Shopping for Scholarships
There’s more money available than ever before—and getting it is often just a matter of applying

By John Schofield
FROM MACLEAN’S

The notion still scares Michael Groves: monster student loans drowning him in red ink. It’s a fate that ensnares thousands of Canadians every year. But so far, the math and physics student at the University of British Columbia has escaped it. His secret? A strong portfolio of scholarships. With help from his mother, Kathy, a nurse and single parent of three, Groves spent months in his last year of high school searching for every conceivable source of assistance.

Because of his grandfather’s World War II service, the 17-year-old from Kelowna, B.C., netted an $800 award from the Royal Canadian Legion. As a former “little brother,” he landed $500 from Big Brothers and Sisters of the Okanagan. His 92-percent average also earned him a $2,500 University of British Columbia entrance scholarship, plus another $1,800 in provincial awards.

Groves’s total take was more than $5,000. Adding his summer earnings as an army-cadet trainer, plus a modest family contribution, he covered all his first-year expenses. The following year, he collected about $9,000. “I apply for everything,” says Groves. “You never know what you’ll win.”

Call it shopping for dollars. More than ever, students are tapping into scholarships—from big awards for whiz kids to grants for those with special hobbies. For many it’s a necessity. Tuition has doubled in ten years, with the average undergraduate in arts and science now paying $3,450. Considering all the costs—tuition, books, lodging, computer—one year of study away from home in Canada starts at about $12,000.

The good news is that as costs have risen, so has available scholarship and bursary money. Since 1989, universities have nearly quadrupled their financial assistance. And Ottawa has emerged as a major player with its $2.5 billion Millennium Scholarship fund. It doles out awards—primarily for students in need—worth on average $3,000 a year, and has been used by the provinces and territories to enhance their student-aid programs.

The Competition Curve. Meanwhile, a variety of corporate players such as Nortel Networks, Magna International Inc. and JDS Uniphase have hopped on the bandwagon. In 1981, Imasco—now Imperial Tobacco Canada Limited—established a scholarship fund for disabled undergraduates. One recent recipient was Lisa Franks, an 18-year-old study-ing mechanical engineering at the University of Saskatchewan who in the fall of 2000 won four gold medals and a silver at the Sydney Paralympics.

Altogether, Canadian governments, universities, companies and nonprofit groups sponsor more than 60,000 need- and merit-based awards, ranging from $100 to $50,000 or more. And as the number of scholarships has risen, so has the number of applicants. Take the prestigious, privately funded Canadian Merit Scholarship Awards, worth up to $46,000 over four years. In the 13 years since it was established, the number of candidates vying for it has nearly quintupled, to 3,700 annually. In 2000, 175 qualified for the awards. Another hotly contested prize is the Millennium Scholarship Foundation’s excellence awards, a merit-based program that accounts for five percent of the organization’s scholarship budget. Last year 8,129 students applied for 900 awards, ranging from a one-time $4,000 payment to $4,800 annually, renewable over four years.

The competition for scholarship dollars has turned up the pressure to maximize grades and expand résumés. The Internet is playing a key role in raising awareness of the choices. One site, studentawards.com, initiated in December 1998, and its French counterpart, boursetudes.com, launched three years ago, boasts 370,000 registered users and more than 8,500 visits a day, compared with more than 50,000 users for scholarshipscanada.com. “Scholarships are one of the first things senior students ask about,” says Martha Cruikshank, guidance head at A. N. Myer Secondary School in Niagara Falls, Ont. “But often they’re more savvy than the counsellors.”

In the new world of enrollment management, universities are stepping up their tradition of using scholarships to lure outstanding students. In 2000, McMaster University in Hamilton joined the growing number of institutions offering automatic-award programs for students with high marks. The $2 million program pays $750 to those with high-school averages of 80-84 percent, $1,000 for applicants scoring 85-89, and $2,000 for students with 90 percent and above. McMaster credits the program for the 40-percent boost in the number of students with entering averages of 80 percent or higher. “Students who may not have considered McMaster have added us to their list,” says Fred Hall, associate vice-president, academic.

Very Valuable

Bank of Montreal National Scholarships—University of British Columbia The University of British Columbia awards four scholarships, each valued at $40,000 over four years, to attract outstanding undergraduate students from across Canada. For more information, contact the Office of Awards and Financial Aid, University of British Columbia, 604-822-5111.

Students can now also compete for a range of interest-based awards. The $2,500 Peter Corley Memorial Scholarship is open to members of the Soaring Association of Canada who have completed a solo glider flight in the past year. The Maytree Education Access Program is for students from refugee families in financial need. Others, like the Imperial Oil Higher Education Awards, are for the children of employees.

Some observers see the scholarship race as another sign of the Americanization of Canada’s academic landscape. For critics, every new award inaugurated by Nortel or the Lions Club underscores the fact that governments slashed billions from postsecondary education during the 1990s. To offset huge funding cuts, most provincial governments have allowed universities to increase tuition. In Ontario, fees for its graduate and professional programs such as business, law and medicine have been deregulated. In return, universities have been told to reinvest some of those revenues to increase financial assistance.

Coaching for Dollars. Canada may be moving towards an American model, but it still falls far short. Take sports scholarships: The average annual athletic award south of the border is $15,750, whereas until recently, all provinces had a $1,500 limit. In June 2000 the Canadian Interuniversity Sport association voted to increase that, matching awards with tuition costs—boosting the average award to $3,400. Ontario universities have upped the award to a $2,500 limit.

Easy to Get

York University Entrance Scholarships An unlimited number of York University Entrance Scholarships of up to $4,000 are awarded automatically based on your academic average. www.yorku.ca/admissio/undergrad/scholarships_undrgrd1.asp.

Some of Canada’s most generous awards are based on overall merit as much as on marks. The TD Canada Trust scholarships, one of the country’s most coveted prizes, is presented to 20 young Canadians each year who demonstrate outstanding community leadership. The scholarship covers tuition, $3,500 a year towards living expenses and an offer of summer employment at TD Canada Trust, for up to four years. Candidates for a Canadian Merit Scholarship award must have at least an 80-percent average and demonstrate character, leadership and service. “We’re not looking for conventional students,” says Colleen Cowman, executive director of the scholarship’s foundation.

Taylor Adams is by no means conventional. After two days of interviews in February 2000, the 17-year-old from St. John’s, Nfld., won one of 30 of that year’s Canadian Merit Scholarship’s national awards, and it was easy to see why. While at Holy Heart of Mary Regional High School, Adams played on the volleyball team, belonged to three choirs and the string orchestra, and was heavily involved in peer counselling. She participated in science fairs, including the 1999 Canada-Wide Science Fair in Edmonton, and she had an 88-percent average. Adams also volunteered through her church, and was in the Newfoundland Symphony Youth Choir. Thanks to her scholarship, she’s now studying at Simon Fraser University in British Columbia and hopes to become a psychologist, helping young women with eating disorders and other challenges.

Scholarship Opportunities You Should Check Out By Line Abrahamian MONEY IN MOTION EF Global Citizen Awards Each year EF offers students the opportunity to win a $1,500 scholarship, plus a ten-day expenses-paid educational tour of Europe. Applicants must be nominated by their schools based on their school's own criteria, and each school may nominate only one student to apply for the awards. Nominees are then asked to write an essay on a given subject. Selection of these awards is based primarily on the quality of the essay. Twelve recipients will be chosen--two from Canada and ten from the United States. (www.eftours.com/globalcitizen) Monbukagakusho Scholarships The Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (Monbukagakusho) of the Government of Japan offers one or two scholarships to Canadian students who wish to pursue their undergraduate studies (in any university subject) in Japan. The awards are tenable for five years, except for students majoring in medicine, dentistry, or veterinary sciences, whose scholarship term is seven years. The scholarships include tuition fees, airfare and a monthly allowance of more than $1,800. Applicants must be between the ages of 17 and 22, and have completed 12 years of education. (www.embassyjapancanada.org/) EASY TO GET York University Entrance Scholarships An unlimited number of York University Entrance Scholarships are awarded automatically based on your academic average. The higher your average, the more money you get: $4,000 for 90 percent and above, $2,000 for 85 to 89.9 percent, $500 for an 80 to 84.9 percent. (www.yorku.ca/admissio/undergrad/scholarships_undrgrd1.asp) WORTH APPLYING TO Wendy's Classic Achiever High School Scholarship Awards Program High school principals across Ontario and the Maritimes are invited to nominate one male and one female student from their school's graduating class. To be nominated, students must maintain a 70-percent average in their previous year, participate in at least one extra-curricular activity and be involved in local community service. Four nominees--one female and one male from each region--will each win a $6,000 scholarship. Ten additional finalists in each region will receive $1,000 scholarships, and their respective schools will be granted $1,000. (www.wendys.com/community/classic_achiever/awards.html) Reginald K. Groome Memorial Scholarships - Scouts Canada Up to 20 undergraduate scholarships are awarded annually, each in the amount of $1,000, to applicants who are active members of Scouts Canada and who have showcased leadership inside and outside of Scouting, as well as demonstrated academic achievement. (www.scouts.ca/yinfo/scholar00.stm) Girl Guides of Canada Scholarships Between ten to 15 scholarships, each in the amount of $1,000, are available to active members of Girl Guides of Canada each year who wish to pursue post-secondary education. Applicants are rated on service and volunteer work inside and outside of Guiding, as well as on their additional interests. Although marks are important, they're not the focus of Girl Guides of Canada Scholarships. (www.girlguides.ca/fun/fun-scholarships.htm) University of Western Ontario President's Entrance Scholarships Eleven President’s Entrance Scholarships, valued at approximately $30,000 each, are awarded yearly to outstanding secondary-school students entering year-one studies at the University of Western Ontario. Applicants must have a very strong academic record (minimum 90 percent) and demonstrate leadership through participation in school and/or community activities. Applicants must be nominated by their schools and submit a short essay on a topic of national importance or public concern. Winners receive $6,000 annually for four years, plus first-year residence room and board fees. (www.registrar.uwo.ca/ACCALS/2001/awd_1.htm) McMaster Scholar Awards Seven McMaster Scholar Awards, one per faculty and each valued at approximately $30,000, are awarded to students entering any undergraduate study at McMaster University. Students with a strong academic record (minimum 90 percent) and contributions to community or extra-curricular activities are encouraged to apply. Winners receive $20,000 for four years, a $2,000 Honour Award--renewable for one year--plus their first-year residence and meal-plan fees paid. McMaster also grants unlimited Honour Awards automatically to first-year students with outstanding marks: $2,000 for 90 percent and above, $1,000 for 85 to 89.99 percent, $750 for 80 to 84.99 percent. These scholarships are renewable for one year. (access.mcmaster.ca/financial_aid/entrance.html) Bank of Montreal National Scholarships - University of British Columbia The University of British Columbia (UBC) is awarding four brand new scholarships, each valued at $40,000 over four years, to attract outstanding undergraduate students from across Canada. High schools, colleges and universities are invited to nominate the top one percent of their graduating classes considering attending UBC. The scholarships, payable at $10,000 a year and renewable for three years or until graduation (whichever comes first), are awarded to students who are academically distinguished and show participation in community activities through volunteerism, athletics or artistic success. (Apply to the Office of Awards and Financial Aid, University of British Columbia, 604-822-5111) The Canadian Golf Foundation scholarships The Canadian Golf Foundation (CGF) awards about 30 academic scholarships, each valued at up to $3,000, to students pursuing a college or university education in Canada or abroad. Successful candidates are recognized for their achievements in the classroom--must have a minimum average of 75 percent--and must have demonstrated success in golf at the regional, provincial or national levels. Their participation in extra-curricular activities will also be considered. Scholarships may be renewed annually for up to four years of undergraduate study. The foundation also grants up to $5,000 a year, for up to four years, to promising young golfers and those pursuing careers in the golf industry. (Contact June Morley, scholarship co-ordinator, 1-800-263-0009) Mensa Canada Scholarship Program Canadian students enrolled in a Canadian post-secondary institution who write the best essay describing their career plan and the steps undertaken to achieve it are awarded scholarships by the Mensa Canada Society. The program includes a $750 Art Sparrow Memorial Scholarship--which is awarded to a candidate who surmounted considerable obstacles to return to study, in addition to the other criteria--and one or more $500 scholarships. Applicants are not required to be members of Mensa. (www.mensacanada.ca/scholarships/) British Columbia/Yukon Command of the Royal Canadian Legion bursaries British Columbia/Yukon Command offers an annual bursary valued at $1,500 each to about 80 students pursuing undergraduate studies at a university in British Columbia. The grants are awarded primarily based on financial need calculated on total gross family income. Preference is given to children and grandchildren of ex-service personnel, but any student undertaking post-secondary education is eligible to apply. (www.pacificlegion.org/bursaries.html) Legion provincial branches also provide bursaries. Each branch has its own application criteria and bursary value. Interested students should contact the Royal Canadian Legion branch nearest them. Lucent Global Science Scholars program This program is designed to assist science and engineering students who are pursuing careers in information and communications technologies. Two winners, with excellent academic standing, in their first year at a Canadian university are awarded about $8,000, invited to participate in a week-long summit at Lucent's global headquarters in Murray Hill, N.J., assigned a Lucent Technologies/Bell Labs Innovations mentor and offered a paid summer internship at Lucent Canada. (Canadian Bureau for International Education, www.cbie.ca/canada/INDEX.HTM) MORE LINKS Globe and Mail scholarship search engine: You complete a profile and click the Search button, and you'll get a listing of Canadian scholarships that may be right for you based on the criteria you submitted. scholarships.globeandmail.com/scholarship/CustomSearch.asp Human Resources Development Canada: Here students can browse through scholarships and award links, including the AUCC (Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada), which administers more than 150 federal and private-sector scholarship programs, CanLearn Interactive, which offers listings of more than 100 provincial and federal awards and award sites; and Youthlink, which lists about 60 awards, bursaries, scholarships, fellowships and grants. www.canlearn.ca/english/cafe/insider/issue_1/financing.cfm GraduateAid.com This is a free Canadian database containing more than 9,000 scholarships worth in excess of $57 million. www.graduateaid.com FreSch! A scholarship search engine for links--and tips--on finding scholarships. www.freschinfo.com/links-canada.phtml

Clearly, Adams is in a special league. But any student can improve the odds of winning. Many counsellors recommend that teens start preparing as early as Grade 9, maintaining good marks and adding community service and extracurricular activities to their résumés. Ideally, students should have a scholarship “coach”—a parent or teacher who alerts them to opportunities and helps them apply.

Guidance counsellors still play a key role. At Calgary’s Sir Winston Churchill High School, Sharon Lalonde and three fellow counsellors discuss scholarships with students
in grades 10, 11 and 12. The school also publishes an annual awards guide. In 2000, provincial Alexander Rutherford Scholarships awarded to the school’s graduating class for academic achievement totalled $464,000, and in 2001, $436,300. “Students don’t always look into what’s available,” says Lalonde, who has been a counsellor for 25 years. “We raise awareness.”

A major factor in earning a scholarship is simply applying. “Ignorance and apathy are the two biggest reasons kids end up empty-handed,” says Michael Howell, author of Winning Scholarships. The choices are many, and the rewards go beyond the monetary. Some scholarships include mentorships, travel and youth conferences. Summer internships from the Canadian Merit Scholarship Foundation have allowed students to spend summers at a marine-biology institute in Bermuda, a water-purification project in China and at one of Jean Vanier’s L’Arche communities in France. For Taylor Adams, the honour has provided opportunities she never would have dreamed of, including the chance to study in another part of Canada. “I’ve never done anything for recognition,” says Adams. “But it makes you proud, and it definitely opens doors that otherwise wouldn’t be opened.”

An education—in every sense of the word.

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PHOTO: © BAYNE STANLEY