The Ten Important Things to Remember When You Apply for a Scholarship in Tokyo

Applying for a scholarship isn’t easy. And it can be extra challenging for your child if you’ve only moved to Japan and you’re not sure how to go about the process, what you can do to help, and how you can improve your child’s chances of getting a grant. 

Here are ten important things that can help with the application. Follow these suggestions for a successful outcome. 

Start with Local Options

First, learn more about the local scholarships offered. Which ones suit your child? Some programmes are meant for kids with athletic abilities. Some are aimed at students with artistic talents. And others are for kids who excel academically. Which of those sound right for your kid? Do your homework and put together a list that you can give your child. 

Know Your Child’s Talents 

When your child starts to apply for scholarships, help your child stand out. What are your child’s unique skills and talents? Many applications are often forgotten. Help your kid find their advantage by focusing on what makes them different from the rest. Don’t do the work for them, though. Only guide them so they can realize what talents they have that others don’t. 

Talk About Context 

When your child writes that essay, make sure they know how to make it shine. Use of their life experiences will do a lot to flesh that out. Discourage your child from just listing down all their achievements. Other kids will do that, too. That won’t make them stand out. But talking about who they are and why they want the grant will help set them apart from everyone else. 

Proofread That Essay 

Your child might be excited about finishing the application so much that they might forget to go through everything for a final check. Take on that task. Correct mistakes and catch minor errors. There’s nothing like spelling and grammatical mistakes to derail the value of an application. 

Seek Out Similar Grants 

Once that application is done, look for similar ones. Yes, the search isn’t finished until your child wins a scholarship. So, keep looking for opportunities that your child can try. Keep motivating your child to continue sending out those applications. 

Celebrate Small Wins 

All work and no play, though, will bore your child quickly and lead to dissatisfaction, so much that it could affect their motivation and enthusiasm. Every time your child finishes an application, tell your little one how proud you are of them. Show them that you appreciate every effort they put into those applications. Make sure they have enough time to take breaks in between every application, too. Encourage a realistic calendar of events so you won’t burn out your child.

Create a Calendar 

Since your child is applying for more than one grant, that means managing multiple deadlines. Do your part in remembering all the important application dates. Keep a calendar that contains all the information you need. That way, all you’ll have to do is take one glance at that calendar to know which deadlines are next. That’s ideal as you can easily know what subjects or areas your child will need help with and you can prepare accordingly.

Start Early 

If you want to encourage your child to apply for grants, then give your child enough time. Some grants require participants to get ready for an entire year ahead. Do that. Or go even further. Talk to your child as soon as possible about grants and scholarships so they’ll grow up knowing their choices. That way, if they want to start working on getting the grant as soon as they hit first grade, you’ll be there to offer support. 

Check for Updates

Grants can change eligibility requirements or deadlines. Always check on them online. Doing that saves your child a step. That way, if there are any changes, your child is ready and informed enough to adjust. This is also a good time to take a look at the academic calendar of international school. That will tell you what major events and exams are coming up and when your child will need to prepare for them. 

Fix Their Portfolio

Many scholarship programmes appreciate well-roundedness in candidates. They like someone with extracurricular activities, leadership skills or qualities, and a good track record for joining contests. From leading groups to participating in workshops, volunteer work, or class activities, all that can help your child stand out from all the other participants, especially those who only have academic strength to recommend them. That’s because many scholarship programmes recognize the fact that there’s life beyond academics. 

The very point of some educational grants is to help provide recognition for students who excel in areas other than STEM fields. By encouraging your child to be active in extracurricular activities, you help them put together and build an impressive application portfolio, one that will help them in the future.