BC Merit Scholarships
Awarded to students enrolling in Grades 9 to 11
Applied for during the normal admissions application process (see more information below)
The BC Merit Scholarships recognize student achievement, as well as a commitment to the St. Lawrence school values.
Indigenous Peoples Award
Our community aspires to build relationships with Indigenous Peoples, so that their perspectives and cultures are present in our community in ways that are authentic, visible, respectful, and integrated. SLS is pleased to offer two awards to students who identify as members of Indigenous communities within Canada, whether First Nations, Métis, and/or Inuit.
For more information, and to apply for this award, please contact the Admission Team.
How to Apply for a Scholarship
The following information is for the BC Merit Scholarships. To apply for the Indigenous Peoples Award, please contact the school for more information.
- School Application
Parents/guardians complete and submit the SLS admissions application on behalf of the student and indicate that they are applying for a scholarship.
- Scholarship Application Process
The admissions application and scholarship checklist must be completed before applying for a scholarship. Once all required application documents have been submitted and reviewed by the Admissions team, candidates are invited to complete a Principal interview and entrance testing conducted either in-person or over an online video platform.
- Interview and Entrance Testing
The interview and entrance testing can take approximately 2 hours. Any admissions tests will be administered at the discretion of the Admissions Team and will be considered part of the scholarship eligibility review.
- Outcome
After reviewing your application, the Admissions Team will advise you of the outcome of your application, including if you have also been awarded a scholarship.
Financial Assistance Program
Financial Assistance awards, up to a maximum of 50% of tuition, may be available to new families applying to SLS, depending on need, intensity of requests and available funds. We appreciate that a family may have many questions about the process and eligibility, so please review the frequently asked questions below, prior to applying before the deadline.
New Families Applying for Financial Assistance
With finite funds available, it is recommended that new families apply as early as possible in the admissions process. The deadline for new families to apply for financial assistance is June, 1st, 2024.
A new family may apply for financial assistance at any time; however, no financial assistance offer will be made until a student has successfully completed the admissions application and has been offered a place at SLS.
Because of confidentiality, the admissions and financial assistance applications are two separate processes. This means that the Admissions Team will not know that you have applied for financial assistance unless you tell them. Sometimes your Admissions offer will expire before the outcome of your financial assistance application (or vice versa). If this happens, you may request an extension from the Admissions office.
SLS works with Apple Financial Services, a member of the organization of Financial Aid for Canadian Students (FACS). By working with them, SLS is able to have an external organization evaluate the financial need of individual families, and ensure that the financial information provided is held in complete confidence. FACS will provide SLS with a recommendation, which the SLS Financial Assistance Committee uses to decide on the level of financial award to a particular student.
FAQS
What is Financial Assistance?
Financial assistance at St. Lawrence School refers to monetary support provided to families who demonstrate financial need to afford tuition and other educational expenses. It is designed to ensure that qualified students can attend the school regardless of their family's financial situation.
What does ‘needs-based’ mean? 'Needs-based' refers to the criteria used to determine eligibility for financial assistance. It means that assistance is granted based on the demonstrated financial need of the student's family, in addition to a student’s academic and extracurricular achievements. The school assesses the family's financial situation using a third-party service called Apple Financial, a member of the organization of Financial Aid for Canadian Students (FACS) https://applefinancialservices.ca.
How many students at SLS receive Financial Assistance? Typically, the number of students receiving financial assistance varies from year to year and depends on factors such as the school's budget, the number of applicants, and the level of need among the applicant pool.
Is my financial information kept private? Yes, St. Lawrence School has strict policies in place to protect the privacy of families applying for financial assistance. Therefore, your financial information is kept confidential and is only reviewed by the appropriate personnel involved in the financial assistance process.
Am I eligible for Financial Assistance? Eligibility for financial assistance depends on several factors, including your family's income, assets, expenses, and the specific criteria set by Apple Financial and reviewed by the school's Financial Assistance Committee.
How much money can an award be? The amount of financial assistance awarded varies depending on the individual circumstances of each applicant, including the level of demonstrated need and the available funds in the school's financial Assistance budget. Awards can cover a portion up to 50% of the full tuition.
How do I apply for Financial Assistance? To apply for financial assistance, you need to complete and submit an admissions application form provided by the school, indicating that you have applied through Apple Financial for Financial Assistance.
How do I receive a Financial Assistance award? After submitting your completed admissions application and any required Apple Financial documentation, the school's Financial Assistance Committee will review the student’s application in combination with recommendations from Apple Financial. If you receive an offer of acceptance and qualify for Financial Assistance, you will be notified of the award amount along with any associated conditions. The award would then be applied directly to your tuition invoice.
Is Financial Assistance renewable? Financial Assistance is renewable for each year that the student remains enrolled in the school, subject to a student’s good standing and as long as the family continues to demonstrate financial need and adheres to any renewal requirements set by the school. This will require an application through Apple Financial for each year of enrollment.
Can I apply for financial assistance in the future? Yes, families can apply for financial assistance each year that their child is enrolled in the school.