The Lester B. Pearson Scholarship is a life-changing opportunity for international students to study at one of the world’s leading universities without financial burden, even though its competitive nature demands & excellence in all areas. Let’s find out how you can be able to get this scholarship to make progress to go ahead of your study career:
Eligibility Criteria
- To qualify, you must be an international student, which means you have to be non-Canadian student.
- Also, make it sure that you are in your final year of high school or have graduated from any reputed educational institutions.
- You will be on the priority list if you demonstrate academic excellence, creativity, and leadership skills.
- If you meet all the requirements mentioned above, try your best to be nominated by your educational institutions. That’s because each school/college/university nominates only one student per year.
How to apply?
- Apply to the University of Toronto by submitting your application to undergraduate programs by the stipulated deadline (usually early December)
- Complete the Lester B. Pearson Scholarship application, but you will be able to do that after getting a nomination from your educational institution, then you will receive a personalized link to the scholarship application.
- If you want to stay ahead in the competition, try your best to prepare a strong application by writing a compelling personal statement as well as highlighting your extracurricular achievements & community involvement.
Tips to improve your chances
- Take on leadership roles in clubs, community projects, or sports.
- Engage in community service such as volunteering for social initiatives that make a tangible impact.
- Choose references who know you well and can attest to your strengths, achievements, and character.
- Start preparing your application and gathering the necessary documents at least a year in advance.
Drawbacks of the Lester B. Pearson Scholarship
Even though this scholarship always remains at the top of the priority lists among students, it has some cons that will cause anxiety in getting & applying for the scholarship.
- Highly competitive
As this is a highly demanding scholarship, it is too much competitive to obtain, with only 37-38 scholarships awarded annually, the selection process is extremely rigorous.
- Limited Availability
Another concerning matter is it opens only to students who secure a nomination from their school, which can be a bottleneck!!
- Geographical Constraints
Applicants must apply from outside Canada. If you are already studying in Canada, you are ineligible.
- Pressure to perform
Scholars are expected to maintain high academic standards and engage actively in campus activities. That can be a barrier for most of the students who do not have any.
- Specific to the University of Toronto
The scholarship can not be transferred to other universities or institutions in Canada. This might create a pickle time for applicants.
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