Why is it bad to ignore the world outside high school during a scholarship application?
Scholarships are a great way to fund a college education, but they are also highly competitive. To give yourself the best chance of getting a scholarship, you need to demonstrate to the selection board that you are an outstanding candidate. One way to do this is to make sure you focus on the world outside of high school during your scholarship application. When you apply for a scholarship, the selection board is looking for a well–rounded individual who is active in the world beyond the classroom. They want to see that you have gone beyond what you are taught in school and are engaging with the outside world. This demonstrates that you are a motivated and ambitious individual who is likely to make the most of the opportunity of attending college. Ignoring the world outside of high school during a scholarship application sends a message to the selection board that you lack ambition and initiative. It shows that you are not willing to go out of your way to make yourself a more attractive candidate and are content to simply rely on your academic qualifications. This can make it difficult to stand out from the other applicants and can leave you at a disadvantage when it comes to securing the scholarship. It is also important to understand that the selection boards are looking for candidates who have a good understanding of the world outside the classroom. They want to know that you have a good grasp of current affairs, understand the issues facing society, and are engaged with the wider world. Demonstrating this knowledge shows that you are an intellectually curious individual who is likely to be an engaged and active student. In addition, the selection board is likely to be impressed if you can demonstrate that you are actively involved in the outside world. This could include volunteering, engaging in political activism, or taking part in a sport. It shows that you have a strong sense of purpose and are driven to make a difference in the world. Ignoring the world outside of high school during a scholarship application is a missed opportunity to show that you are a well–rounded individual who is passionate about making the most of the opportunity to attend college. It also sends a message to the selection board that you lack ambition and are unwilling to go out of your way to make yourself a more attractive candidate. To make sure you have the best chance of getting the scholarship, make sure you focus on the world outside of high school and demonstrate that you are an engaged and ambitious individual.
For another perspective, we asked Judge Josh at Outlaw Student the same question — here’s what he said: https://www.outlawstudent.com/2009/07/scholarship-screwup-5-ignore-the-world-outside-high-school/