Hunting for scholarships: One job, many tasks

Instead of working extra hours to earn money, many students have chosen a more sustainable path: hunting for scholarships.

Many students choose to hunt for scholarships instead of working part-time to have more financial resources - Photo: DIEU LINH

Not only is this a source of financial support, scholarships also open academic doors, helping students practice skills and affirm their self-worth.

To get closer to scholarships, students not only need to make efforts to improve their academic performance, accumulate extracurricular activities, research experience and critical thinking ability, but also need to be proactive in searching for and accessing suitable scholarship sources.

Dr. Nguyen Thanh Hai

Reduce financial burden, open up academic opportunities

Nguyen Van Hung - a former student of the geography department of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Ho Chi Minh City National University - is an example.

In 2023 and 2024, Hung received a scholarship from AEON Group (Japan) - "AEON 1% Scholarship Fund", along with many scholarships to encourage learning from the school.

Having faced financial pressure when he first entered university, Hung saw scholarships as a "lifesaver", with scholarships worth tens of millions of dong.

This is the motivation for you to study hard and actively participate in academic activities. Thanks to that, not only did Hung improve his performance, but he also built an impressive personal profile, gradually approaching prestigious scholarship funds.

"I use my professional skills to hunt for scholarships and thanks to the scholarships, I have more conditions to continue to improve my expertise and interests," Hung shared.

Scholarships not only help you stabilize your finances but also act as a lever to access broader academic environments such as seminars, scientific conferences, submit research papers, and become the valedictorian of the faculty.

Similarly, Le Phan Thao Nghi - a former student of the psychology department at Ho Chi Minh City University of Education - also took advantage of the scholarship as a way to be financially proactive and invest in herself.

Thanks to maintaining good academic performance and actively participating in scientific research, such as winning scientific research awards at the school and ministry levels, Nghi regularly receives scholarships every year, enough to cover tuition and travel expenses , and has additional resources to participate in skills and foreign language courses.

The scholarship hunting journey for Nghi is an opportunity to learn how to plan and practice being proactive. Thanks to serious investment in academics, Nghi is not only financially proactive but also has a job before graduation, becoming one of the outstanding graduates of the course.

Double benefit

According to MSc. Vo Ngoc Nhon - Deputy Director of the Admissions Consulting Center of Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology, scholarships are a significant source of financial support.

There are scholarships at many schools or foundations that offer scholarships that are very valuable, sometimes even more than the cost of tuition. This can not only help cover tuition but can also be used to buy materials, take advanced courses or even cover living expenses.

Mr. Nhon commented that compared to part-time jobs, hunting for scholarships brings more long-term value. Part-time jobs help students earn income quickly, sometimes accumulating some professional skills such as problem-solving thinking, communication, teamwork... but often take up a lot of time, easily affecting health and learning results.

"Most jobs are routine, have little contribution to future careers, and can even leave negative impacts if the working environment is toxic," said Mr. Nhon.

On the contrary, hunting for scholarships requires academic investment and long-term planning. Depending on the orientation, students not only improve their academic results but also participate in specialized training courses, expand relationships and practice many skills.

This is an important foundation to help your profile stand out to employers and create opportunities for future research and teaching development.

Dr. Nguyen Thanh Hai - Deputy Head of the Department of Geography, University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Ho Chi Minh City National University - emphasized that academic scholarships not only help reduce financial difficulties but also serve as a springboard for students to develop comprehensively, from professional knowledge to soft skills.

According to Mr. Hai, each scholarship has its own criteria, which requires students not only to study well but also to demonstrate their own abilities, accumulate academic achievements, extracurricular activities, research experience and critical thinking ability.

Secrets to hunting for scholarships

Thu Trang - a former student of corporate finance at the Banking and Finance Institute of the National Economics University - shared that the secret to getting a scholarship lies in maintaining a good GPA and actively doing scientific research.

Since her sophomore year, Trang has continuously participated in competitions and won many awards from school to ministry level, thereby receiving additional financial support and accumulating achievements to enhance her profile.

According to Trang, to prepare for winning a scholarship, first of all, always proactively update information via the website, school email, faculty fanpage or teachers. Knowing information early helps you understand the criteria clearly and have appropriate preparation.

Second, you need to maintain a stable GPA and actively participate in academic activities such as research to enhance your profile. Finally, if you aim for a scholarship to study abroad, practicing academic English skills, writing proposals or research statements is essential.

HO NHUONG

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/san-hoc-bong-mot-cong-nhieu-viec-20250910091228294.htm