10 Reasons : Why Your Scholarship Application Was Rejected?

Everyone wants to be awarded a scholarship. Even those who may not need the money all that badly still apply for scholarships. Why? Besides the financial aid, getting a scholarship is recognition of your merit and achievements. It is something to be proud of, for sure. Besides, it will look great on your CV when you apply for an internship or job later on. But why your Scholarship Application Was Rejected?

Here is a tale of two applicants who were aiming for the same scholarship. Let’s make the initial phone call. Emil is a top student at his school (always gets straight As), involved in several extracurricular activities in leadership positions, and has competed for his school in debating tournaments. Emil may be feeling very confident about his application, given the likelihood. On the other side is Tikri, a typical student with respectable marks, an enthusiastic member of two student clubs, and a football player with the local lads. Naturally, Tikri also desires a scholarship..

Would it surprise you to find that Emil wasn’t selected for the scholarship but Tikri was? Do you consider Emil’s situation to be particularly unfair? Hold your horses as we examine the potential causes of the problem.

Scholarship Application Rejected? Many people are shocked when someone with a less outstanding résumé gets chosen for a scholarship interview or is the next recipient of a scholarship. There are some things you can (and should) do to make sure your scholarship application doesn’t end up in the “reject” pile, even if the scholarship selection process can be extremely subjective in some areas.

Even though these suggestions may seem very basic, following them correctly will assist ensure that your application starts off on the proper foot (and ends up in the pile marked “shortlist for interviews”). Let’s examine 10 potential reasons why your scholarship application can be denied:

1. You did not qualify under the terms of the scholarship.

The eligibility requirements for most scholarships are stated for potential applicants. This could relate to a number of things, including the applicant’s age, academic record, field of study, and degree of study. For instance, if the scholarship is exclusively available for business and engineering majors, you may be sure that you will be denied if you choose to pursue a degree in “Bachelor of Marketing Communications.”

2. Your application was incomplete.

If you’ve ever applied for a scholarship, you’ll be aware of how lengthy certain scholarship applications can be. Some applications ask for enough information to allow you to create an autobiography, from specifics on every member of your family to every activity you had in school. Even though it may be tedious, you must make sure that you give them all the information they request, and if for some reason you can’t, be sure to include a brief explanation of why.

3. You did not include a valid contact.

A phone number where you can be reached should be provided. Check to see if your pre-paid line is operational right away. Changing phone numbers right now is also not a smart idea. You might receive emails from some organizations, so be sure to check them frequently.

4. You missed the deadline.

Do you believe it won’t occur to you? Rethink your position. Many applicants get excited about filling out their applications from the beginning, but they frequently lose focus or procrastinate when it comes to the tricky parts, like the essay section. Lateness will result in dismissal.

5. You did not include enough postage.

Make sure to include the appropriate amount of postage on your envelope if you’re mailing your application. Verify the address once more to be sure it is accurate. You have no possibility of progressing to the next round if they don’t get your application.

6. You submitted a dirty or torn application.

Stop laughing. This occurs. Who knows: you might have sat on them, spilled coffee on them, or even torn them while assembling your application form, academic transcripts, and other documents. Restart with fresh, clear copies if that occurs. A potential interviewer is more turned off by filthy, crumpled, or damaged applications than anything else.

7. Your application contained several spelling errors.

When you don’t take the time to check your application for spelling errors, you’re letting them know you don’t really care if you earn the scholarship. In order to catch mistakes that spell-check missed, please read the entire document. Check the grammar and punctuation while you’re at it as well. Obtain assistance if you feel you require a second opinion.

8. You copied your personal statement or essay from the Internet.

Sometimes the temptation is too great. You’re browsing the web for essay or personal statement ideas when you come across a sample that is a perfect fit for you. You may be asking yourself, “Should I use it? Oh, who would know? Another student is almost certainly plagiarizing your essays if you are. It’s dangerous and not worth it to get caught. Write your own; you’ll be glad you did.

9. You submitted irrelevant or inappropriate supporting documents.

A few of you might just be the kiasu type. Do your best to maintain self-control. Please don’t provide ten different sorts of documentation if the application only asks for four. Avoid upsetting the applicants’ screening committee members. There’s a good risk they won’t approve your application if they have to read through a mountain of useless paperwork.

10. Your handwriting is illegible.

The majority of applications can now be submitted online. Additionally, even if they must be delivered by mail, you can always finish your application online and print it off. You might occasionally be required to submit a handwritten essay, though. You can also be forced to submit a handwritten application. Make sure your writing is clear and legible in these circumstances. You don’t want readers to give up attempting to understand your work out of frustration.

Even though these suggestions might seem extremely basic, keeping them in mind will increase your chances of finding scholarships. Start your search early and have a few plans in place as you go. Here’s one to get you started.

Visit our Scholarship page now! We have compiled a list of the latest scholarships for you, and the list is updated whenever a new scholarship is in the offing.

ESSENTIAL TIPS WHEN APPLYING FOR SCHOLARSHIPS

Scholarship Application Rejected? The process of applying for scholarships can take a lot of time, and there is frequently fierce competition. You can improve your chances of success by utilizing the advice provided below. It is crucial to understand that the majority of scholarship money support full-time students rather than those who are enrolled in part-time courses.

1. Search, search, search-  Don’t hold off until you find the ideal scholarship. The secret to receiving a scholarship is perseverance. Stop holding out and begin applying. Use the national scholarship databases and the AUT scholarship websites to do an online search. At the end of this document is a list of locations to start. There will likely be less competition the harder it is to find a specific scholarship. While you must refrain from applying for scholarships for which you are plainly ineligible, you must also refrain from holding out for the ideal scholarship.
2. But do only apply if you are eligible-
   Examine the eligibility requirements thoroughly and choose scholarships that match your abilities, characteristics, and areas of interest in research. Is a certain GPA necessary? Is proof of financial need necessary for the scholarship? You will submit shoddy, off-target applications and waste a lot of time if you apply for every scholarship you come across. Spend your time crafting the scholarship applications that are right for you, and you’ll wind up with compelling submissions.
3. Write an up to date resume (CV)
   Concentrate on what you do best. Write a CV and keep it updated before you start applying for scholarships. This CV should contain all pertinent details, such as dates, academic background, a synopsis of your professional experience, publications, and extracurricular and personal interests. A CV can help you focus your thoughts and serve as a reminder of your past accomplishments, even if a scholarship application does not specifically call for one.
4. Participate in extracurricular activities
   Grade point average (GPA) is typically significant, however many scholarship committees don’t just pick the applicant with the greatest GPA. The committees may also be interested in your extracurricular activities, so that is only half the tale. Are you active in the neighborhood? Have you offered to help others on a volunteer basis? What positions did you hold? Do you have any written articles? What are your objectives? Participating in extracurricular activities demonstrates your ability to manage your time and eagerness to become involved. Many scholarship committees are interested in giving awards to students that have leadership abilities and are well-rounded.
5. Identify the funder’s goals
   The scholarship is given to the student who best satisfies the standards of the funder. Despite how obvious these criteria may appear, many students don’t take the effort to make sure they are aware of them. For specifics and hints about the funder’s objectives, thoroughly review all the scholarship information as well as the website.
6. Arrange your references early
   Now is the time to find out from important people if they are available to serve as your referee or to offer you with written references. You can require references from both your academic and personal life. Many applications have been rejected as a result of reference statements not being submitted on time or referees not being available or prepared to remark. Make sure that any written references are generic, meaning they should not mention any particular scholarship. The majority of referees are happy to give a reference, however they might not be happy to make a unique statement for each application.
7. Watch deadlines carefully
   Late applications won’t be accepted by the scholarship committees. Create a closure date calendar and post it in your workspace. Once you’ve decided the scholarships you want to apply for, get started right away. Make arrangements for copies of academic transcripts well in advance of the deadlines. Mark your calendar and give yourself a personal deadline of two weeks before to the application’s due date. By taking this step, you can be confident that your application will arrive on time and that you will have enough time to thoroughly edit it and make sure any supporting paperwork is ready. If your application is not last-minute and hurried, it will be stronger.
8. Writing your application
   Carefully follow all guidelines. Your application can be disqualified in a preliminary review if you don’t strictly adhere to the requirements. Major errors in an application would usually be disregarded by scholarship committees. The scholarship’s name, did you get it right? Have all of the requested details been provided? Was the contact information you gave us accurate? A rejection will occur if the application is not readable. A well-presented, tidy application is much more enticing than one that is messy, sloppy, and covered in food. Write your application in draft form so you can make whatever changes you desire to the first version while still retaining a clean, unaltered final version.
9. Proofread your application
   You can simply raise your chances of success by properly editing your applications. Read through any personal statements or study outlines once more after you have confirmed the material on the application. Are there any grammatical mistakes? What about grammar mistakes? Is it properly formatted? The day after you submit your application, review it once more. You will obtain a new perspective and see things that you might have missed the day before by checking the next day. Your chances of succeeding can be greatly increased by simply investing a little more time.
10. Ask someone else to proofread your application                                                                               Request a second set of eyes to review your application after you’ve done it yourself. This might be a coworker, but ideally you want someone who is skilled at both proofreading and is familiar with scholarship applications.
11. Send by certified mail                                                                                                                                    Request a receipt when handing in your application or sending it by certified mail or courier. A lost application through the mail system would be quite disheartening after all the effort. For the added security, I would be prepared to pay a little more.
12. “Never, never, never, never give up “. (Winston Churchill)
    If your initial application is rejected, don’t be startled. If you are, be astonished instead! Start the next scholarship application as soon as your first one is submitted. Keep in mind to give every application the same level of attention and particular consideration. Determination is the secret to receiving a scholarship. The likelihood of your success increases dramatically if you don’t give up.