Carleton University Making a Difference Award – for Students Entering First Year

What you will need

• ✓ Completed application form
• ✓ Documentation of a permanent physical disability
• ✓ Full-time enrolment in an eligible program (Engineering, Science, Public Affairs, or Commerce)
• ✓ Evidence of academic excellence, community service, and leadership

About this award

You can receive $5,000 for your first year. This is a scholarship, not a loan, so you do not have to pay it back. If you meet the renewal rules, the award may be continued for three consecutive years of undergraduate study. This is for you if you have a documented permanent physical disability and a strong record of academic excellence, community service, and leadership. You must apply by August 31. When you apply, ask Carleton University how and when you will hear back — whether it is through email, a portal, or a phone call. The Director of the PMC (the Paul Menton Centre — the office that supports students with disabilities) recommends winners based on your achievements and commitment to making a difference in your community. Selection criteria aren't published — ask Carleton University how many applicants they typically receive so you can judge your odds. Ask Carleton University during your application how the money will reach you — some awards pay students directly, others apply funds to tuition. Confirm this so you can plan your cash flow. To keep this award for multiple years, you must remain in good academic standing and maintain full-time enrolment with a minimum of 4.0 credits over the Fall/Winter session in an eligible undergraduate degree program.

Who qualifies

You must have a documented permanent physical disability and be entering a program of study on a full time basis at Carleton University. You must be enrolled in one of these specific programs: the Faculty of Engineering, the Faculty of Science, the Arthur Kroeger College of Public Affairs, or the Bachelor of Commerce program. You should also be able to show evidence of academic excellence, community service, and leadership.

This is what the award's official page said when we last checked. Rules change, so confirm on the award's official page before you apply.

• ✓ Open to high school students
• ✓ Studying Engineering, Science, Public Affairs or Commerce

How to apply

1. 1

   Read the award's official page

   Check you meet every requirement, and note each document they ask for.

2. 2

   Submit your application

   Save a copy, and submit at least a day before the deadline shown above.

Tips for applying

• Community LeadershipAvoid just listing the organizations where you volunteered. Instead, describe one specific time your leadership helped make a difference in your community. Write about the actual impact you had on other people.
• SupportAvoid guessing what the application needs. Instead, contact the Paul Menton Centre for Students with Disabilities (PMC) for more information.
• StrategyAvoid waiting until the last minute to contact the school. Instead, reach out to the PMC (the Paul Menton Centre — the office that supports students with disabilities) early to ensure your disability documentation is up to date.
• RealismAvoid counting on this award. Instead, remember that it is awarded based on a specific recommendation from the Director of the PMC. Focus your application on showing both your academic strength and your community impact.

Questions students ask

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