What's involved in writing a personal statement for a college scholarship?

Does anyone have tips for crafting a personal statement for a college scholarship? I'm not sure how much personal info to include versus focusing on academic achievements. Some examples of what works and what doesn’t would be helpful!

Writing a personal statement for a college scholarship involves both personal reflection and strategic emphasis on your qualifications. It's about balance - you're trying to show both who you are as an individual and why you deserve the scholarship.

To start, you should focus on the prompt provided by the scholarship organization. Stick strictly to the topic, and make sure you answer all parts of the question. The prompt will give you cues about the balance to strike between personal and academic information.

Balance is key. Picture your statement as a two-sided scale. On the one side, it's important to detail academic achievements and work-related experiences relevant to the scholarship. On the other side, the committee wants to get to know you beyond your GPA or resume. Share your values, motivations, struggles you've overcome, etc.

For instance, if you are applying for a scholarship for future business leaders, you might discuss your time managing a school fundraiser (academic/work) and connect that to your entrepreneurial spirit sparked by your parents' small business (personal).

Make it clear why you deserve that specific scholarship. Don't be shy about your achievements. At the same time, convey passion for your field of study or future career, express your commitment to make the most of the opportunity, and illustrate your potential to make a significant impact.

Finally, provide examples that back up any claims you make about your abilities or accomplishments. Quantify your achievements if possible. Rather than stating you were successful in a club leadership role, give tangible data such as increasing membership by 20% or organizing events that raised 25% more funds than previous years.

A common mistake is to rehash your resume. Don't waste space retelling information available elsewhere in your application. Instead, use the personal statement as an opportunity to tell the story behind those achievements, to showcase who you are and what drives you.

Remember that writing is a process. Draft, revise, get feedback, and revise again. The more effort you put into refining your statement, the stronger it will be. Good luck!