Wow!
It has been a while I featured in this segment, I have been down with many
responsibilities of late. However, I am back with something good for the
readership of this column. It is very intriguing to discover the high number
organizations and corporations who now offer scholarship opportunities to
undergraduate students in higher institutions of learning across Nigeria. For
many a student, it has been a major lifeline for him to maintain a fair
equilibrium between needs and surplus. No soonerhad I gained admission into the
University than I discovered that it can be pretty easy to apply for several
scholarships and not get one. Reason being that many undergraduates mistake
mere application for the real deal and forget that securing an undergraduate
scholarship requires adequate preparation. Much more, the list of credentials
requested by these organizations might be burdensomefor students and they
eventually end up fumbling with the style and documentation of presentation.
Worse still, when asked to write an accompanying letter to back up an
application, many undergraduates end up writing out of context and hence, lose
out in the race.
Over
the years, brands have strengthened efforts in their corporate social
responsibility towards supporting undergraduates in higher institutions of
learning by granting annual scholarships which can be maintained throughout the
undergraduate programme upon meeting laid-down requirements. But while all the
applicants, perhaps, meet up with requirements, some seem to eventually be
clinching two, three or more scholarships from different companies while others
do not even get invited to write the aptitude test. What could be the secret
these few have? You might ask. That is why I have taken time out to write this
so you could help yourself, that first year student or the sophomore
undergraduate to clinch the next scholarship opportunity that comes his way.
Here
we go. First, take quality time to read the adverts of such scholarship
opportunities. A real story was told of an aptitude test conducted by an
organization. Sixty questions were given and only five minutes allotted. It was
practically impossible to finish. Many who did not take enough time to read the
instructions rushed into the questions. At the end of the test, only one person
passed. The instruction was: Write your full name, answer questions One and
Sixty and submit. You see why you must read and understand instructions. The
company giving out scholarships might have restricted the courses to some
faculties and departments and would adhere strictly to that guideline. Applying
as a student outside those selected courses automatically disqualifies the
applicant.
Also,
the scholarship-giving organization or company could have specified the number
of distinction grades required to apply for the award. Distinctions, in this
sense, are grades in the A’s and B’s categories of ordinary level examinations
(SSCE/GCE O’levels). Most times, it could be a stipulated number of five
distinctions. Applying with four distinctions is a waste of time. In addition,
when asked to submit Curriculum Vitae, it is important to note that there is a
slight difference from the type that is submitted for job application. In the
case of application for a scholarship grant, you do not need to include job
experiences as these are not necessary. Give your full bio-data including phone
number and email address. Also, give your home address (if specifically requested)
as a letter mail might be dispatched to your home, inviting you for the
aptitude test. I got one of such letter posts inviting me to an aptitude test and
if had not carefully supplied that information; I would have lost that golden
opportunity since it was the only means through whichI got the invitation.
Along
with your application letter, you would be asked to submit documents like a
stipulated number of passport photographs, photocopy of your 0’level result, school
statement of result, jamb result slip, birth certificate and certificate of
origin from your local government area in your home state. It is pertinent for
me to state here that you might lose your slot in the aptitude testlist if you
go ahead to submit a certificate of origin from a liaison office and not from
your local government in your home state. The later bears the original
signature of your local government chairman and his seal, hence, is more valid
when claiming to be an indigene of that state. Every one of these information
is to be supplied painstakingly before final submission is made in order to increase
your chances of winning a slot in the call-up list for the aptitude test. For
students in their second year of study, the scholarship-granting body could
request for your first year cumulative grade point average, with attestation by
your head of department or registrar. Ensuring your transcripts are correct and
duly signed gives you yet an improved chance of getting a call-up for the
scholarship test.
I
will be focusing on preparing for the aptitude test in the next edition of ‘My
Campus My Life’. You will need to know what you are required to have learnt and
how smartly you need to work in order to beat the examiners to it. Mind you,
aptitude tests of this type are quite different from what you have been used to
in conventional examinations.
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