How To Write A Scholarship Essay

The introduction sets the mood for what is coming up next. Always start with your introduction with a strong opening sentence that hooks the reader. The introduction should indicate what the essay is about and should end with your main thesis or argument.

It is important to have a clear beginning, middle, and end to your essay. They should be written in a way that flows well and is easy to follow. Moreover, in terms of paragraphs, short paragraphs are easier to read than long complicated ones. Readers can get lost easily or bored when reading long paragraphs.

Make sure to read the essay prompt multiple times as it can help understand what the essay is asking for better. Sometimes, the essay prompt may not be very clear. If it is not a question, reframe it as a question as they help to stay focused on the topic. For example, if the prompt is “Reflect on the current state of politics and your role in it as a citizen,” rephrase it as “what is the current state of politics, and how am I directly impacting it?”

Keep going back to the prompt and reading it after every paragraph. This will help you avoid deviating. If you write long sentences and paragraphs, it is easier to get off track. Therefore, avoid meandering and keep your content short and simple.

Research each organization that you are applying to for a scholarship. Make sure to tailor your essay according to their values and mission. This shows that you are actually committed, are serious, and have taken time for the process. However, keep in mind to stay authentic. If the organization’s values differ from yours, then it is best to look up other scholarship opportunities that are more appropriate for you.

Sometimes, you might have a few options to choose from in terms of essay prompts. The best thing to do then is to choose the one that you genuinely enjoy or that has value to you. That way, the essay you will produce will automatically be authentic and will display enthusiasm, knowledge, and dedication.  You would not have to work very hard to produce an excellent scholarship essay.

No matter how much knowledge you have about the essay topic, always try to make it fit the word-, character-, or page count given. You will have to write concisely for this and really plan ahead. You might have to revise your drafts a few times to achieve a clean and crisp essay that is exactly within the limit.

Also, make sure that you are following all the formatting guidelines exactly as they have asked. This may include, but not be limited to, font style and -size, essay structure, and page margins. Different organizations may ask for different file types too  – some may require a docx while others may ask for a PDF. Just make sure to read all the instructions thoroughly so you do not miss anything – read them at least once before starting and also after finishing writing.

Some people like to just start writing and they skip the important step of brainstorming. This may result in more meandering and deviation from the prompt which might cost you the scholarship. The writing process will always go much smoother if you have a road map of where you are headed. After brainstorming, outline the structure of your essay and then start writing.

Your personal original experiences are always enough to gain you any opportunity. Avoid fabricating stories or exaggerating them. The truer you stay while writing, the better your essay will turn out. Also, spotting an exaggeration or invalid detail in an essay is much easier for readers than you think. So, you want to avoid it at all costs and remain honest in your writing.

When you are telling something about yourself, support it with real-life specific examples. Giving real examples makes the essay more interesting and also unique. It gives the reader an in-depth picture and helps them understand things better.

Being concise and clear is also important as it helps make the essay more readable. Even when you give examples, don’t expand them too much. Just write enough to deliver your point. Use simple words and avoid using complicated vocabulary. The purpose of the essay is not to showcase your word knowledge, but to deliver a piece of writing that helps them know who you are and what you are striving for.

This is also helpful as the awarding organization has to read hundreds or thousands of essays and long essays would just mean more reading time for them. So, it’s best to avoid non-essential information. You can have your essay read by a friend and they will be able to give you a reasonable idea of how good your essay looks and if it is reader-friendly.

For more clarity, let’s take an example. If you write ‘’I love to be around nature. It makes me feel really fresh and alive. I sometimes go out for a walk on the beach and enjoy the sounds of the waves and the scenery. I like to hike too as it helps me connect with nature, feel rejuvenated, and enjoy its beauty. I often go out camping too” – this would be considered too wordy. Instead, you could have written, “Whether I am walking on a beach, hiking, or camping, I am rejuvenated by being around nature.” This latter example is much more succinct and to the point.

You do want to express a reasonable amount of enthusiasm in your essay. However, doing so by using too many exclamation marks might actually pull your essay down in terms of quality. Just use a few and use them sparingly.

Writing a scholarship essay is formal writing and it needs to sound professional. Therefore, try to avoid language that is conversational or overly colloquial as it may make you seem unprofessional and immature. Moreover, avoid any sort of emojis and funky fonts.  However, don’t forget to be yourself and remain humble in your writing.

Writing a long thank-you paragraph at the end of your essay is a waste of time and words. Your whole essay should be written in a way that shows your character, integrity, and dedication.  If you want to thank the reader for reading your essay, just do it in a concise way in a sentence or two. You could simply say something like “Thank you for this opportunity and for taking time out to read my essay. I highly appreciate it.”

In case you are not left with any words to include a thank you, you can always write a scholarship thank you letter after you have received the scholarship.

Avoid writing your essay in one sitting. You would want to give yourself time to understand the prompt, think about it, brainstorm ideas, outline, draft, and revise. If you take your time to plan your essay properly, you might have a higher chance of winning for better quality. Try to give yourself at least two weeks for this process.

A scholarship essay requires a personal tone. Use personal pronouns while writing the essay as it is about you. Use words like I, myself, me, and so on. Also, avoid general statements and make the essay more relevant to yourself.

Avoid discussing matters that are controversial and may trigger public disapproval, argument, or disagreement. In case your readers belong to the other side of the debate, you might lose your chance of getting the scholarship.

Inspirational quotes are those that are said by others – they are others’ thoughts and values. A scholarship essay, however, is all about you so it’s best to avoid filling it up with what others have said. Be original and make the essay yours.