What Does it Take to be a Loran Scholar?

Chloe Huang's Journey to Winning the Loran Scholarship and Advice to Future Applicants 

By: Ella Tsang (12) 

This April, one of the most prestigious high school scholarships announced their 2024 scholars. The Loran Scholars Foundation, founded in 1988, is a nationwide nonprofit organization that grants scholarships of up to $100,000 to Canadian university applicants. Loran Scholars are given the top student merit award in Canada, awarded based on their integrity, service ethic, and leadership potential. This year, 47 individuals were awarded the Loran Scholarship, including Britannia’s very own student, Chloe Huang. As we celebrate her achievements, curiosity is sparked about her journey that led her and other recipients across Canada, and advice she may have for future applicants. 

What was the application process like? 

Back in September, I wrote a pretty long written application. After that, around November, I heard back and they told me I got into the video interview process of the application. After that interview, I found out that I made it to the semi-finals, which was a meeting on Zoom. In that meeting, I got to meet other Loran applicants as well as other Loran people, including past scholars. When I finished my semi-final interview, I found out in December I got into the final interviews which were in Toronto. By that time, there were only 90 other finalists. I had a great time meeting the smaller cohort of finalists as well as the Loran staff. A lot of past Loran scholars came back to visit, specifically to meet the new finalists, and it was very interesting to learn their motives on coming back to Toronto, including how a lot of them loved the Loran community so much they decided to come back. 

Was Loran similar to other scholarships you applied for? What made it different? 

Loran was the only big scholarship I heard back from. However, even their application process was different. When I was applying to other scholarships, they were asking me about smaller things such as what I did, but Loran was focused on asking about bigger things in my life, such as things I struggled with and things that I enjoyed. For example, some scholarships would ask what I was involved with, like volunteering and why I volunteered, but Loran asked more specifically about volunteering and asked about times where volunteering was meaningful to me. Even for smaller scholarships I was applying to, they were very broad in their application questions while Loran would extend their questions to a higher level. I noticed the questions were formatted in a way that Loran was trying to get to know me.  

Have you been involved in any extracurricular activities or community service that you believe played a role in winning this scholarship? 

I think all of my extracurriculars impacted my achievement. I did quite a bit, but Loran looks a lot more on why you did those extracurriculars. For example, I volunteered in Strathcona Interact Club, I coached volleyball, and I did student council, and Loran mainly just cared about why I did it. For all of the extracurriculars I did, I had a very big emotional connection to them: I really enjoyed playing volleyball, I joined Strathcona Interact Club because I really enjoyed growing up in the Strathcona community and wanted to give back, and I joined student council because it was with and for my peers. So, I think it’s not about racking up extracurriculars, it’s more enjoying what you’re doing and reasoning behind it. 

What advice would you give to other students who are considering applying for this scholarship? 

Just be very honest and be true to yourself, because the application is really about knowing you as a person. They want to understand what you struggle with, what you enjoy, and that comes through a lot especially with the interview process, so if you’re not honest to yourself in the beginning of filling out the written application, the rest of the interviews will be harder. Also, when you’re honest, it shines through a lot in your writing; people will be able to read your passion and can tell there’s something you really enjoy. So, I think just being honest to and about yourself is the best advice I’d give. 

Chloe Huang's journey to becoming a Loran Scholar provides valuable insights for future applicants. Her experience highlights the importance of authenticity, passion, and a strong connection to one's community and activities. Aspiring scholars should focus on what they love and why they do it, allowing their true selves to come through. The Bruin Bulletin and Britannia are extremely proud of Chloe for her achievements and for representing our school!