Short money for college? There is help

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This article was published 24/03/2025 (456 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

As students approach the spectacular achievement in our lives of graduating high school, for many it may be stressful. We may not know where we end up or how we get to that peak point in our lives. For some it may include post-secondary such as university or college, for others it may include going straight into the work field of one’s choosing. While some may be considering post-secondary education, a doubt of the possibility of attending may arise because of the financial factor. Unfortunately, not many students are aware of the financial support and benefits that are available to them. These benefits include scholarships, bursaries, and grants available to all. In addition, Manitoba students may qualify for government student aid, which consists of interest-free loans.

Now, what are these financial options? Many parents may have a Registered Education Savings Plan (RESP) already set up for their children, in case they decide to pursue post-secondary education. An RESP is an account parents, grandparents, or guardians open for their children at a young age that guarantees some money going to their school funding in the future. This account helps to determine if you are in need of financial support from additional sources. Ms. Lemoine, Neelin’s Registrar, supports students with all aspects of post-secondary planning. She says, “I always start by asking students, ‘Do you know if you have an RESP or not?’” She helps students explore programs, understand admission requirements, and complete applications. In an interview with Ms. Lemoine, she defines the meaning of these supports and benefits for post-secondary. The four most common supports are scholarships, bursaries, grants and Manitoba Student Aid.

A scholarship is money given to a student based off some sort of achievement, ranging from academic to athletic to artistic accomplishments. When it comes to scholarships it’s important to note that anyone anywhere can develop a scholarship program. They set their prize amount and include their own parameters of eligibility. For Neelin High School students, if you are graduating in the Class of 2025, there is a Scholarships and Bursaries channel in your Grade 12 Team. There, you can find scholarships going around throughout the year.

Another source of financial support is bursaries; these are specifically designed for students who demonstrate financial need or have limited resources to fund their future education. In order to receive a bursary, applications typically require a statement of financial need. With both scholarships and bursaries, an application will almost always be required for consideration. When it comes to grants, these are funds provided directly by the government to help cover the costs of post-secondary education. They are typically awarded based on financial need and do not need to be repaid.

Lastly, when it comes to financial aid, Manitoba has a program called Manitoba Student Aid. This is the provincial government supporting students to attend post-secondary by funding their education. This program does come with conditions. This is someone borrowing money from the government for school. Unlike other provinces, Manitoba does not charge interest when it comes to loaning money; this is not the standard across Canada. Some terms and conditions apply to this loan, as they do to all loans. If the household income is above a certain amount, you may not qualify for Student Aid. After graduating from an accredited school or program, the government gives you a six-month grace period before you need to start repaying your student loans. This time allows you to get settled and secure a job before making payments. In some cases, exceptions can be made to extend this period or adjust payments based on financial circumstances. It is worth noting that students who qualify for Manitoba Student Aid may also be eligible for non-repayable grants from both the provincial and federal governments, grants which are automatically assessed when applying for student aid. To find out more about this program, the website www.edu.gov.mb.ca/msa/repaying-student-loans covers everything a student interested in this option should know.

Where do you find scholarships? All Brandon School Division high schools, including Neelin, receive a yearly scholarship package near Spring Break. This is a collection of scholarships organized by BSD, ranging from $100 to $1,000. Students have three weeks to submit applications for individual scholarships found in the package. This isn’t to say that these are the only ones you can win; scholarshipscanada.com and scholartree.ca also carry numerous scholarships from all over the country for any type of student.

Ms. Lemoine states, “I encourage everybody to try and find a scholarship in (the BSD scholarship package) that they qualify for … because … it also makes you eligible for Neelin-specific scholarships.” For any students at Neelin looking for extra support and guidance when writing a scholarship letter, Ms. Lemoine will be hosting workshops during the weeks the package is out for students. Students and parents from other high schools are encouraged to check with the scholarship liaisons at those schools as some details may differ. Whether you choose to apply or not, if you don’t take advantage of these financial supports, they will simply go to someone else. Applying for scholarships, bursaries, and grants gives you a chance to reduce your education costs — so why not try?

» Tatiana Dupuis is a Grade 12 student at École secondaire Neelin High School.