Chapter 7 : Chance of a Lifetime
After I felt convinced with my decision, I immediately paid the 3000 pound deposit of the tuition fee, and sent the copy of my passport. By the end of February, I finally received an unconditional offer from Brunel University for the MSc Business System Integration program. This offer was important, because I wanted to apply for the Brunel International Scholarship.
The Brunel International Scholarship was my only chance of getting a scholarship. Although it’s only a partial scholarship (with the amount of 3000 pound), I still rate it highly and I believe this scholarship will support me more than enough while I’m studying at Brunel. In order to apply for this scholarship, the applicants must submit a statement of minimum 800 words to explain their best achievements, their motivations, the benefits they would gained from getting this scholarship, and their contributions to the Brunel community after getting this scholarship.
I prepared my scholarship statement for about two months, from March to May. Despite it seems quite a long time, but overall I only need to revise the draft of my statement twice. In my statement, I wrote about my previous final academic project as my best achievement. I also explained my motivation, which was to prove that someone whose GPA was not quite high, like me, could also be considered for the scholarship. About the benefits that I would gained, I just wrote that the scholarship will help me save some amount of money that I could use for other purposes while I’m studying there. In the end, I just wrote that the scholarship would gave me an extra “tool” to promote about Brunel University to the future applicants, especially the applicants from my country.
After completed the first draft of my statement, I asked my Instructor Miff (Mr. John) at Direct English Training Center in Surabaya to help me with the proofread. Thanks to Miff the statement was ready before deadline and just need a little revision. Finally, I submitted my scholarship statement on 23 May 2010. It took almost two months for the selection process, and the result was finally announced on 17 July 2010.
Thanks to God, and everyone who has supported me (especially Miff), I finally received the Brunel International Scholarship offer with the amount of 3000 pound. I’m one of the only 35 applicants who received this offer after the selection process of more than 700 applications worldwide. From these 35 applicants, all I know that there would be only 5 applicants from the South East Asia region (which include Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Singapore, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, the Phillipines and Myanmar). I’m very happy about this wonderful achievement. Although I feel there will be a huge responsibility ahead me, I’m going to prepare myself and I will do my best.
[...] Another astonishing moment of 2010 is when I received an email from Brunel University regarding my international scholarship offer. To be honest, I didn’t expect it, because it’s already 10 days late from the actual scheduled [...]
My top 10 unforgettable moments of 2010 « Xhino 9+32 said this on 01/01/2011 at 00:38 |
Hi Andi. I’m Sundar, from India, and I received my offer from Brunel University just a few days back, for MSc Automotive and Motorsport Engg. So now I have to get my scholarship application done pretty quickly, since the deadline is on 25th of May. Can you give me some tips to do a good job in preparing the statement in such short time? It would be great if you could guide me on some do’s and don’ts, and the key to succeed in getting the scholarship.
Thank you!
Hi Sundar. Nice to hear that you received an offer in MSc Automotive and Motorsport Engg. It must be an interesting course.
Beside the tips I already shared in my blog post, maybe I can add some additional tips for you.
First, you have to answer three questions, do not exaggerate your answers, and do not pass the word limits given. Also, spell-check and proofread your statement before submit it.
Second, you have to be honest, but also persuasive at the same time, tell them what are your achievements with great enthusiasm.
Third, if you can, back up your statement with proof. I remember I attached a presentation file to support my statement about my best achievement.
Fourth, Brunel introduced a new application method for this year, in which you can record a short video to express yourself better and creatively. Maybe, you can try this method and be creative enough to impress them.
I think that’s all the additional tips I can share with you. Best of luck with your scholarship application.