For Scholarship Success, be Ready to Embrace New Commitments and Make Sacrifices,

When I was younger, my mother always told me that there was no such thing as a free lunch. Naturally, in my childish arrogance, I did  not believe her. This made sense, because I did not pay for anything. Everything is free as a child. I know now, that I have to pay for all of my lunches. But what about when you are treated to lunch by a friend or colleague, you ask? This is free is it not? Common wisdom would dictate that it is. You are not paying for it yourself after all. This is true, the money is not coming out of your bank account. Not directly anyway.  There are other costs, though. You might be expected to repay the favor, for example. This could be used as an opportunity for the person to get to know you better. They might even want to sell you something by the end of the meal. These are all indirect costs because something is expected of you.

Okay, enough story telling. What does this have to do with scholarships? This is the question on your mind I imagine. Believe it or not, it has everything to do with scholarships. The only difference between being treated for lunch and a scholarship, is the name. Most people believe that a scholarship is a free lunch. In fact, in 99 out of a 100 cases, you will not be given a scholarship for nothing. Let us have a look at some of the things that will typically be expected of you.

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Apply for a Scholarship or Grant

This might sound obvious, but a scholarship or grant will not just fall from the sky. You need to make the first step, and actually apply. This is your first obligation. Of course, there are some scholarships for which you will not have to apply. You may be nominated for one by your university, school, or teachers, but this is rare. In the vast majority of cases, an application must be made. You can find more information on how to make the the perfect application elsewhere on our website.

Please follow this link for some of the scholarships already cited on Bursary.me:

RCC Institute of Technology Scholarships

Scholarships For Africa Womans

Be Registered at the University or College

This might sound obvious, but it still needs to be stated. If you want to get a scholarship, you not only need to be accepted for a course, but is also has to be at the right institution of further education. As I said, this sounds extremely obvious, but you have no idea how many people make this fatal mistake. First make sure that you have been accepted to your chosen university or college. Once done, ensure that all scholarships that you apply for not only fit your profile, but also apply to the institution at which you are registered.

Maintain Good Grades

You will probably be doing this as best as you can anyway. Now that you want to get scholarships and grants, you have an obligation to maintain a certain level of academic excellence. A lot of scholarship are not given to anyone. For many, you will already need to either have certain grades, or come within certain percentile of your class. Not only this, but you will also need to maintain your grades at a certain level in many cases. Should you somehow see your grades fall below a certain level, your scholarship or grant might be revoked, and you might have to pay it back. As a result, it is critically important for you to to your best in academic terms.

Go on Trips

Some scholarships and grants will require you to go on trips in order to represent the organization behind them. For example, you might be asked to travel to a conference and talk about your experiences. Otherwise, you might be asked to go on a trip with other people who received the scholarship or grant that you have. This is probably the most enjoyable of the obligations which will be given to you, but travel is not for everyone, and it will distract you from your studies, if only for a short time.

Write Reports

Some scholarships will not allow for your respect and sometimes excelling in your academic obligations to be sufficient, although many will. Some will require you to write in every now and again. You may have to write about your experience during your studies. Alternatively, you may be required to write a full essay on a certain topic by the end of your term of study.  This is just a small amount of coursework which will be added to what you will already have, which you will be able to do with all of the extra time you have now that you no longer have to work.

Go to Work

Some scholarships and grants will require you to go to work in either one of two ways. Either you do an internship at a predetermined workplace, or spend a year working at said workplace. This is probably one of the better conditions given by issuers of scholarships and grants. You might be aware of how competitive the job market is for university graduates, particularly new graduates. This work experience is a real leg up for you, and could lead to a permanent job offer. You have to be sure that this is what you want to do with your life, of course.

Do not Break the Law

I personally hope that you are doing this anyway, and is it very obvious in many ways. When you receive a scholarship, please do your best not to break the law. Your scholarship or grant will certainly be revoked if you do, and you might even lose your place at your college or university. This can apply to any sort of misdemeanors. For you international students, make sure that your visa situation is totally in order. You do not want any surprises.

These are just some of the many conditions attached to most scholarships. I personally hope that this was useful to you. It shows that there is no such thing as free money. On the other hand, some of the condition are easier to respect than others, and you might respect them anyway, without being aware of them. In which case, the lunch might as well be free, but you still need to be aware of these conditions, just in case..

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31 Responses to 7 Common Commitments and Obligations Regarding Univeristy or College Scholarships and Grants

1. yes it is good to be committed in any place and especially if you get a scholarship you must sacrifice a lot in order to successful

2. Hi
   Due to obligations regarding university or college scholarship/grant, it is important for those who are benefitting from the scholarship to put efforts in their studies and to be obedient.

   • it give a good information for me thanks a lot

3. It is true that one have 2 be committed to study because scholarship is very important to everyone don’t have money to pay there school fees

4. I personally need scholarship because I really don’t have that kind of money to go back to school

5. VERY GOOD

6. this is a helpful article David…i understand more about scholarships than i did 15mins ago…thanks

7. please can RCC scholarship expand to AFRICANS?

8. Good information this will help one to seat up

9. actually then information is true nand one has to put in the efforts actually;thank you

10. Highly motivated and getting ready for my scholarship (Advise on any opportunities for Ugandans in Technology and Management). emthembo@gmail.com | Kampala-Uganda

11. actually this is colorful article and I hope it will help me.
    Thank you

12. realy good information for students

13. RCC should expand and reached Africa to the people who are poor and needy and willing to continued with their studies

14. Really interesting, this can help me and other a lot
    Good information

15. To whom much is given much is expected.Thanks for the valuable information.

16. Right decision it needs hard work and dedications

17. Wow!This article is great,I now understand alot on scholarships/grants than I did before.

18. i need a scholarship

19. Very good!

20. The article is too. I need scholarship because my family is not that wealthy to sponsor me.

21. There is no free lunch off course but the main point when i afford? the other ant cross the river by capture each other so if support each other we build mental satisfaction.If you wan make me as your student or group thank you for positive response.

22. Hi,

    I am from Afghanistan and I want scholarship for my son who was graduated from high school last year .We are a family of six and all my children going to private school so I can not afford the scholarship fee for my elder son completely. Please let me know if I can get any help. BR/Aminullah

23. I have been looking for grants/bursaries for years,never have I succeeded. Now I am growing old. I do not know if they exist.I have done all sorts of actions, still no assistance. I am always a loser.Shame and pity on me

24. hi, my name is fredrick david, a graduate of Ekiti State University who studied computer science education, i will be glad if scholarship on master’s degree be successfully granted and carefully considered. thanks with much anticipation of your immediate response.

25. thank you. it is helpful

26. Thank you,for your comment.I know no payment,no lounch.so I am agreed to sucrifay all things.
    My name is Damte Balcha,I graduate of Natural resoures management in Agriculture BSC,I will be glad if scholar ship in master degree be successful granted and carefuiiy considerd.thanks for immediate respons.

27. This was really helpful
    I’m a Namibian studentwith the dream of studying medicine in Russia but my parents can not afford the funds
    Can you please help me get a scholarship loan or grant? I will be very happy
    Thank you

28. thank you very much with this information. lam ready to face an test as long i grab only1 scholarship

    • I need scholarship to do architacture this are my grades (C.C.C.D.D.D.C.E)

29. MSc in microbiology