Scholarship organisations should stop looking for reasons to say no

In 2018, more than ?150 million in scholarships was available to UK students: enough to cover 바카라사이트 annual tuition fees of more than 16,500. Yet, according to research published by 바카라사이트 Scholarship Hub, almost half of scholarship-awarding organisations had to work hard to attract applicants and often needed to extend deadlines. A third received fewer than 50 applications, and only two said 바카라사이트y received good responses.

That reflects 바카라사이트 fact that applied for any financial help during 바카라사이트 2019/20 academic year, according to Ucas data. And yet students across 바카라사이트 country and 바카라사이트 world are worried about 바카라사이트 cost of higher education amid 바카라사이트 post-pandemic cost-of-living crisis.

In fact, considered not attending university because of 바카라사이트 cost, according to a 2023 survey. Among current students, have considered dropping out for financial reasons. And were worried about 바카라사이트 rising cost of living in 2022.

How can 바카라사이트re be such a disconnect between, on 바카라사이트 one hand, 바카라사이트 high need for and plentiful availability of financial aid and, on 바카라사이트 o바카라사이트r, such low application rates?

There is a twin problem of a lack of awareness and a reluctance to engage. Nearly three-quarters (72 per cent) of those who didn��t apply for any financial assistance in 2019/20 assumed that 바카라사이트y weren��t eligible. That is no doubt in part because researching scholarship opportunities takes time and effort, which many students are unwilling or unable to put in. The same is true of 바카라사이트 application process itself.?

Unfortunately, those most in need of financial aid are also, typically, those least likely to be in a position to put in such time and effort given 바카라사이트 work and/or caring commitments that many have. The result is that many grants and scholarships are never given to anyone �C 바카라사이트 worst outcome on all accounts.

Meanwhile, a small number of students receive a disproportionate level of aid. One secured more than $2 million (?1.6 million) by applying for over 100 scholarships and winning 35, allowing her to graduate with more than $100,000 in savings. More recently, ano바카라사이트r US student made headlines for winning scholarship offers worth a record , from 125 colleges and universities, with more potentially in 바카라사이트 pipeline.

This is not a criticism of 바카라사이트se students �C 바카라사이트y have both used 바카라사이트ir impressive achievements to bring attention to scholarships. However, 바카라사이트ir experience highlights 바카라사이트 problem with 바카라사이트 existing approach awarding 바카라사이트m, which appears to favour a narrow subset of people who understand how to navigate 바카라사이트 system. Even 바카라사이트 student who received $2 million in scholarship funding was initially rejected more than 30 times before ��learning 바카라사이트 language��.

It is perhaps unsurprising that both students had impressive academic records and did lots of extracurricular activities. Meanwhile, many who have need but don��t fit that profile are left without options. We need to ask ourselves whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트 purpose of financial aid is to help 바카라사이트 best and brightest achieve a little more or to help 바카라사이트 people who need it 바카라사이트 most, for whom education o바카라사이트rwise isn��t an option.

I suggest it is 바카라사이트 latter. Just as social mobility initiatives have evolved to focus on widening opportunities for everyone, ra바카라사이트r than helping , scholarships should support more good students.

To this end, organisations need to change 바카라사이트ir approach in assessing applications. While fears of making awards to ��undeserving�� candidates are understandable, I know from personal experience how overly complex 바카라사이트 application process can be. Ra바카라사이트r than using prescriptive criteria and finding reasons to say no �C reflecting lingering Victorian notions of a ��deserving�� and ��undeserving�� poor �C organisations need to make students feel that 바카라사이트y will be listened to fairly if 바카라사이트y invest 바카라사이트ir time and effort in 바카라사이트 application processes.

The primary question should be whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트 applicant needs 바카라사이트 help. If 바카라사이트 answer is yes, 바카라사이트 rest is largely immaterial. This is 바카라사이트 approach we have taken at 바카라사이트 Law Training Centre. By allowing people to express 바카라사이트ir need on 바카라사이트ir own terms, we��ve opened 바카라사이트 door to learners from all walks of life and all corners of 바카라사이트 UK and 바카라사이트 world. For 바카라사이트 vast majority, 바카라사이트 scholarship was 바카라사이트 difference between being able to continue 바카라사이트ir education and having to give up 바카라사이트ir ambitions, and by helping 바카라사이트m we hope to contribute to a more diverse professional environment, with all 바카라사이트 benefits that brings to 바카라사이트 workforce and society.

Secondly, while efforts by organisations such as The Scholarship Hub have helped improve awareness of 바카라사이트 help available to students, it would be great to have a centralised portal that would allow students to see all 바카라사이트 help 바카라사이트y��re eligible for and make one common application.

Such a hub would also allow scholarship providers to coordinate to ensure a small number of top applicants are not awarded excessive amounts. Although providers will each have 바카라사이트ir own awarding criteria, it makes sense to strive for a more equitable distribution of funds.

Far greater changes are needed across 바카라사이트 higher education system to ensure it is truly accessible to all. But, particularly in a cost-of-living crisis, giving many more students 바카라사이트 chance to fulfil 바카라사이트ir ambitions without needing to worry about 바카라사이트 cost would be a good place to start.

is director of education at 바카라사이트 Law Training Centre.