How a Pakistani Scholar Secured the Lester B. Pearson Fully‑Funded Scholarship to Study a Double Major in Economics & Political Science at the University of Toronto

My name is Seemal Sheikh, and I come from Lahore, Pakistan. I completed my GCE A-Levels from Lahore Grammar School, Defence. I am currently pursuing a double major in Economics and Political Science, with a minor in Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies at the University of Toronto, Mississauga.

Lester B. Pearson Scholarship Details

I was awarded the Lester B. Pearson Scholarship, a merit scholarship worth up to $83,000. The scholarship covers tuition, boarding, meal plans, and also offers a $1000 book and living stipend per semester. While the Pearson award replaces all other awards you receive, I was also offered the University of Toronto Mississauga Entrance Award of Merit, worth $2000, and the University of Toronto International Scholars Award, worth $100,000 over four years.

Educational Background

I studied through the GCE O and A Levels system. I did my O Levels with Chemistry, Physics, Computer Science, Additional Mathematics, Sociology, and Environmental Management as my electives, and my A Levels with Economics, Maths, Sociology, and Global Perspectives. After my O Levels, I was sure that I would be pursuing something humanities-based. My favourite subject in school was definitely Sociology. It was only in my A-levels that I took up Economics and fell in love with the subject, and decided that I would pursue Economics and Political Science. In addition, a lot of my life experience and service experience pushed me to intellectually pursue feminist studies.

How Did You Prepare to Apply to the University of Toronto?

For my preparation to apply, I ended up taking the SAT and scored a 1530. I took an in-person crash course for the SAT a year before appearing for the test, and also went over SAT tips from books by Erica Meltzer, Dr Jang, and Dr Chung. Although the UofT portal does not ask for standardized test scores, I feel that having a standardized test score was able to provide the credibility required for a merit scholarship, so I would suggest taking the SAT or the ACT for any prospective applicants.

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

The Pearson application is usually pretty straightforward. However, it does have a lot of written questions, so I started my application a few months before it was due. I was also lucky enough to have my school counsellor connect me to a previous year’s scholar to

review my application, who was able to provide me feedback on my essays. I’d recommend that any prospective applicants should be reaching out to previous scholars too; they can offer you a lot of meaningful advice, and usually will respond to you via email or LinkedIn!

How Is (was) Your Experience at the University of Toronto?

My experience so far at UTM has been great. I really do love the serenity of the Mississauga campus. While it's much quieter and something that stunned me when I first moved here (I was anticipating a very teen movie-esque college life), I think a

smaller campus allowed me to find a community in a way I hadn’t expected. The close proximity of everything means you end up seeing the same people almost every day, which has turned acquaintances into friends and made it feel like I’ve found a real, close-knit community here.

How Do You Rate the University of Toronto Academically and Why? 

Academically, I think UofT is one of the toughest institutions in Canada. The lack of relative grading, strict grading generally, and the plethora of assignments you have to do is a bit overwhelming. However, there are just so many resources that push you to thrive. The RGASC (academic center) always has English and Math workshops and drop-ins with professional writing advisors. The Registrar’s office will connect you to an academic advisor who will help you figure out everything from course enrollment to program selection. The Math Learning Center has teaching assistants available almost every day who can assist you with any math courses.

All professors and TAs are extremely open to seeing you during their office hours. The University also provides mental health counselling support whenever you need it. I’ve found that taking advantage of the many resources available can make the whole experience much smoother and more manageable.

What Do You Think Made Your Application Stand Out?

The two main criteria that the scholarship judges you on are academic merit and leadership. I think what made my application stand out was my hands-on involvement in the community. Whether it was providing educational tablets to girls in Afghanistan, writing a book on street harassment for middle schoolers, or publishing anti-harassment legal frameworks, I was deeply involved in projects that addressed real issues in my community. I wasn’t just passionate, I was taking practical steps to create change. I believe the scholarship committee saw that the work I was doing was both meaningful and had a tangible impact, which aligned with their focus on academic merit paired with genuine, community-centered leadership.

What Would You Have Done Differently if You Were Going Through the Process Again? What Advice Would You Give Those Looking to Apply for a Similar Scholarship?

If I were doing the process again. I would most definitely take it a bit easier on myself and trust fate a bit more. I remember so many sleepless nights during the application process and so many more in anticipation of the decision.

If you’re a prospective student looking into applying, I would recommend that you start the process early. Don’t do activities for the sake of filling out the slots on the application; do meaningful work that you genuinely care about and want to continue doing. In your application, highlight the reasons why you did the work you did and what impact you think it brought on you own self and the community around you. Use the limited space you have strategically to highlight how you are a leader in your community who is empathetic, cognizant, and motivated.

At the end, you should definitely give it your best shot, but don’t obsess over getting into just one college; whatever’s meant to be will happen, and if you are committed, you will thrive no matter what place you are in.