Help Your Children Win International Scholarships by Following These Steps

Getting a scholarship to the best schools in Singapore isn't easy. But don't let that discourage your children from giving it a try. International educational programmes offer a lot of learning opportunities, many of them impossible through any way other than scholarships. The student who wins those grants will have a wonderful time exploring possibilities, improving their skills, and discovering new ways to enjoy the learning process. Those are all good reasons to try out for one. If your children want to try for a scholarship, here are a few tips that you follow. 

Apply as Early as Possible

Teach them the importance of preparing for the scholarship early. With plenty of competition out there, rushing through the application form or doing it at the very last minute isn't going to give them an edge. If your children want that scholarship badly enough, they need to get ready for it. Some grants even require students to get ready a full year ahead. 

Don't Miss a Deadline 

When your children start sending applications to international scholarships, make sure they understand the importance of sending that application on time. It doesn't matter if they came up with the most wonderful essay of all time or if they managed to provide an impressive application portfolio. If they send that late, that submission will get tossed. You don't want that to happen, so talk to them about this. Make sure they understand that there isn't any leeway, any second chances here. They need to meet those deadlines if they want to be in the running in the first place. 

Look for Scholarship Opportunities 

Check out the scholarship programmes offered by the best schools in Singapore. You can compare them with each other and figure out which ones are a good match for your children. That way, you and your children can also discuss each scholarship. You can help them choose what scholarships are worth their time and effort or if they should try out for that scholarship in a few years instead.

Concentrate on the Essay Topic 

A lot of students make the mistake of ignoring the essay topic or question. Make sure your children don't. Make them understand the value of writing an essay that completely and thoroughly answers the question thrown to them by the screening board. They can be creative about it. And they must provide context to help them set themselves apart from the rest. But they shouldn't lose sight of what matters, and that is answering the question while they make the right impression through their essay. 

Make it Personal

Did your children just list out all their academic accomplishments? Everybody else will also be doing that. That's why context is important. Talk to them about writing about who they are so that the screening panel will want to meet them or think that they are the only possible applicant for the scholarship. 

Proofread Their Application 

Many children send the application the minute they're done, excited and elated at the thought that they've finished. While you don't want to dampen that sense of accomplishment, offer to proofread the essay for your children. Explain the value of reviewing applications so that no mistakes—no matter how minor—get through. Sure, if your children send a wonderful essay, then those mistakes might be glossed over. But why take the chance? Don't risk it. If you want to make sure your children win the scholarships they try for, a killer essay will get them a few steps closer to achieving that outcome. Help them make that happen by reviewing their work and correcting those mistakes. 

Give Them Feedback 

Help your children improve. Give them constructive feedback. That way, the next time they send an application, they know what to watch out for. They can avoid making the same mistakes this time around. That means they'll also improve with every application, especially if you take the time to sit down with them to discuss their work. 

Encourage Them to Keep Going 

Their first application might not be a success. That's not a problem. Keep encouraging them. It takes time and practice. By the fifth submission or even the ninth, that might finally get them the scholarship they've long wanted. Don't let them give up. Motivate them, so they can keep trying out for educational grants. 

Read the Directions 

Make sure your children read the directions carefully. While you're there to proofread the work, it's important that you don't spoon-feed your children anything. If they accidentally leave some sections unanswered when they fill out the application form, then train them to go over their work more carefully from now on. That's a habit that will serve them well into the future. 

Hope these tips help your children get the international scholarship of their choice. As parents, you must ensure to check out the schools and the scholarship benefits thoroughly before filling out application forms.