Pursuing postgraduate studies can be a wise investment, but one requiring significant financial planning for most students and families. While loans are an option, scholarships help ease the monetary burdens considerably. However, applying for and securing these competitive awards takes strategy and effort. If your goal is graduate school in Ghana with as much scholarship funding as possible, here is how to ready yourself:
Start Early
Ideally, you should begin preparing for scholarships at least a year before submitting applications. Use the months leading up to deadlines to thoroughly research which scholarships align with your background, intended program and career goals. Confirm eligibility requirements as well to ensure you meet all necessary criteria.
Maintain a timeline listing internal university and external scholarship deadlines to stay organized. Factor in recommenders needing 4-6 weeks notice to provide quality letters of support. Rushing last minute leads applicants to miss opportunities.
Strengthen Your Profile
Scholarship committees want to see well-rounded students demonstrating both academic prowess and meaningful extracurricular engagement. Take inventory of all involvements and accolades to showcase. Highlight volunteer service, social impact initiatives you’ve led, peer mentor roles, or other relevant experiences beyond just academics.
If certain areas of your profile lack depth, get more involved on campus or locally during your final undergraduate years. Leadership roles and project results will give your candidacy more weight over generic memberships.
Craft Your Narrative
Weave together a compelling narrative across all essay and short answer questions about your personal journey, passions and purpose. Convey the human behind all the bullet points on your résumé! Share pivotal moments that ignited your commitment to your chosen master’s program and career field. Show why investing in your graduate education matters for advancing important work.
Proofread Meticulously
Careless writing errors or sloppiness from waiting until the last minute can quickly disqualify applicants. Proofread all materials before submitting, checking for typos, formatting inconsistencies or grammar issues. Ask mentors and professors to review essays as well for polished drafts. Submit finalized items before deadlines with confidence in quality and professionalism.
Maximize Recommendations
Most scholarships require at least one letter vouching for your potential for advanced studies and future impact. Give recommenders at least one month’s notice, along with background on your goals and the specific attributes you’re looking to highlight. Share why their perspective on you is valuable. Guide them in crafting compelling points versus just generic praise.
By dedicating ample time preparing scholarship materials that compellingly capture your best self, you can fund that master’s program and continue fulfilling your highest purpose.
