Tips on Applying for Private School Scholarships in NSW

Lmaddy2024 on 18/06/2023 - 16:26

Hi All

I am reaching out to this forum seeking guidance and advice on applying for a private school scholarship for Year 7 in New South Wales. I am particularly interested in gathering information about the key elements to include in the scholarship application.

I have been researching various private schools in NSW and have identified some scholarship opportunities that align with the academic goals and aspirations. However, I would greatly appreciate insights and tips from those who have navigated the scholarship application process or have knowledge about the requirements specific to NSW private schools.

Here are some specific questions I have:

What are some important documents and materials that should be included in the scholarship application? Should I focus on academic records, recommendation letters from school teachers or coaches , personal statements, or any other supporting documents?

Are there any particular formats or structures that are preferred for the personal statement or essay?

Are there any additional activities such as participation in community service that I should emphasize in the application.

How important is it to demonstrate a genuine interest in the values and ethos of the school? Should I specifically address how I can contribute to the school community in my application?

Any advice, personal experiences, or general tips you can provide would be immensely helpful.

Thank you in advance

Education & Work

closed Comments

  • Hellfire on 18/06/2023 - 16:36
    +10

    I applied when my kid was entering year 7 (didn't get one). Feedback from schools/parents is that if you don't score in the top 5% on the tests then the rest doesn't matter. They look at test results first before anything else.

    • kiitos on 19/06/2023 - 08:45

      By tests do you mean test results up to that point? Or are there tests they have to sit for consideration for the scholarship?

  • Motek Benzona on 18/06/2023 - 16:39
    +3

    I just did a whole heap in Qld for sporting scholarships. My 12 year old is a multiclass athlete who represented Qld last year and won 2 bronze and is also state champion in a couple of events

    The format is pretty much the same IF you have the academic or other criteria to actually apply. Without these its pointless

    Hard to say exactly what to do as each person is individual but follow the criteria, make the application relevant to the school, dont make it sound like you have applied to 4000 schools and get your kids school to back up the application

    Thats the first hurdle to even get in the door for an interview.

    I do not know if we are successful yet. We were too late for some year 7 starts in 2024

  • ColonialBoy on 18/06/2023 - 17:07
    +1

    You need to have very good academic skills or be a nationally placed athlete to have a chance.

  • elgrande on 18/06/2023 - 17:07
    +2

    Trying to outsource your thinking I see..

    • Protractor on 18/06/2023 - 20:11
      +4

      Image is everything,innit?

      Help jettison my family into the upper echelons, by providing hacks to propel my child into the elite schools required to do so….

      "Govt schools are just so no good for my little Andre"

  • Pcosmic on 18/06/2023 - 17:23
    -2

    Government > private

  • sam-1966 on 18/06/2023 - 17:46
    +3

    I asked the deputy at our daughters' school, as I knew her daughter had a scholarship… she said while it was great, the other expenses with uniforms and extra curriculars etc she said it was still very expensive.

    We ended up sending our girls to a state high school and they both got a great education and enjoyed themselves.

    The other thing with scholarships is that it puts a lot of pressure on the child/student to maintain their marks. At that age, do they need that pressure?

  • Hardlyworkin on 18/06/2023 - 18:27
    +4

    Tick a few diversity boxes.

  • kerfuffle on 18/06/2023 - 19:46
    +10

    Obligatory Whirlpool thread

    So looks like the father signed up to Whirlpool and the mother to OzBargain purely to ask this question going by the usernames.

    • [Deactivated] on 18/06/2023 - 19:52
      +5

      emphasize

      Americans asking in all available Australian forums

      Also, I think they may have been trying to escape detection of multi-forum posting by using different usernames …… as if that was going to work!

      • Protractor on 18/06/2023 - 20:18

        Why Americans?
        More likely crap spellers from Europe,Asia or S Africa.

        Surely Yanks could just bribe their way in, or whisper AUKUS into the equation, given they own our arses. Oops! I mean asses.

        • kerfuffle on 18/06/2023 - 20:21
          +2

          I was going to say that the way this has been written doesn't make it sound like it was written by someone living in Australia, hence why it piqued my interest when I came across it on Whirlpool. Comes across as very unnatural and formal

          • Protractor on 18/06/2023 - 20:47
            -1

            @kerfuffle: Maybe someone who professes (is??) to be better with maths than English?

        • [Deactivated] on 18/06/2023 - 20:25

          A bunch of chronic mispellers on here & all, by design.

          • Protractor on 18/06/2023 - 20:46
            -1

            @[Deactivated]: Nasty spies with Eng as a 2nd langwidge?
            Or just ppl who faked their way into life?

            • [Deactivated] on 18/06/2023 - 20:52

              @Protractor: The collective anger cannot be good

    • Protractor on 18/06/2023 - 20:19

      Quick google gives a few ideas. wink wink

  • Hvrd on 18/06/2023 - 20:43
    +2

    Be a minority

  • Protractor on 18/06/2023 - 20:49
    +3

    I think OP should sell the forum his spiel, on why his child has earned /should earn an easy way into a place only a few can reach.

  • scotty on 18/06/2023 - 20:51
    +1

    Usually a school offers different types of scholarship, but I am guessing that you are referring to the academic scholarship here. The most crucial bit is the test — only if he/she has achieved competitive result in the test there's a chance to get interviewed where your other documents will be reviewed. I think it's best to ask other families who have prior experience of applying for scholarship of that specific school, since all schools are different. The school my kids went through have detailed list on what you need to bring for the application and interview process.

  • pjetson on 18/06/2023 - 21:56
    +2

    Type your second paragraph into ChatGPT and you'll get your answers.

  • parsimonious one on 19/06/2023 - 07:59
    +1

    Surely there is an application form?

    Or are you just sending letters asking for free money?

  • JRonski on 19/06/2023 - 09:30
    +1

    There are also disadvantaged group scholarships, eg indigenous, poor socio-economic background.

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