Lighting the way: Ariff (left) and Eng credit BASE mentorship for their success in scholarship applications.
“JUST go for it.”
That is, in essence, Yayasan Khazanah scholar Ariff Amir Ali’s advice to students looking to clinch a scholarship.
“When preparing for university or scholarship applications, we tend to think that we’re not qualified for certain opportunities or even avoid applying altogether.
“Take a leap of faith. You have nothing to lose,” he said.
Ariff, a 2023 Khazanah Global Scholarship recipient, will undertake the Materials with Nuclear Engineering (MEng) programme at Imperial College London, United Kingdom, this September after completing his A-level studies at Kolej Yayasan UEM.
When asked to share tips for scholarship applications, the 20-year-old, who serves as an adviser at BASE (Basic Aid for Scholarship Essentials) Initiative and was its vice president last year, said grades, while important, are not the sole determining factor.
“The common misconception is that you need to be a student with perfect grades to get in. The tides are changing. Many scholarship bodies are opting for a more holistic approach when picking scholars.
“Grades are important but beyond a certain threshold, they won’t be the deciding factor, from what I’ve seen among my batchmates and other cohorts,” he told StarEdu.
He shared that what sets applicants’ apart is their drive, passion, and what they have done to pursue their interests.
“My advice is that if you want to be a Khazanah scholar, just continue doing what you love to the best of your ability, and keep your grades relatively stable,” he said.
Ariff also highlighted the importance of having mentors to guide students through the application process.
A beneficiary of BASE – a student-led initiative that provides scholarship mentorship – he credited his application success to its mentors, who are scholars from various institutions and courses.
“A mentor helped me edit my application essay, fix key points and make it more concise,” Ariff shared.
Contacting different mentors with unique skillsets and experiences also helped him gain further insights, he said.
Founded in 2019 by a team of young Malaysian scholars, BASE aims to help students by spreading scholarship awareness and providing guidance through events and services.
Current vice president Tengku Muhammad Aiman said the team hopes to conduct more scholarship workshops in schools with the expansion of state chapters across Malaysia this year.
“We also hope to bridge the scholarship information gap in underrepresented areas that have limited exposure to such opportunities,” he said.
Among the activities planned for the year are the Pinnacle Workshops in April, a two-day hybrid event for Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) 2024 school-leavers to help them navigate scholarship applications.
BASE will also launch its Scholar Dashboard by next month, allowing students to connect with scholars for feedback on curricula vitae, interview preparation and essay writing.
“This mentorship is on demand, meaning students can reach out to any scholar they relate to and seek guidance on specific topics.
“We will also provide a resource kit for SPM 2024 candidates, including a document checklist and interview flash cards, to support them throughout the application process,” he said.
Eng Zhen Shen, another beneficiary of BASE’s mentorship services, commended the personalised experience, which allowed him to connect with a mentor who shared his interests.
“She gave me valuable insights on how to connect all my experiences and present a strong profile for my scholarship applications,” he shared, adding that her guidance helped strengthen his applications.
“The services come at zero cost and are accessible to all students, regardless of socioeconomic background,” he noted.
The 20-year-old PETRONAS scholar is pursuing his A-Levels at Taylor’s College and plans to study data science in the United States or the United Kingdom for his degree.
He encouraged students to research their post-SPM opportunities thoroughly.
“Explore different options instead of sticking to the more conventional higher education routes,” he offered.
He also urged students to look beyond the outcome of their applications.
“Grades aren’t everything. Use the process to learn how to identify and showcase your strengths – whether in leadership, creativity or other areas.
“Grow from your weaknesses and reflect on your experiences to gather useful lessons,” he said.
Students or schools interested in participating in workshops can reach out to @base.initiative on Instagram.
Dhanushkaa, 22, a student in the United Kingdom, is a participant of the BRATs Young Journalist Programme run by The Star’s Newspaper-in-Education (Star-NiE) team. For updates on the BRATs programme, go to facebook.com/niebrats.
With the theme of the article in mind, carry out the following English language activities.
1 Imagine you are writing a scholarship application essay. List the key strengths, achievements and future goals that you would highlight.
2 Reflect on the areas you need to improve for holistic growth as a student. Write a pledge outlining the specific steps you will take to achieve this by the end of the year.
The Star’s Newspaper-in-Education (Star-NiE) programme promotes English language learning in primary and secondary schools nationwide. For Star-NiE enquiries, email starnie@thestar.com.my.
