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Scholarship Essay Writing Tips and Help
Tips and Suggestions on Creating a Scholarship Essay
Each year the scholarship organizations receive applications from many
more students than they have scholarship awards for. The scholarship
selection committee looks closely at all criteria when making selection
decisions. In order to select the most qualified candidates, the
selection committee looks closely at an applicant’s academic record,
information about accomplishments, and service to the community. The
scholarship essay can help the committee to gain as much information and
insight about you as a person, and as a student, thus enabling the
committee to make a critical decision on who receives scholarships. The
scholarship essay can be a critical factor on whether you are selected
for a scholarship opportunity. Please take your time when writing you
essay and follow these simple suggestions.
- Make an outline of what you want to say. Each paragraph should
develop and discuss only one idea and lead easily into the next
paragraph.
- Be very attentive to grammar, punctuation and spelling.
- Tightly structure your essay by sticking to the point and
supporting your experience with compelling examples.
- Let someone else read and evaluate your essay, another set of
eyes always helps.
Scholarship and Essay Tips
- If scholarship requires a nomination, ask department or
organization how you can be nominated.
- Choose essay topics that fit the requirements of a broad range
of scholarships. This allows you to recycle essays and saves
enormous amounts of time and energy. Later, customize it to meet the
needs of each scholarship, but be sure to answer the questions that
were asked of you.
- Many scholarships require you to write a personal statement
about yourself. Tightly structure your essay by sticking to the
point and supporting your experience with compelling examples. Write
with a personal voice and avoid sounding wooden and dry. Evaluators
are extremely responsive to stories that overcome adversity.
Typically, personal statements should include your academic
achievements, community involvement, leadership skills, and
aspirations.
- Many organizations favor student leaders or students involved in
community service. Other groups look for students who have
exceptional talents - writers, scientists, athletes or musicians. If
the application mentions these qualities, emphasize the talents you
have as well as your academic achievements.
- Follow directions. For example, if the application limits you to
a 3-page essay, do not go over 3 pages, but neither should you write
only one paragraph.
- Have several strong writers read and edit your essay for
structure, grammar, redundancy and logic. Evaluators will mark you
down if your essay is unclear, incomplete or just plain difficult to
understand. Also, typewritten essays are preferred over hand-written
ones.
- If the scholarship is renewable, then this is practically
guaranteed money. Typically, all you need to do is maintain the
scholarship requirements and renew your application, as necessary.
Sample Scholarship Essay |
