I’m in grade 12 stressing out about uni applications as one should, and the only scholarships i’ve looked into are the academic merit based ones. They involve no nomination, application, EC’s or volunteering of any kind. I am in a better place in terms of my motivation and health than I was in last year in grade 11, so I do genuinely believe that I could get a high enough average for an entrance scholarship. However, I have been involved in a lot things during my years of high school without even realizing it, and I was wondering if any scholarships based on community involvement would be available to me?
I go to an arts high school for dance…
I’ve been a “class rep” for 4 years: attends weekly meetings to discuss upcoming events/ performances in the program as well as any issues that may arise. Ex: the teachers strike last year almost cancelled one of our productions but we worked together with the teachers and students to put on that show in a week after not being at school for 3 weeks! Class representatives also act as a liaison with the teacher to help students who were away catch up, solve any problems that may arise, be in charge of the class when the teacher is not there.
I’ve been in a school dance company for 4 years: Dance companies not only have a piece in the two dance productions we put on a year (one each semester), but we perform at events within the community, school, and even school board. It involves practice for 1.5 hours weekly and could be more depending on what show/ event we are preparing for.
I’ve been involved in extra roles in our two shoes for 4 years: We have a winter production and a production in May called the “May Show”. In addition to a class piece, and company piece, I have auctioned for an extra role each show which also demands many hours of rehearsal leading up to the shows.
In grade 12 the dance program has something called “leadership roles”, as the grade 12’s help run the productions as part of our mark. This has not been decided yet but I hope to be something called a “stage manager” who basically has a headset and sits behind the curtains to make sure dancers are on and off stage in sync with the lighting and music, ensure all the dancers are there before going on stage, and solve any other problems along the way while making sure the show goes on smoothly. The teachers said this role is something you would put on a resume because it demands a lot of responsibility and hard work to pull off.
In order to graduate with an “arts letter” you need 30 arts points. Arts points are given by participating in a company, being a class rep, auditioning for an extra role in a show, ect. By the end of my grade 12 year i will graduate with well over 60 arts points! 
Also in addition to all involvement in the dance community of my program, I was a competitive dancer at a studio in grade 9 and 10 dancing 10+ hours a week in addition to company, and extra role rehearsals along with class rep duties.
Now that I am in grade 12 and have decided to take a spare each semester, I have time to volunteer now. I am thinking of applying to the high school winter volunteer program at my local hospital. If accepted i would start in January and work over 6 months to get 60 hours of community involvement. I believe applying for regular (not early) admission starts in January. Would it be stupid to take a volunteer position if I wouldn’t be able to put it towards a scholarship when applying? I want to take it regardless of whether it would show on my uni application, but would I be able to put it towards something if it starts in january???
I have done all of the above while being on the honour role the past 3 years, and also maintaining a job for a little of my grade 11 year.
OK SO MY APOLIGIES FOR JUST EXPLODING WITH ALL THE STUFF I HAVE DONE, but all in all would my involvement in the dance program, dancing at a studio, and a possible volunteer position go towards any scholarship??? I will be applying to life science programs at UofT, Ryerson, and possibly McMaster and or Queens.
In grade 9 when I decided to try being a class rep, and join a company, and try out for extra roles I didn’t even know it could look good on a resume or go towards something. It was out of pure passion for dancing and for helping those in my program and it still is today! I haven’t thought of my involvement in this program looking good on an application for university until my grade 12 year! My parents don’t want me to live on campus anywhere, they want me to commute to York University like my sister did because they don’t think i’m capable of anything. If all of the above doesn’t go toward any type of scholarship at those universities than I will work my fucking ass off to get those academic based scholarships… But I need a scholarship, because I need to prove to my parents that I am capable of greatness and deserve to move away from home. So please! Is this involvement make me eligible for any scholarship at Uoft, Ryerson, Mac, or Queens? Thank you in advance.