The Scholarship Essay
The essay is your chance to let your personality and life experiences shine through, giving you the opportunity to stand out from other applicants. Not all scholarships require an essay; however, the scholarships that do usually have fewer applicants.
Keep these tips in mind:
1. Tailor your text for your audience or type of award.
2. Begin your essay with an attention grabber.
3. Proofread your essay.
Write a Winning Essay
- Adrians' College Essay Brainstorming ExercisesFive brainstorming exercises that will help you prepare for your application essays.
- Scholarship Essay WorkbookIncludes common application prompts, exercise to identify how to respond to prompts, and two different approaches to structuring your essay.
Articles and Essay examples
By: Gen and Kelly Tanabe
By: Ethan Sawyer, Founder College Essay Guy
By: Brittany Mailhot for goingmerry.com (a free scholarship search platform)
Tips for Writing Essays
Note that not all scholarships require essays, but those that do require often have fewer applicants.
1. Tailor your essay for the audience.
2. Grab the attention of the committee.
3. Avoid negative messages.
4. Use an outline to organize your thoughts.
5. Give examples and be specific.
6. Be passionate and write about something of interest to you.
7. If you have trouble writing, answer the essay question orally and transcribe the recording.
8. Proofread out loud a printed copy of the essay (or ask a friend/instructor).