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Best Writing Scholarships in 2024

Showing 159 scholarships that match your search.

Immerse Education

The Immerse Education Essay Competition provides the opportunity for students aged 13-18 to submit essay responses to a pre-set question relating to their chosen subject. 10 winners will receive a 100% scholarship, with runner-up prizes also awarded. 100% Scholarship Award For Cambridge, Oxford, Sydney & London Summer School Essay Competition.

Categories: Critical Essay

Organization: Immerse Education.

Deadline: January 04, 2025.

Additional awards: Runner-ups: 50% of scholarship.

Categories: Critical Essay.

Apply now →

Creative Writing Award

The winner will be offered the opportunity to occupy during her or his first academic year the residence room where J. D. Salinger lived; and Leadership standing in the Ursinus writing community. The winner will be expected to join the previous award winners in reading subsequent creative portfolios, and will help the Office of Admission in selecting the next winner. Award winners are also expected to be prominent members of Ursinus’ Literary Society, The Lantern, and the creative writing community.

Categories: Critical Essay, Journalism, Nonfiction, Novel Writing, Personal Essay, Playwriting, Poetry, Portfolio, Research, Screenwriting, and Short Fiction

Organization: Ursinus College.

Deadline: January 15, 2025.

Categories: Critical Essay, Journalism, Nonfiction, Novel Writing, Personal Essay, Playwriting, Poetry, Portfolio, Research, Screenwriting, and Short Fiction.

The Sub Pop Loser Scholarship

Sub Pop Records is extremely proud to offer a grand total of $15,000 in college scholarship money to three eligible high school seniors. To apply you must submit a one-page essay using any combination of our questions as a guide (or write something completely your own, be inspired and creative!). Applicants must be residents of Washington or Oregon in pursuit of higher education.

Categories: Personal Essay

Organization: Sub Pop Records.

Deadline: March 23, 2025.

Additional awards: Second place scholarship of $5,000, third place scholarship of $3,000.

Categories: Personal Essay.

Islamic Scholarship Fund Program

Students who are Muslim or active members of the Muslim community may apply for the Islamic Scholarship Fund. The ISF awards multiple scholarships each year ranging from $3,000-$10,000, though the amounts and number of recipients will vary. Students must submit applications including essay questions, work samples, and letters of recommendation, and must also be majoring in an ISF-supported field related to media or politics.

Organization: Islamic Scholarship Fund.

Deadline: March 21, 2025.

Additional awards: Multiple awards of varying amounts will be given.

BBB Torch Talk Scholarship

BBB Foundation is a 501(c)3 organization dedicated to educating consumers on a variety of marketplace issues; this scholarship is in pursuit of that goal. Applicants must attend high school in Alaska, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Washington or Western Wyoming, and will submit a 500-word essay for BBB’s online magazine Torch Talk on one of the given topics.

Organization: Better Business Bureau.

Deadline: March 16, 2025.

Flag House Scholarship Award

Do you know of an unsung history-maker in your community? Is there an organization in your community working to keep the legacy of a historically significant, but often overlooked, individual alive and relevant? Identify a person living or from the past whose professional work, activism, or personal story has made a significant impact on you or your community. Describe why their story is unique and explain how they have changed history. Response should be limited to 350 words.

Categories: Research and Critical Essay

Organization: The Star-Spangled Banner Flag House.

Deadline: March 26, 2025.

Categories: Research and Critical Essay.

Unpublished Writer's Award

The winner of this award receives $1,000, an invitation to accept the award at our annual awards ceremony, promotion on our website, and a feature of their work in our Magajournal and quarterly newsletter. Applicant must email an original, unpublished fiction work (short story or novel excerpt) not to exceed 2,000 typed words on double-spaced pages

Categories: Short Fiction and Novel Writing

Organization: Go On Girl! Book Club.

Deadline: March 31, 2025.

Additional awards: Invitation to awards ceremony, promotion through website and publications.

Categories: Short Fiction and Novel Writing.

Incight Scholarship

The INCIGHT scholarship is open to students in Washington, Oregon, and California who have a documented disability. Applicants must complete two detailed essay responses (video essays also welcome) in order to be eligible. The number of awards and total amount awarded will be determined during the selection process, and winners will be notified in June.

Organization: INCIGHT.

Deadline: April 01, 2025.

Marguerite Young Endowment Fund

The Marguerite Young Endowment Fund was established at The Pittsburgh Foundation to provide scholarships for students who plan to study theology. Candidates must be attending a Protestant seminary as a master of Divinity candidate, preparing for full-time ministry and/or be a seminary intern at a Protestant Church. Application must includes proof of this, as well as a personal essay.

Organization: The Pittsburgh Foundation.

Christine B. Dexter Scholarship

The Christine B. Dexter Scholarship was established in honor of Christine B. Dexter after her passing from stomach cancer in 2008. This scholarship awards undergrad students a $2,000 scholarship towards their fall tuition. All recipients demonstrate a history of community service and resilience through their cancer journey.

Organization: Christine B. Foundation.

The AAF-Greater Evansville Scholarship

The AAF-Greater Evansville awards scholarships to deserving high school and/or college students yearly in April. To be eligible, students must plan to pursue a career in advertising, marketing, public relations or graphic design. Application varies yearly but includes various education details and personal statements.

Categories: Journalism

Organization: American Advertising Federation of Greater Evansville.

Categories: Journalism.

Aspiring Literary Scholar Award

The winner of this award receives $1,000, an invitation to accept the award at our annual awards ceremony, promotion on our website, and a feature of their work in our Magajournal and quarterly newsletter. Candidate must submit an essay not to exceed 800 words on the topic "The Power of The Written Word."

Dr. Jerry Pournelle Scholarship

The Dr. Jerry Pournelle Scholarship may be awarded to a candidate of any gender majoring in engineering, math, biological or physical sciences, or “science fiction as literature” as an eligible field of study. Applicants must submit a 500-1,000 word essay on one of several scientific topics.

Categories: Research, Personal Essay, and Critical Essay

Organization: The Heinlein Society.

Categories: Research, Personal Essay, and Critical Essay.

Dr. Yoji Kondo Scholarship

The Dr. Yoji Kondo Scholarship may be awarded to a candidate of any gender majoring in engineering, math, biological or physical sciences, or “science fiction as literature” as an eligible field of study. Applicants must submit a 500-1,000 word essay on one of several scientific topics.

Jack & Julie Narcolepsy Scholarship

Project Sleep’s Jack & Julie Narcolepsy Scholarship is a national scholarship program to support students with narcolepsy and idiopathic hypersomnia. Students must complete an application form that includes a response to the esssay question: "If you could go back in time and speak to yourself on the day you were diagnosed, what would you say? Write a letter to yourself on that day."

Organization: Project Sleep.

What are writing scholarships?

Writing scholarships are financial awards given to students based primarily on written work, though other factors are usually taken into consideration as well. Most writing scholarships involve a prompt or series of prompts to which applicants must respond. Some writing scholarships — especially those that award large amounts of money — require applicants to submit past writing samples, or even a full portfolio.

The good news is that, with so many writing scholarships to choose from, you don’t have to apply for any that are “out of your league.” Indeed, though most students have heard of writing scholarships, you may not realize just how many different varieties there are! Here are five of the most common types of writing scholarships, all of which you can find in this directory.

1. Personal essay scholarships

Personal essay scholarships involve writing on a topic related to your own experience. You’ll often see personal essay prompts like, “How have your experiences influenced your choice of major?” and “What are your career aspirations and how do you plan to achieve them?” Other prompts may ask you to write about a role model, a life-changing event, an aspect of your identity, etc. Suggested length is usually about 500-1,000 words, but varies depending on the level of detail requested and how many essay questions are provided.

Just about every scholarship these days has a personal essay component of some kind. This is because personal essay responses both demonstrate writing skills and give the judges a clear sense of each applicant’s goals. No one wants to throw away money on an aimless student — so if you’re applying for a personal essay scholarship, make sure to convey both your writing abilities and your ambitions in your work!

2. Critical essay scholarships

Critical essay scholarships are more in line with what students might consider  “academic” essays. The prompts typically ask applicants to analyze works of literature. However, unlike open-ended English class essays, most critical essay scholarships provide a very specific prompt (e.g. “Examine The Great Gatsby in the context of its World War II-era revival”).

Critical essay scholarships can also involve non-literary subject matter. Some may ask applicants to evaluate a historical event or figure; others may ask them to defend their stance on a political or legal issue. Though the line between critical and personal essays can sometimes blur, for the purposes of this directory, we define critical essays as those that use evidence from an external source to prove a point.

3. Short fiction scholarships

Short fiction scholarships include scholarships for short stories, one-act plays, poetry, and any other form of fiction that isn’t a novel or full-length script. Short fiction scholarships tend to be easier to find than long-form fiction scholarships, since most judging panels don’t have time to read more than a few thousand words per entry. Therefore, if you write fiction and you’re hoping to nab yourself a scholarship, this category is the way to go! (That said, if you’re a hardline novelist, some places will accept a sample chapter or two as short fiction entries.)

4. Journalism scholarships

Journalism scholarships are for students interested in pursuing a career in news, magazine, and/or online journalism. These scholarship applications almost always ask for writing samples to show the candidate’s interest. Depending on the organization, they may prefer topical news reports, informative articles, thinkpieces, or a mix. Some journalism scholarships provide a prompt and ask applicants to write a new article, but the focus is usually on samples. Speaking of which…

5. Portfolio scholarships 

Portfolio scholarships are the most rigorous kind of writing scholarship, requiring a substantial body of work from each applicant — usually 5-10 pieces of writing, if not more. The upside is that awards for portfolio scholarships tend to be pretty sizable, and may even cover your entire tuition!

If you decide to apply to a portfolio scholarship, make sure you have several strong pieces of work in your oeuvre, and consider writing a few new pieces as well. What you shouldn’t do is rush through a dozen new pieces to throw together as a portfolio. If you don’t have samples at the ready from previous assignments or projects, you’ll be better off applying to a less intensive writing scholarship.

Why apply to writing scholarships?

Applying to writing scholarships is a huge undertaking, especially if you’re pursuing multiple scholarships at once. It can sometimes feel like the effort isn’t worth it, or that you have little chance of actually winning any awards. But in truth, submitting to writing scholarships is one of the best investments you can make in your education, your creative writing skills, and your professional life.

Scholarships for larger amounts do attract more applicants, but that doesn’t mean they’re impossible to land — only that you have to work a little harder to stand out. And you can definitely sway the odds in your favor by applying to lots of small scholarships ($500 or less) for which you’ll have fewer competitors. Remember that every little bit helps! For example, if you plan on taking out student loans, even a $500 scholarship could save you much more in interest down the line.

Another compelling reason to apply to writing scholarships is that oftentimes, you’ve already done the work, or the work required is minimal. For scholarships that require writing samples, you’ll simply submit what you’ve already written in the past — and even for scholarships with specific prompts, you rarely have to write more than a couple of pages. If you were seriously committed, you could apply to a scholarship every day, spending a single concentrated evening on each application.

Jumping off that thought, as English majors love to say: the more writing scholarships you apply for, the better a writer you’ll become. Writing tons of scholarship essays will make you a much more creative and efficient writer. Not only will this help with your personal writing projects, but it will also be invaluable to your education and even your career! Writing is a crucial skill for every major — you’ll always have to write papers and emails to professors, after all — and even if you don’t plan to pursue a writing-based job, you'll still need writing skills to polish your résumé.

Finally, remember that there’s a writing scholarship out there for everyone, no matter what your interests or intended field. This directory includes plenty of creative writing scholarships, yes; but there are also personal essay scholarships for future doctors, lawyers, salespeople, and so much more. You have nothing to lose by giving it a shot, so why not start searching for your dream writing scholarship today? (And if you’re unsure about your writing skills, you might benefit from some of the resources below.)

Resources to strengthen your writing skills

• 20 Writing Tips to Help You Become A Better Writer Today
• How to Stop Procrastinating and Build A Solid Writing Routine
• What is Creative Nonfiction? Memoirs, Literary Journalism, and More!
• How to Write a Memoir: Tell Your Amazing Story in 9 Steps
• How to Write a Fantastic Short Story In 7 Steps
• How to Self-Edit Your Manuscript Like a Pro
• 700+ Creative Writing Prompts to Inspire You
• 100+ Creative Writing Exercises for Authors

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How to Write a Scholarship Essay (with Examples)

September 27, 2023

While applying to college, many students are faced with an additional, daunting task: how to write a scholarship essay. Financial need, already a sensitive subject, can become a stressful factor in the process alongside other existential unknowns. Luckily, scholarship essays will not require you to go tiptoeing around the taboo topic of money. Furthermore, most scholarship essay prompts more or less resemble standard supplemental essay questions. The trick then is to make your scholarship essay stand out. The following article and scholarship essay example will offer up pointers for anyone striving to win a college scholarship.

Organizing Scholarship Essays by Prompt

You may feel like melting into a lump of despair when facing a browser full of tabbed scholarships. The best way to avoid getting overwhelmed is to organize and analyze a list of prompts. Why? Because your first goal is not simply to figure out how to write a scholarship essay. Rather, you’ll want to know how to save time while writing complex and relevant scholarship essays.

As you look over the various prompts, you’ll notice that some sound fairly open-ended, while others ask for something quite specific. In response, you should annotate each prompt with thematic keywords. This will help you figure out when you can use the same essay for several prompts.

Your annotated list may look something like the following…

Sample Scholarship Essay Prompts

1) “Explain something that made a big impact in your life.”

• Keywords: event , personal development, growth, background

2) “We’re committed to diversifying education abroad by providing funding to students who are typically under-represented in study abroad. Please describe how you and/or your plans for study abroad could be viewed as under-represented.”

• Keywords: minority, diversity, identity, study abroad

3) “Some students have a background, identity, interest, or talent that is so meaningful they believe their application would be incomplete without it. If this sounds like you, then please share your story.”

• Keywords: background, identity, interest, talent

Sample Scholarship Essay Prompts, Continued

4) “Please explain a personal hardship or catastrophic life event that you have experienced. How did you manage to overcome this obstacle? What did you learn and how did you grow from it?”

• Keywords: event, personal development, growth, challenge, background

5) Describe a change you would like to make in the world. Tell us about how you would plan to make that change, and what obstacles you might encounter along the way.

• Keywords: world development, challenge, future

6) “Tell us three things that are important to you. How did you arrive at this list? Will these things be important to you in ten years? Why?”

• Keywords: background, values, interest, development, identity, future

Scholarship Essay Prompts ( Continued)

7) “What does it mean to you to be part of a minority community? What challenges has it brought and how have you overcome them? What are the benefits?”

• Keywords: minority, community, challenge, growth

8) “Please explain how your experience volunteering and participating in community service has shaped your perspective on humanity. Elaborate on how these experiences have influenced your future ambitions and career choice.”

• Keywords: community service, humanity, community, background, future, values, career

9) “Discuss in your essay any challenges or obstacles you have dealt with and overcome in life and how this will help you succeed in college and beyond. Describe how volunteer, community service or extra-curricular activities have shaped who you are today and what it has taught you. May also include future educational plans and career goals.”

• Keywords: challenge, future, community service, interests, value, personal growth, career

How to Write a Scholarship Essay through Prompt Analysis

Let’s compare some prompts by keywords. You’ll notice that some prompts have a lot of overlap, such as prompts 1 and 4. Both have event, personal development, growth, and background as keywords . Prompt 4 includes the additional keyword challenge . This prompt explicitly asks you to explain how you have “overcome” a “personal hardship or catastrophic life event.” While prompt 1 is not so specific, it would be easy, even natural, to include this narrative arc in your response. This means depicting how you faced the thing that “made a big impact in your life.” In other words, these two essay prompts, though worded differently, allow you to tell the same story.

Other prompts provide potential overlap. In this case, it’s up to you to find and interpret these moments. You may consider the values, strengths, interests, and experiences you wish to relate. For example, prompts 7, 8, and 9 all mention community through different approaches. While prompt 7 focuses on one’s past involvement in a minority community, prompts 8 and 9 are more future-facing, and don’t mention minorities.

Scholarship Essay Examples (Continued)

Here, your best strategy involves answering prompts 8 and 9 together in a single scholarship essay. To do so, the essay would need to detail “a challenge or obstacle you have dealt with” (9) which has thus “shaped your perspective on humanity” (8). This narrative arc will thus inform your “future” educational and career plans (8 and 9). Note that prompt 9 allows you to mention extra-curriculars. However, I wouldn’t recommend it, since this would make your essay less relevant to prompt 8. After your essay is written, adapt it to align with prompt 7. Consider condensing the part about the future into one final sentence and focusing more on minority aspects of your community.

How to Scholarship Essay Avoid Burnout

The above tactic will allow you to avoid burnout by strategizing your essay approach ahead of time. In turn, you’ll be able to maximize your efforts from the get-go. You’ll also likely find that your essays become more complex and nuanced when you consider several prompts at once.

The next step involves editing. Refer back to the prompt, once you have a draft written. Ask yourself, did I answer the question fully? Do I need to edit this essay further to emphasize a particular point? Do I need to cut the essay down to fit a new word count? Contrarily do I need to bulk it up? If so, are there other essays in my portfolio from which I can borrow material? Strategic editing will allow you to respond to a large number of essays during peak essay-writing season.

Finally, you’ll notice that most essays require a word count between 250 to 600 words. It’s often easier to write a longer essay first. This will allow you to go into greater detail without censoring your ideas. You may find yourself including dialogue, scenery, emotions, and all sorts of other specifics that make an essay personal. As you whittle down this essay to comply with a similar prompt, you’ll want to identify which pieces of the essay do the most work to get your message across. Don’t simply condense everything by eliminating details, for details are often the most memorable aspects of an essay. More on this next.

How to Write a Scholarship Essay Using the Three Fs

The three Fs can be applied to any college essay, though they are particularily useful in scholarship essays. Why? Because the three Fs will enable you to impress readers and beat out other applicants. Ultimately, they’ll help you win financial support. Think of the three Fs as a checklist to go over, once you’ve completed an essay draft. Ask yourself, is my essay fabulous? Flawless? Fearless?

How to Write a Scholarship Essay (Continued)

If your essay is fabulous , it glitters with personality. It is detailed, unique, and does its best to highlight your impressive journey. If your essay lacks a little fab, ask yourself, how can I make this essay more enjoyable and memorable to read? If your essay is flawless , it lacks all spelling, syntactic and grammatical errors. It answers every aspect of the essay prompt, and leaves no room for vagueness or misunderstandings. To avoid flaws, give your essay to several people to proofread. Finally, if your essay is fearless , it is not afraid to get a little vulnerable. This may sound contradictory to the first F. On the contrary, this fearlessness refers to the confidence to tell your own story. A fearless story isn’t afraid to go deep, add complexity, or get emotional. It is unafraid to show why its author deserves a financial boost.

Scholarship Essay Example

Now that we’ve established how to approach the scholarship essay, let’s dive into a scholarship essay example. The scholarship essay below stems from a prompt we saw above: Describe a change you would like to make in the world. Tell us about how you would plan to make that change, and what obstacles you might encounter along the way (500 words).

My generation is growing up in a time of increased global turmoil. We’ve witnessed Brexit, the Russian interference in the 2016 U.S. elections, a series of refugee crises, and the invasion of Ukraine. It’s easy to liken this moment to Europe in the 1930s, which saw a spike in fascism and propaganda (their version of fake news). Only now, my generation must also contend with the hottest summers on record, raging forest fires, and the beginning of the 6 th extinction. It’s no wonder we deal with it all through increased skepticism and existential dread.

While I don’t have a simple solution, I believe most problems stem from ignorance. Xenophobia and racism, offshoots of ignorance, can be overcome by exposing isolated groups of people to greater diversity. This begins in the classroom. While dictators are hard to dispose of, education provides critical thinking skills, which allow citizens to make informed decisions when electing officials. Finally, developing a willingness to learn at an early age creates an instinct to continue learning throughout life. We desperately need intellectual flexibility if we are going to adapt to the planet’s needs as a world population and put a stop to industry-led fossil fuel burning.

Scholarship Essay Example (Continued)

The change I’d like to make is free, enhanced education for everyone, at every level, from elementary school to post-doctorate research institutes. To do so, I suggest defunding national militaries and channeling this spending into schools. Imagine if 80% of the 877 billion dollars the U.S. military spends annually went into learning. Combating fascism and climate change would look more feasible. And yet, no leader would agree to making their country more vulnerable by relinquishing arms and armies. Change must come from the people.

As the planet continues to heats up, and conflict over land increases, we must work together. The first step towards increased education is communicating this need for education: through journalism, on social media, in the streets. Next, I suggest lobbying politicians for incremental change. Finally, I believe a global grassroots movement to implement future-focused education, led by activists, educators, and philanthropists, would make this theoretical idea a tangible reality.

Last year, my mother, who never received a college education, decided to offer free gardening courses in our backyard. I quickly joined in. While teaching a handful of neighbors how to provide year-round food for pollinators may seem trivial, I’ve already seen positive repercussions. One conservative neighbor has set up an organization that collects and redistributes leftover produce from the markets to refugees. Another neighbor is now teaching middle schoolers how to cook and compost. These efforts have brought unusual strangers together and given visibility to our movement, #futurefocusededucation. I’ve seen it firsthand. The more we educate, the sooner we can combine our knowledge to create solutions.

Scholarship Essay Example Dissected

This scholarship essay succeeds at answering all parts of the prompt. It includes the change the author wants to make, and inevitable obstacles she’d face at the governmental and international level. These obstacles may sound insurmountable. Yet the essay shows that individuals are not powerless to enact change when they work together towards a common goal. The author provides various thoughtful steps we might take in order to prioritize education and peaceful collaboration.

Finally, the author portrays herself as someone personally invested in the political, humanitarian, and environmental state of the world. She proves that she’s already begun to make the changes she wants to see at the microscopic level. Overall, readers of this scholarship essay can see that this student is invested in bettering the world. This student would make for a proactive participant in her academic environment.

What’s Next?

Now that you have some inkling of how to write a scholarship essay and have reviewed of our scholarship essay examples, you may want to delve into more aid-related articles on the College Transitions Dataverse. You can read up on Need-Based Financial Aid Grants , and learn about Selective Colleges with Generous Scholarships . Furthermore, you may want to create your own Scholarship Timeline , in order to stay on top of the various deadlines. Good luck!

• Costs & Financial Aid

Kaylen Baker

With a BA in Literary Studies from Middlebury College, an MFA in Fiction from Columbia University, and a Master’s in Translation from Université Paris 8 Vincennes-Saint-Denis, Kaylen has been working with students on their writing for over five years. Previously, Kaylen taught a fiction course for high school students as part of Columbia Artists/Teachers, and served as an English Language Assistant for the French National Department of Education. Kaylen is an experienced writer/translator whose work has been featured in Los Angeles Review, Hybrid, San Francisco Bay Guardian, France Today, and Honolulu Weekly, among others.

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• Writing Tips

​How to Write a Scholarship Essay (With Examples)

• 6-minute read
• 22nd August 2022

Writing a scholarship essay can seem like a daunting task. For many students , higher education isn’t possible without financial aid, and scholarships are especially valuable because the money awarded doesn’t have to be paid back.

Even though the stakes are high, there are a few manageable steps you can take to ensure you write a great essay to submit with your scholarship applications. We have a few top tips to help you get started, along with writing examples to demonstrate some key points. Check out our guide below to learn more.

A scholarship essay is a great opportunity to present yourself and your accomplishments in an impactful way. It is, therefore, essential to be aware of each scholarship deadline so you can allow sufficient time for the writing process, which typically includes the following:

·   Read the essay prompt and brainstorm ideas.

·   Create an outline covering the key points you want to address.

·   Write a draft and seek feedback from trusted teachers, family, or friends.

·   Make any necessary revisions and proofread before submitting your final draft.

Scholarship review committees will be able to tell if you rushed through your essay, so give yourself the best chance of winning an award by staying organized and on schedule!

Who and What?

Researching the scholarship provider and diligently reviewing the essay prompts can help you write an essay that makes you stand out as a top candidate.

1. Who are you writing to?

Learn more about the organization offering the scholarship and why the scholarship fund was created.

For instance, a scholarship may honor its organization’s founder, and the founder’s qualities (e.g., integrity, good citizenship, and leadership) might be the same values guiding the scholarship program as a way to continue the founder’s legacy.

If you identify with any of the same qualities, you can incorporate those keywords into your essay to demonstrate your shared values. Remember to remain authentic, though!

2. What are you writing about?

You must read the essay prompt carefully to identify precisely what you need to accomplish with your essay.

Some prompts ask about your career goals and how you plan to achieve them or your achievements and the challenges you overcame to reach them.

You’ll write about common topics across multiple scholarship applications – some may even be similar to your college admission essay – so you can repurpose your essays as long as you’re diligent about tailoring each one to its prompt.

Your application will likely require other items such as transcripts and test scores, but the essay is your chance to offer something entirely unique. Write about key experiences that highlight who you are and what you’ve accomplished, or you could mention something you’re passionate about.

Remember to follow any specific instructions regarding length and formatting, and be sure to answer all questions listed in the prompt. It can hurt your chances if you’re unable to show the committee that you’re detail-oriented and can follow directions.

Structuring Your Essay

Your essay should follow a standard format that includes a clear beginning, middle, and end. Typically, you should:

·   Establish your main idea in the introduction.

·   Include a separate body paragraph for each key point that supports your main idea.

·   Draw it all together and revisit your main idea in the conclusion.

Scholarship committees read thousands of essays each year. And often, there are hundreds of applicants for an award that can only go to a select few candidates. Writing a powerful introduction and conclusion gives you a chance to make a lasting impression.

1. Introduction

Write an introduction that hooks the reader and encourages them to stay engaged till the end of your essay. Don’t be afraid to add personal, tangible details and an anecdote .

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For example, if you’re writing about your career goals, demonstrate why you’ve chosen that career:

It was the biggest game of the season, and the stands were packed despite the bitter cold. My heart was beating louder than all of the cheers, and I was filled with the anticipation that one more run into the end zone would give us the championship. Everything went silent during that run when the tackle shattered both my leg and my dreams.

My world has always revolved around being an athlete – until one day it couldn’t. I spent many frustrating months rehabilitating, but I got through it because of my dedicated physical therapist, who helped me recover both physically and mentally after a devastating loss. And it was that profound experience that led me to pursue a career in the exercise sciences.

2. Conclusion

The conclusion is the last thing your reader will see, so it’s another opportunity for you to make your essay memorable.

Rather than summarizing with a general statement such as “this is why you should award me a scholarship,” perhaps explain what the financial assistance will help you achieve:

My parents never had the opportunity to go to college, and neither did their parents. I watched them work hard every day just to make ends meet, and I often questioned whether I could achieve anything more. Nevertheless, I spent four years working as hard as I saw my parents work, and I beat the odds by getting accepted to college. A scholarship could be invaluable for me, as it would allow me to attend and be successful without having to worry about finances.

Persuasive Writing

While you don’t want your scholarship essay to be overly informal, you’re certainly allowed to add some creativity and personal details to help persuade your readers.

One of the best ways to do so is by writing with the modes of persuasion ; that is, ethos, pathos, and logos.

Demonstrate your credibility. Use your real-life experiences and interesting details to establish, for example, how you’ve contributed to your community:

I saw how much bullying was impacting so many students at my school, so I founded my high school’s first anti-bullying club and organized campaigns to bring attention to the harm that people can cause one another.

Evoke an emotional response. The “show, don’t tell ” writing technique, which involves using descriptive words when discussing actions and emotions, can be especially useful here:

During one of our first awareness assemblies, the theater was completely silent as I read aloud anonymous stories from students about the scars bullying had left on their lives. Tears were stinging in my eyes as I described the struggles my classmates were facing, but I persevered to give a voice to those who didn’t have one.

Convey your point with reason and facts. Use statistics to demonstrate what you’ve accomplished:

In the first year alone, our club improved students’ feelings of safety and acceptance at our school by 53%.

Proofreading and Editing

Don’t forget the importance of proofreading your essay, as spelling and grammar mistakes can leave a bad impression on your reader. Our expert editors can help ensure your writing is clear, concise, and error-free. Give yourself a better chance at impressing scholarship committees by submitting a free trial document today!

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How to Write Study Plan for Scholarship & Admission Applications

Are you curious about how to write a study plan for scholarship & admission applications?  This could be a little stressful as the quality of your study plan for scholarship and admission applications goes a long way to determine if you will be selected. So you will definitely want to write the best study plan.

The study plan comprises between 500-1500 words; describing the study objectives, class schedule, and planning for completion of a chosen course on time. It also includes information about skills, academic background, and interest in extra-curricular activities .

I will be your guide to writing a top-notch and professional study plan for scholarship & admission applications through this post. Also, in order to understand how to create a study plan for the scholarship application , I will let you know why a study plan is actually important, and other tips to make your study plan will be given.

Why a Study Plan is Important for Scholarship & Admission Applications

Step-by-step guide: how to write study plan for scholarship & admission applications, pointers or tips for drafting the best study plan for scholarship & admission application, congratulations you are all set to write your own study plan now.

A study plan is a document required for scholarship applications that shows the learning objectives and study schedules of applicants along with their scholastic ambitions, which makes it important for the scholarship & admission process. It also contains the strategies students might adopt to achieve those academic goals .

Meanwhile , study plans are not required by all types of scholarships, some of the scholarship sponsoring organizations consider it as a compulsory document as it depicts applicants’ potencies and worthiness to them. A well-compiled study plan can actually increase one’s chances of getting a scholarship.

1. Insert your introductory paragraph

Start your study plan with a brief introduction of yourself that captures the reader’s attention and provides an overview of what to expect in the essay.

Example: “I am excited to present my study plan for consideration for the . This plan outlines my academic goals, research interests, and strategies for achieving success in my chosen field of study.”

2. Shed some light on your academics and research

Discuss your academic background, including your previous studies, degrees obtained, and any relevant research experience. For example: “I hold a Bachelor’s degree in from , where I graduated with honors.

3. Present the abstract of your achievement

Now, at this point, you need to provide details about a recent study project or research endeavor you have been involved in, highlighting the methodologies used and the outcomes achieved.

Also, summarize your academic and extracurricular achievements, including any awards, publications, or leadership roles.

4. State your learning objectives

At this point, you need to articulate your learning objectives for the scholarship or program clearly, outlining what you hope to achieve during your studies. You will need to put in more effort here to convince the reader to select your study plan.

5. Provide a plan to execute the proposed study/research

Here, all you need to do is list your plan for executing the proposed study or research, including the methodologies you will employ and any resources or collaborations required.

In addition to this, outline the strategies you will employ to achieve your academic and career goals , including networking, professional development activities, and mentorship.

6. Share future scholastic aspirations

To give your study plan an edge over others, discuss your future academic and career aspirations , including any plans for further education or professional development. You can state how you will apply your expertise to address real-world challenges and make a meaningful impact.

7. Wrap up your study plan essay with a conclusion

Lastly, discuss the anticipated outcomes of your proposed study plan, including how it will contribute to your personal and professional growth, with a summary of your key points and a reiteration of your enthusiasm and commitment to your academic and career goals.

To make your study plan stand out from the rest of the scholarship applicants, Here are our top tips to help you ace that study plan for your scholarship applications:

1. Use a great purpose of the study schedule

The first thing to keep in mind while constructing a study plan is to determine the reason why it is being drafted. Since this is going to be a study plan for scholarship applications, all the relevant information should be included.

Defining the nature of a study schedule helps to divert all your efforts to the correct task. For example, in this case, by determining the nature of your study plan, you will make sure to do proper research, which is a prerequisite for study plans for applying for scholarships.

2. Use a flexible schedule

Now, this is where the majority of the students go wrong. In order to depict their studious side, they construct their schedule in such an unrealistic way that instead of contributing positively, it has an adverse effect on their study schedules.

How to counter this problem? Keep it as realistic as possible. Do not overburden yourself by including a nonstop 8 to 10-hour study time, and keep sufficient time for other activities as well. Include short intervals between study sessions to keep that zeal from turning into stress.

3. Give it a personal demeanor

The first thing to keep in mind is that one person’s schedule might differ from another person’s. Irrespective of the fact, students tend to copy-paste online templates by making slight modifications and presenting them as their own.

This way, they end up all confused and stressed. Devise your own schedule based on busy and light weeks. Give it a personal touch because it will ultimately have to be followed by you.

4. Keep modifying your study plan

Sticking to the same old routine is never a good idea . Especially when you are in a phase of constant growth. Hence, you should keep updating your schedule as per your current progress because there might be things that you included in your schedule that are pivotal but may not seem that important over time and vice versa.

5.  Optimize efficiency

“All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy.” You don’t want to be Jack now, do you?

Make sure to give yourself a light hand at times. Go for a picnic, eat out with your family, or simply enjoy with them over a fun movie night. Prepare and boost yourself for the upcoming week by giving yourself some me-time and relaxing on the weekends.

This article provided you with a complete guide on how to prepare an effective yet impressive study plan for applying for scholarships & Admission. Also, it’s a cheat sheet to help you save time on thinking about what to include in your study plan.

Using these points in your study plan guarantees the creation of an impressive study plan for your next scholarship application submission.

A college scholarship and application expert with passion for helping applicants secure their dream admission and grants to further their career aspirations

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My a study plan is; I am Hanifa Omar from Afghanistan, I am working as a general manager of gender at Takhar University, Afganistan. As well as a woman activist. I spend most of my time working and guidance for penurious and poor women or our countryside. I am really interested to help and services from disabling women till to they become self-sufficiency . I dream that one day no women remain to disable in our community.

I got my master’s degree in the field of MA English language literature from LPU in India. Now I plan to get my Ph.D. Program in the field of public and administration in the country of the United States or Canada. But I don’t have a sufficient bandage to apply to that University and get my dream. And I want to be an excellent leader in the future and for saving gender equality and assisting women. I need a full fund scholarship for the Ph.D. program in the field of public and administration in the country of the USA or Canada. Please please and Please help and assist me to get a free scholarship.

Best regards, Hanifa Omar

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The Ultimate Guide To Writing a Winning Scholarship Essay

Stand out from the rest.

With the cost of higher education skyrocketing in the last few decades, it’s no surprise that many students seek out scholarships to help cover tuition. As a result, it’s a very competitive endeavor, which is why students need to find ways to stand out. We’ve put together this resource to help write a scholarship essay that will get the application committee’s attention.

How To Find Scholarships

Many students know that they want to apply for scholarships but don’t know where to find them. Honestly, this can be the most difficult and intimidating part of the process for students! Here are some suggestions for where to start. 

Ask a Guidance Counselor

One of the best resources for high school students is their guidance counselor. They are prepared to help students make academic and career plans and should be aware of scholarship opportunities to align with your needs and goals. 

Talk to the College or University

Already have a college or university picked out? Reach out to the school’s financial aid department. In addition to the many scholarships you can find online, they may offer information about funding offered directly through the school. 

Submit a FAFSA Application

Even if a student isn’t planning to accept student loans, they should definitely consider completing a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Not only will the resulting report inform them of any financial assistance for which they qualify, but many scholarship committees require applicants to submit a FAFSA. 

Search Scholarship Websites

There are many scholarship websites where students can find awards and applications. Sites such as Scholarships.com and Scholarship 360 allow you to use filters to narrow down your search results based on your needs and interests. 

We’ve also put together the following guides:

• How To Get a Full-Ride Scholarship
• Best Merit-Based Scholarships  
• Excellent Scholarships for High School Seniors
• Great Scholarships for Black Students
• Scholarships for Women
• Best Scholarship Opportunities for Future Teachers

Do an Internet Search

Head to a search engine, social media platform, or sites like Reddit to look for scholarships. You can even create posts inviting other users to share suggestions.

Ask an Employer

Some workplaces offer tuition benefits or other financial assistance for higher education. If a student is employed, it’s an option to reach out to someone in the HR department to see if they offer any programs or scholarships. 

The Dos and Don’ts of Writing a Scholarship Essay

Do: know the rules.

The most important thing anyone can do before writing a scholarship essay is this: Read all of the rules and guidelines and then reread them! Students can even ask someone else to read them too, to make sure they fully understand what they need to do. Failing to follow the rules is one of the main reasons why students are unsuccessful in getting scholarships. 

Do: Set Aside Plenty of Time

Start working on scholarship essays right away. Do not wait until a week (or day!) before the deadline. This gives students time to write several drafts of the essay if needed. Also, you never know when a technology-related issue might strike, so having a little extra time can save you from disaster. 

Do: Research the Scholarship Provider

Dig deep when applying for a scholarship. Find out who is funding the award and spend some time researching the provider. Do they have a vision or mission statement? Do they support any specific causes or types of students? Is there any way that applicants can make themselves more attractive candidates for the specific audience? Students should use this information to their advantage! 

Do: Brainstorm

Students should take some time to think about what they’ve learned about the scholarship essay guidelines and the provider. Then, brainstorm about what they want to say and share and why. Here are some questions to ask as they pertain to education and career goals:

• Who are you? Think of yourself but also your background.
• What makes you who you are?
• What have you done?
• What do you want to do?
• How are you going to get there?
• Why do you need a scholarship?
• How will it make a difference?
• Are you a first-generation college student?
• Do you have any unique qualities or needs?
• What makes you proud?
• What lessons have you learned?

These are heavy questions, but finding the answers to at least some of them will help provide the substance needed to write a truly effective scholarship essay. 

Do: Find Ways To Stand Out

Many, many students are applying for scholarships. They have to find a way to stand out from the rest. Students should think of the things they learned when they researched the scholarship provider. Are there any ways they can appeal to that audience? If so, focus on those areas. 

Do: Be Honest

Do not lie on a scholarship application. Let’s say that again: Do not lie on a scholarship application. Students should remind themselves that they are worthy on their own. If an applicant is discovered to be dishonest, it can really hurt them in the long run. 

Do: Stay on Topic

When reading the guidelines for the scholarship and doing brainstorming, be sure to keep the topic of the essay in mind. Everything students share and communicate should be related to the topic. 

Do: Be Professional

Students should use their very best skills when writing a scholarship essay. They should not use slang, casual language, unconventional fonts, emojis, or texting abbreviations. 

Do: Proofread and Edit Multiple Times

It’s a good idea to prepare to write this essay at least three times. First, there’s a rough draft that should be carefully proofread. Students can ask a teacher or other professional to also look at their paper. Then students should repeat this process once or twice more until they’re happy with the results. They shouldn’t just write it and submit it all at once! 

Don’t: Brag

While students want to highlight their strengths and accomplishments, they should not brag. They also don’t want to put down other candidates or people to make themselves look good. Tell a story without embellishments. 

Don’t: Reuse a Scholarship Essay

Students put a lot of effort into writing scholarship essays, but please don’t reuse them! 

Scholarship Essay Sample Outline

Ready to get started? Having a solid outline provides a road map for the journey. Here are some suggestions for making it easier to write a scholarship essay! 

Introduction

Students should explain who they are and try to make it engaging. Hook readers by sharing a few details that will be elaborated on in the body of the essay. 

Educational and Career Goals

Students should share what they want to study and hope to gain by getting an education, as well as how it will prepare them for their future career. They should be passionate! 

Who Are You?

Student should briefly explain their background, which can include details about family, personal values, and how they got to where they are today. 

Why Are You a Good Candidate for the Scholarship?

This is where students need to really think about what they learned about the scholarship provider. What are they looking for in a candidate? Students should do their best to not only shine as a good student and leader, but also find solid ways to connect with the scholarship provider’s mission. After including some teasers or breadcrumbs in the introduction to hook the reader, this is a good place to share the rest of the story. 

To wrap up a scholarship essay, students should reiterate their commitment to their education and career. Restate how the story shared demonstrates a readiness for college and how winning the scholarship can help the applicant follow their dreams. Best of luck!

Do you have tips on how to write a scholarship essay? Share them below! Plus, check out  The Ultimate Guide to College Scholarships!

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10 Winning Scholarship Essay Examples From Real Students

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By submitting my email address. i certify that i am 13 years of age or older, agree to recieve marketing email messages from the princeton review, and agree to terms of use., writing a winning college scholarship essay.

If you need more money to pay for college, chances are you will be applying for several college scholarships . A great scholarship essay helps the scholarship provider understand the real person behind the application and can be the key to winning the award (assuming you meet the other scholarship criteria).

Scholarship Essays vs. College Essays

Scholarship essays are very similar to your college application essays in terms of strategy. Many scholarship hopefuls will share the same grades, test scores, and ambitions: the essay is your chance to shine (and grow that dream college fund!).

How to Write a Scholarship Essay

When you’re drafting your scholarship essay, here are some helpful tips to keep in mind:

1. Start the essay writing process early.

Leave yourself plenty of time to produce a well thought-out entry. Take the time to brainstorm your ideas, create an outline, and edit your entry as you would for any essay writing assignment for your English class.

Read More: How to Craft an Unforgettable College Essay

2. Understand the scholarship provider’s overall mission and purpose.

Each scholarship provider is looking for students who meet certain criteria. Consider writing about an experience or interest that highlights your strong ties to the organization’s mission. Genuine passion and enthusiasm for your topic will show through in your essay writing.

3. Follow the scholarship essay instructions.

Make sure to follow all of the necessary steps and review them before submitting your scholarship essay. Trust us, some of the brightest students have missed out on the chance to earn scholarships dollars all because they neglected to follow instructions. You don’t want to fall into that category!

4. Steer clear from essay topics that focus on negativity or pessimism.

Scholarship committees would rather see how you overcame hardships and succeeded despite the obstacles in your path (or what you learned from the times you failed).

Read More: 200 Colleges That Pay You Back

5. Don’t be afraid to get personal.

Share something about who you are. This is your chance to elaborate on elsewhere on your application you wouldn’t have had the opportunity to do so. Telling your story makes an essay genuine and ultimately more memorable to the scholarship committee.

6. Seek out writing advice and feedback.

Asking teachers, counselors, family members, or trustworthy friends for feedback on your essay will result in a better final product.

7. Yes, spelling and grammar matter.

Scholarship committees do notice grammar mistakes . Eveny tiny errors can distract a reader from your overall message. Before you submit your application make sure you take the time to proofread your essay from beginning to end.

8. Don’t give up!

When you’re tired, take a break, but don’t throw in the towel! Our online essay writing tutors are here for you anytime you get discouraged. We can help with everything from brainstorming and outlining to revising the final draft.

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How To Write A Winning Scholarship Essay (with example)

Maria Geiger is Director of Content at Scholarships360. She is a former online educational technology instructor and adjunct writing instructor. In addition to education reform, Maria’s interests include viewpoint diversity, blended/flipped learning, digital communication, and integrating media/web tools into the curriculum to better facilitate student engagement. Maria earned both a B.A. and an M.A. in English Literature from Monmouth University, an M. Ed. in Education from Monmouth University, and a Virtual Online Teaching Certificate (VOLT) from the University of Pennsylvania.

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Bill Jack has over a decade of experience in college admissions and financial aid. Since 2008, he has worked at Colby College, Wesleyan University, University of Maine at Farmington, and Bates College.

Scholarship essays are an inevitable part of most scholarship applications. Sadly, many qualified students see an essay requirement, think, “I’m not a good writer,” and decide not to apply. Don’t fall into that trap! Learn how to write a winning scholarship essay today!

As a former writing instructor, I know firsthand that anyone can write a winning scholarship essay if they devote the time and effort. Follow the steps below to write an excellent scholarship essay and dramatically increase your chances of winning scholarships!

Take your time

For most people, it’s not possible to write a stellar essay ten minutes before the application deadline. We recommend giving yourself a few hours to write the first draft of your scholarship essay. Ask a friend to read it over or just take some time away, then take another hour to proofread your essay, ideally the next day.

Apply to these scholarships due soon

$10,000 “No Essay” Scholarship

$2,000 Sallie Mae Scholarship

“Mom to Scholar” Scholarship for Mothers

$40,000 Build a College List Scholarship

“Gutsy Graduate Student” Essay Scholarship

Niche $25,000 “No Essay” Scholarship

“College Here I Come” Essay Scholarship for High School Seniors

“Making Waves” Scholarship for Women

$25k “Be Bold” No-Essay Scholarship

Start with structure.

Remember, the reader is not in your head. A solid essay structure is needed to convey your ideas effectively. Before you begin writing:

Create an outline to map out your idea

Clear topic sentences

Plan for multiple paragraphs, with each paragraph headed by a clear topic sentence for that paragraph’s main point

Transition!

Use a transitional sentence or phrase at the end of each paragraph to connect one idea to the next

Answer the prompt

Nothing will set you back like not responding to the prompt provided. It screams “this person didn’t bother to fully read the directions,” or worse, “this person doesn’t care about what we are asking.”

Read the prompt, and then read it again. This is where giving yourself plenty of time to write comes in handy. Rather than immediately starting to write:

• Let the prompt sit with you awhile so that you come up with the best response
• Think of the prompt as a question to be answered
• Consider your audience while being your authentic self

Related:  How to answer scholarship essay questions about your career goals

Start with a hook

Your writing teachers were not joking about the importance of the introductory hook. There are a number of ways to hook the reader, including:

• Using startling statistics
• Opening with a moving sentence
• Making a strong statement

For an example of an engaging hook, say you are writing an essay about social media distraction. Perhaps you could open with:

It might sound odd, but I love my flip phone. In fact, I feel nothing but disdain for that moment stealing villain, the iPhone .

See how you’re already interested in reading on? Effective writing is all about telling an engaging story, and a strong hook is the first step!

Go Deeper: How to start a scholarship essay (with examples)

Don’t forget formatting

Be mindful of any required formatting. This might include a word count or page limit. The application may also specify single or double sentence spacing, using certain fonts, or using a certain format, such as MLA or APA.

Related: What’s the best scholarship essay format?

Show, don’t tell

Finally, no matter what, do your best to tell an engaging story! If given the opportunity, focus on a specific challenge you’ve faced or goal you’ve achieved. As you tell your story, the qualities that make you a great scholarship applicant–your drive, your passion, and your personality–will shine through!

In conclusion?

Speaking of conclusions, don’t end your scholarship application essay with “in conclusion,” which sounds robotic on the page. Instead, think about why what you wrote matters, and remind the reader of just that.

An effective way to bring cohesion to your essay is to refer back to your hook in the closing. For example, if you used that flip phone introduction, your closing might say:

So while some people have 100s of pictures of “experiences” that they were not truly present for, I have lifelong memories stored in my own mind, no extra cloud space required.

Notice how that ending wows? It wraps up your “story” and leaves the reader with a lasting impression of who you are as a person.

Key Takeaways

• Having to write an essay may feel intimidating, but we promise that you are more than capable of completing this step of your application
• Give yourself plenty of time to sit with the essay prompts and then draft your response
• Once you’ve written your essay, ask friends or family to read your work 
• Most importantly remember to take time to read all the directions about the essay and answer the questions that they are asking you

Final thoughts

For more in-depth instructions on how to conclude your scholarship essay, you can consult our guide on how to end scholarship essays . If you are looking for additional scholarship opportunities, check out our list of top writing & essay scholarships .    

Remember, writing scholarship essays is an opportunity to show who you are in a way that test scores and rankings never can. Don’t miss out on winning scholarship awards that you qualify for. Happy writing, all, and don’t forget to apply for all the scholarships you qualify for!

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Frequently asked questions about how to write a winning scholarship essay

How do you write a hook for a scholarship essay, what should i write for a scholarship essay, how do i make my college essay stand out, scholarships360 recommended.

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How to Write a Personal Statement for a Scholarship + Examples

What’s covered:, what is the purpose of the scholarship personal statement, what to include in your personal statement, personal statement example: breakdown + analysis, how to make sure your writing is effective.

Either before or after you’ve gotten into your dream school, you’ll have to figure out how to pay for it. For most students, this involves a combination of financial aid, parent contributions, self-contributions, student loans, and scholarships/grants. Because scholarships are money out of someone else’s pocket that you never have to pay back, they are a great place to start!

Scholarships come in two forms: merit-based and need-based. Need-based scholarships are also often called grants. These designations tell you whether an organization looks at your financial situation when deciding about your scholarship.

Additionally, different scholarships fall under different categories based on the mission of the organization or person providing the scholarship’s financing. These missions typically emphasize different things like academic achievement, specific career goals, community service, leadership, family background, skill in the arts, or having overcome hardship. As you select scholarships to apply for and complete your applications, you should keep these missions in mind.

No matter what type of scholarship you are applying for, you will be asked to provide the review committee with standard materials. This includes your transcript, GPA, and resume/extracurriculars, but also, importantly, your personal statement. A scholarship personal statement is a bit different from your normal college essay, so we’ve put together this guide and some examples to help you get started!

The purpose of your personal statement is to help a review committee learn more about your personality, values, goals, and what makes you special. Ultimately, like with your college essays, you are trying to humanize your profile beyond your transcript, GPA, and test scores.

College essays all have one goal in mind (which is why you can apply to multiple schools at once through applications like the Common App or Coalition App): convince admissions officers that you would be a valuable addition to the university environment. The goal of your scholarship personal statement is different and differs more from one scholarship to the next. Rather than convincing various review committees that you are a generally good candidate for extra funding for college, you need to convince each review committee that your values have historically aligned with their organization’s mission and will continue to align with their organization’s mission.

Common missions amongst those who give scholarships include:

• Providing opportunities for students with career ambitions in a particular field
• Helping students who have experienced unexpected hardship
• Supporting students who show outstanding academic achievement
• Funding the arts through investing in young artists with strong technical skill
• Supporting the development of civic-minded community service leaders of the future
• Providing opportunities for historically underrepresented ethnic communities 

If a specific mission like this is outlined on an organization’s website or in the promotional material for its scholarship, the purpose of your personal statement is to show how you exemplify that mission.

Some scholarships ask for your personal statement to be guided by a prompt, while others leave things open for interpretation. When you are provided a prompt, it is obvious what you must do: answer the prompt. When you are not provided a prompt, you want to write a personal statement that is essentially a small-scale autobiography where you position yourself as a good investment. In either case, you should identify a focus or theme for what you are trying to say about yourself so that your application does not get lost in the shuffle.

Prompts include questions like:

• Why do you deserve this scholarship?
• How have you shown your commitment to (leadership/community service/diversity) in your community?
• When did you overcome adversity?
• Why is attending college important to you?

If you are provided a prompt, develop a theme for your response that showcases both your values and your achievements. This will help your essay feel focused and will subsequently help the review committee to remember which candidate you were as they deliberate.

Themes include things like:

• I deserve this community service scholarship because my compassion for intergenerational trauma has inspired me to volunteer with a local after-school program. I didn’t just sympathize. I did something about my sympathy because that’s the type of person I am. Within the program, I have identified avenues for improvement and worked alongside full-time staff to develop new strategies for increasing attendance.
• I overcame adversity when my mother had to have a major surgery two months after giving birth to my younger brother. I was just a kid but was thrown into a situation where I had to raise another kid. It was hard, but I’m the kind of person who tries to grow from hard times and, through my experience taking care of a baby, I learned the importance of listening to body language and nonverbal cues to understand the needs of others (baby and nonbaby, alike).

Without a prompt, clarity can be harder to achieve. That said, it is of the utmost importance that you find a focus. First, think about both your goals and your values.

Types of goals include:

• Career goals
• Goals for personal growth
• The type of friend you want to be
• The change you want to make in the world

Values could include:

• Authenticity
• And many more!

After you write out your goals/values, write out your achievements to see what goals/values you have “proof” of your commitment to. Your essay will ultimately be an exploration of your goal/value, what you have done about your goal/value in the past, and what you aspire to in the future.

You might be tempted to reflect on areas for improvement, but scholarships care about you living out your values. It is not enough to aspire to be exemplary in leadership, community service, or your academic field. For scholarships, you have to already be exemplary.

Finally, keep in mind that the review committee likely already has a copy of your extracurricular activities and involvement. Pick one or two accomplishments, then strive for depth, not breadth as you explore them.

My interest in the field of neuroscience began at a young age.  When I was twelve years old, my sister developed a condition called Pseudotumor Cerebri following multiple concussions during a basketball game.  It took the doctors over six months to make a proper diagnosis, followed by three years of treatment before she recovered.  During this time, my love for neuroscience was sparked as I began to research her condition and, then, other neurocognitive conditions.  Later, my love of neuroscience was amplified when my mother began to suffer from brain-related health issues.  My mother had been a practicing attorney in Dallas for over twenty years.  She was a determined litigator who relentlessly tried difficult cases that changed people’s lives.  Now, she suffers from a cognitive impairment and is no longer able to practice law.  Oftentimes, she has headaches, she gets “cloudy,” her executive functioning slows down, she feels overwhelmed, and she forgets things.  My mother has gone from being the strong, confident, emotional and financial caretaker of our family to needing significant help on a daily basis. Once again, with this illness came a lot of research on my part — research that encouraged me to pursue my dreams of exploring neuroscience.

Due to my experiences with my mother and sister when I was in middle school, I knew that I wanted to make a difference in the field of neuroscience.  I also knew that, to obtain this goal, I needed to maintain superior grades in school while also pursuing opportunities outside of school to further my education.  In school, I was able to maintain superior grades to the point where I am currently valedictorian in a class of 567 students.  In addition, in school, I challenged myself by taking 16 Advanced Placement classes and 19 Honors classes.  Two of the most beneficial classes were AP Capstone Seminar and AP Capstone Research.  AP Capstone Seminar and AP Capstone Research are research-oriented classes where students are given the opportunity to pursue whatever track their research takes them down.  As a junior in AP Capstone Seminar, I researched the effects of harmful pesticide use on the prevalence of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) in children.  This year, as a senior in AP Capstone Research, I am learning about the effects of medical marijuana on the treatment of Multiple Sclerosis (MS).  

Outside of school, I furthered my education through taking advantage of the Duke TiP summer program. Duke TiP is a summer program run by Duke University where students who score extremely well on the SAT as middle schoolers are able to take college classes at different universities throughout the summers of their middle school and high school years.  I took advantage of this opportunity twice.  First, I went to Trinity University in San Antonio to expand my horizons and learn more about debate.  However, once I was done exploring, I decided I wanted to go into neuroscience.  This led me to take an Abnormal Psychology class at Duke University’s West Campus.  This class opened my eyes to the interaction between neuroscience and mental health, mental illness, and personality.  Years later, I am currently continuing my education outside of school as an intern at the University of Texas Dallas Center for Brain Health.  Through this internship, I have been able to see different aspects of neuroscience including brain pattern testing, virtual reality therapy, and longitudinal research studies.  With this background, I have positioned myself to be accepted by top neuroscience programs throughout the nation.  So far, I have been accepted to the neuroscience department of University of Southern California, the University of Virginia, the University of Texas, and Southern Methodist University, as well as the chemistry department at University of North Carolina–Chapel Hill.  

It is with this passion for neuroscience driven by my family and passion for education driven by internal motivation that I will set out to conquer my career objectives.  My educational aspirations consist of acquiring a bachelor’s degree in a biological or health science that would assist me in pursuing a medical career as a neuroscience researcher.  I decided to attain a career as a researcher since my passion has always been assisting others and trying to improve their quality of life.  After obtaining my Masters and my PhD, I plan to become a professor at a prestigious university and continue performing lab research on cognitive disorders.  I am particularly interested in disorders such as Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).  In the lab, I hope to find different therapies and medications to help treat the 3.5 million people around the world suffering from ASD.  Furthermore, I want to contribute back to underserved populations that struggle because they do not have as much access to medical assistance as other privileged groups.  As such, I hope to do a part of my research in less developed or developing Spanish-speaking countries. This will also allow me to pursue my love of Spanish while pursuing my love of neuroscience.  I think that following such a career path will provide me the opportunity to learn about the medical needs of the autistic community and improve their quality of health.  Furthermore, I hope to train a new generation of students to strive to research and make comparable discoveries.  Whether it be through virtual reality labs or new drug discoveries, I believe that research leads to innovation which leads to a brighter future. 

This student does a great job of making themself appear competent and dedicated to the field of neuroscience. This is primarily because they provided tangible evidence of how they have pursued their dedication in the past—through their AP Capstone courses, their Abnormal Psychology class at Duke TiP, and their internship at UTD. There is no doubt in the mind of a reader that this student is high-achieving. 

This student also engages successfully with a past-future trajectory, where they end with a vision of how they will continue to use neuroscience in the future. This helps the review committee see what they are investing in and the ways that their money will go to good use.

This student has two major areas for improvement. As we have said, the purpose of a personal statement is for a student to humanize themself to a review committee. This student struggles to depict themself separately from their academic achievements. A solution to this would be for the student to establish a theme towards the beginning of their essay that relates to both their values as a human and their achievements.

At the beginning of the essay, the student explores how their interest in neuroscience began. They explain their interest through the following sentences: “During this time, my love for neuroscience was sparked as I began to research her condition and, then, other neurocognitive conditions” and “Once again, with this illness came a lot of research on my part — research that encouraged me to pursue my dreams of exploring neuroscience.” The student made the great decision to tell the backstory of their interest, but they described their research in very mundane and redundant terms. Instead, they could have focused on their value of intellectual curiosity as a magnetic force that encouraged them to research their mother and sister’s ailments. Curiosity, then, could serve as a value-related thematic throughline to taking AP Capstone classes, taking college courses during the summer that weren’t required, and interning before even graduating high school.

A second area for improvement would be avoiding statistics. As the student identifies their valedictorian status and the number of AP classes they have taken, they might turn away certain personalities on a review committee by appearing braggy. Even further, these statistics are a waste of space. The review committee already has access to this information. These words distract from the major theme of the essay and would have been better used to humanize the student.

Throughout my academic career, I have been an avid scholar, constantly pushing myself towards ambitious goals. I held and continue to hold myself to a high standard, enrolling myself in rigorous curriculum, including Honors and Advanced Placement courses to stretch my mental potential. During my junior year of high school, I took four AP tests, two on the same day, and earned the AP Scholar with Honor Award. Additionally, I received the Letter of Commendation for the PSAT/NMSQT, and qualified for Rotary Top 100 Students both my freshman and senior year, a sign of my commitment to my studies. However, school has not been all about having the best GPA for me; beyond the numbers, I have a deep drive to learn which motivates me to do well academically. I truly enjoy learning new things, whether it be a new essay style or a math theorem. I always give each class my best effort and try my hardest on every assignment. My teachers have noticed this as well, and I have received school Lancer Awards and Student of the Month recognitions as a result. It is a major goal of mine to continue to aspire towards a high level of achievement regarding future educational and occupational endeavors; I plan on continuing this level of dedication throughout my educational career and implementing the skills I have learned and will learn into my college experience and beyond.

This fall, I will begin attending the University of California Los Angeles as an English major. I chose this major because I am fascinated by written language, especially its ability to convey powerful messages and emotions. I also enjoy delving into the works of other authors to analyze specific components of their writing to discover the meaning behind their words. In particular, I cannot wait to begin in-depth literary criticism and learn new stylistic techniques to add more depth to my writing. Furthermore, I recently went to UCLA’s Bruin Day, an event for incoming freshmen, where I was exposed to many different extracurriculars, some of which really piqued my interest. I plan on joining the Writing Success Program, where I can help students receive free writing help, and Mock Trial, where I can debate issues with peers in front of a real judge. The latter, combined with a strong writing background from my undergraduate English studies will be extremely beneficial because I plan to apply to law school after my undergraduate degree. As of now, my career goal is to become a civil rights lawyer, to stand up for those who are discriminated against and protect minority groups to proliferate equality.

As a lawyer, I wish to utilize legislation to ameliorate the plight of the millions of Americans who feel prejudice and help them receive equity in the workplace, society, and so on. Though this seems a daunting task, I feel that my work ethic and past experience will give me the jumpstart I need to establish myself as a successful lawyer and give a voice to those who are often unheard in today’s legal system. I have been a Girl Scout for over a decade and continually participate in community service for the homeless, elderly, veterans, and more. My most recent project was the Gold Award, which I conducted in the Fullerton School District. I facilitated over ten workshops where junior high students taught elementary pupils STEM principles such as density and aerodynamics via creative activities like building aluminum boats and paper airplanes. I also work at Kumon, a tutoring center, where I teach students to advance their academic success. I love my job, and helping students from local schools reach their potential fills me with much pride.

Both being a Girl Scout and working at Kumon have inspired me to help those in need, contributing significantly to my desire to become a lawyer and aid others. My extracurriculars have allowed me to gain a new perspective on both learning and teaching, and have solidified my will to help the less fortunate. In college, I hope to continue to gain knowledge and further develop my leadership skills, amassing qualities that will help me assist others. I plan to join multiple community service clubs, such as UCLA’s local outreach programs that directly aid residents of Los Angeles. I want to help my fellow pupils as well, and plan on volunteering at peer tutoring and peer editing programs on campus. After college, during my career, I want to use legal tactics to assist the underdog and take a chance on those who are often overlooked for opportunities. I wish to represent those that are scared to seek out help or cannot afford it. Rather than battling conflict with additional conflict, I want to implement peaceful but strong, efficient tactics that will help make my state, country, and eventually the world more welcoming to people of all ethnic and socioeconomic backgrounds. These goals are close to my heart and therefore I will be as diligent as I am passionate about them. My perseverance and love for learning and community service drive my ambition in both education and life as a whole, and the drive to make the world a better place is one that I will carry with me for my entire life.

This student emphasizes two values in this essay: hard work and community service. These are values that go together nicely, and definitely make sense with this student’s end goal of becoming a civil rights lawyer! That said, some changes could be made to the way the student presents their values that would make their personal statement more convincing and engaging.

Structurally, instead of using a past-future trajectory, this student starts by explaining their academic achievements, then explains their career goals, then explains their history of community service, then explains their future desires for community service. This structure loses the reader. Instead, the student should have started with either the past or the future. 

This could look like 1) identifying their career goals, 2) explaining that hard work and a commitment to community service are necessary to get there, and 3) explaining that they aren’t worried because of their past commitment to hard work and community service. Or it could look like 1) providing examples of their hard work and community service in the past, then 2) explaining how those values will help them achieve their career goals.

Additionally, like with our other example, this student shows a heavy investment in statistics and spouting off accomplishments. This can be unappealing. Unfortunately, even when the student recognizes that they are doing this, writing “beyond the numbers, I have a deep drive to learn which motivates me to do well academically. I truly enjoy learning new things, whether it be a new essay style or a math theorem,” they continue on to cite their achievements, writing “My teachers have noticed this as well, and I have received school Lancer Awards and Student of the Month recognitions as a result.” They say they are going beyond the numbers, but they don’t go beyond the awards. They don’t look inward. One way to fix this would be to make community service the theme around which the essay operates, supplementing with statistics in ways that advance the image of the student as dedicated to community service.

Finally, this student would be more successful if they varied their sentence structure. While a small-scale autobiography can be good, if organized, every sentence should not begin with ‘I.’ The essay still needs to be engaging or the review committee might stop reading.

Feedback is ultimately any writer’s best source of improvement! To get your personal statement edited for free, use our Peer Review Essay Tool . With this tool, other students can tell you if your scholarship essay is effective and help you improve your essay so that you can have the best chances of gaining those extra funds!

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How to Write a Scholarship Essay and Win

For a college student, scholarships are the best assistance to financial aid. However, as a college sophomore, I had no desire to write essays that had nothing to do with my school curriculum.

My days of writing essays for enjoyment departed when 5-page minimums became necessary to pass a class. But, I have recognized that scholarships are a resourceful way to boost financial aid IF you dedicate your time to them.

By practicing some or all of these skills I did to win my first scholarship, your college education could be a source of not only financial freedom but also income. Now, when you are writing a personal statement or essay for a scholarship, you should repeat this mantra: 

“This scholarship will pay for my education. I will win this scholarship.”

A big part of receiving my scholarship came from manifestation. When I worked towards my scholarship, I immediately began telling myself I would win the scholarship (I have the TikTok drafts to prove it).

Telling yourself that you already have what you desire pushes the drive to obtain said desire. Affirming your wants only pulls them closer. Setting your mind up mentally for success is key to achieving what you manifest. 

Now that you believe in your ability to win, you have to begin putting in the work. My scholarship required that I 1) Have a 3.0 or higher on a 4.0 scale, 2) Be African American, 3) Be a college sophomore or junior, 4) major in business or science, and 5) attend two or more NSLS Speaker Broadcasts.

So, when you are applying for a scholarship, make sure you check off ALL boxes of the eligibilities! Be sure to read the rules and policies of each scholarship you apply to, even if they are a page or two long, as it will help you in the long run.

When you have checked off the eligibility requirements, it is time for the longest part of the scholarship: the essay/personal statement. Most scholarships have a word or page count, and this is the time when you shine.

I have learned that essay and personal statement scholarships are gems, as most people avoid these because they have to write. Do not let this dissuade you.

The best part about personal statements/essays is that they give the writing material, and it’s either about where you see yourself in the future, the scholarship company, your interest, or something random.

In the case of my scholarship, I had to write a personal statement on my career interest and goals. So, here are the steps I followed for my personal statement.

• Be honest. As obvious as it sounds, you want to write about something that applies to yourself or your future self. Even though you may never encounter the scholarship committee, write something you would not be ashamed to speak aloud! Not to mention, you’ll have much more conviction and passion if it is something you have done or see yourself doing.
• Outline/write a rough draft. Realistically, we would all love to be able to open our computers and type the perfect essay and submit it. But, it is better to have a rough draft before you compose a final. When I wrote my personal statement, I sectioned it out; 1) my past and current achievements, 2) how my current achievements play into my career goals 3) how my career will influence my future and my community. Treating the personal statement/essay like a memoir helped create a flow for my paper.  Outlining your essay before writing your rough draft will produce a story-like flow, grabbing the attention of the scholarship committee! 
• Get your rough draft revised. Now, you may read your essay and think it is perfect, but there is no shame in getting a fresh set of eyes. Throughout my high school and college freshman career, I was stubborn about going to the writing resource center and only used Grammarly to revise my paper. Having your work checked may feel embarrassing, but you have nothing to fear. Paid professionals and staff in writing centers, schools, and universities work to help you improve your craft. If you want helpful criticism and an elevated chance at winning, have a tutor or teacher review your paper. 
• Rework your rough draft (a.k.a “the final draft”). With your revised rough draft, you will enter the final stages of the winning essay. You can use the same process in step 1, digging deeper for enriching material to help your paper reach the word count. Remember, do not make your personal statement or essay extremely personal. Although the goal is to tell the scholarship committee about yourself, you do not want to sound too eager or revealing. A general rule of thumb is if you would not feel comfortable reading it out loud, it might be too much (of course, still have it revised with resource centers for accuracy). 
• Get your final draft checked. Did you think you only had to get revised once? The more you get your paper checked, the better! While you are getting your paper checked, be sure to engage with the tutors and ask them questions about your essay to ensure you understand their criticisms and resolutions to your work.
• Turn in your paper. You’ve done it! You have completed the scholarship statement, and now you can submit it.

Now that you have the steps to submit a winning personal statement, here are a couple of tips as you write the essay and apply for scholarships in general.

• Start on your essay as soon as it opens! Working on your scholarship far from the deadline is essential for time management and accuracy. Giving yourself enough time to outline, write, and revise your essay will heighten your chances of winning and build your writing skills.
• Indent your paragraphs. Writing in paragraphs helps transition your essay/personal statement and builds character. Not to mention, it shows the scholarship committee that you know how to format a paper!
• Write a general essay/personal statement. A great rule of thumb is that scholarship essays can be reused (it is your work). Your foundation paper can be about yourself and your career goals, academics, why you pursued your major, and how you will prompt change with your education. 
• Apply to “you” specific scholarships. When applying for scholarships, research scholarships that speak to you as an individual. For instance, if you are a junior in high school and you play soccer, research High School Athlete Scholarships or Soccer Scholarships. If you are a college student, research scholarships for your major (Public Health Scholarships). You can also research scholarships that apply to general interests or hobbies. With more individuality in your search, you make it easier to write your paper. 
• Apply to as many scholarships as you can. Winning scholarships is like the lottery; you only win if you play. By applying to multiple scholarships, you steadily increase your chances of winning. Plus, it boosts your writing creativity, but be sure not to overload yourself!
• Never stop applying! As tireless as it is to apply for scholarships, never stop ! Your chances can only improve if you continue applying. Aim to apply for 3-5 scholarships a month, and watch those Congratulations come in. Great scholarship websites are: 
• UNCF (United Negro College Fund)
• Scholarship Owl

Companies such as McDonald’s, Delta, and Amazon offer scholarships for employees, their families, and students.

Scholarships are a wise tool for financial freedom as you pursue higher education. Although they may be uninviting based on word or page count minimum, do not let this intimidate you.

Just think about how relieving it would be to have that money for tuition, books, and housing. If you garner enough scholarships, your university could end up rebating you for the surplus (which is more money for you!).

Anticipating the bigger picture of scholarships and what they can do for you is more splendid than what is holding you back. If I could go back to my sophomore year of high school, I would have begun researching for scholarships immediately.

As a college sophomore, I implore you to take that first step and apply for a scholarship that requires a writing piece. Do not be afraid to go out and search for those scholarships, and remember that you have what it takes to be a winner!

Author: Harper Cooper

Hi! My name is Harper. I am a rising sophomore at Xavier University of Louisiana, majoring in Biology on a Pre Med track. I live in Atlanta, GA and I enjoy live music, reading, writing, and lifting. I am the founder of Black Women Do STEAM, an organization focused on uplifting and promoting Black Women in the STEAM field. I am also a mental health advocate, with aspirations to open up a sexual and mental health clinic.

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As a parent, the thought of college expenses can be overwhelming, but with the right understanding and approach, paying for college can be manageable and less stressful for the whole family.

The FAFSA has undergone several changes this year, causing unexpected delays for both students and colleges.

Luckily, there are several ways to pay for college that’ll lighten the financial burden of your studies. Without further ado, let’s review a few ways to pay for college.

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How to Start a Scholarship Essay

Last Updated: April 20, 2024 References

This article was co-authored by Jake Adams and by wikiHow staff writer, Jessica Gibson . Jake Adams is an academic tutor and the owner of Simplifi EDU, a Santa Monica, California based online tutoring business offering learning resources and online tutors for academic subjects K-College, SAT & ACT prep, and college admissions applications. With over 14 years of professional tutoring experience, Jake is dedicated to providing his clients the very best online tutoring experience and access to a network of excellent undergraduate and graduate-level tutors from top colleges all over the nation. Jake holds a BS in International Business and Marketing from Pepperdine University. There are 9 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. This article has been viewed 93,070 times.

College scholarships can be incredibly competitive and most of them have an essay component. While you may dread writing these essays, they're nothing to fear—the scholarship committee just wants to know a little more about you. With a strong introduction that hooks your reader, you're halfway there! But how do you start a scholarship essay? Here, you'll find some great ideas for how to start, along with some general writing strategies that you can carry through to the rest of your essay.

Sample Introduction and Template

Include the 3 key elements of an introduction.

• A great intro sentence could be something like, "I never thought I'd have to raise my siblings," or, "On April 7, 1997, my life completely changed."
• Your overview sentences could go on to say, "My parents struggled to look after us, so I become the only constant in my brothers' lives. I had to grow up fast, but I also learned a lot about myself in the process."
• Your thesis statement might look like this, "I realized that I have a lot to offer and I'm starting a career in social work. This scholarship will give me the financial support that I need to start my educational journey."

Open with an element of surprise.

• For example, you might write: "If you looked at my parents' mantle, overflowing with trophies and medals, you'd probably conclude that I was an athlete. But what you wouldn't know is that I was born with only one leg."

Compare yourself to the scholarship's namesake.

• For example, you might write: "Mary Lewis dedicated her life to improving her community with public vegetable gardens. Last year, I worked with fellow disabled students to create a sustainable vegetable garden at our school that was accessible to others with disabilities."

Raise a question.

• For example, you might write: "For the past 4 years, I've volunteered with my local hospice. Why would a healthy, athletic young woman want to volunteer with people who are dying? Because I, too, have faced death. I know what it's like to be told you only have a few days to live."

Set the scene dramatically.

• For example, suppose you're writing an essay about rescuing an injured dog and how that made you decide to become a veterinarian. You might write: "I could smell him before I saw him. Small and frail, he limped toward me. His fur was matted and he trembled. His large eyes were full of fear. He pleaded with me for help."

Include quotes with caution.

• For example, you might write: "Nevertheless, she persisted." I never really understood the meaning of that rallying cry until, at 14 years old, I stood in front of the principal of my school to speak on behalf of myself and other disabled students."

Use buzzwords from the essay prompt.

Include a roadmap of your essay.

• For example, you might write: "My compassion for and special connection to animals spurred me to pursue a career in veterinary medicine." Then, in your essay, you would provide an instance that demonstrated your compassion and another that demonstrated that special connection.
• Your roadmap doesn't necessarily have to be a "spoiler." For example, if the prompt is to "discuss a book or experience that made you want to be a writer," you might write: "While I'd always loved reading, I never considered writing stories myself until my 7th grade English teacher gave me a book for an extra-credit report." In your essay, you would then go on to discuss the report and name the book. [11] X Research source

Close your introduction with your thesis statement.

• For example, if the prompt is to describe what sparked your interest in veterinary medicine, your thesis might be: "My experience rehabilitating stray dogs sparked my interest in pursuing a career in veterinary medicine."

Write in your own voice.

• Focus on standing out, not writing like everyone else. Although you can look at samples of other winning scholarship essays to get ideas, make sure the words in your essay are your own.
• Your own perspective is key. For example, if you're a person of color, don't try to "whitewash" your essay. Scholarship committees like diversity, so if you try to cover up your identity, you're only hurting yourself.

Make your sentences active and concise.

• For example, you might write: "I strive to demonstrate my passion for the environment every day. In my sophomore year, I started the recycling program at my school. As president of the environmental club, I teach fellow students what they can do to help save the world we live in."

Expert Q&A

• Have friends or family read your essay—they can give you tips on how to make it stronger. Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
• Make your introduction short and sweet. The general rule is that the introduction should be about 10% of the total word count of your essay—this usually isn't many words! Most scholarship essay introductions only have 3-4 sentences. Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0

• Typos can ruin an otherwise beautiful essay! Make sure you proofread carefully. [16] X Research source Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0

You Might Also Like

• ↑ https://scholarshipowl.com/blog/apply-for-scholarships/scholarship-essay-introduction/
• ↑ https://www.owens.edu/writing/scholarship/
• ↑ https://www.nitrocollege.com/blog/how-to-start-a-scholarship-essay
• ↑ https://www.thecollegemonk.com/blog/scholarship-essay-introduction
• ↑ Jake Adams. Academic Tutor & Test Prep Specialist. Expert Interview. 20 May 2020.
• ↑ https://www.usnews.com/education/best-colleges/paying-for-college/articles/ways-to-make-your-scholarship-essay-stand-out
• ↑ https://www.internationalstudent.com/essay_writing/scholarship_essaysample/
• ↑ https://online.maryville.edu/blog/how-to-write-a-scholarship-essay/
• ↑ https://www.southuniversity.edu/news-and-blogs/2013/05/8trickstowritingstandoutscholarshipessays

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To start a scholarship essay, open with an interesting story, experience, or anecdote to draw your reader in. Then, connect your opening to the broader topic or question you'll be addressing throughout your essay. If you need some inspiration for a good introduction, read the essays written by the previous winners of the scholarship you're applying for. Just make sure you use your own voice and experiences to write your essay so it comes across as authentic. To learn how to conduct research for your scholarship essay before you write it, scroll down! Did this summary help you? Yes No

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Scholarshipsowl

How to write a winning scholarship essay.

If you’re looking to further your education but struggling to afford it, a scholarship can be a great option. Scholarships provide financial assistance for students who meet certain criteria, and one of the most common requirements is writing an essay. To win a scholarship , your essay needs to be well-written, engaging, and persuasive. This article will guide you through the process of writing a winning scholarship essay from start to finish.

Table of Contents

Understanding the Scholarship Essay Requirements

When it comes to applying for scholarships , writing an essay is often a requirement. While the idea of writing an essay may seem daunting, it’s important to understand the scholarship requirements before you begin. This will help you stay on track and ensure that you meet all the necessary criteria.

One of the first steps in understanding the scholarship requirements is to read through the prompt carefully. Make note of any specific guidelines, such as word count, formatting, or content. This will help you stay focused and ensure that you are meeting all the requirements.

Reading the Essay Prompt Carefully

One of the most important steps in writing a scholarship essay is understanding the prompt. Take the time to read through the prompt multiple times and make sure you understand exactly what is being asked of you. Pay attention to any specific questions or prompts and make sure you answer them directly.

It’s also important to consider the tone and style of the prompt. Is it formal or informal? Is it asking for a personal story or a more academic response? Understanding the tone and style of the prompt can help you tailor your essay to meet the expectations of the scholarship organization.

Identifying Keywords and Themes

After reading the prompt, it’s important to identify any keywords or themes that stand out. These may include ideas or concepts that the scholarship organization is looking for in a candidate. Highlight or underline these key points so you can reference them later as you write your essay.

For example, if the prompt asks about your leadership experience, you may want to highlight keywords such as “leadership,” “teamwork,” and “problem-solving.” These keywords can help guide your writing and ensure that you are addressing the specific requirements of the scholarship.

Researching the Scholarship Organization

Before you begin writing, take the time to research the scholarship organization. Learn more about their values, mission, and goals. This will help you understand what they are looking for in a candidate and tailor your essay to meet those expectations.

For example, if the scholarship is focused on promoting diversity and inclusion, you may want to highlight your experiences working with diverse groups or your commitment to promoting equality. Understanding the values and goals of the scholarship organization can help you craft a more effective essay.

Overall, understanding the scholarship requirements is an important step in writing a successful essay. By taking the time to read the prompt carefully, identify keywords and themes, and research the scholarship organization, you can ensure that your essay meets all the necessary criteria and stands out to the scholarship committee.

Planning Your Scholarship Essay

Writing a scholarship essay can be a daunting task, but with a little planning and organization, you can make the process more manageable and increase your chances of winning that coveted scholarship.

Scholarship essays are a way for organizations and institutions to get to know you better, understand your goals and aspirations, and determine if you are a good fit for their program. Therefore, it is essential to put your best foot forward and showcase your unique qualities and experiences.

Brainstorming Ideas and Experiences

The first step in writing a scholarship essay is to brainstorm ideas and experiences that make you a strong candidate for the scholarship. This may include academic achievements, personal challenges you’ve overcome, or community service projects you’ve been involved with. Write down everything that comes to mind, no matter how small or insignificant it may seem.

Next, prioritize the most compelling ideas and experiences that align with the scholarship’s mission and values. Consider the scholarship’s prompt and requirements to ensure that your ideas are relevant and address the prompt.

Creating an Outline

Once you have a list of ideas, it’s time to create an outline. An outline can help you organize your thoughts and ensure that your essay flows smoothly. Start by outlining your main points and then expand on each point with supporting details and examples.

Make sure to include an introduction that grabs the reader’s attention, a body that supports your thesis statement, and a conclusion that summarizes your main points and leaves a lasting impression.

Choosing a Strong Thesis Statement

Your thesis statement is the most critical part of your essay. It should convey the main point of your essay and why you are the best candidate for the scholarship. Take the time to craft a strong thesis statement that sets the tone for your entire essay.

Remember to keep your thesis statement concise, persuasive, and relevant to the scholarship prompt. Use it as a roadmap for the rest of your essay and ensure that every paragraph supports your thesis statement.

In conclusion, planning and organizing your scholarship essay can make the difference between winning and losing a scholarship. Take the time to brainstorm ideas, create an outline, and craft a strong thesis statement that showcases your unique qualities and experiences. Good luck!

Writing an Engaging Introduction

Your introduction is the gateway to your essay. It is the first impression that your readers will have of your work, and it is your chance to hook them and make them want to keep reading. Here are some tips for crafting an engaging introduction:

Hooking the Reader

Starting with an attention-grabbing sentence or anecdote is a great way to hook your reader. You can use a personal story, a surprising fact, or a provocative question. For example, “Did you know that the average person spends 6 months of their life waiting for red lights to turn green?” This will grab your reader’s attention and make them want to keep reading to find out more.

Another way to hook your reader is to use a quote. This could be a quote from a famous person or a quote from a book or movie. Just make sure that the quote is relevant to your essay and supports your thesis statement.

Introducing Your Thesis Statement

After hooking the reader, it’s time to introduce your thesis statement. This should be a clear and concise sentence that summarizes the main point of your essay. Your thesis statement should be specific and arguable, and it should be supported by the evidence in your essay.

For example, if you are writing an essay about the benefits of exercise, your thesis statement might be: “Regular exercise has numerous physical and mental health benefits, including weight loss, improved mood, and reduced risk of chronic diseases.”

Setting the Tone for Your Essay

The language and tone you use in your introduction should fit the audience and the purpose of your essay. If you are writing a scholarship essay, for example, and the organization is looking for candidates with a strong commitment to community service, make sure your tone and language reflect that sentiment.

You can also use your introduction to set the tone for the rest of your essay. If you are writing a persuasive essay, for example, you might use a more assertive tone to convince your reader of your argument. If you are writing a descriptive essay, on the other hand, you might use a more poetic tone to paint a vivid picture for your reader.

In conclusion, your introduction is a crucial part of your essay. By hooking your reader, introducing your thesis statement, and setting the tone for your essay, you can engage your readers and make them want to keep reading.

When developing the body of your essay, it’s important to keep in mind that this is where you’ll be providing the meat of your argument. You want to make sure that you’re providing strong evidence and examples to support your thesis statement. One effective way to do this is by incorporating personal anecdotes and examples. Not only will this help to make your essay more engaging and memorable, but it will also provide a personal touch that can help to connect you with your reader.

In addition to sharing personal anecdotes, it’s also important to highlight your achievements and accomplishments.

However, it’s important to do so humbly and authentically. Rather than simply listing your accomplishments, use specific examples to demonstrate your talents and skills. This will not only provide evidence to support your argument, but it will also help to paint a picture of who you are as a person.

Of course, it’s important to remember that you need to stay focused on the main topic and address the essay prompt directly. Avoid going off on tangents or including information that doesn’t directly relate to the prompt.

This can be a challenge, especially if you’re passionate about the topic, but it’s important to stay on track and keep your argument focused. By incorporating personal anecdotes and examples, highlighting your achievements and accomplishments, and staying focused on the essay prompt, you’ll be well on your way to developing a strong and effective body for your essay. Remember, the body of your essay is where you’ll be providing the evidence to support your thesis statement, so take the time to craft it carefully and thoughtfully.

Crafting a Memorable Conclusion

Your conclusion is your chance to leave a lasting impression on the reader.

Summarizing Your Main Points

Summarize your main points and freshly restate your thesis statement. This will remind the reader of the main topic and leave a strong impression.

Ending with a Strong Call to Action

End with a strong call to action that makes the reader want to take action or learn more about the topic. This could be anything from encouraging the reader to apply for the scholarship themselves or suggesting a related organization or cause to get involved with.

Leaving a Lasting Impression

End with a memorable phrase or quote that leaves the reader with something to think about long after they’ve finished reading your essay.

Editing and Proofreading Your Essay

Writing an essay can be a challenging task, but editing and proofreading it can be even more daunting. However, it’s a crucial step in ensuring that your essay is polished and ready to be presented to your audience. Here are some tips to help you with the editing and proofreading process:

Checking for Grammar and Spelling Errors

One of the most important things to check in your essay is grammar and spelling. Grammatical errors can make your essay difficult to understand, while spelling mistakes can make it seem unprofessional. It’s essential to read through your essay multiple times to ensure that there are no errors.

One helpful tool to use is a spell-check tool. Most word-processing software has this feature built-in, and it can help you identify errors that you may have missed. However, keep in mind that spell-check tools are not foolproof, and they may not catch all errors. Therefore, it’s always a good idea to have a friend or family member read through your essay as well.

Ensuring Clarity and Coherence

Another essential aspect of editing your essay is ensuring that it’s clear and coherent. Your essay should be easy to follow, and your ideas should flow logically from one paragraph to the next. One way to achieve this is by using transitions and topic sentences.

Transitions are words or phrases that connect ideas from one sentence or paragraph to the next. They help the reader understand the relationship between different parts of your essay. Examples of transitions include “however,” “in addition,” and “on the other hand.”

Topic sentences, on the other hand, are sentences that introduce the main idea of a paragraph. They help the reader understand what the paragraph is about and how it relates to the overall theme of your essay.

Seeking Feedback from Others

Finally, it’s always a good idea to seek feedback from others. Ask a trusted friend, family member, or teacher to read through your essay and provide feedback. They may be able to catch mistakes or offer suggestions for improvement that you might have missed. Additionally, getting feedback from others can help you identify areas where your essay may be unclear or difficult to follow.

Overall, editing and proofreading your essay may seem like a daunting task, but it’s an essential step in ensuring that your essay is clear, coherent, and error-free. By following these tips and taking the time to carefully review your work, you can ensure that your essay is polished and ready to be presented to your audience.

Submitting Your Scholarship Essay

Are you looking to submit your scholarship essay and win that coveted financial assistance for your education? Before you submit your essay, make sure you follow all the submission guidelines provided by the scholarship organization. These guidelines are essential to ensure that your application is considered and not disqualified for not following the rules.

Following Submission Guidelines

Pay close attention to formatting, word count, and any other specific requirements outlined in the submission guidelines. This will show that you are detail-oriented and take the application process seriously. If the guidelines require a certain font or spacing, make sure to adhere to them. This will make your essay look professional and polished.

Moreover, some scholarship organizations require applicants to submit their essays in a specific file format, such as PDF or Word. Make sure to check the guidelines and submit your essay in the correct format. Following the submission guidelines is the first step to impressing the scholarship committee and increasing your chances of winning.

Double-Checking Your Application

Before you hit submit, double-check all your application materials, including your essay, to ensure there are no mistakes or omissions. Check for spelling and grammar errors, and make sure your essay flows smoothly. You can also ask a friend or family member to proofread your essay for you. Having a fresh pair of eyes can help catch any mistakes you might have missed.

Furthermore, make sure you have included all the required documents. Some scholarship organizations ask for additional materials, such as transcripts or recommendation letters. Make sure you have all the necessary documents ready before submitting your application.

Sending Your Essay with Confidence

Once you’ve completed all the necessary steps, hit submit with confidence. You’ve worked hard to write a strong scholarship essay and now it’s time to let your work speak for itself. Remember, the scholarship committee is looking for applicants who are passionate about their education and have a clear goal in mind. Make sure your essay showcases your strengths and highlights your achievements.

Writing a winning scholarship essay takes time, effort, and attention to detail. But with these tips and guidelines, you can craft an essay that sets you apart from other applicants and increases your chances of receiving financial assistance for your education. Remember, every detail counts, so make sure you follow the submission guidelines, double-check your application, and submit your essay with confidence.

How to start an essay

– Start with a strong hook that will grab the reader's attention. – You can use a question, a quote, a statistic, or a personal anecdote to start your essay. – The goal of your introduction is to get the reader interested in what you have to say.

What is the benefit of starting your essay with a powerful lead?

Starting your essay with a powerful lead is important because it grabs the reader's attention and makes them want to read more. A powerful lead can be a quote, a statistic, a question, or a personal anecdote that is relevant to the topic of your essay. It should be something that will make the reader stop and think.

How will this scholarship help you achieve your goals essay

This essay is often asked on scholarship applications. It is a way for the scholarship committee to see how the scholarship will help you achieve your goals. In this essay, you should explain how the scholarship will help you pay for college, how it will help you achieve your academic goals, and how it will help you achieve your career goals.

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How to write a scholarship essay

A step-by-step guide with instructions, outlines, and samples

Great scholarship essays show, not tell, why the applicant is a strong contender through personal stories. Writing a winning scholarship essay involves showcasing your accomplishments, skills, and volunteer work in a intimate, yet professional tone.

A great scholarship essay can increase your chances of receiving financial aid by helping you stand out from a crowd of applicants. In this guide, we’ll cover how to write a winning scholarship essay, so you can feel even more confident in your college application process.

Here’s what we’ll review:

• Why scholarship essays are important
• What makes a great scholarship essay
• What makes scholarship essays different from traditional essays
• How to stand out from the crowd by writing a great scholarship essay
• A sample of a scholarship essay (with explanations)
• Pro-writing tips and advice

Applying for college financial aid is a multi-step process, and an outstanding scholarship essay plays an important role.

Scholarship essays serve an important purpose

If you plan on applying for financial aid, you’ll need to know how to write a stellar scholarship essay. Writing a scholarship essay may be one of the most challenging parts of your application process, but it’s also one of the most important.

A scholarship essay is a tool that shows your college’s scholarship committee why they should support you financially. Through a concise, brief yet detailed and well-written essay , you have the opportunity to show your college how you’ll use the financial aid they give you to reach your goals and become an asset to the community.

You get to tell your college committee, in a professional way, why they would want you as part of their team.

Need a scholarship?  Click here to see scholarships that Ultius offers.

This requires you to highlight your strengths and accomplishments in a humble way that doesn’t sound like boasting. We’ll review some stylistic writing tips later that will help you do this. But first, let’s review the foundational elements of a scholarship essay and what makes it different from other academic writing.

Scholarship essays are different from traditional academic essays

A primary factor distinguishing scholarship essays from other types of academic essays is the fact that scholarship essays are, simply stated, all about you and your college: the entire focus is persuasive , and as described above, the purpose of the essay is to explain why and how you’ll use the financial aid you receive in the best way possible.

Before we dive into the “how to” of writing, let’s review some basic elements of a great scholarship essay.

What makes a great scholarship essay?

#1 the introduction.

Think of the introduction to your essay not just as an overview of what you’ll be discussing, (though it should give the readers a glimpse of your theme and main points), but more importantly as a chance to capture attention.

The title of your essay functions as a hook, engaging your reader. In the same way, the introduction should be interesting. It functions to make your reader want to continue reading your entire essay.

For example, which of the following headlines are you more likely to read?

• “Scholarship Essay for James Smith,” or,
• “Using a College Degree to Help Make American Schools More Affordable and Fun, by James Smith.”

Most likely, you’d want to read the second one. The first one is pretty dry and boring, and doesn’t really say anything about what the essay is about-- other than it being a scholarship essay.

There’s no incentive to read it.

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The second title, however, queues you as reader to read on. It is a title you can relate to as a student and a school administrator. Most students would like school to be fun, most parents would like it to be affordable, and most teachers would like it to be both. The second title is engaging because it is specific, relatable, and tells the reader about the value contained in the essay that follows.

Make your title and introduction specific and think about how you can say them in an interesting way that shows the reader your essay has value.

#2 Themes and examples

An organized and convincing essay generally has one primary theme that weaves all parts of the essay together. For instance, a scholarship essay may have a central theme like “community service,” or “ nursing and healthcare ,” or “business management,” depending upon the education, interests and life goals of the student writing.

The idea here is that, in writing your scholarship essay, you want to be sure to not only tell your college’s scholarship committee what your goals are, but also to demonstrate how you’ll apply your education to the real world, and what experience you have so far to help you do this.

#3 Anecdotes

Anecdotes are short, amusing stories about events or people. Similar to how we talked about using examples above, anecdotes are effective at demonstrating how the ideas you present in a scholarship essay apply to real life. Anecdotes help your ideas come to life.

For example, if you’re writing a scholarship essay about business leadership, you may choose to tell a story about how your work cleaning houses taught you about attention to detail in all areas of life. The example essay we’ll review below uses an anecdote about helping the family business better manage checkbook balancing.

Through stories, you have the chance to catch your readers’ attention by highlighting how you can contribute to the world with your skills and experience

#4 Writing with passion

Writing with passion is important because it shows the scholarship committee you’re applying to that you care, and that you’ll make your best effort to use the financial aid you’re given in a productive, meaningful way.

Passion also helps your reader(s) stay engaged by writing in a way that others can empathetically relate to.

Said simply, writing with passion makes your essay interesting.

The example essay later in this guide demonstrates passion in the concluding paragraph by explaining why the essay writer wants to study business management—in order to improve the lives of employees and community members through providing wholesome food.

In this way, the essay becomes personal, and reveals the writer’s individual values and motives.

#5 Getting the formatting correct

Great scholarship essays are formatted according to the requirements of the school the essay writer is applying to. Following correct formatting requirements demonstrates that you are organized and able to follow instructions. Different schools may have different requirements when it comes to formatting, so be sure to clarify your instructions.

A general rule of thumb, especially if you’re given few instructions, is to double space your essay and use one-inch margins. If you quote or paraphrase any information from another source, be sure to cite it correctly and in the style the college you’re applying to requires. Common citation styles are APA and MLA.

Generally, you probably won’t have many citations in a scholarship essay since it is primarily focused on how you will apply your personal experiences and education to further your career goals.

Last, great scholarship essays have appropriately spaced paragraphs and phrases. They avoid run-on sentences and break up information into digestible bits. Generally, a single paragraph shouldn’t be more than two-thirds of a page if it’s double-spaced, or a third of a page if it’s single-spaced. Separating and organizing different thoughts into different paragraphs makes your writing easier and more enjoyable to read.

#6 End with a strong conclusion

Fantastic scholarship essays don’t neglect the chance to leave a lasting impression with readers. A common mistake inexperienced writers make is putting lots of attention into the introduction but little attention into the conclusion .

Clearly, it makes sense that the conclusion would be an easy area to neglect from a writer’s standpoint, since the writing process is almost complete and a simple re-cap of your main points should suffice, right?

The conclusion is just as important as the introduction. The introduction flags readers’ attention and makes sure your essay is read in the first place, whereas the conclusion makes sure the reader remembers and acts on what he or she has just read.

And in the case of a scholarship essay, acting on what was just read means choosing the essay writer as a financial aid candidate.

Review: the elements of a great scholarship essay:

The diagram below illustrates the components that make up a scholarship essay that is easy to read, interesting, relevant, and organized.

How to stand out and write a winning scholarship essay

Now that we’ve reviewed the basic elements of a great scholarship essay, let’s dive into the steps you’ll need to take to write an essay that will win you the college education you’re aiming for.

#1 Know what your audience wants to hear in your scholarship essay

The first step in being able to choose a theme that is relevant to your goals and experiences and sounds appealing to your scholarship committee, is to know what your audience looking for.

Think about what’s important to the school you’re applying to. This is a balancing act. You don’t want to write an essay that sounds too salesy, or appears to obviously “schmooze” your scholarship committee, but you do want your essay to be relevant to what your committee cares about.

The best way to do this is to understand the scholarship you’re applying for , and why it’s offered.

Likewise, if you’re applying to a scholarship offered based upon GPA, you’ll probably want to talk about your experience with grade achievement, critical thinking capacity and how you plan to apply those skills to your college and professional goals.

Finally, if you’re applying to a nurse educator scholarship, you’ll most likely want to highlight what life experiences contribute to your ability to be a fantastic future nursing leader.

The key, when understanding your audience, is to ask:

“Why are the donors of this scholarship (the people providing the money) offering financial aid?”

In other words, who do the donors want to support? Who would be their ideal candidate?

Next, list some reasons why you match what they’re looking for and some corresponding real-life examples. You can use this list later when you create your writing outline.

#2 Find your scholarship essay theme

This second step is similar to the first, since in understanding your audience you’ll likely find your theme. However, during this second step, you’ll start to elaborate. Instead of just understanding what your audience, or the scholarship committee, is looking for, you’ll identify a theme that unifies your goals and experiences with what’s important to your audience.

Remember the list you created in step #1?

Here’s where it starts to come in handy. What’s the common theme that emerges as you look at the reasons you match what your audience is looking for? Likely, they’ll match the type of scholarship you’re applying to.

Or, if you’re applying for an arts scholarship, you’ve had experience painting murals with school groups and you want to become an art teacher, your theme may be “helping classroom education come to life with visual arts.”

Your theme won’t necessarily be the title of your essay (though it could be). Rather, it will guide your title, and it will also guide the rest of your writing. Your theme is like a compass. Everything you write should point back to your theme, explaining why and how you’re an ideal candidate for the scholarship.

#3 Create an outline for your scholarship essay

This step should be relatively simple. Use the list you made in step one to help you. Your outline should start with an introduction and end with a conclusion (see the earlier section of this blog for how to write an effective intro and conclusion). In the middle should be the main body and point(s) of your essay (you should do this whether you decide to buy an essay or not).

The body and main points will be filled with examples of your experiences that relate to your educational and professional goals.

Start by listing the goals and the examples you want to write about, and then arrange them in an order that logically flows and makes sense.

As you write, use transitional phrases and storytelling so that your writing doesn’t feel like a “list,” but instead, flows seamlessly.

#4 Be creative and original

The word creative is used a lot today, but what does it actually mean? In the case of a scholarship essay, being creative means being original. You’ve got to stand out from a crowd of other applicants.

That means avoiding generic stories and phrases. It also means avoiding generalizations and clichés . When you tell a story or share your experience, get specific. If you get specific, it’s hard not to be original, because chances are, no one else has had experiences quite like yours.

#5 Show, don’t tell in your essay

Imagine trying to learn to play basketball just by being told about the game through a lecture, and then being thrown into your first game. It’d be pretty frightening, to say the least! You’d probably stumble all over the court and drop the ball. However, if a coach took you out onto the court and showed you how to dribble and shoot, you’d learn more quickly, because you’d be able to observe the game actually happening. You’d be shown.

If you’re an adult applying for a scholarship to help financially because you want to go back to school, you can be extremely descriptive in your reasoning for needing that scholarship.

The same concept applies in writing. If you tell your reader about something, you’re likely to have less of an impact. But, if you show him or her, they’ll understand and be able to visualize what you’re saying.

#6 Use stories in your scholarship essay

Stories are effective ways of showing, instead of telling, your reader what you’re trying to say. In a scholarship essay, this couldn’t be more important. For instance, consider the “telling” versus “showing” example we reviewed above. If you’re trying to tell your reader about your business management skills, show him or her how you solved a specific challenge for a business.

#7 Proofread and know when to ask for help!

Another round of editing can mean the difference between a polished essay that wows critical eyes of your scholarship committee, or one that gets set aside just because of a few fixable errors. Submitting a proofread paper shows that you’ve taken the time to correct your work and put your best impression forward. Proofread your work at least twice, and have a friend read it as well to catch any last errors. Finally, if you feel stuck, know where to find help. The Ultius writer help section is a great place to find comprehensive guides on essay writing.

Example scholarship essay:

Pro writing tips (best practices and advice):.

Check out the table below for additional hints and advice on crafting an outstanding scholarship essay. If you still have questions, visit the Ultius writer help section ! Best of luck, and remember, have fun with the writing process!

Plan your essay

Take time to strategize and plan a well-thought outline. It’ll make the writing process much easier and your ideas will likely flow better for your reader.

Watch the tone and voice in your scholarship essay

Don’t try to be too fancy. Remember, you want your essay to be relatable and down-to-earth, while still keeping a tone of professionalism.

Be persuasive, but stay humble

You want to do a little boasting about yourself in your scholarship essay. But, ironically, you don’t want it to sound like boasting. In other words, you want to highlight your strengths and all you have to offer, but in a way that’s humble and appreciative.

Let your individuality shine!

It’s easy to fall into the unconscious trap of sounding “like everyone else.” While other scholarship papers can serve as helpful examples in terms of organization, tone and style, you’ll have the best luck by using those examples as a foundation and then writing your own essay that stands out enough to catch your committee’s attention. In a pool of hundreds or thousands of “similar” essays, how can you give yours a different twist?

Answer hidden questions in your essay

If you’re writing a scholarship essay for nursing education, don’t just answer the obvious prompt such as, “explain why you want to study nursing education.” Instead, think about what the scholarship committee is really asking you. Most likely, they’re asking, “how will you add value to our school and the professional nursing community?”

Re-read your essay intro

Remember, the introduction is arguably the most important part of your essay, aside from your conclusion. Proof read it again, even when you think it’s finished. As you proofread, pretend you’re someone on your scholarship review committee. How would it sound to them? How can you make it better?

Ask for help with your scholarship essay if you need it

Don’t let the pressure of time keep you from asking for a quick proof read from a friend, or from getting professional help from professionals at Ultius. It may not seem critical at the time, but it could make a big difference in your future college education!

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Who May Be Eligible?

Here are some eligibility criteria candidate should go through before applying:

• Applicant must be enrolled in accredited college or university to be eligible for this scholarship.
• Applicants who are professional writers, editors, or columnists are not eligible to take part in the scholarship.
• International students are not eligible for this scholarship.
• All male/female applicants can participate in this ‘She Began Essay Writing Scholarship’.

How to Apply

Once you’re done collecting all the necessary documents and essay, fill the online application form with all the required details, and paste your essay. The essay submitted after the deadline will not be considered for a scholarship. Applicants must select a topic about famous women.

Supporting Documents

• Applicants must submit their student enrolment with the application.
• Applicants must submit a 1000 words essay related to the first females who did the following: (First Woman Carpenter of Pakistan, First Woman to Walk-in Space, First Woman on the moon, First Woman to Climb Mount Everest, First Woman Judge, First Woman Astronaut, First Woman Scientist, First Woman Doctor, First Woman Entrepreneur, First Woman Engineer, First Woman Mayor, First Woman Millionaire, First Woman Pilot, First Woman Prime Minister, First most charitable Woman, First Woman who set up a world record, First Woman in Science, First Woman who won Noble Prize, First Youngest Billionaire Woman, First Woman Bus Driver, First Woman Automobile Engineer, First Woman ‘Find a Story yourself and surface it in your essay)
• Follow the following guideline for the format use 12pt font size, use times roman font style, do not include any images in the essay, use double spacing or at least 1.5x spacing between words, include only 6 lines per paragraph, write about verifiable story and essay must not include any plagiarism.
• Complete application for the scholarship must be attached to your essay.
• Your essay file size must not exceed 2MB in size.

Winners will be rewarded with She Began Essay Writing Scholarship worth the US $2,500. This scholarship will help students with their college expenses and appreciates their creative skills and enhance them to do better in the fields of writing.

Application Deadline

The application should be submitted before October 15, 2020.

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College of Business

How to nail your scholarship application essay.

When it comes to applying for scholarships, the task can be immediately overwhelming. Where do you find scholarships? How do you apply? What do they each require? This is going to take forever!

But at Colorado State, we do things a little differently. We’re so proud of our one-and-done scholarship application process. Almost all CSU scholarships live in the same place, and can be applied for with one application, one time, and that’s it. The Colorado State University Scholarship Application (CSUSA) takes a big hurdle out of your path right off the bat. Completing the CSUSA enters you for nearly every scholarship at CSU that you’re eligible for. Now all you have to do is nail that application essay … and we’re here to make that part easy, too. Here are some insider info, tips, and even a few essay excerpts to help you as you tackle your essay.

#1. It’s less formal than you think

Did you know that your scholarship application essay is meant to help us see the most-authentic version of you, your journey, and your goals? We’re not looking for a formal essay here. You won’t need to analyze anything, look for metaphors, or even write a structured outline when you start (but you can if it helps you).

The essay prompt might ask you to tell your story, highlight your ambitions, and explain how you see yourself succeeding in this big ol’ world. Essay prompts range from what kind of career you see yourself in, and how college might help you get there. They might ask you to describe a challenging event, explain how you navigated it, and how it inspires you to go forward in life. The essay is so much more your story than anything else. The more YOU you are, the better. Don’t worry too much about intros, transitions, structure, or formal conclusion paragraphs when you first sit down to write. Let it flow and be you.

• Tip : Write your first draft like you’re talking to your best friend, your favorite teacher, your mentor, your coach. Your voice/tone should be genuine, passionate, and infused with the vibe you’d give if you were telling your biggest dreams to your biggest cheerleaders. We’re rooting for you here.

#2. Vulnerability is your superpower here

Perhaps the biggest tool in your toolbox when it comes to writing a genuine, powerful essay is your willingness to be vulnerable. While vulnerability may seem like a weakness in some arenas, it’s your superpower in the scholarship application essay. So what exactly is it, and how can you use it to your advantage?

Vulnerability, by definition, is the willingness to show emotion or to allow one’s weaknesses to be seen or known. There can be some risk involved in being vulnerable, and that’s often why it has such a big impact. You’re essentially giving away your armor, and that allows you to create connection at a deep, emotional level. To put vulnerability to work in a story or experience, try to remember how you felt in that moment, and what was running through your head. Instead of just recounting events as they happened, retell them as YOU experienced them. Let emotion guide your story instead of rehashing a timeline of events. The story, told as it moved through you, is what makes the connection.

• Tip : As you recount an event or moment in your essay, try to incorporate the senses. What did you see, hear, smell, feel? Let emotion be your guide, but paint the picture fully.

#3. Word choice matters (and not in the way you might think)

One question you should ask yourself as you draft your essay is if the words you’re using actually suit you. Would you use these actual words if you were talking to someone? One thing that can derail your authenticity in writing is trying to use big or “impressive” words that wouldn’t naturally flow from you in your daily life. We’re not saying you shouldn’t use a thesaurus, but be choosy. If the word doesn’t “fit” you when you’re casually speaking, we’re going to feel that in your essay, too.

• Tip : Read your essay aloud while recording yourself. Does it flow? Are there words that you stumble over as you read them? If so, put those words into the thesaurus and see if anything comes up that doesn’t trip you up as you read. It should feel as natural to read it as it would if you were talking to a friend.

#4. Always, always, always get a proofreader (or two)

While it’s not the most-glamorous advice, we cannot stress enough the importance of having someone — and, preferably, multiple someones — review your essay. Even the most-seasoned professional writer will make errors, even after multiple drafts. Typos, missing words, tense errors, and even disorganized thoughts can distract readers from your beautiful, unique story. Our advice is to find a proofreader who can dial in your punctuation and grammar, and another who can help you with the more-subtle aspects of good writing, like flow, tone, and structure. You want to start and end strong, plus have a robust, visually and emotionally stimulating middle.

• Tip : Draft your first version raw without any expectations of yourself. Answer the essay prompt as if you’re writing in your journal. Then find a reliable proofreader (preferably outside the house, like a teacher) to help you level it up and polish it up. After you’ve done a little spiff, show it to a second proofreader. Fresh eyes mean everything.

Some essay excerpts to inspire you

Ready to learn more about the csu scholarship process.

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Prairie Smallwood

Prairie Smallwood is a writer and content creator for the Office of Admissions at Colorado State University. She is passionate about education and exploration, and knows that going to college can be both an adventure and an overwhelming experience. She aims to create content that helps students through that journey — the wonderful, the scary, and everything in between.

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Amy Ettinger (Image credit: Dan White)

Amy Jordana Ettinger, a Bay Area author and Stanford Continuing Studies writing instructor, died March 20 at her home in Santa Cruz. She was 49.

Ettinger began teaching in the Stanford Continuing Studies creative writing program in 2019 and continued teaching after she was diagnosed with leiomyosarcoma, a rare and incurable form of cancer. During her time at Stanford, she taught 14 non-fiction writing classes, including courses like CNF 75: Creative Nonfiction Book: From Idea to Proposal and CNF 76: Pitch and Publish Your Nonfiction Stories .

“Amy graciously and generously shared her love of writing with students who gravitated to her for her energy, enthusiasm, and unflagging support,” said Malena Watrous, the creative writing coordinator at Stanford Continuing Studies. “She wanted them to know that being a published writer was within the realm of possibility for anyone who was willing to pursue a story and put in the work of getting it on paper and revising it until it shone.”

Ettinger taught two courses in the program until she began hospice care.

She wrote about her experiences with a terminal illness in two pieces for the Washington Post – her final story published in print the day before she died – in which she reflected on some of the meaningful moments during her final months. One of the highlights she shared was teaching at Stanford to the very end of her life.

“Amy had a generous spirit. She never did anything in half measures, whether she was writing a personal essay for the Washington Post or teaching her writing classes at Stanford,” said Ettinger’s husband, Dan White. “She cared very much about her students, and she was so proud of the work they did.”

Helping students find their own sweet spot

Ettinger was an accomplished writer herself.

She began her career writing for the Monterey Bay Herald before becoming a freelance journalist. Her pieces appeared in national outlets including the New York Times , the Washington Post , New York Magazine , Salon , CNN , and Newsweek . In 2017, Ettinger published her own nonfiction book, Sweet Spot: An Ice Cream Binge Across America (Penguin Random House).

“Amy loved to connect to large audiences with her writing, but teaching added a whole new dimension to her career,” said White. “She loved the idea of helping students demystify the process of getting published and writing proposals, or removing some of the fear factor and help them consider the perspective of the editors and publishers who would be looking at their work.”

Ettinger encouraged her Stanford Continuing Studies students to find their own sweet spot.

Ettinger’s classes filled with both new and returning students, including Alyssa Lauren Stone who took two courses with Ettinger in 2022. Within months of working with Ettinger, Stone published her own work in well-known news outlets. She credits her early success to working with Ettinger, particularly her advice on pitching compelling ideas to editors.

“Amy had a real knack for knowing what stories editors like,” Stone said. “Amy was a generous teacher who did not hold back from sharing her tools for success.”

Ettinger was also a mentor to another instructor in the Stanford Continuing Studies creative writing program, Gregg Wrenn.

“Amy was an extraordinary creative nonfiction instructor who gave me the emotional support and editorial expertise I needed to finish my memoir,” said Wren. “Her work touched hundreds of students just like me who will miss her deeply.”

Ettinger is survived by her husband Dan and their daughter, Julianna.

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A Running Mate’s History: $1 Billion, Cocaine, a Fling With Elon Musk

Nicole Shanahan, a lawyer who was married to Sergey Brin, a Google founder, led a rarefied and sometimes turbulent life in Silicon Valley, according to a Times examination.

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By Kirsten Grind

Reporting from Oakland, Calif., and San Francisco

When Robert F. Kennedy Jr. was considering potential running mates for his presidential run, his shortlist was initially topped by two well-known men with unusual résumés: Aaron Rodgers, the N.F.L. quarterback and frequent purveyor of conspiracy theories , and Jesse Ventura, the former governor of Minnesota and professional wrestler known as “The Body.”

Instead, Mr. Kennedy made a surprise pick — a woman and a little-known figure with an unusual background: Nicole Shanahan .

Ms. Shanahan, 38, a onetime Silicon Valley lawyer, has never held public office and has scant name recognition. But she was selected after Mr. Rodgers and Mr. Ventura fell through as vice-presidential candidates and Mr. Kennedy’s campaign needed money to fund its efforts to get onto state ballots, three people familiar with the events said. And money was something that Ms. Shanahan could provide in abundance.

Ms. Shanahan has a fortune of more than $1 billion that stems largely from her divorce settlement last year with Sergey Brin , a founder of Google, whose net worth exceeds $145 billion , three people with knowledge of her finances said. During their five-year marriage, Ms. Shanahan partied with Silicon Valley’s elite and used recreational drugs including cocaine, ketamine and psychedelic mushrooms, according to eight people and documents reviewed by The New York Times. Ms. Shanahan and Mr. Brin separated after she had a sexual encounter with Elon Musk in 2021, three of the people said.

The incidents were part of a rarefied — and sometimes turbulent — life that Ms. Shanahan led in the nation’s tech capital before her turn to politics, according to interviews with more than 20 people who know her or were briefed on her actions, as well as property records, court documents, tax records, emails and other messages reviewed by The Times. Many of the details of her life, including those of her divorce settlement, have not been reported.

“Status is very important to Nicole, and the amount of money you have,” said Daniel Morris, a photographer based in Puerto Rico who was friends with Ms. Shanahan and her first husband, Jeremy Kranz, a technology investor.

On the campaign trail, Ms. Shanahan has depicted herself as a hardworking former entrepreneur and lawyer, a success story who once needed food stamps and a unifier who can heal a divided America. But she has omitted and embellished parts of her history, including aspects of her relationship with Mr. Brin, to make herself appear more relatable, according to the people who know her and documents reviewed by The Times.

In a February interview with The Times, Ms. Shanahan described herself as a onetime “Silicon Valley princess.” In response to questions for this article, she texted: “I’m shocked the NYT is letting you run something like this.” The Kennedy campaign didn’t respond to requests for comment. Ms. Shanahan has publicly denied having an affair with Mr. Musk.

Mr. Musk, his lawyer and a spokeswoman for Mr. Brin did not return requests for comment.

Mr. Kennedy, who is running as an independent, picked Ms. Shanahan without his advisers having looked fully into her history or where her money was coming from, two people familiar with the campaign said. By then, she had already become a crucial financier of his run.

Ms. Shanahan, who has said she is a vaccine skeptic like Mr. Kennedy, funded a Super Bowl ad for Mr. Kennedy this year through a $4 million donation to a super PAC, American Values 2024. In March, she infused Mr. Kennedy’s campaign with an additional $2 million. Last week, she said she had given an additional $8 million .

Their ticket has secured a place on the presidential ballot in Michigan, a swing state, as well as in five other states. Mr. Kennedy has enough signatures to reach the ballot in seven additional states, his campaign has said, potentially putting him and Ms. Shanahan in a position to tip the November election.

Ms. Shanahan is “exactly the right person,” Mr. Kennedy said when he announced her as his running mate in March. He called her a “fierce warrior mom” who “overcame every daunting obstacle and went on to achieve the highest levels of the American dream.”

A Yoga Festival

On the campaign trail, Ms. Shanahan, who grew up in Oakland, Calif., has said she knew what it was like to be “one misfortune away from disaster. ”

Her father, Shawn Shanahan, couldn’t hold down a job, was diagnosed with bipolar schizophrenia when she was 9 years old and died in 2014, she has said. Her family struggled, Ms. Shanahan has said, needing food stamps and government assistance.

Ms. Shanahan obtained an athletic scholarship to attend Saint Mary’s College High School, a private Catholic school in Berkeley, Calif., according to the Kennedy campaign website. The school, which charges about $24,000 a year for tuition, confirmed that Ms. Shanahan had been a student but said it had never offered scholarships. Ms. Shanahan received some tuition assistance, the school said, but it declined to say how much.

Ms. Shanahan graduated from the University of Puget Sound in 2007, working at a Seattle law firm around the same time. She later worked at RPX, a patent firm, and in 2013, she founded ClearAccess IP, a patent tech company, according to her LinkedIn profile. She completed a law degree at the Santa Clara University School of Law in 2014.

Adam Philipp, the founder and managing partner of Aeon Law, the Seattle law firm where Ms. Shanahan worked, said he was impressed when she applied to be a paralegal in 2006. “She had a willingness to learn and an abundance of common sense,” he said.

In 2011, Ms. Shanahan began dating Mr. Kranz, a tech investor in San Francisco. She told people that she had converted to Judaism during that time for the relationship. Mr. Kranz bought a $2.7 million penthouse with views of San Francisco about a month before their wedding in August 2014, according to property records.

That July, Ms. Shanahan met Mr. Brin at a yoga festival in Lake Tahoe, Calif., four people with knowledge of the events said. He had recently separated from Anne Wojcicki, his wife at the time. Mr. Brin and Ms. Shanahan embarked on an affair weeks before her wedding to Mr. Kranz, the people said.

Mr. Kranz discovered the relationship several days after he married Ms. Shanahan when he saw texts between her and Mr. Brin on her phone, they said. He filed to annul the marriage 27 days after the wedding, court records show.

Mr. Kranz planned to list fraud as a reason for the annulment, the people said. But Ms. Shanahan was concerned that a fraud claim would jeopardize her ability to practice law. While negotiating with Mr. Kranz about their split, she threatened to harm herself, three people said.

Instead of an annulment, Mr. Kranz agreed to a divorce without making a fraud claim. As part of their settlement, Ms. Shanahan was required to remove any evidence of Mr. Kranz from her social media accounts and pay him $20,000 in partial wedding costs and legal fees, court records show. Mr. Kranz did not respond to a request for comment.

In an interview with People magazine last year, Ms. Shanahan said she started dating Mr. Brin in 2015. She recounted wandering Stanford University’s campus with the billionaire and discussing quantum physics.

“I was living in a fairy tale,” she said. “It was magical.”

Becoming a Philanthropist

Mr. Brin became Ms. Shanahan’s entryway to the tech industry’s upper echelons. The couple traveled the world, took trips on Mr. Brin’s yachts and stayed in the most elite camps at Burning Man, the countercultural annual festival in the Nevada desert.

They married in 2018 and had a daughter, Echo, that same year. They owned properties in Lake Tahoe; Los Altos, Calif.; Montana; and Malibu, Calif., where Ms. Shanahan now spends much of her time.

In 2019, Ms. Shanahan began building a foundation, Bia-Echo, named for her daughter, that focuses on criminal justice and fertility longevity. (Ms. Shanahan has said she struggled to become pregnant.) She used more than $20 million from Mr. Brin for the effort, according to tax documents.

To raise her profile, Ms. Shanahan hired Matthew Hiltzik, a publicist who has worked with Katie Couric and other high-profile women. Her goal was to become a famous philanthropist like MacKenzie Scott, the former wife of the Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, four people familiar with Ms. Shanahan’s plans said.

In 2020, Ms. Shanahan sold ClearAccess IP to IPwe, a patent technology firm, in exchange for IPwe stock that was valued at more than $10 million, two people familiar with the deal said. IPwe filed for bankruptcy this year.

Around the time of the sale, Ms. Shanahan and Mr. Brin learned that Echo was autistic. Ms. Shanahan has said the diagnosis made her question the use of childhood vaccines. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says childhood vaccines are safe.

In 2021, she paid more than $200,000 for a lifestyle photographer to take her photos for a San Francisco Magazine article called “Nicole Shanahan Is Fighting the Good Fight,” according to documents viewed by The Times. Ms. Shanahan was photographed in the country with horses, talking about her goals of creating a healthy and livable planet.

In the article, Ms. Shanahan said she had been sexually assaulted by an unnamed male co-worker while working for RPX. The episode caused her to sink into a severe depression and ultimately give up law, she said.

Daniel McCurdy, the chief executive of RPX, said in a statement that the company hadn’t been informed of the claim before the article was published, and that it had engaged a law firm to conduct an investigation. It was inconclusive, he said.

A Marriage Crumbles

Mr. Brin and Ms. Shanahan found the coronavirus pandemic lockdowns challenging, three people close to the couple said. Among other things, they struggled with their daughter’s autism diagnosis, the people said.

Ms. Shanahan began going out more without Mr. Brin, according to five people and documents viewed by The Times. At a party in early 2021 in Miami, Ms. Shanahan was so intoxicated by drugs and alcohol that she required an IV infusion, the documents show.

That fall, Ms. Shanahan threw a Studio 54-themed birthday party for herself at a New York club. Mr. Musk, a longtime friend of Mr. Brin’s, attended. In December 2021, Ms. Shanahan saw Mr. Musk again at a private party in Miami that his brother, Kimbal Musk, was hosting in connection with the Art Basel festival.

At that party, Elon Musk and Ms. Shanahan took ketamine, a popular party drug that is legal with a prescription, and disappeared together for several hours, according to four people briefed on the event and documents related to it. Ms. Shanahan later told Mr. Brin that she had had sex with Mr. Musk, three of the people said. She also relayed the details to friends, family and advisers.

Mr. Brin and Ms. Shanahan separated about two weeks after the party, and he filed for divorce the next year, citing “irreconcilable differences,” according to court documents.

In 2022, The Wall Street Journal reported Ms. Shanahan’s encounter with Mr. Musk. Mr. Musk and Ms. Shanahan have denied an affair.

In her interview with People last year, Ms. Shanahan said she and Mr. Musk had been talking about her daughter’s autism treatment that night. She also said it was humiliating to be known for a sexual act and called a cheater.

Ms. Shanahan and Mr. Brin took nearly 18 months to reach a divorce settlement, according to court records. During that time, she threatened to harm herself, two people briefed on the matter said. Their divorce became final last year.

Into Politics

For years, Ms. Shanahan donated to Democrats, according to donor filings. In 2020, she gave $25,000 to a political action committee backing President Biden. Then last year, she gave $6,600 to Mr. Kennedy — the maximum allowed for an individual contributor — when he was running as a Democrat for the presidential nomination.

In her February interview with The Times, Ms. Shanahan said she had initially been disappointed when Mr. Kennedy announced that he would run as an independent. But she began to pour money into his campaign, including the Super Bowl ad, which showed images of Mr. Kennedy superimposed on those of the 1960 presidential campaign of his uncle John F. Kennedy. At the time, Ms. Shanahan had spoken to Mr. Kennedy once and had never met him, she said.

In March, Ms. Shanahan and her new partner, Jacob Strumwasser, met Mr. Kennedy and his wife, Cheryl Hines, for dinner. During the meal, Mr. Strumwasser, who has worked in the crypto industry, suggested Ms. Shanahan for the vice president’s job, she said in a podcast this month with Sage Steele, a former ESPN anchor. Mr. Kennedy liked Ms. Shanahan’s story, people familiar with the campaign said.

In recent weeks, Ms. Shanahan has largely scrubbed her social media feeds, two people familiar with her and the Kennedy campaign said. Her social accounts are now populated with shots of herself without makeup at a farmers’ market as well as wearing Western gear and posing with rifles in Texas with Mr. Strumwasser. In the past, her feeds showed her dressed up for high-end events and posing for selfies.

Ms. Shanahan began attending campaign events with Mr. Kennedy this month. At a fund-raiser in Nashville last week, she announced that she had given another $8 million to the campaign and said, “I think I know what they’re going to say — they’re going to say Bobby only picked me for my money.”

Her remark drew laughter from the crowd.

Rebecca Davis O’Brien contributed reporting. Kitty Bennett contributed research.

Kirsten Grind is an investigative business reporter writing stories about companies, chief executives and billionaires across Silicon Valley and the technology industry. More about Kirsten Grind