When you’re in high school or college, figuring out how you’re going to pay for your college education can feel overwhelming. While savings and financial aid can help, there’s another important resource that’s often overlooked: scholarships. The application process for many scholarships requires an essay. Often, this essay is your only chance to show why you’re the right candidate. Once you find a scholarship you want to apply for, follow the steps below to create a winning essay that authentically tells your story.
Phase 1: Planning
“When you fail to plan, you plan to fail.” This saying couldn’t be more true when it comes to writing scholarship essays and personal statements. Many students dive straight into writing without any real preparation, and that often shows in the final product. Before you even put your fingers to the keyboard, you must first take a step back and set yourself up for success.
1. Read the requirements
Reading through requirements and following the instructions might seem like an obvious scholarship tip. However, you’d be surprised at how many applicants skip over this step. Even with an outstanding essay, your submission may not be considered if you fail to meet the rest of the criteria. Scholarship committees often enforce their rules and requirements strictly, so it’s wise to be cautious.
Some key criteria to watch for include minimum GPA, class year, age, financial need, field of study, and career goals. Some scholarships even focus on weird hobbies or strange characteristics, such as being exceptionally tall! Always pay close attention to instructions regarding document formatting, word count, and other specific details.
2. Understand the prompt
When it comes to scholarships, there is a wide variety of prompts, and many of them can appear to be very similar. That’s why it’s important to make sure you fully understand the prompt and what it’s asking. For example, one scholarship opportunity may ask you to describe a challenge you've overcome. Another may ask you to describe the challenge and how it changed your perspective on life. While they sound similar, your answers to these prompts should be distinct.
If a scholarship essay prompt asks specifically for one example, don’t list multiple instances. It’s also not always wise to use one of your previously-written essays to fit a different prompt, even if it requires a lot less effort than writing a new essay. Furthermore, certain prompts may also have a specified word count, so be sure to adhere to that limit. Taking the time to understand the prompt (and all its parts) can make a big difference in the quality of your essay.
3. Give yourself enough time
Waiting until the last minute to work on your essays could negatively impact the quality of your writing. You need time to explore any scholarships that interest you and think about topics that align with the essay prompt(s). Starting your preparation early will allow you more time to research the prompt and the organization offering the scholarship.
It may help to create an electronic calendar with all of your scholarship deadlines, along with their requirements. With your calendar or spreadsheet, you can keep track of your prompts, ideas, and deadlines all in one place! If you prefer to physically write your tasks down, designate a notebook exclusively for your scholarship application details. With this method, you’ll avoid procrastination and ensure you submit on time.
4. Know your audience
When writing your essay, it’s important to know who you are writing for. The scholarship committee could be a diverse group, such as college admissions staff, local business owners, school board members, corporate employees, or teachers. Some committees might appreciate a more formal tone, while others may prefer a more personal and heartfelt narrative. Look at the scholarship organization's mission statement and website to gather clues about their values. You could also search for previous winner announcements to get insight into the favorable tone.
It’s a good idea to write as though you are a match for their scholarship. However, avoid becoming overly focused on writing exactly what you think they want to read. It’s essential to maintain your authentic voice and personality rather than conforming to match the ideal candidate. Use your strengths, experience, interests, and qualifications to stand out from other applicants.
5. Start brainstorming
When applying for a scholarship that requires essay writing, you will likely be given one prompt or a selection of prompts to choose from. Your chosen topic could make or break your chances for winning the scholarship. Depending on the scholarship, you may have a creative writing prompt, for example, “What ice cream flavor are you?” or “How would you try to survive a zombie apocalypse?”
To address these kinds of prompts, brainstorm unique answers and unconventional solutions. There may be hundreds of applicants with the same ideas; try not to be one of them. Instead, think outside the box and let your personality shine through. When tackling a creative prompt, consider what makes you unique. Perhaps your favorite ice cream flavor is inspired by a family tradition. Maybe your zombie survival plan involves the innovative use of everyday items. Use vivid imagery and personal anecdotes to make your essay memorable.
6. Create an outline
Once you’ve brainstormed your ideas, chosen your topic, and gathered your details, it’s time to create an outline. An outline is a great tool that can help you organize your thoughts and ideas about your essay topic. You can easily order your paper and highlight any key points you want to include with an outline.
This typically involves a clearly defined introduction, body paragraphs, and conclusion. A well-structured essay not only showcases your writing skills, but also your ability to follow directions and present ideas clearly and effectively. This attention to detail can set your application apart and leave a lasting impression on the evaluators.
Phase 2: Writing
After all the preparation, you’re ready to start getting your thoughts on the page. Writing is an art, but it’s also a skill you can practice and hone over time. No matter how many drafts it takes you to write the perfect essay, make sure you’re keeping the prompt in mind.
7. Start off strong
The scholarship committee may read dozens of essays in a short amount of time. Make sure they are captivated by the first couple sentences of your essay. Starting with a personal story or unexpected statistic can draw readers in immediately. You can begin your essay with a question like, “What if I told you that a single moment can define the path of your entire life?” You could also try a captivating line like, “My first chemistry lab explosion taught me more about perseverance than any textbook.” These hooks encourage reflection and curiosity.
Other effective hooks include a relevant quote, an engaging story, or addressing a common misconception. Incorporating any of these elements into your introduction can grab the attention of the reader quickly, so that they feel compelled to keep reading. By tying your introduction back into your conclusion, you create a piece that feels cohesive, and has the potential to resonate with readers long after they’ve finished reading.
8. Create your first draft
When you begin writing, it’s okay to let your thoughts flow freely. Some sentences may be jumbled and unclear at first, but you can always refine them later. Remember to stick to a structure that is easy to follow and understand. Begin with an interesting introduction, followed by detailed body paragraphs, and a well-thought out conclusion. Using transition sentences between paragraphs will help maintain the flow of ideas.
If you’re working with a tight word count, don’t take up too much time on your introduction or conclusion. The rest of your application form will ask for your name, college, and other information, so you may not need to include those details in your essay either. You can come back to your first draft as many times as you need.
9. Make it personal
During your writing, you shouldn’t be afraid to make your essay personal. Using real-life examples can help the scholarship committee understand and relate to your story better. Be sure to tell your story clearly, but also creatively. Especially with a creative writing prompt, you have permission to think outside the box, as long as you answer all parts of the question.
By thinking of new ways to tell your unique story, you will distinguish yourself from the many other applicants. Don’t forget that committees want to award real students who have authentic voices. They don’t want flawless essays that lack emotion, such as the ones you get when using a chatbot.
10. Keep the tone inspirational and positive
There may be scholarship opportunities that allow you to decide your own topic. This could be anything from telling a story about a personal experience to describing your role model. Avoid topics that are not relatable, uninteresting, or focus on negativity. While it's acceptable to touch on your challenges, try not to dwell on only the negative experiences.
Keep your tone positive, even if it may seem difficult to do so when writing about sensitive topics. For example, if you're discussing a challenge you've faced, you could focus on the strengths you discovered within yourself or the unexpected opportunities that arose from that situation. Vulnerability can be powerful when paired with growth. Just try to ensure that the overall message is positive, resilient, and hopeful.
11. Be clear and concise
Just like the best articles, blog posts, and essays, your writing should be clear and concise. Try not to use filler words or long-winded explanations that don’t really have a point. For instance, instead of saying, “due to inclement meteorological conditions,” simply state “because it rained.” You want to talk like a human. Simple and clear words beat eloquent but hard-to-understand phrases every time.
Furthermore, shorter sentences often deliver a stronger impact than long-winded ones. You can read your essay aloud to catch rambling or repetition. This practice will help you identify areas where you may have strayed off-topic or used unnecessary words. Additionally, ensure you have a strong thesis statement to guide your essay. This will serve as the foundation for your main argument and provide clarity to the readers.
Phase 3: Editing
Your essay will rarely be perfect the first time. You can polish up your writing by asking a parent or peer for feedback then making edits. By allowing time in the scholarship application process for revisions, you can transform your first draft into a polished piece that engages your readers effectively.
12. Proofread
Before completing and submitting your scholarship essay and application, always proofread it. Check for grammar and spelling mistakes. Errors in your work could distract the scholarship committee from the core meaning behind your essay. You wouldn’t want your outstanding scholarship essay to be excluded due to a few out-of-place commas or misspelled words.
Proofreading is also your last chance to double-check your content. Make sure to stay focused on the essay prompt. If your work doesn’t follow the prompt, your application could be tossed out immediately. Print out your essay, do a backwards read (start from the last sentence), or read it aloud to catch remaining errors.
13. Ask for help
After you have thoroughly read through your essay and made any corrections, ask for someone else to take a look at it. This could be a family member, teacher, tutor, writing center guide, guidance counselor, or a friend. A second pair of eyes will almost always help you to find any mistakes you may have overlooked. Print out the essay or share a separate digital copy of your essay with your reviewer. This way, you have the option to incorporate the feedback as you see fit.
A fresh perspective can also highlight areas where your arguments might be unclear or your story is underdeveloped. Constructive criticism doesn’t have to be a bad thing. Think of it as an opportunity to enhance the quality of your essay and improve your chance of winning. After all, writing is a process that thrives on collaboration and feedback.
14. Revise and refine
Once you've gathered feedback, take some time to reflect on the suggestions. You don’t have to include all of the suggestions from others. Consider which ones resonate with your vision for the piece and how they might be incorporated to strengthen your essay.
Finally, after making these improvements, read your essay one more time. Pay attention to the flow, coherence, and overall impact of your words. When you're satisfied with the final product, you'll have a polished essay and a piece that represents your best effort. Wait a day or two before submitting your essay, as fresh eyes and time away can help you make sure it’s perfect.
Writing scholarship essays can be challenging at times. For high school and college students, the process of searching for scholarships, writing essays, reviewing them, and submitting the applications can be quite time-consuming. That is why you must start early and find scholarships that fit you. Use CollegeData’s Scholarship Finder to tailor your search to specific criteria to find scholarships that you qualify for.
Your story matters; take the time to tell it well. Allow yourself enough time to apply, meet all the requirements, and share your unique story. By doing so, you’ll increase your chance of receiving scholarships to put toward your undergraduate or graduate studies (and reduce the amount of student loan debt you have to pay off in the future).
