Thread by @forum_isf

Good evening fellow ISFites,

My name is @Lukgaf. It's another day of interesting session on ISF, this night.

As announced earlier, we'll be discussing how to successfully secure a very prestigious scholarship this evening - Mandela Rhodes Scholarship.

Our amiable guest lecturer is ready to take us through the journey.

If you're ready for the lecture, please signify with an emoji.

Thanks

✨ The Agenda for the Lecture

1. Overview of Mandela Rhodes Scholarship

2. How to approach the essay questions.

3. Application documents

4. Admissions

5. Benefits

6. Prompts

7. Question

Hello everyone I hope we've had a wonderful day.

I'm happy to be in our midst today.

As expected, I will be given a run through on the basic expectations and application components that should make your MRF application stands out.

1/

Disclaimer! All views which will be presented are from my own experience as an MRF scholar and from my personal opinions and as such, they will largely reflect the MRF, however, they are not exclusive and all surpassing.
2/

Basically, the MRF runs on 4 core themes. 1. Leadership, 2. Education 3. Entrepreneurship 4. Reconciliation (this will be referred to all through the lecture).

The scholarship award funds postgraduates programmes (Masters and honours only) and recruit only Africans.

3/

With this scholarship, you can choose any discipline and school of your choice as long as its in South Africa. However, be guided. Always think of applicability of your course choice especially towards social and global issues.
4/

Apart from the financial empowerment/obligation, the MRF also runs series of mandatory Leadership trainings and workshop with very notable guest lecturers, part of which you get to take on a little bit of community projects.

5/

Lastly, the award only sponsors Africans.
As far as I know, there's a little bias based on quota for every class. So they do try to keep a balance across the different regions and countries in Africa.

6/

Now let's look at the application docs required.

1. 3 recommendation/recommenders

2. A personal statement

3. An essay.

4. Your documents, transcripts, cv and certificates.

5. Average calculations of your high school and university grades.

7/

Aside;

When filling the documents, its okay to put in your current cell phone numbers and that of your guardians. Just put in your country code. +234
For address, you can browse up the university/campus residence of whatever school you are looking at.
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Essay .
1. For your own good, think outside of the box. Don't be lazy, stand out. I'm saying this because I've been privileged to review essays, and it's surprising how people write on only the same polarising issue.
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I would refrain from listing them so as not to shoot ourselves in the legs.

However, think!

Nigeria is rich in history, in diversity, in culture, in religion, in perceptions, in talents, in food. Think of politics, think of representations and different bias. 10/

think hard, do your research and stand out!
If you most go common, do so in a unique way!
2. Put your self in the picture of whatever issue. How have you viewed this? what do you think? how have you or your groups been affected?
Don't just go online and copy and paste. 11/

3. Get your facts right.
4. Make it interesting and possibly use a story format.
5. In the most simple way, a polarising issue (which is a main focus in the essay to be written) is whatever that is causing a divide and leads to unfair treatments, 12/

Admission Applications

1. Browse, send mails ( dont be scared, they respond), ask questions. Know what you are getting into 13/

2. Know the difference between an honours and a masters. Dont make a mistake.

People have come in for honours after doing a five year bsc course in Nigeria because of ignorance. 14/

3. Be proactive. No admissions, no scholarship! 😢

4. Getting admission in the UK is much easier than South Africa. So start now. 15/

5. Do your research on which schools you need to pay for Application fees, which ones require SAQA

6. Research on SAQA ( an evaluation and verification body for foreign qualifications in South Africa)if you dont know about it.

It will help in decision making

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Calculations .

1. Calculate correctly. Its percentages.
E.g, how many percent of 5.0 is 4.0 or 3.8 e.t.c

For high school/Waec, use the subject keys and aggregate.

Simply go online and ask how to grade your waec performance in percentage. 17/

Benefits(the icing on the cake)🤭🥳

1. S.A might not be all you've dreamed of, but consider it a closer step than where you are now. 😉
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2. The scholarship is fully funded. Everything included, flight tickets, study allowances, accommodation allowances, monthly stipends, research grants, quality education, leadership training, a sound network of scholars, African leaders and affiliates.
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Food for thought/ Prompts 🤔

Remember this going forward, years ago there were no scholarship seminars, whatsapp groups and YouTubes giving tips here and there.

Now everyone has easy access to what would have been considered scarce knowledge 🤔 20/

So guys if you were working hard, work harder. 💪

The competition just got tougher, because the next guy knows most of what you think are your strong points. 😂Well it's one thing to know, its another thing to Apply the knowledge. Its up to you.
All the very best guys😎
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For Q&A, watch out for the transcript when it is out