“Free” Season at AUSU

AU undergrad students are swimming in opportunities for free stuff this fall. AUSU is poised to hand out thousands of dollars in scholarships and bursaries in a few weeks. Additionally, AUSU is running a contest for a free AU undergrad course, worth hundreds of dollars.

Let’s begin with the easy stuff:

AUSU’s #igo2AU Contest. The winner of this contest will receive a voucher for one free 3-credit AU undergrad course. Entering the contest is free and takes only a few minutes. To enter, complete one of the tasks listed on the contest webpage. Choose from taking a photo of yourself using the AUSU Mobile App, completing an AUSU Course Evaluation, following AUSU on Twitter or LinkedIn, or one of several other tasks. For most tasks you’ll need to take a photo or screenshot of your completed task, as indicated in the task description, and e-mail your entry to contest@ausu.org, including your name and AU student ID number.

Students can enter up to five times by completing different tasks. After the contest ends November 30, 2016, AUSU will make a random draw from all eligible entries. The winner walks away with a free AU undergrad 3-credit course voucher. The voucher must be used by September 30, 2017.

The #igo2AU contest is easy to enter, and all entries?assuming they’re properly completed?have an equal chance of winning.

Now for more of a challenge:

AUSU’s Scholarship’s, Awards, and Bursaries. If You’re one of the successful applicants for an AUSU award this fall, you’ll walk away with $1000 (deposited directly to your bank account.) Applications for most awards require a bit of time to gather and compile information, so you’ll need to get started soon. Applications?which are submitted online?must be received by AUSU by November 1.

Think your chances of winning an award or scholarship are small? Think again. You’re not competing against all other AU undergrad students, just the ones who bothered to apply. AUSU typically only receives a handful of applications for each award?as few as 8 and as many as 75 in the last award cycle—so each applicant has a decent shot at winning. Bursaries, which require applicants to demonstrate financial need, receive even fewer applications.

Available this fall are two Academic Achievement Scholarships worth $1000 each; two Balanced Student Awards of $1000 each; two Returning Student Awards of $1000 each; three Student Service Awards of $1000 each (one of which is a one-time award in honour of outgoing AU interim president Peter MacKinnon); as well as five AUSU Bursaries of $1000 each; and one Single Parent Bursary of $1000. (AUSU has other bursaries available which students can apply for year-round; visit AUSU’s awards page for details.)

Be sure to review each award’s application form carefully to ensure you qualify and for details on what information is required for your application. Make sure your application is completed and submitted by November 1.

You’ve probably heard that money doesn’t grow on trees. But this fall, AUSU is giving students the next best thing: multiple opportunities for free stuff. A small time investment can have a huge payout. Check out these opportunities and all AUSU has to offer at ausu.org.

Barbara Lehtiniemi is a writer, photographer, and AU student. She lives on a windswept rural road in Eastern Ontario. Follow Barbara on twitter @ThereGoesBarb.