smoke free world. We’re looking forward to your entries and wish you all the best in your efforts to win the ECR smoking cessation scholarship!

This article was contributed by guest author Lindsay Fox.

By on September 14, 2017 in Academic Life, Financial Aid, Scholarships

Image by skeeze, pixabay.com

Many think that, after high school, they have to choose between going to college or joining the military, and that there is no overlap between the two. Yet, here are just a few ways joining the military can benefit both your college experience and your life afterwards.

Helps Pay for Your Schooling

A very well-known benefit for military service is getting help with paying for college. There are a few different ways this is done, and understanding your options can inform you on which colleges you can attend and how much the military will cover.

There are four major ways the military helps with college. Each of these approaches has its own benefits and conditions, so it’s important to plan ahead with the approach you want before joining the military.

  1. Montgomery G.I. Bill: With this bill, and depending how long a person is enlisted, an individual can get over $50,000 to help pay for college. A major condition to qualify for this bill, though, is you must give $100 a month for the first year of service.
  2. Post 9-11 G.I. Bill: This is a newer education bill available to people who have served actively in the military after September 11, 2009. With this bill, instead of getting just a flat amount of money, you get an amount of money matching the most expensive in-state tuition and some extra money for things like housing and books.
  3. College Fund Programs: These programs are commonly known as a “kicker,” where you are awarded extra funds for college. These programs are typically given to specialist occupations in the military and are not available to every member of the military.
  4. Loan Repayment Programs: This program is where the military will pay back a portion of a person’s student loan after they finish college. This acts as an incentive for college graduates to join the military after graduating.

Depending on where you go to school, it is possible that the military won’t cover all of your expenses, but every bit helps. There are other ways to pay for college that can help fill the gaps left by the military, like grants, scholarships and getting a job.

Discipline and Skills to Do Well

College is hard, and many students struggle to focus on school. One major benefit from serving in the military is being able to focus and dedicate to a task for a long time.

That means being able to balance school work with other time factors, like a personal life and a job, without letting your grades suffer. If you struggled doing this in high school, college can be much harder to balance. The military can teach skills like prioritizing tasks and time management.

This level of discipline can also help a lot if you decide to pursue going to college online. One of the many myths of online learning is that it is easier and has less deadlines, but it actually requires much more dedication and discipline. This is because there is often not a time set aside in the day for you to attend classes, forcing students to set their own schedule and plan ahead.

Housing Options

It’s likely that after you are done serving in the military, you might be further along in your life than the typical college student. That includes considering a serious relationship, having a child, and looking to purchase a home.

The military can help if owning a home is one of your goals, either during or after college. For veterans, there are VA loans available that offer unique benefits in buying a home. This includes features like: no down payment, lower closing costs, no mortgage insurance, and lower credit requirements. That final one can become very useful as joining the military can have a major impact on your credit.

If you aren’t looking to buy a home, there are some apartments that give preferential treatment to veterans. That can be extremely helpful in smaller college towns with competitive apartment markets.

Succeeding at School

The military gives and teaches people useful skills and habits that can directly translate to doing well at school. The financial help is also very powerful, which can allow students to graduate from college with little or no student debt. If this sounds like something you want, serving in the military could be a viable option.

This article was contributed by guest author Devin Morrissey.

By on December 23, 2015 in Scholarships
Image by Charly W. Karl, Flickr

Image by Charly W. Karl, Flickr

As an international student, obtaining a PhD scholarship can be difficult – or so you think. If you are seeking scholarships for a 2016 PhD, there are a number of options. Some of them are funded by the government, and some by universities. Regardless, sifting through the available options can be tricky, as you need to know if a particular scholarship is worth applying for and whether you have a chance of qualifying for it. To make things a tad simpler for you, here’s a look at the top 10 PhD scholarships for international students:

University-Funded

1. Gates Cambridge (The UK)
The scholarships offered by Gates Cambridge are available to students from around the world. Typically, 100 students are selected for scholarships annually. The scholarship will cover the cost of tuition, maintenance, and airfare, among other expenses.

2. Warwick Graduate School (The UK)
25 international scholarships are awarded to doctoral candidates from around the world who are considered the best among the applicants. Via this scholarship, you can undertake any doctoral program offered by the university. The scholarship will cover the cost of overseas tuition and also provide for a maintenance allowance.

3. University of Manitoba (Canada)
The University of Manitoba awards PhD fellowships on the basis of merit to students from around the world. The fellowship is worth $18,000 a year. You will have to register as a full-time doctoral student at the university to be eligible for the fellowship.

4. University of Adelaide (Australia)
The Adelaide Scholarships International (ASI) is a program run by the University of Adelaide to attract the brightest PhD 2016 candidates from around the world. The university is seeking to boost its research wing and their scholarships cover tuition, cost of living, and they also offer health insurance.

5. University of Groningen (The Netherlands)
The Erik Bleumink Fund Scholarships offer students from developing countries a chance to pursue a PhD program at the University of Groningen. The scholarship will cover the cost of travel, books, health insurance, and of course, tuition.

6. University of Leuven (Belgium)
The University of Leuven has a program through which it offers IRO scholarships to eligible candidates from selected developing countries. The University is the largest in Flanders, and the scholarship covers the cost of housing, tuition, travel, and tuition, among other expenses.

7. University of Oxford (The UK)
International students have the chance to get a scholarship to secure PhD admission at one of the most prestigious educational institutions in the world, Oxford University. The Clarendon Fund offers 140 scholarships a year to qualifying doctoral candidates, which covers the entire educational expense and also covers the cost of living.

8. University of Melbourne (Australia)
The University of Melbourne offers scholarships to international students via its Melbourne International Research Scholarships (MIRS) program. The coverage is extensive, as the cost of relocation, living expenses, parenting and sick leaves, and thesis allowance are covered.

Government-Funded

9. Fulbright Scholarships (The US)
If you wish to pursue a PhD program in the US, you can do so through the government-backed Fulbright Scholarships program. The program covers students from 155 countries and 1800 scholarships are awarded on an annual basis, giving you a good chance of qualifying for a PhD admission. A Fulbright Scholarship will cover all your expenses for the duration of your program.

10. Endeavour Postgraduate Awards (Australia)
This program offers financial assistance to students from selected countries to complete their PhDs in Australia. The students are allowed to pick their preferred field of study. The scholarship covers tuition, travel costs, and health insurance, among others.

These are the top 10 best PhD scholarships for international students – apply now for 2016!

This article was contributed by guest author Casper Johnson.

By on October 9, 2015 in Scholarships
Image by 401(K) 2012, Flickr

Image by 401(K) 2012, Flickr

Scholarships are awarded to students for a variety of different reasons. A student can win over a scholarship committee for merit, they can demonstrate their financial need, they can present evidence that they are involved in the community, or they can even show their passion for a specific field. Regardless of the reason why a student is awarded scholarship funds, there is no denying the fact that any money is helpful for a starving student who wants to earn a college degree to better their future.

If you are a soon-to-be high school senior who is dead set on attending college, it is important to apply for as much free money as possible. Submitting applications for scholarships may require a time investment, but it costs nothing out of pocket. There are hundreds of thousands of awards granted to graduating seniors and even adult students every year from different donors, government agencies, professional societies and even private corporations. For those in search of good opportunities, here are six scholarships every high schooler should spend the time to apply for.

The Kohl’s Cares Program For Children Who Are Involved in the Community

Community involvement can go a long way when you are looking for financial assistance to pay for college. For students between 6 and 18 who have spent at least 1 year volunteering their time to provide community service, the Kohl’s Cares program is a great option. The award encourages kids to get involved while they are young so they continue to be dedicated to service in adulthood. To be selected, students must be nominated by anyone over 21 who has seen the child get involved.

Cox Cares Foundation Awards

Cox Cares Foundation is committed to offering graduating seniors awards to help pay for fees to attend a two-year or four-year accredited college. For more than 15 years, the foundation has awarded between $1000 and $5000 to students who are attending school full-time, have earned at least a 3.0 and have a history of involvement within their school. Applications are available in December and must be submitted by February every year.

The Best Buy Children’s Foundation Award

Every year, Best Buy gives 1200 different awards in the amount of $1000 to students in high school who are selected. In order to be eligible, students must submit their application before the deadline and show academic achievement, volunteerism or even work experience. Since there are multiple ways to get selected, this is a great national opportunity that no student should pass up.

The Engaging and Fast-Paced Common Knowledge Scholarship

So many scholarship foundations focus on academic achievement and the quality of an essay that some really good candidates are overlooked. If you enjoy taking fast-paced quizzes and want to earn an award based on what you know, you can win between $250 and $2500 by taking scholarship quizzes through the Common Knowledge Scholarship Foundation. With the best score and the lowest time, you can win money to get even smarter.

The Coca-Cola Scholars Program For High School Seniors

Coca-Cola offers a sizable $20,000 scholarship for all seniors who are going to attend a 4-year degree at an accredited university. All students who have a 3.0 GPA or higher are free to apply to explain why they would be the best pick for this award. When walking the line, having honor cords and stoles from places like The Honors Program will certainly get you attention, but it is important that you highlight your capacity to lead and serve for consideration.

The Prime Scholarship

The Prime Scholarship is for students intending to pursue a career as a nurse upon graduation. The scholarship is open to applicants working toward a two year or four year college degree.

The Discover Card Tribute Award Scholarship Program

Discover offers awards between $2500 and $25000 to high school juniors and seniors who will be attending a higher education or training program after high school. While you only need to earn a 2.75 GPA to be eligible, you must also show you have special talents, an inherent ability to lead, a passion for community service and challenges that may prevent you from going to school without assistance. All majors are eligible for this award.

No one wants to dig themselves into thousands of dollars of student debt just to cover the cost of getting an education. While Federal Pell grants and other forms of aide do help, scholarships are additional awards that can fill in the rather large funding gaps. Make sure you review national, state, city and school specific opportunities, and begin applying for awards well in advance.

This article was submitted by guest author Rachelle Wilber.

By on September 30, 2015 in Scholarships
Image by George Mason University Life, Flickr

Image by George Mason University Life, Flickr

It comes as no surprise that nearly every student from around the globe aspires to study in the US. With its excellent educational facilities, research opportunities and employment prospects, it’s known to some as the capital of global education.

As one of the most developed countries in the world with one of the best education systems, enrolling in US universities can be highly competitive. Apart from the high educational standards and qualifications required, one of the biggest challenges students face is financing their studies.

There are many scholarships, especially for international students who aspire to study in the US. Generally, students go after the famous and illustrious scholarships, either ignoring or not being aware of the other valuable options available to them. Here are some of those scholarships students need to know about:

The Fulbright Foreign Student Program

The Fulbright Foreign Student Program is a scholarship in the US for students who want to study or conduct research in the country for a year or longer. The scholarship is not restricted to any particular field of study and is open for all courses; however it is open only for students who are pursuing a master’s degree. 4000 students from 155 countries receive this scholarship each year.

Hubert Humphrey Fellowships for International Students

The Hubert Humphrey program is also a great scholarship which provides aid to students who are willing to pursue a degree in agriculture & rural development, communications & journalism, economic development, public policy analysis and several other fields. Nearly 200 fellowships are awarded each year under this program.

The Presidential Scholarship of North American University

The Presidential Scholarship is the most prestigious scholarship offered by North American University. Students must have secured 1400 marks (in critical thinking and math portions) on their SAT or 31 on the ACT exam in order to secure this scholarship.

The Trustee Scholarship of North American University

Another prestigious scholarship offered by North American University, the Trustee Scholarship requires the applicant to have a minimum 1200 SAT score (in critical thinking and math portions) or 26 on the ACT exam.

The Dean Scholarship of North American University

Dean Scholarship requirements are comparatively less than the Presidential and Trustee scholarship. Applicants are required to have an SAT score of not less than 1000 (in critical thinking and math portions).

There are some more specifications for the above three scholarships from North American University which should be taken into consideration if someone wants to apply for them.

AAUW International Fellowships

Specially offered for women, the American Association of University Women or AAUW scholarships are awarded to women who want to study in the US but are not permanent residents of the US. Preference is given for those who are willing to work for women empowerment in the community.

MigVapor Scholarship

Free to apply, students can be awarded $3,000 with this scholarship through the essay contest. Mig Vapor creates products designed to help people reduce their dependency on tobacco, and each semester $3,000 is awarded to students who help bring awareness to the dangers of smoking. Find out more.

HireInfluence Scholarship

HireInfluence is offering a $500 Entrepreneur annual scholarship, awarded towards College Tuition/Expenses. Applicants must be 18 to 25, currently enrolled at an accredited high school, college or university in the United States or Canada, with an average GPA of 2.0 or higher. Submissions are due May 31 and the winner is selected by June 30. Find out more.

Scholarships are a great way to advance in your studies, especially for students who are passionate about their careers and do not possess the resources to fulfil their dreams. Students should always be informed about the various financing options – when the time comes, they can be used to your advantage.

This article was contribued by guest author Jessie Agarwal.

By on August 26, 2015 in Financial Aid, Saving Money, Scholarships, Student Loans
DORM-SPACE-LARGE-NEW-

By www.gotcredit.com

Let’s face it: college tuition is through the roof, and it’s only going to get higher. At the same time, many higher level jobs are only available to those with degrees. Add the two together, and college becomes a daunting and expensive task, rather than a chance to learn and grow as a person. Not all hope is lost, however! There are plenty of methods you can use to cut back on costs and get a degree without having to climb a mountain of debt! Methods like…

Scholarships and Grants

This one is a no-brainer, but sometimes it still just feels like a lottery. Don’t be discouraged, though! If you can name one single thing that makes you stand out, you can bet there is a scholarship or grant for it. Are you short? Tall? Boy? Girl? Can you dance? Can you sing? Are you a liberal? Conservative? What career path are you aiming towards? The answers to those questions and more can all, you guessed it, get you some no strings attached cash. Is it worth it? Yes! If you spend three hours applying for dozens of scholarships and grants and even only get a single $500 scholarship, that’s the same as three hours working a $167/hour job!

Get Textbooks Cheap

Textbooks can be one of the hidden costs of college. Altogether, the price to buy all the textbooks you need for a single year might be a thousand bucks or more. Everyone knows that renting is one way to cut down costs, but another tip is to buy the previous edition of the textbook required. Do they want the 4th Edition? Get the 3rd edition. Oftentimes, the information is exactly the same, and if the questions in the book are different, you can always just work with a classmate. If you rent a used book in an older edition on Amazon, it’s entirely possible that you can get it for a single penny, minus shipping and handling. Yes, that’s a true story. How about that?

Online Classes

The best way to make things cheaper is to make them digital, and classes are no exception. If you’re taking a gen-education class or even some specialized classes, why pay full tuition just to sit in a lecture hall and listen to the professor, when you can pay half, sometimes a quarter as much? On top of that, you get more options and features to help you learn, like these online masters in aging interactive study guides and re-playable lecture recordings.

Live Off Campus

Here’s a little fact for you: if you do the math, on-campus housing at some colleges can be very expensive. Would you spend a thousand dollars a month for a place to live and eat? Two thousand? Three? Maybe if you were rich and wanted a condo. But you’re probably not rich, and are definitely going to be plopped into a noisy, smelly dorm. So what to do? Go ahead and live on campus your first year or two, make some friends, and then book it to an apartment or rental house with them! You’ll no longer have the luxury of paying for everything in a single lump sum payment, but you’ll have the advantage of, well, saving a lot of money and having your own place.

So there you have it, not one but four ways to make sure your money stays your money whenever you ship yourself off to college this fall. Use these wisely, and imagine the looks on everyone’s faces a couple years after you graduate, when you tell them you already paid off your loans!

This article was contributed by guest author Lizzie Weakly.

By on March 11, 2015 in Saving Money, Scholarships
Image by Tax Credits, Flickr

Image by Tax Credits, Flickr

Your post secondary education might be the biggest bill you will have to pay for the next 10 years. At the same time as (if not before) filling in your university application, you need to think of how you will pay the ever increasing tuition fees. There are a variety of sources that can assist you in doing this, from your own savings, to grants, loans and scholarships offered through the government or private institutions.

The Financial Consumer Agency of Canada is a great resource and we’ve found a few pages that will help you out.

First, check out their recommendations on where to get money to pay for school.

The Government of Canada provides a number of programs that can help you pay a portion of your tuition fees through grants, bursaries or scholarships. Whether offered through governments, schools or private organizations, the money doesn’t necessarily have to be paid back like a student loan. Grants and bursaries are generally offered based on need, whereas scholarships are mostly offered based on merit (athletic, academic or other unique abilities).

Here are some ways to find grants, bursaries, and scholarships.

When looking for scholarships, be sure not to limit yourself. Another option is to browse scholarshipscanada.com, a database with scholarships, bursaries, grants and student awards. You do need to sign up for this service, but it is a great tool to not only determine which scholarship you would qualify for, but also to search for advice on how to submit a strong application.

Lastly, remember that saving money comes in more ways than just putting your paycheques into your bank account. Students are eligible for government tax credits which can save you a significant amount every year.

Check out these other relevant articles:

By on November 6, 2014 in Scholarships
Image by Philip Taylor, Flickr

Image by Philip Taylor, Flickr

Scholarships are awards that can assist you in paying for your tuition fees and your textbooks. Scholarships can give you a sense of accomplishment for being handpicked for an award, and they also look excellent on a resume. However, many students don’t apply for scholarships because they don’t think they have the time, or because they don’t believe that they will win. Here is the truth about three popular scholarship myths:

Scholarships are only for students with high grades.
Although it is true that some scholarships require high grades or a high academic average for students to qualify, there are many scholarships that don’t have anything to do with grades. Many reward you for your creativity, volunteering commitments, or essay writing. The Stuck at Prom Scholarship requires you and your prom date to create your prom outfits entirely out of duct tape. A pair of students will win a $10,000 scholarship and $5,000 for their school. The Scotiabank National Scholarship requires you to answer the essay question, “In 150 words or less, tell us how you will fund your future.” 12 scholarships worth $2,500 each will be given away.

Scholarships are impossible to win.
In some cases, it may be true that hundreds of students apply for the same scholarships, and they are often competitive when a high profile award is offered. However, this shouldn’t discourage you from applying for them. There is a simple golden rule when it comes to scholarships: If you don’t apply for them, you can’t win them. Without any risk, there won’t be any reward. Take a chance! You never know what might happen.

Scholarships are only for graduating grade 12 students, university, and college students.
There are many scholarships up for grabs if you have just enrolled in high school. The Easy Money Scholarship only requires you to be at least 13 years old, enrolled in a Canadian high school, university, or college, and be a member of the StudentAwards website. As there are many scholarships that can be applied for early on in high school, it will give you a lot of time to search, plan, and apply.

These scholarship myths often discourage students from applying for scholarships. Don’t let yourself be one of those students – there are thousands of scholarships to apply for and many of them are neglected. Happy scholarship hunting!

By on August 27, 2014 in Scholarships
Image by CollegeDegrees360, Flickr

Image by CollegeDegrees360, Flickr

Having trouble paying your tuition? Don’t have time for a job? Good news: there are many scholarships, bursaries, grants and awards that can cover the costs of schooling for you. They are offered by a number of institutions, such as the federal and provincial government, private industry and service organizations, and post-secondary schools. The great thing about grants, bursaries, awards and scholarships is they don’t need to be repaid.

Scholarships

Scholarships are usually awarded based on academic standing or other achievements, including leadership, athletic ability and community service. They can range from $500 to a generous $23,000. There are five kinds of scholarships:

  • Admission (or entrance) scholarships: Awarded upon enrolling in a post-secondary institution.
  • Renewable scholarships: Can be applied to financial debt yearly, if one maintains good grades.
  • National scholarships: Available to students all over the country.
  • In-course scholarships: Given after an applicant’s first year of college or university.
  • External scholarships: Encompasses scholarships that are granted by organizations other than a school. One should ensure his or her school is approved by the corporation before applying for an external scholarship.

Grants

Grants are bestowed according to grades, financial need and academic research projects. One perk about grants is they are offered to as many people who meet the criteria.

Bursaries

Bursaries are presented depending on one’s financial needs. Bursaries tend to be granted to be used in conjunction with other sources of funding, such as student loans, family support and individual earnings.

Awards

Awards are given based on academic merit or accomplishments. They are usually small sums of money that can be applied to one’s tuition or book costs.

Links

The following are links to websites where you can apply for scholarships, grants, bursaries and awards:

 
Remember you can find out about scholarships, bursaries, grants and awards through your post-secondary school, high school counsellor or online. Employers are an alternative source to check; many organizations offer students financial aid, so it’s a good idea to ask if they provide this service.

Going to school doesn’t have to be a financial struggle. There’s financial aid all around; you just have to look for it. There’s no reason to panic about your finances while going to school.

By on June 27, 2013 in Scholarships
Image by Poppy Thomas-Hill, Wikimedia

Image by Poppy Thomas-Hill, Wikimedia

Not every student wants to break open their piggy bank and use their hard-earned pennies to pay for school. Naturally, the ideal situation is to get someone else to pay for you. Lo and behold, these genius inventions called scholarships, if you’re lucky enough to get your hands on one, may not fully fund your entire post-secondary career, but will definitely help. Typically when students look for scholarships, they seek out a guidance counsellor, search their post-secondary school’s website, or scour the Internet. But don’t stop there! Here are a few unconventional ways you can scrounge up a little extra cash to soften the proverbial baseball bat to the head, also known as tuition:

  • Your part-time job: It may not have been mentioned in the job interview, but several companies offer their employees scholarships. Burger King, Walmart, and Home Depot are just a few companies that offer this amazing opportunity. Ask your boss or look up your company online to see what they offer, and how to apply.
  • Your parents’ jobs: Some companies offer scholarships to the children of their employees. Get your parents to ask their bosses or HR department for more information.
  • Unions: As a worker, unions protect your rights. As a student, they save you money. Unions are goldmines for industry-specific scholarships. For example, the Ontario Nurses’ Association offers scholarships to the immediate family of ONA members studying nursing, and the Canadian Dance Teachers Association offers scholarships to dance students who know a CDTA member. Search your parents’ or teachers’ unions – you never know what they have to offer.
  • Your future workplace: Look through the website of a company or organization you want to work for, and those of their competitors as well. If you receive a scholarship, it will get you noticed by the company and will look great for future internship and job prospects.
  • Extracurricular activities: Playing varsity tennis or being president of the art club is not only rewarding in experience, it can also be rewarding to your pockets. A number of scholarships require applicants to have some sort of athletic, artistic or leadership involvement, so if you’re already into extracurriculars, you’re on your way. Talk to your coach or teacher supervisor and they can help refer you to scholarship opportunities. Research any organizations you’re part of outside of school such as Scouts Canada or the Boys & Girls Clubs of Canada for more opportunities.

Most of these scholarships are very exclusive, allowing only members of a specific organization to apply, but the internet is full of surprises. You never know what you’ll find!