Getting the opportunity to study Masters or Doctoral Degrees abroad or domestically for free is a dream for some people. There are many benefits when you can continue your studies, especially abroad, such as studying foreign cultures, strengthening foreign language skills, and finding new interests or interests. Besides that, library friends can also expand their network of friends with various cultures, increase career opportunities, and add life experiences. Then, how to get the scholarship? Minpus has compiled 7 tips to get a college scholarship!

1. Make a List of the Scholarships You Want
   There are several institutions that usually provide scholarships, ranging from the government, companies, to educational institutions. In general, there are many types of scholarships, ranging from government scholarships such as the Smart Indonesia Card (KIP Lecture) and Bidikmisi. There are also private scholarships, such as the Sampoerna scholarship. Friends of the library can find out about the type of scholarship they want and make a spreadsheet containing a list of scholarships that includes the type of scholarship, the required qualifications, the study program offered and the scholarship deadline itself. If you want to apply for more than one scholarship, it's also a good idea to make a time plan for each scholarship. Write down the registration schedule, the deadline for file collection, the selection process, to the announcement date of each scholarship you register. That way, friends from the library can ensure and comply with the procedures according to the schedule of each scholarship.

2. Frequently Check Social Media and Official Website of Scholarship Giving Institutions
   You need to access the official website of the scholarship granting institution more often. Usually the website admin will provide information about scholarship announcements ahead of the deadline date. After the scholarship announcement is listed on the website page, now is the time for the library friends to pay close attention to all the requirements of the scholarship institution. In addition, library friends can also monitor scholarship information from official social media such as Instagram and Twitter which are often accessed every day.

3. Active in Organization
   One of the tips to get a scholarship is to play an active role in the organization. Participating in extracurricular activities during high school, becoming a student council member and participating in other organizational activities during college became standard for scholarship applicants. But if your library friends haven't had time to do it during school, don't be discouraged. Friends of the library can still become volunteers in social activities, create innovations and conduct research, as well as appear in creative or cultural events.

4. Learn and Complete the Requirements
   When you have determined what type of scholarship you will take, the library friend must meet the requirements to get it, unless an 'optional' statement is written, which means it is only as a complement. Make sure the required documents are completely complete and in accordance with the criteria.

5. Prepare Portfolio
   One of the requirements that are usually asked by scholarship organizers is a portfolio of prospective applicants. Friends of the library can prepare a portfolio and CV as a condition for getting a scholarship. To make portfolios and CVs, library friends can package them with an attractive and representative design view as possible by using the help of graphic design applications such as Canva. Don't forget another thing that is more important, that is, keep your portfolio relevant to the major you want.

6. Improve English Skills
   Prospective masters or doctoral students who have foreign language skills have a greater chance of being able to get scholarships to study abroad, especially if they are targeting well-known universities abroad. At least friends of the library deepen two languages, namely English and the language of the destination country. Almost all scholarships stipulate that scholarship candidates must have a good TOEFL score, which is between 450 – 500. For this reason, if you plan to look for college scholarships, it is better to prepare your English skills ahead of time.

7. Create an Anti Mainstream Motivation Letter
   A motivation letter is one of the requirements that is always needed in scholarship applications, especially scholarships to study abroad. In this requirement, the friend of the library must write an essay showing that the friend of the library deserves the scholarship. People's habit of writing essays is to use words like, "I really want to learn about the culture there" or, "I'm interested in learning the language". This is very common and there will be nothing special about the essay. Friends of the library can try to write some interesting things, such as you are very interested in the country because you often watch some of its films, you have friends who live there, or you have high school friends who used to take student exchanges in that country. This shows that you do have a strong desire and foundation