Bur Oak Secondary School
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Understand what a scholarship and
bursary is
Learn about the different types of
scholarships
Appreciate what the competition looks like
Explore how to become a competitive
candidate
Understand the process for finding and
applying to scholarships
What are they?
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A monetary award given to a student
based on merit (it must be earned)
o
meant solely for education (e.g. tuition,
course texts, residence)
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Awarded based on several criteria; the
criteria differs from one scholarship
to another
•
A minimal application
fee is sometimes
required
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Skills
◦ Leadership and Initiative
 Shown through your experiences
and/or references
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Community Involvement
Academics
Extracurricular Participation
◦ sports, councils, teams, clubs
1.
Entrance Scholarships
2.
Merit Scholarships
◦ Based on your overall final grade 12 average
OR
your final average in your top six grade 12 “U” or “M”
level courses
◦ No application required
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Awarded to the most accomplished student, usually in
the areas of academics, music, art, or athletics
An application is required
3.
Citizenship
4.
Special Circumstances
◦ Based on your extracurricular involvement and overall
contribution to the community, both in and out of
school (e.g. clubs, teams, organizations)
◦ An application is required
◦
Based on unique situations, such as your ability to overcome
challenges, speak and study French, invest in
the
School
Entrance Scholarships
Western
95%+ = $2500 x 4 years
90-94.9% = $2000 x 1 year
85-89.9% = $1000 x 1 year
McMaster
95%+ = $2500 x 1 year
90-94.9% = $1000 x 1 year
85-89.9% = $750 x 1 year
80-84.9% = $500 x 1 year
• All colleges and
universities offer these
• Students only receive
ONE entrance
scholarship
Queen’s
90–94.9% = $1500 - $2000 x 1 year
95%+ = $4000 x 1 year
Carleton
80-84.9% = $1000 x 4 years
85-89.9% = $2000 x 4 years
90-94.9% = $3000 x 4 years
95-100% = $4000 x 4 years
Brock
80-84.9% = $750 x 1 year
85-89.9% = $1000 x 4 years
90-92% = $2000 x 4 years + free iPad
93%+ = $3500 x 4 years + free iPad
York
95%+ = $3000 x 4 years
90-94.9% = $2000 x 4 years
85-89.9% = $1000 x 4 years
80-84.9% = $500 x 4 years
U of T
92%+ = $2000 (many other scholarships that must be applied to)
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Athletic financial awards offered by Canadian
universities must follow the criteria
established by Canadian Interuniversity Sport
(CIS)
Scholarship maximum is capped at tuition
and compulsory fees
◦ Candidates are eligible for awards that will go
beyond this (e.g. Academic awards or those
provided by Sport Governing Bodies)
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Contact the coach of the
university team you are
interested in about tryouts
in Grade 12
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TD Scholarships for Community Leadership
◦ “We’re interested in hearing from students who have
demonstrated consistent and outstanding dedication
to solving a community problem or making their
community a better place. For example, you may be
cleaning up the environment, promoting social
justice, or fighting child poverty.”
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Awarded up to $10 000 towards tuition EACH
year
Awarded $7 500 EACH
year for living
expenses
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Loran Scholar
◦ “We are committed to the greatest of Canada's natural
resources: our youth. We work to identify and support
talented students who show promise of leadership
and a strong commitment to service in the
community. We fund these citizens to study on
Canadian campuses, to the benefit of their future and
ours.”
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Tuition WAIVED at 1 of 25 partner universities
AND
$9000 stipend (renewable)
AND
$8500 to initiate a summer project/internship
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The Amazing Travel Scholarship
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MERF Scholarship
(for those
interested in
government)
What are they?
a
monetary grant (lump sum of
money) given to a student who
is in need of financial assistance
to continue their education
Typically issued to students who
demonstrate the greatest financial
need (documentation required)
 Bursaries
repaid
DO NOT have to be
 Applications
required
are sometimes
 Students
who need financial
assistance usually apply for
OSAP (Ontario Student
Assistance Program)
OSAP = money LOANED to
students; money must be repaid,
in installments, after graduation
 Students
who are ineligible for
OSAP are generally strong
candidates for bursaries
Who are you?
What do you stand for?
Academic
Achievement
Community Involvement
Extra-Curricular
Participation
Honour Roll
Meaningfully volunteer at
schools, religious
institutions, city initiatives
Student Councils
Subject Awards
Initiate or participate in
charity work
e.g. join an organization
(Canadian Cancer Society)
School Clubs
- Zero Footprint
- Computer Club
- Robotics Club
Music
Competitions
Get involved in the
community
e.g. Markham Youth Task
Force, Empowered Student
Partnerships (ESP)
Yearbook
Art Shows
Get involved at BOSS
e.g. Peer Tutoring, breakfast
club, announcement team
Athletic Teams
Math Contests
Band and Choir
Science
Olympics
Improv Team
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Develop your skills
◦ Leadership and initiative are learned behaviours
◦ Get involved in your school and/or community and watch
leaders in action. Emulate the behaviours you respect and find
effective
 Ask leaders questions and for opportunities
◦ Join a council, take initiative, and use your role to
create change
 Become a director (this requires one year of council exp.)
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Start building your résumé NOW
◦ Keep it updated. Add honours and awards you win, extracurricular activities, community volunteer work, and paid work
◦ Having a résumé updated and ready allows you to better take
advantage of opportunities that come up
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Make a difference and be an agent of change.
This requires applying your skills and
building your team.
◦ Revitalize a club at B.O.S.S. or start a club with a
team of people you know are invested
 What happened to the school newspaper?
 I have so many friends that love to dance, can I create
a club and perform at assembles and school events?
◦ Ask the right questions and talk to the right people
 The Breakfast Club at B.O.S.S. has so much potential.
Mr. Hurlington, I have an idea…
 I love being a part of my church group. Ms. Lam, how
can I take on more responsibility?
 Mr. Kumar, I really enjoyed attending the 30 Hour
Famine last year. Is anyone planning one for
this year?
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Those who win scholarships seldom win because
they want the money, they win because they are
passionate about a cause, are active citizens,
and deserve it!
◦ Concerned about social justice?
 Start an awareness campaign as part of a council or club –
use social media, the announcements, the caf projector,
our school website, assemblies, and run lunch time events
◦ Passionate about sports?
 Step up as a team member and push your team’s practice
regiment
 Initiate a sporting campaign at school (talk to Athletic
Council) or in the community (talk to the City of Markham)
to get people active.
What to do
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Sign up on scholarship websites to receive
regular updates
www.scholarshipscanada.com
www.studentawards.com
Be aware of the different scholarships available
◦ Follow guidance on Twitter – @BOSSguidance
◦ Check the guidance website for scholarship links and
updates
◦ Check the bulletin board outside the guidance office
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When applying, be aware of scholarship
timelines and requirements well in advance
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Be prepared to complete a personal
statement or essay
◦ Do not let this stop you!
◦ Many scholarships go unawarded because students
do not want to write 500 words. This is not a
reason to lose hundreds of dollars!
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Book a guidance appointment to discuss your
questions or to clarify components of the
application
◦ We are here to guide you, but the responsibility to
find and learn about scholarships is your own
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Assesses your writing and critical thinking skills
Is equivalent to an interview
Include only relevant details. Do not pad your
application with extraneous unrelated details.
SAMPLE QUESTIONS
Answer in 500 words or less:
What leadership qualities do you possess and how do you strive to
inspire others?
Describe what you consider to be your most significant contribution to
date and its value to your school or larger community.
Why was it important to you and to others ?
Describe a time you challenged yourself by taking on a task/project that
was beyond your scope and capability at the time. Why did you do it?
What happened?
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Give the referee all the information they need
regarding the scholarship
Give the referee a copy of your résumé that
lists your accomplishments
Give the referee TIME to write the letter; a
couple of days is NOT enough time
Send thank you notes or emails to people
who write letters for you
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Tell the truth
If necessary, request a letter of
recommendation from teachers and/or
community members at least 1 month before
submission
If necessary, notify your Guidance Counsellor
at least 3 weeks ahead of the deadline
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Type the final copy of the essay
Application forms should me very neat and
printed in black ink
For your own records, make copies of your
application before mailing it out
 University
of Toronto Book Award
 Loran Awards
 TD Canada Trust Scholarship
 Terry Fox Humanitarian Award
 Toyota Earth Day Scholarship
 Burger King Scholars Award