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The TBC Future Pathways Guide to Scholarship Applications
The TBC Future Pathways Guide to Scholarship Applications
There are hundreds of scholarships available for those intending to attend university in Aotearoa, New Zealand. That is both a benefit and a curse because you have to do a lot of searching. However, it does mean that there is something out there for almost everyone. Every year there are scholarships that nobody claims, so finding the obscure ones can be worthwhile.
This guide will walk you through the process of applying for scholarships as a TBC student. If you need extra help, the Future Pathways team is here to help. Book an appointment with Mr Collin to talk about scholarships.
Top tips for applying for scholarship
Top tips for applying for scholarship
If you don't enter the race, you won't win. That is self-explanatory.
Get your application in on time. You have no chance if you are late.
Apply for as many scholarships as you can. Cast that net wide and see what swims in.
Look for scholarships that nobody else can find. Dig deep enough, and who knows what you might turn up.
You can apply for scholarships to as many universities as you like without costing you a cent. Why wouldn't you?
Don't be too humble. Though it is a fine balance...
Part 1: Searching for Scholarships
Part 1: Searching for Scholarships
The first step to applying for scholarships is to search for them. There are a number of places that you can go to find suitable scholarships which are outlined below. In order to know which ones to apply for, and when you have to have it done by, it is useful to use the TBC scholarship planning template.
What kind of scholarships are out there?
What kind of scholarships are out there?
The four main types of scholarship in New Zealand are:
University scholarships - these are the scholarships offered by individual universities. Each university has a huge number of scholarships that only students that attend that university can get. Top tip: look beyond the flagship scholarships and find the smaller, more specific ones for each faculty of the university you have chosen to attend.
Community scholarships - these ones are offered by businesses or donors in the community and are not usually university specific, though some are. They are for things like people who excel in arts, culture, or sports, regardless of what university they go to.
School scholarships - these are the ones specific to Tauranga Boys'. They are decided on by the senior management of the school. You apply to these through the school portal. They do not open until the start of Term 3.
The New Zealand Scholarship exams. Don't forget these. They are the highest level of high school education that can be attained in New Zealand. If you are looking to go for any of the major scholarships to international universities these ones really matter.
Ever wanted to go to Cambridge? Check out international scholarships here.
Places to search for scholarships
Places to search for scholarships
Below are three excellent resources that you can use to search for scholarships. There will be others out there that don't appear on any of these databases. If you find a great one let us know. Some other places you can search include iwi websites and community organisations such as Lions and Rotary. If your parents work for a big company or chain there may be scholarship opportunities through that organisation.
This scholarship search guide is the best place to start. It is extremely comprehensive and easy to use. It has links to the scholarship pages of all of the universities in NZ as well as key community scholarships.
This is an extremely comprehensive guide to scholarship and funding applications. The school pays for a subscription. To create an account you need to use your school email address and you will get free access. Select tertiary and then undergraduate (first year)
A database with a wide range of scholarships that are available in the Horticulture and Agriculture industry. This is an excellent tool to find scholarships, however it is always a good idea to double check the information against the university or organisations website.
This database includes all of the scholarships from organisations that have directly reached out to us.
Part 2: Creating a scholarship profile and writing personal statements
Part 2: Creating a scholarship profile and writing personal statements
Scholarship profile demo.mp4Creating your scholarship profile
Creating your scholarship profile
Pretty much every institution that offers scholarship wants to know about three key areas:
Academic achievements
Community/service/leadership involvement
Sporting achievements
You should build your profile using the 'Scholarship Profile' button on your school dashboard. We use the information that you put in this profile to write your scholarship reference letters.
The video on the left demonstrates how you get that form started.
Writing personal statements
Writing personal statements
Pretty much every scholarship that you apply for requires you to write a personal statement. This statement is your argument for why you should receive the scholarship that you have applied for.
The document to the left has a complete guide to what you should put in a personal statement for a scholarship. It is effectively a writing guide. This is where you put those hard earned English skills to the test.
Remember, you can, and should, get somebody to proof read it for you. Mum, granddad or your English teacher are a good place to start. Mr Collin is also happy to look over them. Book an appointment here.
Part 3: Getting References
Part 3: Getting References
This is a two part process. The first is to choose five teachers that know you well to act as your referee. Choose teachers who will paint you in a positive light and who you think will write constructive comments. The more that they write, the better things are for you.
The second part of the process is to nominate your referee on the website of the university. All of New Zealand's major universities ask you for one name to use as your reference. A number of them call it a principal's reference. You should always put Mr Collin (t.collin@tbc.school.nz) as your reference. He will collate all of the information from your other teachers as well as using the information that you put in your scholarship profile to make the best reference letter possible.
If you apply for a community scholarship that asks for a written letter of reference Mr Collin will help you out with that as well.
University reference requests.mp4Nominating your five teachers
Nominating your five teachers
Again, the process of this is via school dashboard and the video to the left explains how it works. It is pretty straightforward really, you choose the five teachers from the drop down menu and a form automatically goes to them which they can use to give feedback about you.
I highly recommend actually asking them in person to do the reference for you and DO IT EARLY so staff are not rushed into giving you a poor recommendation.
Part 4: Applying for scholarships
Part 4: Applying for scholarships
Each scholarship has a slightly different application process. All of the New Zealand university scholarships are applied for through the student portal on the university website. You will need to create a student profile. Remember, this does not lock you into going to that university, it is just an expression of interest.
Community scholarships are likely to be an application form, a letter of recommendation (remember to use Mr Collin) and your own application letter. Remember to check the requirements carefully because not submitting the right things is the fastest way to be ruled out!
Part 5: Other things you might need
Part 5: Other things you might need
There are a number of other things that scholarship applications sometimes ask for. Below is some information about a few of them. If there is something that you are asked for that is not listed here, please let the Future Pathways Department know and we will add instructions.
Record of achievement (ROA)
Record of achievement (ROA)
This is a really common one. Your ROA is effectively a record of all of your academic achievements so far. You have to access it from the NZQA website and you will need to know your NSN (national student number) and your NZQA password. These are the same details that you use to access digital exams.
If you don't know your NSN, you can find it on your student dashboard, this video shows you how.
The video to the right explains how to find, and download, your ROA.
Video content
Video content
Some scholarships come with a request for video content displaying your skills. This is a great way for universities to get a sense of what you are really like. The challenge is making the video content. The video to the left gives some information on what to include.
TBC Future Pathways tips include: Be enthusiastic, choose your back drop carefully and edit to sustain interest.
A second reference
A second reference
This is particularly common for sports scholarships. While your academic reference should be completed by Mr Collin, your second reference should be a coach or community leader.
Get these done early, the last thing that you want to do is to have to put pressure on a coach, who probably doesn't like writing, to do this at the last minute.
If they can do the reference on a company letter head, awesome. If they don't have one, no drama. Ideally print the reference, get the referee to sign and date it and scan it as a PDF. This can all be done in the Future Pathways Room (R15) so come and ask for help with the scan.
To the left is an example letter which should help your second referee put your application together.
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