International school fees in Singapore are high and not affordable for many, but there is the option of international school scholarships. Some schools offer both full and partial scholarships, especially for academically gifted children. We had a chat with a student who has been through the process of applying for an international school scholarship and was successful.
Shravana is a Year 12 student at Dover Court International School (DCIS) and the recipient of a partial international scholarship for the school’s International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme. Here, Shravana tells us what it was like starting at DCIS in Year 12 on the IB scholarship programme, and why she decided to apply for it.
What prompted you to apply for the scholarship in the first place?
I was drawn to the idea of doing the IB, but that meant going to a school where the fees were high. I wanted to help ease the financial burden on my parents somehow and so decided to work towards earning a partial international school scholarship to do the IB Diploma at DCIS.
What was the application process like and what do you think the school looks for in its scholarship candidates?
The process of applying for the scholarship was an incredibly reflective one. The school wanted to know who I am as a person and I felt they wanted to gauge my resilience. As well as looking at my grades and talents, they wanted to know how I was going to make an impact on the DCIS community.
These questions helped me to reflect on how I could make a difference in the school. This has not only helped land me a scholarship but also made my school journey more fulfilling as I know exactly what I want out to get out of it, both academically and personally. I feel like the school is looking for students who are able to be independent. They need to see that we can help ourselves when it comes to reaching our goals. Ultimately, they want to see genuineness and optimism as well as a passion to learn and grow.
What was it like to join a new school for year 12?
When I first walked into the school, I was greeted by smiling faces. The staff and students guided me and welcomed me into the community. Once I’d started school, I was excited to get to know all these new people! Just as I had expected from my first impression, everyone is incredibly kind and helpful.
The IB is known to be very challenging. How are you finding it so far?
The IB encourages independence, and at DCIS the teachers guide you to be the best independent self you can be. They effectively do this by giving you an equal amount of freedom and support. The IBDP may be challenging, but with the right environment, like the one I’m getting at DCIS, I believe I can stretch myself to my maximum potential while having fun and making the best of my school life.
What do you enjoy most outside the classroom?
DCIS has a myriad of opportunities in various disciplines. Personally, I’ve taken up a few of the leadership opportunities. I feel that they have helped me mature in the way I communicate my ideas and collaborate with people. One of the things I love about my school is that the teachers are always ready to listen to our suggestions. They try to accommodate changes if we can justify them.
If this sounds like something that your child might be interested in learning more about, applications for the 2020-2022 International Baccalaureate Programme scholarship at Dover Court International School are now open. Successful partial scholarship recipients will have their tuition fee discounted by up to 50% for the duration of the course.
Dover Court International School
301 Dover Road139644, Singapore
www.dovercourt.edu.sg | +65 6775 7664
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Kate Marsden
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