It may seem logical to apply to every scholarship that comes your way, but follow our advice and apply to only a few scholarships. This will not only save you time and effort, but it will also increase your chances of receiving a scholarship.
This advice adheres to the Pareto Principle, also known as the 80/20 Rule. Applying this principle to scholarship applications, it is prudent to apply to only 20% of available scholarships that have an 80% chance of success.
Let us try to put this into context.
You are an African, specifically a Nigerian, looking for a Masters in Development Studies scholarship in Germany. You were able to find ten scholarships for Africans to study in Germany as a result of your search.
Following the advice above, you will try to concentrate your efforts on applying to 2-3 scholarships that will give you the best chance of success. The question now is, how do you choose which scholarships to apply for?
The following criteria can be used to answer this question:
- Which of the ten scholarships you discovered are specifically aimed at Nigerians?
- Which of the ten scholarships best match your qualifications?
- Which of the ten scholarships prioritizes the study program for which you are applying?
The ideal scholarship for you is one that is targeted specifically to Nigerians, has eligibility requirements that match your qualifications, and, if possible, prioritizes Masters in Development Studies or related programs.
suited to you!
Applying for a scholarship that is a good match for your citizenship, qualifications, and interests gives you a better chance. Furthermore, applying to only a few scholarships gives you more time to write an excellent scholarship application letter, complete all of your application requirements, and submit your application on time.
This is not meant to be a rule; you are always free to apply to as many scholarships as you want if you believe it will improve your chances. The general advice is to apply for scholarships that are relevant to you rather than applying for any scholarship that comes your way.
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