With the arrival of the COVID-19 pandemic, the economy took a hit, bringing financial insecurity for many Canadians. Among those most affected are students who may have lost vital summer employment opportunities. Despite the challenges the pandemic poses, it also brings a surprising opportunity to take advantage of another source of funding for students: scholarships.

Unlike student loans, scholarships don’t need to be paid back. Current estimates say that there are millions of dollars in scholarships that go unclaimed every year—simply because students don’t apply! The world’s events have come together to make this pool of free money for students even easier to access!

The scholarship pool is bigger

People and organizations are recognizing the need for student aid in the world. There are more opportunities than ever for students to win scholarships during COVID-19. Many scholarships are increasing their dollar amounts, providing more awards, or extending their deadlines to reach more students. New scholarships during COVID-19 specifically for struggling students are also popping up, like the Randall Gindi Scholarship Program! Take advantage of this opportunity!

Students have time for applications

With school out for the summer, jobs cancelled, and many typical summer activities delayed, most students have a lot of extra time on their hands as they social distance at home. Use it to work on scholarships during COVID-19!

Scholarship applications typically require students to submit an essay. However, scholarship essays may be different than what you’re used to. The scholarship writing style is clear, compelling, and professional. However, you also want to be personal and authentic. In English class, your teacher might have forbidden you from using “I” or writing about your beliefs and values. This is exactly what you want to do when writing scholarship essays! 

Use the time you have now to work on your writing skills and craft strong essays. Take your time to get feedback and revise your essay multiple times. Even if you can’t apply to the scholarship right away, you can always write your essays in advance. This way when the school year hits and you’re busy with academics and extracurriculars, you can have some scholarship applications prepared and ready to submit! 

Become a leader and a strong candidate for scholarships during COVID-19

Scholarships are awarded based on merit. They award students that show achievement in areas like volunteerism, arts, and athletics. Strong community involvement is a must to become a strong scholarship candidate. 

Now throw COVID into the equation. The pandemic is one of the worst humanitarian crises the world has ever seen in recent years. Canada is no exception. With such a high need for aid in our own communities, there’s no better time for young people to step up and become leaders. 

Look at what your community needs. Maybe you could use your craftiness to make homemade masks to prevent spreading in your community. Perhaps you could use social media to coordinate a food drive. What about a virtual talent show for seniors stuck in isolation? With so much need out there, get creative and find ways that you can contribute to your community. 

You’ll not only do some good, but gain vital skills that make you valuable to employers, and strong experiences that will help you win become a strong candidate and win scholarships during COVID-19. 

The pandemic is undoubtedly negatively impacting the lives of students. However, with a widening scholarship pool, time to craft strong applications, and high need in the world, students can turn their adversity into hope and use this time to finance your post-secondary goals.