President’s International Scholarship of Excellence Recipient, Ari Santi from Lesotho, Shares Her Journey of Pursuing a Bachelor’s in Sociology at York University, Canada

Hi! My name is Ari Santi, and I’m currently pursuing a BA in Sociology at York University in Toronto, Canada. I grew up in Lesotho, and I had always wanted to pursue higher education abroad. Motivated by my interest in social development and how Sociology covers a wide range of topics in that field, I decided to opt for this major. In my final year, I have narrowed down my interest in doing research and fieldwork that would ideally benefit people with disabilities, marginalized youths, and new immigrants. Outside of that, I am passionate about music and art, which made Toronto a dream city to be in while studying.

President's International Scholarship of Excellence Details

The scholarship I received is called the President's International Scholarship of Excellence, valued at $180,000 ($45,000 x 4 years). *Taken directly from the website: The President's International Scholarship of Excellence is awarded to international high school applicants who demonstrate academic excellence, commitment to volunteer work and extracurricular activities, and leadership skills. Recipients represent a variety of regions around the world and will be referred to as 'President's International Scholars'.

Educational Background

I came straight from high school, but something that strengthened my educational background and assisted my application process was my participation in the International Baccalaureate Diploma Program (IB), which I did in my last two years of high school. There were some higher-level (HL) classes, equivalent to AP classes, I believe, which made me stronger academically, and also the CAS component (Creativity, Activity, and Service). In my final exam, I received a 40/45 point score, which put me in a very good academic standing. The CAS component, which consisted of extracurricular projects related to service work in the local community, was very much related to what I wanted to pursue at York (Sociology)! The scholarship described above looks for a well-rounded student, and the IB framed my academic and extracurricular accomplishments in that way.

How Did You Prepare to Apply to York University?

I feel very lucky in my application process because I only applied to one overseas institution, which was York University. That being said, I did a lot of research prior to putting in that application. I went through almost every single university’s scholarship page (in Canada, especially in Ontario), and I made a spreadsheet with the universities that offered full tuition scholarships. It took some time to do this, but I very much encourage putting some work into the research, especially because full-ride scholarships can be a bit tricky to find. YouTube videos and existing resources on scholarships are helpful, but I find it important to do your own research as well.

I didn’t take any standardized tests like the SAT because the IB is an internationally recognized program: I took Higher Level English, so the IELTS was not necessary, and my grades were easy to convert.

How Did You Prepare to Apply to the President's International Scholarship of Excellence?

filled out the details as you would on any application for, but there was one component that required a lot of attention: a letter of intent (I am not sure what exactly it’s called so we can call it that for now)! This letter asked why I wanted to pursue the degree, what makes me a strong candidate for the scholarship, and so on. This is what I think made my application stand out: I put a lot of heart into it. I tried to represent myself as genuinely as possible. Passion is so important, and that can never be stressed enough. It helps to be genuinely immersed and interested in the degree you are applying for, especially for academic scholarships.

What Would You Have Done Differently if You Were Going Through the Process Again?

would start the process a bit earlier, maybe pace it throughout the last year of high school.

What Advice Would You Give Those Looking to Apply for a Similar Scholarship?

Don’t be afraid to reach out to the institutions via email and ask a question or two if you need clarification about the application process. Maybe do some research on your degree/major in that university, and in your application, bring out some components you like about how that specific university approaches your degree.

Also, take part in extracurriculars – creative projects, collaborative work, and community service. It does not have to be a large quantity of projects by any means, but definitely take part in or initiate a few that are meaningful to you. I did scheduled extracurriculars like Model UN, but also more flexible creative projects with my friends, which gave me a lot to draw from, like putting together a short musical play. Doing so will give you a lot to talk about in the application if they ask for a letter, and you will find it easier to showcase your talents and learn important skills which you can take into your first year of university.