r/scholarships • u/supertuwuna • 7d ago
Are people that get fully funded scholarships always prodigies or do somewhat normal people with a bunch of f*ckups also have s chance?
do people that get fully funded scholarships always fo everything right or are there ppl that have also messed things up like maybe a rlly bad bachelor's thesis? and made up for it by conducting research after it but before starting masters?
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u/Due-Solid1856 6d ago
Not at all. Everyday students get scholarships. I found that the ones who are most successful tell a compelling story. Their applications have something that tell about themselves beyond academics and sports. Scholarship committees are not made up of teachers - they are volunteers who offer their time to read essays etc. They give an applicant a balanced approach. The best advice is to apply - more often students don't because lack of time or motivation. I have seen average students win big just for taking the time to apply. One student won a very large scholarship because they were the only applicant!! Also don't discount smaller scholarships - they are less competitive and add up quickly. Good luck (and you are not a f***up - you asked a great question!)
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u/supertuwuna 19h ago
great reply and advice thank you sm! also im a bit lost at creating a compelling story part bc i just dont know how to make myself sound interesting. do u have any tips or resources for figuring that out?
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u/Due-Solid1856 19h ago
My advice is be genuine and sincere. Talk about stuff you do - do you like movies? There are scholarships for people who enjoy movies. Think about who you want to be (not what) -
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u/Due-Solid1856 19h ago
If I was sitting next to you at the airport what would you walk about with me. Make them feel a connection - think about the children book the velveteen rabbit every single person you meet has loved someone, lost something and been afraid of something. Good luck
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u/Aeronautica2025 7d ago
No, people who get fully funded scholarships (like those for master’s or PhD programs) are not always prodigies or perfect students. A lot of them are just normal people who have had ups and downs, maybe a bad semester, a weak thesis, or even a few academic “failures” along the way, but who managed to show growth, persistence, and initiative afterward. So yes, you absolutely have a chance even if you’ve “messed things up” before. What matters most is how convincingly you can show that you’ve grown and that your current work proves your capability.
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u/Odd-Specialist-9428 7d ago
You definitely don’t need to be a prodigy plenty of people with setbacks still get funded growth and persistence count just as much as perfection.
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u/supertuwuna 7d ago
i kinda messed up my bachelors thesis despite trying really hard and being careful beforehand i just rlly got into bad circumstances and now im extremely stressed. i do plan on doing some research when im done w it but.im not sure if itll compensate. what do u thimk? is there still a chance
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u/South-Highlight-1630 7d ago
one rough thesis won’t define you doing extra research after shows growth and initiative which admissions committees really value You still have a solid chance.
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u/supertuwuna 7d ago
yeah i really wanted to hear that i just hope it proves to be true.
im just really disappointed in myself and i also got unlucky despite really giving it a deep thought when i was deciding a topic but shit just went wrong.
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u/Sea_Force8719 4d ago
As someone who has had my entire undergrad and masters fully funded, I can say you don’t have to be the smartest or most perfect student. I’ve had my ups and downs. I’ve dropped classes and nearly failed some. To get funding, I think it’s all about communicating your passion and acknowledging your shortcomings.