Qualifications

How do you qualify yourself for the program you're seeking?

ost scholarship programs in most universities around the world are available for those whose language efficiency in English as a main vehicle to communicate in the classroom and throughout given assignments—all the way to writing your final paper or dissertation. Therefore the higher degree you pursue the higher the score on the TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) requires. To get ready for the TOEFL, use the WordWealth site as a source to boost up your word power and reading comprehension. Here you can be on the Word of the Day to upsize your word-bank.

ENGLISH SKILL

Certificate and Undergraduate: TOEFL at least 550 (some colleges still accept TOEFL of 500)

Master Degree: TOEFL at least 560 in addition to GRE.

PhD: TOEFL at least 650 (some universities still accept TOEFL of 625) in addition to GRE.

Tests like: GRE; AP; ICT Literacy Assessment; Major Field Tests; MAPP; PRAXIS; SAT; TOEIC; TSE, please contact your prospect institution (university, college or school you are interested in) for detail requirements.

YOUR FINANCIAL STATUS

In addition to English skill (and other required tests that may involved, if any), you have a proof of need for financial support. Ways of proofing and presenting your financial situation is different from institution to institution.

SAMPLES OF YOUR WORKS

If you are applying for a program that requires you to submit samples of your works, make sure the slides/photos, videos (whatever you have to enclose on your application) look as good as they can get. Do NOT submit copy from work of somebody else. The content—knows as a subject matter—on every piece you submit has to be an original idea or expression. For example. In art, even if you can paint Mona Lisa as identical as it looks on the original painting in Louvre Museum Paris, and you can claim and perfectly legal that the piece of art you have painted is yours and signed by you, but the original idea of the painting is not yours. It belongs to the old master, Leonardo da Vinci. Mannerism is perfectly fine and acceptable, but copy is not relevant and will not be qualified as your work that you can submit to be in academic program.

GRADES

Grades, or GPA (Grade Point Average), on your diplomas are important but they are very subjective. Please consult with your prospect institution, if you need to, on particular disciplines and how your grades affect your qualification for scholarship. Most cases, grades does not hold you back to get a scholarship. But grades can affect your scholarship status while you are in the program.

Your Statement (Thesis/Objective) and Interview

his is about selling yourself and your idea. If you can explain yourself clearly in oral and writing of your situation, vision and dream: talking about your works (whatever that is) that matches and enrich the objective of the institution you are talking to, you will most likely get the help and financial support you want. In this matter you will get scholarship or grant, whatever you apply for. Find the objective and philosophy of your prospect institution. Do your research, your homework, before you submit your paper-work or request.

One of the keys that would make your proposal successful is simplified, meaning concise and clear. Say what you mean. No boasting; no flowery language. Make sure you get your point across. Ask your colleagues and professors to challenge and critique constructively your proposal before you mail it. Ask their honest opinion how you can improve your credentials and confidence. Some proposals/theses take time and energy to critique properly, therefore you may need to pay professional some insensitive (maybe with some money or maybe you can help and trade with the person in exchange). It is worth it.

During interview: be professional and friendly. At any given time and space, attitude is one of the most essential elements to get you successful, in this world, throughout program available for you. Do not take your attitude for granted, but work hard on it. When you are granted scholarship always communicate with your institution professionally. No matter what your situations you may have. Your institution can easily terminate your scholarship, if you act stupidly even when you are already half way in the program. One of the graduate students on the Fulbright scholarships in 1997 missed his final year financial support just because his arrogance—being impatient for his semester check—on the phone while talking to Fulbright administration office in New York. What did happen to him then? You bet! The student did not finish his master degree and went back home, having not have any other financial resources to be able to complete classes required and submit final paper to graduate. The moral of the story is just because you are smart, you still have the right to understand the way world works; and be patient when thing is not moving at your speed. Remember: IQ can let you in, but attitude will let you stay in.

Attitude and professionalism has to come hand-in-hand; and success would be yours all through taking program with felicitation.