How GrantMe helped me receive $356,800 in scholarship offers

By Ciara Browne

Despite putting in the work to be an outstanding student and community member for years, I struggled to communicate why universities and scholarship providers should invest in me.

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On top of various athletic and academic achievements, I filled multiple leadership and mentorship roles in high school. 

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Through coaching youth in Karate, leading the host team at my restaurant job, and tutoring my peers in calculus, I found purpose and enjoyment. However, it was difficult for me to articulate my strengths in a meaningful way. I found community involvement fulfilling to the extreme, but didn’t have the tools required to effectively market the abilities I had gained from it.

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Even though I loved what I did, I was beginning to feel as if it had all been for nothing.

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Things got worse when I realized that I lacked the capacity to continue my community involvement as much during grade 12. A fierce dedication to academic and athletic excellence overruled my innate desire to contribute to others’ successes, and I was left with no gaps in my schedule. This resulted in the majority of my altruistic initiatives fizzling out towards the end of my Grade 11 year. I was dissatisfied with my declining contributions, but didn’t know how to balance my commitments. I desperately needed someone to light a fire under me.

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GrantMe provided that spark, in more ways than I ever expected. I discovered the company in June 2023, just before the beginning of my Grade 12 year. Previously, scholarships were never on my radar, and I had resigned myself to decades of student loan payments after university. GrantMe made it impossible for anyone—even myself—to ignore my potential.

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Upon enrolling in the program, I was shown how to communicate my experiences, reflections, and strengths meaningfully. GrantMe nurtured my previous writing style—which could be generously described as “highly metaphorical”—into a sharp tool for self-marketing. I learned how to speak effectively about my experiences, and utilized my developing skills in countless applications and interviews. Constructive feedback became my new best friend.

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Most importantly, I was given the tools required to return to my passion for mentorship-based community action. GrantMe showed me how to structure my initiatives around my interests, to ensure that my impact was both meaningful and joyful. With GrantMe’s guidance, I developed a program that introduced engineering concepts to over 200 middle school students in my community. Through inquiry-based STEM outreach, I supported those who had previously been beyond my reach.

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My drive to succeed was exponentially amplified and enabled by GrantMe’s services. Although the initial investment was one of the largest risks I have ever taken, GrantMe exceeded my standards many times over. The abundant resources and intricate support system completely satisfied my needs as a scholarship and university applicant.

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With GrantMe’s help, I’ve exceeded my wildest expectations. On top of receiving admission offers from 7 of Canada’s top engineering programs, I received entrance awards and scholarship offers totaling $356,800.

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Some of the highlights include an $80,000 Engineering Entrance Award for Indigenous Students at UofT, a $120,000 Schulich Leader Scholarship for the University of Alberta, and a $40,000 Presidential Scholars Award for UBC. On top of the university-specific awards, I also received over $10,000 in funding through grants and bursaries.

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When weighing my options in terms of which program to attend, I was able to factor in how much financial aid I’d receive at each university and make the best decision for my future.

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I never could have imagined that it was possible to fund all of my studies and living expenses, and then some. Now I have the resources required to excel in my career alongside the financial security to remain involved in my community.

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My future outlook is nothing but positive. I am excited for upcoming opportunities, and feel assured that GrantMe will be there to help me every step of the way. It’s been hard work, but it was 100% worth it.

For me, the GrantMe program was an exceptional opportunity for personal growth and professional development. It showed me what I could accomplish with honest dedication and exceptional time management. Although my time with GrantMe was not without struggle, I was able to overcome each obstacle because I was always supported by their team.

–Ciara Browne

Because of GrantMe, my future is brighter than ever. As I near post-secondary, my excitement for what I will accomplish only grows. GrantMe helped me become holistically prepared for any application-based challenges that may come my way. My confidence in my abilities has grown significantly, and I feel empowered to take on any kind of challenge that may have previously dimmed my spirit.

Moving forward, I intend to continue developing the skills that I have gained through GrantMe’s program, in an effort to unleash my professional and personal impact on the world.

The bottom line: do not resign yourself to the idea of student loans and a full-time job on top of full-time studies. Take action to set yourself up for success—trust me, you will thank yourself later.