College Scholarships with Essays: Tips?

Many scholarships I'm looking at require essays as part of the application. I'm curious about what makes a solid scholarship essay. Should I focus on personal stories, achievements, or something else? Any examples would be great too!

Scholarship essays tend to serve a dual purpose. They look at both your writing competency and your ability to thoughtfully respond to the prompt. Here are a few tips to keep in mind:

1. Understand the prompt: First and foremost, take your time to thoroughly understand the essay prompt and identify what it's asking for. Some prompts might emphasize personal growth, others might inquire about your plans for the future, or ask about a significant achievement. You need to cater your essay to directly answer the prompt.

2. Tell a story: Personal narratives often hold the reader's interest better than abstract ideas or lists of achievements. Provided it aligns with the prompt, engage the reader with a meaningful story from your life, detailing the experiences that shaped you.

3. Be original: While it might be tempting to stick with safe topics, remember that scholarship committees read thousands of essays. Original and unique topics or perspectives will help yours stand out. For instance, if the prompt asks about a challenge you've overcome, thinking beyond academic hurdles or sports injuries might make your essay more memorable.

4. Show, don't tell: One common mistake students make is telling the committee their characteristics (e.g., "I'm diligent," or "I'm a team player"). Instead, you should show these traits through your actions or experiences in your story.

5. Proofread: Spelling, grammar, and punctuation are just as important in a scholarship essay as they are in a class essay. Make sure to proofread your final draft a few times or have someone else look it over to catch any lingering errors.

Let me give you an example. If the prompt is something like "Describe a significant challenge you've faced and how you overcame it", one approach would be to tell a story about how you bought a broken-down car with your own money and spent a summer fixing it up. This story could highlight your dedication, resourcefulness, and ability to learn new skills on your own. However, make sure to connect it back to the prompt and articulate why this was a challenge and how you grew from the experience.

Remember that a scholarship essay, much like a college essay, is a chance to let the scholarship committee get to know you beyond your grades and test scores. So use it as an opportunity to showcase who you are and why you deserve the scholarship. Good luck!