Key Takeaways:
- Scholarship applications have become more competitive with the reduced number of available scholarships and steep competition (1/8th acceptance rate).
- With hundreds of applicants vying for limited grants, scholarship applications can make or break your chances of success as early as the screening committee.
- Scholarship committees cannot (or have a limited time too) read every application; thus, applications should strike a balance between content, intent, and structure.
- Focus on who you are as an individual – but highlight your goals, dreams, and achievements (‘why you?’).
Applying for college can be stressful, but applying for a scholarship to fund that college education is more stressful.
With only a tiny percentage of scholarship applications getting accepted every year (one in eight college students as of 2019) and the steep competition between applicants, creating a scholarship essay that stands out becomes more important than ever.
In this article, I will discuss the state of scholarship grants this 2023, why you should invest in your application letter, tips on how to write a scholarship essay that stands out, and other techniques to help you increase your chances of success.
I. Scholarship Essays – The Hard Truth
Scholarships, despite being available, are getting harder to come by. According to Dr. Imed Bouchrika (2022), Chief Data Scientist of Research.com, “only one in eight college students is awarded a scholarship every year,” which translates to roughly 12.5% of all the applicants despite having 1.5 million scholarships available for both graduate and undergraduate courses in the United States.
Furthermore, “only 0.1% to 0.2% are awarded a full-ride scholarship, while “around 97% only receive $2,500 or less”.
While there are many factors in play, this disparity between the application and coverage of available scholarships and accepted grants suggests the importance of learning how to write a scholarship essay that stands out from the rest.
Furthermore, only 0.1% to 0.2% are awarded a full-ride scholarship, while “around 97% only receive $2,500 or less.
A. Benefits of Writing a Captivating Scholarship Essay
Writing a scholarship essay can be beneficial for reasons other than those already apparent. For starters, a well-written scholarship application letter can help you stand out from other applicants and showcase your unique talents and abilities. It also allows you to express your passions and explain why you’re the best candidate for the scholarship. In other words – free finance (‘what’s more can we want?’).
Nonetheless, some other benefits of writing a scholarship essay, which others need to learn, are that it can also help you build your writing skills. Since scholarship essays are similar to Grant writing, it’s a great way to practice your writing skills and develop your professional writing style that can persuade others. Plus, it can help you get used to writing under pressure and ensure you’re prepared for college-level writing.
Finally, writing a scholarship essay can help you hone your research skills. It’s not a secret that research is a necessary preparatory process to give you an edge over others even before you start writing.
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II. How to Write a Good Scholarship Essay that Stands Out
Gabrielle McCormick, founder of Student Insider’s Guide (SIG) and the author of “C-Students Get Scholarships, A-Students Don’t: Learn How To Get Scholarships To Pay For College,” once said that “If you’ve really done the work. I mean, did the work…submit it. If not, do what you need to do. Point. Blank. Period.”
Writing an excellent admission essay that would set you out from the rest should be invested a lot of time and effort in research, planning, writing, and even polishing, among others.
However, not all effort is considered as “productive effort.” Most of the time, an unskilled writer could spend hours writing an admission essay only to find that an expert writer could do better in just a few minutes. This is why guides like this are written and made to make that process easier, better, and more cost-efficient.
A. Scholarship Essay Format
When writing a scholarship essay, using the right format is also as important as having the perfect content. The word ‘may’ in this case was used since various scholarship grants, and committees may have varying standards. In my own experience, for example, some science- and engineering-related programs are strict with their prescribed format considering the nature of the field.
Nonetheless, the standard structure for scholarship essays is usually a five-paragraph essay. This consists of an introduction, three body paragraphs, and a conclusion.
1. Introduction
In the introduction, most experts would tell you that you should introduce yourself and explain why you’re applying for the scholarship.
While this is true, this advice is usually too generic and vague that it fails to help create a scholarship essay that stands out from the rest. Thus, we provided a more detailed and action-oriented approach in the section below entitled How to Start a Scholarship Essay?
2. Body paragraphs
Subsequently, the three body paragraphs should each focus on a different point of your essay. For example, one paragraph could focus on your academic achievements, one could focus on your extracurricular activities, and one could focus on your volunteer experience. We’ve provided a scholarship essay sample below, which you can use to help structure your body paragraphs.
3. Conclusion
Finally, the conclusion should summarize the main points of your essay and explain why you deserve the scholarship. However, for greater chances of success, this is also the point where you should either end it interestingly or provide a strong (and irresistible) call to action.
How Long Should a Scholarship Essay Be?
Most scholarship essays are usually between 500 and 1,000 words. You should write between 500 and 1,000 words in your essay. You should also follow the instructions provided by the scholarship committee. Some scholarships may require a shorter or longer essay, so read the instructions carefully.
B. How to Start a Scholarship Essay?
As said earlier, a scholarship essay is simply a personal statement that explains why you’re the best among hundreds of other candidates for the scholarship. However, with the number of candidates vying for the same spot, your application should already capture the reader’s attention from the get-go.
Studies show that the best way to start a scholarship essay is to write using a distinctive (or creative) yet professional and coherent style that highlights your aspirations and personality as the potential grantee of the scholarship.
Thus, try to make it unique but relate it to your difficulties, personal experiences, and other things which make you ‘you.’ Please take the following scholarship essay introduction (as written by an AOS associate), which successfully helped a student get a full-ride scholarship at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology for his engineering degree.
A house built on the land is no better than one built on sand if it does not have a solid stand. As an immigrant here in the land of the free, these were one of the earliest things I learned as I worked with my father and financed myself through my educational journey.
Notice from the scholarship introduction presented above the following vital points:
- A strong, unique, and personal opening statement.
- A transition that highlights his personal experience and personal difficulties.
- A subtle emphasis on his hard work and dedication to reach his dreams.
By doing these, you immediately set yourself different from the rest of the candidates by increasing engagement and wanting them to read more.
Now that you have ‘captured’ the readers’ attention start by introducing yourself and why you’re applying for the scholarship. Make sure to include any relevant background information, such as your academic achievements, extracurricular activities, and volunteer experience. This will show the reader why you’re the best candidate for the scholarship.
Avoid using ‘quotes’ when starting your scholarship application. Remember that you are trying to make the reader know more about you, which redirects their attention with quotes.
Similarly, note that scholarship essays these good tips also apply to high school or college students who are trying to earn money to pay for their education. Again, aim for an introduction highlighting the student’s goals, dreams, and accomplishments interestingly and engagingly.
III. How to Write a Scholarship Essay About Why You Deserve the Scholarship
In my years of experience being part of screening committees and evaluating the candidates’ works, I can attest that the foremost question that lingers within any of the committee’s mind is, “amongst dozens of candidates, why are you the one deserving?”
Thus, keep this thought in mind when writing a scholarship essay, whether at the beginning, middle, or end of the process. You should explain why you’re the best candidate and how the scholarship will help you achieve your goals.
As I have said earlier, start by introducing yourself and why you’re applying for the scholarship. Make sure to include any relevant background information, such as your academic achievements, extracurricular activities, and volunteer experience. This will show the reader why you’re the best candidate for the scholarship.
Next, explain why you’re a good fit for the scholarship. Talk about any special skills or qualities that make you a great candidate for the scholarship. This could include your leadership abilities, passion for a specific field, or dedication to making a difference in the world.
Finally, discuss how the scholarship will help you achieve your goals. Explain how the scholarship will help you reach your academic and career goals and how it will impact your life. This will show the reader that you’re serious about using the scholarship to make a positive difference in your life.
Of course, throughout this, always make sure that this information fits the ‘essentials’ you were able to find out during the initial writing process, such as (1) organizational values and (2) the traits, skills, and characteristics sought by the committee.
TIP: Emphasizing your Financial Needs
One of the most common mistakes of inexperienced writers is that they tend to emphasize their financial needs too much in their application letters. Indeed, it is true that the panel is looking for someone with a significant financial need, but they also know that everyone applying for the scholarship is in dire need of cash. So what’s re-stating it again and again?
Instead, it is better to state your financial condition and show how were you able to overcome it before?
This way, you remind them of your financial difficulties but emphasize your knowledge, skillset, and grit, to name a few.
IV. Additional Tips for Writing an Outstanding Application
Writing a great scholarship application can be challenging, but it can be done! Here are some additional tips to help you write an outstanding essay:
1. Start early:
Give yourself plenty of time to write your essay. Starting early will give you more time to brainstorm ideas, research the scholarship, and ensure you have enough time to write and revise your essay. Remember when you argued with someone else, only to realize that you could have used other better arguments?
Similarly, starting early would help you create multiple versions of the essay, with each one better and more concise than the other one.
2. Research and Brainstorm ideas
Another benefit of starting early has the time to brainstorm ideas. Take some time to consider why you’re the best candidate for the scholarship. Think about your experiences, passions, and strengths and how they make you an ideal candidate for the scholarship.
However, note that many people have several achievements, such as being awarded as ‘Most Cleanliest’ in their elementary days. This achievement would not matter in the panel’s decision whether you get a full-ride scholarship to college.
In fact, this may even increase the clutter in your application, so make sure that you also weed out unnecessary information during your brainstorming.
3. Use a clear structure
Make sure to use a clear structure in your essay. As said earlier, there are times when the structure does not matter in choosing the ideal candidate. However, tidying up your essay using a logical flow would make it easier for the reader to follow.
4. Proofread your essay
Always proofread your essay. This is an indispensable step considering that the mere presence of incorrect grammar could create a negative image against you. Thus, make sure to read, read, and re-read your essay before submitting it. Check for any spelling or grammatical errors, and make sure your essay is easy to read.
V. Examples of Scholarship Essays
AOS Essays have plenty of scholarship essay samples. For easy access, however, we’ve already provided a quick sample below, which you can use to help structure your tone and delivery.
Nevertheless, don’t hesitate to contact us if you need more examples of scholarship essays in any field and for any use.
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- Premium Writing Tools
- 24/7 Customer Support
VI. Conclusion
Writing a scholarship essay can be daunting, but it doesn’t have to be. With the proper preparation and helpful tips, you can write an essay that will stand out from the crowd.
Start by introducing yourself and why you’re applying for the scholarship. Then, explain why you’re a good fit for the scholarship and how it will help you achieve your goals. Finally, use a clear structure and proofread your essay before submitting it.
Contact us today to have your scholarship essay checked and increase your chances of success! With the proper guidance and advice, you can write an outstanding scholarship essay to help you stand out from the crowd.
