Dear Graduate (who also happens to be a genius)

This post is dedicated to you, you first degree-holders with that enviable 'distinction' qualifier. I know you feel fired up to go on to a Masters degree or even skip that and go straight to a PhD. Maybe you might become the youngest PhD holder in history - another feather in your cap! How exciting! There isn't a scholarship program in the world that would ignore your application. Right?

I hate to break it to you, unless you want to pursue a career in academia (which is perfectly fine), your uber-intelligence is not the only thing that matters when evaluators review the thousands of scholarship applications they receive. Take it from someone who actually managed scholarships for almost 5 years with the British Council. Scholarships are extremely competitive - having a good first degree isn't good enough. Your application has to stand out and grab the evaluator by the neck and not let go until they give you that damn scholarship. But how do you do that?

From my experience, scholarships, mostly, want to invest in future leaders - people with that extra moxy and je ne sais quoi that catches people's attention. Some of the professionals rising in senior positions in my country, in both private and public sectors, were recipients of scholarships I managed long ago (back when we thought a black man could never be US President). They were selected, not based on their grades (which were exceptional), but for their leadership competence which was proven by their impressive post-graduate work and non-work experience.

So the secret to getting that scholarship is: build your leadership competence or experience. This could involve, but not limited to:

• Take part in extra-curricular activities that you enjoy and position yourself for leadership e.g. captain of the football team, or debate club, or Toastmasters (if you get an award for this, even better) etc;
• Start an informal or formal group/organization that's involved in community activism particularly in an area that's focused on improving the lives of vulnerable or marginalized populations. Try to start it with a bunch of friends - this will show you are a team-player;
• Get a job (if necessary, volunteer!) with an organization or company with a strong public brand or profile and learn an invaluable skill that will make you indispensable to the organization/company e.g. if you work for a non-profit, learn how to write proposals and try to get a grant in, or if you work for a private company, learn sales skills and bring in business. If there is an opportunity to pick a skill through self-teaching, do it!

So, basically, my advice is: don't rush for a Masters or PhD straight out of college. Take time (I would recommend no less than 3 years, post-grad) to build your leadership competence, and a body of experience to back it up - if you can do that and step out of your comfort zone, even better. This will also have the added benefit of enhancing your social and emotional intelligence through the interactions you will, obviously, have with your colleagues, friends, acquaintances and strangers; which will make a well-rounded prospective candidate for that scholarship. Also, focus your scholarship application on your leadership achievements and not just your academic achievements - show how the course you want to pursue will enhance your leadership potential to make meaningful change in your patch of the woods (don't go overboard - evaluators can smell BS a mile away!).

This isn't just theory - I have tried this myself. I managed to get a Canon-Collins Scholarship for my Masters degree by applying this line of thinking. I was one of 25 recipients in our year, out of a staggering 1000 applications from across Africa. Focus on leadership achievements, competence and/or experience increases your chances of getting the scholarship and I encourage you to try it.

Happy scholarship-hunting!

(PS: if you are reading this and you're still in college, it isn't too late to start building your leadership competence now. Run for student leadership. Join a club. Start a protest. Whatever it is, be a leader!)

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