Reaching for the Top Scholarship Opportunities Beyond First Year

1. Reaching for the TopScholarship Opportunities Beyond First Year Student Financial Services

2. Overview • Using the Web • York Scholarships and Awards • How Do I receive a York Scholarship • Requesting a Refund • External Scholarships • Creating a Winning Application • Summary

3. Current Students Web site • One stop for student services • Available 24/7 – get things done when it’s convenient for you…and avoid line ups

4. York Scholarships • Scholarships are distributed primarily on the basis of academic merit (grades). • Some are awarded automatically • Others require an application • Online Award Search Database: full listing of York University scholarships www.yorku.ca/osfs/award_search/ • Deadlines: • Fall October 15 • Winter January 31

5. Renewable Entrance Scholarship • Value remains the same for all four years of university • To renew: • Maintain an 8.0 GPA • Enroll in a minimum of 24 credits each year • If the scholarship is lost one year it can be regained in future years.

6. Continuing Student Scholarship • York University Continuing Student Scholarship • Automatic scholarship • Awarded in August to undergraduate students who: • Completed a minimum of 24 credits • Achieved a GPA of 8.0 in the previous Summer and Fall/Winter sessions • Did not receive the York University Renewable Entrance Scholarship • Scholarship amount varies each year

7. Bursaries • Need-based awards • Some look at extra-curricular/community activities • Complete the Student Financial Profile • www.yorku.ca/osfs/sfp.shtml • Complete the additional documentation form (for some awards) • All bursaries are listed in the Awards Search Database • www.yorku.ca/osfs/award_search/

8. External Scholarships and Awards • Student Financial Services Web site: www.yorku.ca/osfs/externalaw • External award search engines • scholarshipscanada.com • www.aucc.ca (Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada) • Studentawards.com

9. Millennium In-Course Scholarship • Scholarship recognizes academic excellence, leadership and active citizenship in upper-year students • Eligibility Requirements • Completion of second year • Minimum cumulative GPA 7.0 • No previous receipt of a substantial merit scholarship to support post-secondary education • no more than $3,500 in any one year • no more than $5,000 total to date

10. Millennium In-Course Continued • Focus is on • Community Service • Innovation • Leadership • Academics • Value is $4,000 - $5,000 (may be renewable for additional year)

11. How Do You Receive An Award • All York University awards are credited to your student account • You must pay your $450 enrolment deposit before awards will appear on your student account • If you have a credit balance after the charges on your student account are cleared, you can request a refund at www.yorku.ca/osfs/refunds/

12. Create a Winning Application • Read and understand the questions • Answer questions being asked thoroughly • Don’t wait until the last minute • Don’t leave answers blank • Write and re-write - use spell check! • Have your application proofread by somebody else • Consult with a friend, parent, TA, professor • Make a copy of your application for your records

13. Create a Winning Application: Extra-Curricular Activities • Emphasis on quality, not quantity • Long-term vs. one-day events • Meaningful and significant activities • Outstanding applicants: • Are aware of the place they are living in • Choose activities to meet the needs of their community • Use leadership position to make positive contributions • Display true initiative and ongoing commitment • Take risks and move out of comfort zone

14. Create a Winning Application: Extra-Curricular Activities • How can leadership and community activities best be presented in a scholarship application? • Explain position • What is the organization? • Who does the position manage/supervise? • Who does the position serve – York students? Club members? Community members?

15. Create a Winning Application: Extra-Curricular Activities • Explain activities that the position was involved in • How often? • For how long? • How it benefited target audience? • What role did position play in these activities? • Make sure your application is easy to read • Use active language – verbs!

16. Create a Winning Application: Choosing References • Choose your reference wisely • Choose someone who will give you the best letter • Should attest to your attributes, excellence, and support your application • Cannot be from relative or roommate/partner • Get their permission to act as a reference • Prepare your reference • Provide a copy of your completed application • Thank them afterwards and advise about outcome

17. Tips for Seeking Financial Assistance • Be resourceful - there are a variety of funding opportunities at York • Don’t re-invent the wheel – save your answers to use for other applications • Be aware of deadlines – often change from year to year • Stay positive and stay focused – most rewards require hard work

18. Questions and Contacts • Student Financial Services • 416-487-6701 • finance@glendon.yorku.ca ?