Scholarships are a fantastic way to gain financial support during post-secondary. With all of the different kinds of scholarships available, how are you supposed to know when is the right time to start applying? Well, when it comes to scholarships the short answer is; as soon as possible. Quite often, scholarships have strict deadlines for applications, and if you miss the deadline you may miss out on that scholarship opportunity entirely. When applying for any scholarship, be sure to pay careful attention to the application opening date and deadline.

“I’m not in post-secondary yet, so I don’t need to look into scholarships just yet, right?”

A common misconception is that you only need to begin applying for post-secondary scholarships once you have actually started post-secondary. However, this is not always the case. There are some scholarships that recognize your high school accomplishments, such as the Alexander Rutherford Scholarship for Alberta students. With these types of scholarships, you can actually begin to submit your scholarship application once you have been accepted to your post-secondary institution. If you are unsure if you are able to apply for your scholarship before you begin post-secondary, ask your academic advisor at school, search in the scholarship section of your province’s learning information website, or search under the scholarship section of your post-secondary institution’s website.

There are often also scholarships that are offered for recognizing your academic achievements once you have initially entered your first year of post-secondary. These are often called “Entrance Awards,” which are typically offered to outstanding students entering their specific faculty. These awards typically have a very early cut-off date once the school year begins. Be sure to check to see if a student application is required. (Please note that some entrance awards do not require a student’s formal application, as the post-secondary institution will apply on your behalf). If a student application is required, be sure to apply as soon as possible, as entrance awards are typically only awarded for a short period of time once the school year has begun. Be sure to always carefully check the application deadline for any scholarship application, and make sure you are giving yourself enough time to properly apply.

For other scholarships that you may gain throughout the course of your post-secondary journey, the timeframe for when to apply may vary. Be sure to check your post-secondary institution’s website on a regular basis for scholarships that you may be eligible for. When applying for a scholarship, it is important to remember that the application process may take longer for some applications than others, depending on its requirements. It is best to begin the application process for any scholarship as soon as you are permitted to do so (each individual scholarship will note both the application opening and the application deadline). By applying as soon as the scholarship application becomes available, you prevent potentially missing the deadline, and allow yourself as much time as possible to complete all necessary application tasks. It is important to allow yourself as much time as possible, especially if the application requires something that may be time consuming, such as essay. This will ensure you are submitting your best work, giving you the best possible opportunity to receive the scholarship. So always remember, when applying for any scholarship, don’t delay! Check when the application date becomes open, and when the deadline is. Once acceptance for applications becomes available, begin the application process immediately!