10 Steps to Writing the Perfect Scholarship Essay
Editor’s Note: This blog post has been written and published on the myBlueprint blog on behalf of GrantMe. Visit grantme.ca to learn more.
If you need extra money to pay for your education, you’ll probably need to apply for a number of scholarships. A strong scholarship essay may help the scholarship provider understand the true person behind the application and can be the difference between winning and losing the grant (assuming you meet the other scholarship criteria).
In terms of strategy, scholarship essays are fairly similar to college application essays. Many scholarship applicants likely have similar grades, test scores, and goals: the essay is your opportunity to really stand out!
Lost on what you can do to write a winning essay? Follow these 10 steps on how to write a successful scholarship essay that could help fund your post-secondary finances! Would rather watch a video? Here’s a video guide!
- Start the Essay Writing Process Early, and Do Your Research.
Allow lots of time to come up with a well-thought-out submission. Take the same amount of time as you would for any other essay writing project in English class to brainstorm ideas, construct an outline, and revise your submission.
Each scholarship provider is looking for students who meet certain criteria. Consider writing about an experience or interest that highlights strong ties to the organization’s mission. Do your research on the scholarship company and try to align their values with your essay points accordingly! Genuine passion and enthusiasm for your topic will show through in your essay writing.
Did you know? Scholarship letters are a little different than scholarship essays, learn the difference here!
2. Follow the Essay Instructions
Nothing turns away a scholarship essay reader faster than a paper that doesn’t match the contest’s requirements. Don’t go under the word limit. Don’t go above the word limit. There’s a lot of money on the line, so be sure you give them what they want!
Make sure to follow all of the necessary steps and review them before submitting your scholarship essay. Some of the brightest students have missed out on the chance to earn scholarship dollars all because they neglected to follow instructions. You don’t want to fall into that category!
3. Hook the Reader From The Start.
Never underestimate the power of a strong introduction. Look at these two examples of introductory lines. Can you spot the difference?
- Example #1: “Leadership skills are important in my life for many reasons.”
- Example #2: “November 12, 2013, was the day I lost everything.”
Example #1 is generic, impersonal, and uninteresting. However, example #2 is unique, personal, and fascinating. It piques the reader’s attention and leaves them wanting more.
Hit the ground running in your first sentence. This will help your scholarship essay stand out from the pack!
4. Re-adjust and Re-use Your Scholarship Essays.
Don’t waste time writing multiple essays for each scholarship competition you apply to. There are several scholarship opportunities available, and essay themes frequently overlap. One scholarship essay may be tailored to suit the requirements of multiple different competitions with just a little modification. So recycle your essays as much as possible!
5. Always Try to Give The Reader a Story They Won’t Expect.
Imagine that the essay prompt is this: “Who in your life has had the biggest influence on you and why?” Don’t automatically write about your mother or father — chances are, everyone else probably will do that! Maybe someone like Stephen Hawking or Superman has had the biggest influence in your life. It may not be 100% traditional, but it’s more personalized and, therefore, more interesting.
You’ll want to give the reader a unique story that shares something about who you are. Don’t be afraid to get personal. This is your chance to elaborate on yourself, especially if elsewhere on your application you haven’t had the opportunity to do so. Telling your story makes an essay genuine and ultimately more memorable to the scholarship committee.
6. Have a Point!
Make sure your scholarship essay contains a single coherent assertion, or thesis, at its core. Your thesis may be thought of as a one-sentence response to the essay question.
Let’s assume the essay topic is, “Can you tell me about a period in your life when you took a risk?” Your thesis would be: “A moment in my life when I took a risk was when I travelled across the country all by myself.”
This remark would be supported and expanded upon in your scholarship essay!
7. Check Your Essay for Spelling Errors and Grammar Mistakes.
Scholarship committees do notice grammar mistakes. Even tiny errors can distract a reader from your overall message. Scholarship judges have plenty of essays to read; they are looking for any good enough reason to kick one out of a big pile if it makes their job easier. Don’t give them a reason to reject yours because of spelling mistakes that could be resolved with a final read-through!
Before you submit your application make sure you take the time to proofread your essay from beginning to end.
8. Seek out Writing Advice and Feedback.
Asking teachers, counsellors, family members, or trustworthy friends for feedback on your essay will result in a better final product!
Have another person look over your essay once you’ve finished. Make sure they are a reliable source for writing essays and don’t be afraid to apply their constructive feedback to your writing.
9. Care About What You’re Writing.
Readers can sense when you have a genuine emotional investment in your scholarship essay. When you don’t, your essay is sure to be one that fades into the background of other applicants.
Don’t write about what you think you should write about; write about what interests you and what you care about! Indulge in your passions, and let your personality shine through your writing.
10. Avoid Redundant Conclusions.
Keep your essay conclusions interesting instead of simply rephrasing — or worse, restating — your original thesis. Your conclusion should explain why the rest of your essay was important — it should answer the question, “So what?”
Ending with a powerful conclusion can really set you apart from the other scholarship applicants. Make sure you summarize the main points of your essay and end it with a personal touch or phrase that is meaningful to you and the values you share with the scholarship organization!
Now you hopefully know more about how to write a scholarship essay. Remember to take a break when you’re tired, but don’t give up! There are dozens of scholarships out there with your name on it. Good luck!
Have you checked your myBlueprint account for Scholarship Opportunities?
If your school uses myBlueprint, you already have access to a number of scholarships where you can submit your newly polished scholarship essay!
During the 2020–2021 school year, myBlueprint and partners like Scotiabank and the Canadian Scholarship Trust Fund gave away over $200,000 in scholarship awards to Canadian students.
How can you access scholarships available through myBlueprint?
- Log in to your myBlueprint student account
- From the Tasks menu, select the Scholarships tab
- Apply to the scholarships applicable to you!
For the 2021–2022 school year, myBlueprint is set to launch multiple scholarships so don’t forget to check this valuable scholarship resource!
