A Mauritian Student Pursuing a Bachelor's Degree at the University of Toronto Shares How She Got the Lester B. Pearson Scholarship

Hi! My name is Hannah Emambocus. I was born and raised in Mauritius – a small island in the Indian Ocean. I am currently pursuing an undergraduate degree in Mathematical and Physical Sciences at the University of Toronto. Mathematics is a vast field and encompasses so many things that I have yet to discover. My interest lies mainly in applied mathematics, and how it is used in actuarial science, statistics, and finance. The University of Toronto allows me the freedom to take courses in so many sectors pertaining to my interests, and I have found that my mathematical logic and thinking have evolved so much ever since I came here – through teaching from top professionals, real-life applications, and support from my peers.

Lester B. Pearson International Student Scholarship Details

I am the recipient of the Lester B. Pearson International Student Scholarship from the University of Toronto. This scholarship covers 4 years of undergraduate study, including tuition fees, residence costs, meal plan costs, book and incidental fees, and University Health Insurance Plan fees.

Educational Background

I did the Cambridge O-Levels and Cambridge A-Levels in Mauritius. I was consistent in earning A’s and A*’s, even being awarded the Outstanding Cambridge Learner Award three times. The O-Levels and A-Levels require a great deal of dedication and a studious mindset. Practice is key, and doing that made me build an excellent work ethic that I still carry with me now. Mathematics at O-Level and A-Level deepened my passion for the subject, even pushing me to take an additional subject at A-Level – Further Mathematics – to dive even deeper. Going through this rigorous syllabus, I was quite well prepared to adjust to the more intense lectures at U of T.

How Did You Prepare to Apply for Institutions?

In terms of applying for the program itself, I found YouTube to be a great source of help as so many people have gone through the application process for universities and posted videos on the platform.

My Cambridge results were sufficient in the application process, and no additional scores were required. I did not have to take a language test, but I did expose myself to more English – whether through shows or news – to build up my fluency. I feel that this can be helpful for those who need to take language tests.

How Did You Prepare to Apply for the Lester B. Pearson International Student Scholarship?

The Lester B. Pearson scholarship requires that each school nominate one student only. The selection process is – without saying – quite competitive. I had to compile all of my academic transcripts from Grade 10 to Grade 12, as well as cite any awards I won during my academic years. I also wrote a personal statement describing my extra-curricular activities, as well as a leadership role I held over the past years (which was at an NGO helping the Muslim community). After proofreading and going over a few drafts, I submitted my application to my school and ended up being selected. After that, the Pearson Committee sends an application form to fill out via email, consisting of short-answer and long-answer questions (including a major essay-type question).

What Do You Think Made Your Application Stand Out?

Even though I earned high grades throughout my academic years, I feel like what truly made my application stand out was that I showed a dedication to improving myself and making a change. While developing my strengths in great depth, I also mentioned the mistakes I made along the way, and how I was motivated to learn from these experiences and keep on trying to reach my goal.

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

I would have sought advice from other people who went through the same application process before. Going into it at first, it was quite overwhelming. Even though I managed to overcome this feeling and succeeded in obtaining the scholarship, I do feel that the process would have been much smoother had I had someone to guide me along the way.

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

Whether it is the Lester B. Pearson scholarship or any other scholarship, my biggest advice would be to be genuine in what you write about. It is easy to cite what we have done during our high school years, but writing about something we are truly passionate about brings our essay to a whole new level. Choosing an essay topic may come in minutes, or you may spend days thinking about it. It does not matter, as long as what you wrote on paper screams YOU.