Scholarship Application

[ConcealDontFeeI]

I've recently applied to do a masters in the management/ business field.

There's a few scholarships I can apply for. I'm a single parent of a 3yo on a low income (I've recently started a great job where I'm getting loads of experience, but the money isn't great at all). In a lot of debt too. I've had exactly £0 to live on this week (though plenty of food so it's not horrifying). But a 10k scholarship would be life changing. I could drop my hours a little whilst I complete my degree, pay off my overdraft and other debts and have a cushion for unexpected events. It would be a dream, and do absolute wonders for my MH!

The scholarship awarded to the most recipients (4), so the one I stand the best chance of getting, asks you to write about how your career/ aspirations have something to do with gender, tech and/ or science.

I have a few things I can write - my job at present crosses over two very heavily male dominated sectors, and I'm excelling there, and I love it. One of these sectors is to do with tech/ IT.

The guidance says you should avoid mentioning any personal (life) experiences. And I wouldn't if they weren't relevant. I was a homeless drug addict at 15, made homeless again whilst pregnant at 21, started uni at 22 as a lone parent of a 5mo, Studied whilst working, raising my DD, dealing with abuse, court cases, restraining orders, money problems and the resulting severe anxiety. I wouldn't mention any of this.

However, some of my more relevant life experiences are tied up in my career aspirations. So WIBU to say something along the lines of:-

After facing a number of gender-based barriers in my own life, such as domestic abuse and becoming a young lone parent, my career aspirations centre around championing women, and especially mothers, in tech and other traditionally male- dominated industries.

Or would this be breaking the rules/ be seen as a bit of a pity party? I wouldn't go on about it at length as I understand the scholarship isn't for whoever's had a tough life. But I do think it's relevant. Would be grateful for any thoughts?

Also is this worded right? As I know men can go through this stuff too. Ideally I'd write issues predominantly faced by women - but I don't know how to word this?

Just read this back and it sounds like I'm just writing this because it might get me the scholarship. this is definitely not the case.

I would say that I am a feminist (though not as knowledgable as the ones on FWR! Though I read their posts a lot) and am shocked at the barriers women face in the workplace. I'm only 25 and prior to this job, have worked mainly in caring roles, so haven't had much experience of this personally. But I'm sure I will come across it frequently in the corporate sector, and because of the experiences I've had and the incredible women I've met through women's aid etc, I would be the first to stand up to sexism, and champion women's rights in whichever way I can.

I would remove the "such as domestic abuse and becoming a young lone parent" part. Then it explains why you have your aspirations within the actually giving personal information. The relevance is that you have experienced such barriers, the specific reasons are irrelevant to this application.

Thank you, that's helpful. You're right, I guess, the specifics aren't needed and that's more in line with the guidelines.

Thanks for making it through that monumental post!

I would stick to the guidelines. The shcolarship won't be based on pity, or (maybe unfairly) on how much you deserve it after what you have been through. It will be based on your academic potential, and your potential to shine in you career afterwards so they can flag you as a success story. Focus on that. Come over as organised, driven, level-headed with passion and flair for your chosen subject.

Really hope you get it. You sound like you deserve it and more.

*I would stick to the guidelines. The shcolarship won't be based on pity, or (maybe unfairly) on how much you deserve it after what you have been through. It will be based on your academic potential, and your potential to shine in you career afterwards so they can flag you as a success story. Focus on that. Come over as organised, driven, level-headed with passion and flair for your chosen subject.

Really hope you get it. You sound like you deserve it and more.*

Thank you so much! And thanks for the advice. You're right, that's really useful. So glad I asked on here.