There are so many ways that students can get out of school with little or no debt. Here are my top strategies to get you through University / College with money in your pocket and a great job when you get out! That’s better than into a basement with bills to pay!
Get a Job That Will Help You.
When I was in University I got a job at a local Merrill Lynch office and worked nearly 35hrs a week. It gave me crucial spending money and got my foot in the door when I need to start my career when I graduated. I took the time to write all of my securities courses while I was there and worked hard to get referrals from my peers.
Don’t Use Your Line of Credit or Student Loans.
Do everything you can to come out of school without any debt. work as much as you can, apply for every grant and scholarship out there, eat Kraft dinner or noodles every night, do whatever you can do to minimize your debt. I’ve included grants from Yconic below. Check out their site for tons more!
Not only will this limit what fun-time funds you’ll have when you’re out but it’ll be a chain and ball for a ton of years after school. The average Canadian student takes 10 years to pay back their $27k in student debts!
Get a Money Mentor.
I had a mentor when I was in school who really helped and guided me. It’s easy to get absorbed into student mentality. All the parties, dating and hooliganism can get you to fall of the wagon. Keeping monthly chats with your mentor will keep you motivated to get good grades, take the correct classes, and know that one day you’ll be at the other end of the tunnel.
Don’t take your credit card to the bar.
That’s all. Don’t do it.
You can find more of these at Yconic.ca
FREE MONEY FOR STUDENTS:
Schulich Leader Scholarships for STEM areas of study:
In order to become a Schulich Leader and receive the scholarship, a student must first be selected by their high school or Cégep as a Schulich Leader Nominee. High schools (outside of Quebec)* may select one Nominee each, while Cégeps may select two. Nominees must possess at least two of three criteria:
- Academic excellence
- Outstanding community, business or entrepreneurial leadership
- Financial Need
Nominees must be enrolling in a Science, Technology, Engineering or Math (STEM) degree at one of our partner universities.
- Nominees must be graduating from their high school or Cégep in the 2014/2015 academic year.
- Nominees must be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident.
- Deadline: February 23, 2015
- Awards: 25 Scholarships worth $80,000 each; 25 scholarships worth $60,000 each
A yconic-member exclusive opportunity:
Dictionary for Dollars Contest presented by yconic and Scotiabank
Students are asked to show that they know the “ABCs of money”. To enter, students to submit their definition of select financial terminology, e.g. Chequing Account. They must explain the term in their own words and/or pictures, for the purpose of helping improve financial literacy among their peers.
The best twelve (12) definitions will each win a cash prize of $750. They will also be published in an online dictionary on the Fund Your Future website for future generations to learn from.
Eligibility
- To be eligible for the Dictionary for Dollars Contest, students must be:
- A Canadian citizen, permanent resident of Canada, or an international student on a student visa (permit must be for one year or longer)
- 13 years old or older at the time of entry
- A student currently enrolled at a Canadian high school on a full-time or part-time basis
- A member of yconic
Launching Late March (March 18th specifically but this date is TBC)
Deadline end of April
Big Awards:
As for large amount awards, there are none left that we have in the database that fit the criteria that we haven’t already sent. There’s this one (it’s for International study abroad but Canadians can apply as well):
1.) Australia Endeavour Awards: Postgraduate Awards
- Endeavour Postgraduate Awards provide financial support of up to $140,500 for a Master’s and up to $272,500 for a PhD for high achieving students for up to 4 years to undertake a postgraduate qualification at a Master’s or PhD level either by coursework or research in any field of study in Australia
- Endeavour Award Holders receive tuition fees, a monthly living stipend, travel and establishment allowance, travel and health insurance and ongoing support from a dedicated case manager
- The Australia Endeavour Awards are the Australian Government’s internationally competitive, merit-based scholarship program for postgraduate study, research or professional development opportunities between Australia and the world
- Amount: Up to $272,500 for postgraduate study in Australia
- Deadline: June 30th 2015
2.) Young Entrepreneur Award:
- Canadian citizens
- Between 18 and 35 years of age as of December 31, 2011
- Be a manager and have been actively involved in the company’s daily management for a minimum of two years as of December 31, 2011
- Hold at least 20% of the company’s capital stock
- Create a short 1-2 minute video about your innovation
- Amount: Grand prize of $100,000, second place $25,000
- Deadline: TBC for 2015 year
Other Interesting Awards:
1.) CBC Literary Prizes:
- Canadian citizens or permanent residents
- Submit original and unpublished work in one of the three categories: short story (1,200 to 1,500 words), creative nonfiction (1,200 to 1,500 words), or poetry (400 to 600 words)
- First place winners will be published in enRoute magazine and on CBCBooks.ca, as well as receive a 10-day writing residency at the Banff Centre
- First prizes at $6,000 and $1,000 for 4 runners-up
- Deadlines vary
2.) DX Sears Canadian High School Design Competition
- This competition promotes the study and awareness of all design disciplines in schools across Canada. The competition is open to high school students, at junior (grades 10 and below) and senior (grades 11 and above) levels. Prizes will be awarded at both levels in 5 categories: Architecture/Interior Design; Costume Design; Fashion; Graphic Design; Industrial Design
- 3 awards worth $200 – $500 will be awarded for each category
- Deadline: Friday, April 24, 2015
3.) MuchFACT Awards
- MuchFACT’s mandate is to promote the Canadian music video industry by providing financial assistance to individuals involved in music video production (producers, directors, artists, etc.)
- Projects must have Canadian content, Canadian ownership, be new productions and be closed-captioned
- Must have a current, active or forthcoming sound recording available
- Submit current sound recording and relevant selections, detailed visual concept and a production budget
- Selection based on creative presentation and financial requirements of the proposed video
- Deadlines Vary throughout the year
- Awards worth a maximum of $50,000
4.) Tall Clubs International Student Scholarship
- Students attending first year of post-secondary studies in the Fall and under 21 years of age
- Must meet the height requirement minimum of 5’ 10” for women and 6’ 2” for men.
- Must be sponsored by a Tall Clubs International (TCI) Member Club
- Award: Scholarships worth up to $1,000
- Deadline: February 15th, 2015
- URL: http://tall.org/tci-acts/scholarships-2/
5.) Cara Brown Ringette Scholarship
- Active ringette players currently playing at the provincial AA level and registered with one of Ringette Canada’s provincial or territorial member associations
- Entering a Canadian university on a full-time basis for the first time
- Minimum B average
- Submit maximum 1,500 word essay
- Amount: 2 awards worth $1,000 each
- Deadline: March 31st 2015
6.) Manitoba Golf Scholarship
- Entering or continuing full-time post-secondary studies at a Canadian institution
- Must be members of a golf club in the province of Manitoba
- Demonstrated scholastic excellence
- Amount: Scholarship amounts vary
- Deadline: June 30 2015
7.) Scotiabank National Scholarship 2014
- This scholarship is sponsored by Scotiabank and yconic.
- The scholarship is open to any student who is enrolled or will be enrolling in a Canadian post-secondary program
- To apply, all you have to do is submit a short essay of 150 words or less on how you will “Fund Your Future”
- 12 Scholarships valued at $2,500 CAD each.
8.) The “Easy Money” Scholarship
- This scholarship is sponsored by yconic, Canada’s largest student platform
- The Scholarship is open to all Canadian residents, who is a yconic member, currently enrolled (part-time or full-time) in a Canadian high school or institute of higher education.
- To apply, you have to submit a completed scholarship contest entry form to yconic.
- 1 contest prize at $1,000 CAD
