Scholarship- written by Abd. Kadir ( Universitas PGRI Adi Buana Surabaya )

Scholarship

1. What is a Scholarship?

A scholarship is an award of financial aid for a student to further his or her education. Scholarships are awarded based upon various criteria, which usually reflect the values and purposes of the donor or founder of the award. Scholarship money is not required to be repaid.

2. Why do they give A Scholarship?

It's not often that people are willing to fork over thousands of dollars in cash to a complete stranger. So what possesses someone to give you (the stranger) money to attend college? If you have ever wondered why sponsors offer scholarship, consider how they shape the society:

Scholarships build better Cross-cultural Understanding. Western and eastern countries have many different points of view in certain things. Scholarships provide ways how people from different countries can understand other countries by living like them. So, the people can understand each other even thought they have many differences. It happens in the U.S and Australia.

Scholarships increase workforce diversity. Companies service a wide range of clients; clients who likely speak different languages, carry different expectations, and have varying skill levels. By creating scholarships that encourage the education of a people with varying ethnicities, religions, and cultures, companies can continue to encourage the creation of a diverse yet mutually understanding workforce. Many students have looked to Scholarships for help in finding scholarships for minorities—and they have found success. There are countless African American scholarships, Hispanic scholarships, Asian scholarships and disability-related scholarships in

Scholarships create opportunity for the poor. University is an expensive luxury for most families. There aren't many families with average income. Even thought they have money, they don't have access to the amount of money necessary to fund an education. Scholarships provide students from every socioeconomic background the opportunity to earn a diploma and to develop skills necessary to create success in their lives.

Scholarships reward achievement. If a student doesn't exert the effort to achieve in high school (which is nearly free), continuing to fund an even more expensive education through college is difficult for anyone to justify. By making the effort to achieve in high school, students show that they are committed to their futures. This commitment is what scholarships seek to reward, as it is typically these students who go on to make great contributions to their communities.

3. Who offer scholarship?

Many countries, companies, universities and others offer many scholarship schemes. The countries which consistent to give scholarship to foreign are United Stated of America (Fulbright / Aminef), Australia (ADS/AAS), European Committee (Uranmus Mundus), Indonesia (Dikti), etc.

Not only many countries provided scholarship for students but also the companies or corporations which need a high quality of employees. The companies which provide scholarship are Bill Gate Foundation, Purtra Samporna Foundation, etc.

4. How to apply?

Many scholarship Foundations have their own rules and requirements but most of them have the same rules and requirements such as Toefl or Ielts, essay, motivation statement and Letter of recommendations.

Most of scholarships require online registration and hardcopy documents. Applying a scholarship needs long steps and need at least 3 months. It depends on the Institutions. Let’s see for American Scholarship or Fullbright (Aminef). The procedures of Aminef are:

1. Opening Announcement
2. Deadline
3. Administration verification process
4. Toefl Test
5. Interview
6. Health test
7. Vaccinations
8. Aminef review
9. Consortium review
10. Visa
11. English Test By University / College

According to my experience all of those steps needed at least 6 months before I arrived and studied in the United States of America.

5. Steps to get scholarship

If you want to get scholarship, you need to do these steps.

First, y ou need to have a Test of English as a foreign language (Toefl) or International English language Test (Ielts) certificate. It is impossible to get a scholarship without those documents because Toefl or Ielts are the essential document to measure your communication ability.

Second, find the institution, agents or universities that provide scholarship for your skill or study. You need to apply the scholarship which fit your study background. It is important to make better chance.

Third, apply for scholarship on time. If you submit your documents late, it shows your quality as candidate. So, you need well prepare in this situation and on time.

Forth, the most important thing is motivation statement. Fill the motivation statement with a strong mission. The committee will get to know you based on your motivation statement. You need to have a great and strong motivation statement.

Fifth, you need to have unique Essay. The committee will figure out what you are going to study if you pass. They need to make sure that you are the right person in that program.

Last, you need to confine the committee in interview section that you are the right person. The interview result will help other bad scores such as toefl and health test.

All of those things will help you to have a bigger chance getting scholarship. If you fail in a scholarship program, you need to try another program or try it again the next year. Applying scholarship in many programs mean you have better chance. Keep in mind, never give up and do it again and again.