Scholarship applications can be daunting after graduation. In this short commentary, fellow NJC alumni Saw Yone Yone and Tan Sue-Ann share their insights about the questions that NJCians may have as they consider what path to take after JC.
Scholarship talk after scholarship talk. Career fair after career fair. Honestly, "scholarship holder" and "me" seemed like a Venn diagram that would not intersect no matter how hard I tried. Having a scholarship sounds nice. Your university fees are paid for by someone else. You'd have job security, possibly faster promotions, and be able to pursue your niche interests.
Alas, money does not grow on trees. You have to compete for scholarships with scary competitors. Feeling intimidated? You're not alone. Many deserving students to self-select themselves out of contention, thinking of themselves as inadequate.
But there are many options: scholarships are not limited to just the PSC Scholarships we hear about. Statutory boards such as NEA or NHB and private companies like OCBC, Q&M or ST Engineering also offer scholarships. More than your grades or portfolio, scholarship providers look for applicants who are the best fit. Show your passion, and convince the organisation of the value you will bring, which could supplement any weaknesses elsewhere. Align your personal goals with theirs.
Bonded scholarships aren't for everyone. The pressure of maintaining one's GPA or being tied down can be scary. There are still options: merit-based scholarships from local and many overseas universities, plus bond-free scholarships from groups like Jardines and the Loke Cheng-Kim Foundation. Others might find that their citizenship closes many doors to them. Apart from private-sector scholarships, there are also scholarships reserved for ASEAN students or specific nationalities at local universities. One example is the Kuok Foundation scholarship for Malaysian students studying in Singapore.
Now, where to start? You can use online resources, from portals like Brightsparks or Scholars' Choice to forums like r/SGExams. You can fall back on the school. The door to the MOE ECG counsellor or teachers in the ECG department is always open for you to badger.
Applications are tough to figure out where to start and how to go about, but you can fall back on the NJC community for guidance - your seniors and teachers are here to help help. Or reach out to NJC graduates on Linkedin or NJGradnet (see our affiliates page!). They don't bite! Having been in your shoes, they understand the uncertainty and anxiety you’d be feeling and are more than willing to give advice.
Ultimately, what you do depends on your field of interest and your needs. Here are some things you could think about:
Public or private sector? Which would be more fulfilling for you?
Do the organisation's values resonate with you?
Can you see yourself working for the organisation in the mid to long term?
If you're still unsure, here's our advice: just go ahead and whack! Apply first, think later: tackle the application questions and interview offers as they come. If you are rejected, that could mean that they weren't a good fit for you, but you would have still grown from the valuable interview experience. And if you do receive a scholarship offer, you will have plenty of time to mull over whether you really want that Venn diagram to intersect.
To help you out on your research journey, we’ve compiled some online resources you can refer to!
Brightsparks: https://brightsparks.com.sg/
ST Scholars’ Choice: https://www.scholarschoice.com.sg/
Scholarship Guide: https://scholarshipguide.com.sg/
List of bond-free scholarships: https://blog.scholarshipguide.com.sg/bond-free-scholarships/
UK-specific scholarships: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/compilation-of-scholarships-and-fellowships-for-singaporeans