What is a scholarship essay?

  •  A scholarship essay requires a student to reflect on themselves and their life’s accomplishments. The focus should be on informing the donor or scholarship committee of the students’ unique achievements, plans for the future, and how the scholarship impacts the student. From the essay, scholarship reviewers should understand what sets you apart from other applicants.

Questions to think about:

  • Who: Who are you? (Give a brief background about yourself) What about me stands apart from others?
  • What: What are you passionate about? What skills do you have (academics, leadership, volunteerism, extracurricular activities, etc.)? What are your achievements? What experiences have shaped you into who you are today?
  • When: When did you become inspired about your future goals?
  • Why: Why should someone give you a scholarship? Why did you choose your field of study?
  • How: How does everything you have accomplished come together to further your future? How will this scholarship help you further your education? How will you capture the attention of those reading your essay?

Tip for writing your essay:

  • Include specific information. You want the reader to remember who you are when they finish reading other scholarship essays. Remember, to be terrific, you must be specific!
  • Organize your thoughts to produce an easy that flows nicely.
  • Focus on creating an essay that captures your essence. Do not get so caught up in a part of your essay that it loses focus on other areas that are also important.

How to review your essay before submission:

  • Write your essay in Microsoft Word. Complete a spell and grammar check.
  • Read your essay aloud to check for errors. This will also help ensure that your essay flows nicely.
  • Give your essay to a parent, guardian, teacher, or any adult in your life to review.
  • Double check your essay, make changes, and give a final review!