After I found the right approach to picking scholarships, I used this method and was awarded for everyone that I applied for. It’s not a one-size-fits all strategy, but it is a one-size-fits most.
Don’t Tell a Sob Story in Your Scholarship Essay
While some scholarship essays will give you very specific and unique prompts, most of them come down to two basic questions:
“Why do you need this money?” and “Why should we give it to you?”
When presented with these questions, it can be very tempting to write the saddest sob story you’ve got. There are two reasons you shouldn’t do this.
The first is that someone will always have a sadder sob story than your own. Trying to compete in this way is almost always futile.
The second is that while your story may stir up some empathy, that empathy may not be enough to answer the second question. When someone considers awarding someone a large sum of money, they want to see the merit of the person. Horrible things that have happened to you are just that: things that have happened to you. Show them instead how you have built skills to be able to deal with difficult situations.
Do Use Your Scholarship Essay to Highlight Your Strengths
To begin, think of some adversity or hard decision you have experienced in your life. Brainstorm a few, as the hardest thing you’ve ever dealt with may not be the best thing to write about relative to the question or prompt.
To decide which experience is the best one for your essay, ask yourself, “How did I react? Did my reaction turn the situation around to end on a positive note or make my story one of triumph rather than tragedy?“
Now make sure you can take that experience and turn it into an anecdote. Stories make for a much more fun read for those reviewing essays.
Tie Your Story Back to the Prompt
Once you have your first draft of your anecdote, highlighting the characteristics and qualities that have made you successful, make sure to tie it back to the prompt.
Briefly cover why you need the money. You may have bills, children, a mortgage, or simply tuition rates that are outside of your economic capabilities.
Then remind the reader why you deserve that scholarship money. Reiterate the characteristics you displayed in your anecdote that will make their investment in you a good one.
Perhaps you’ll use your empathy in the world of medicine.
Perhaps you’ll use your motivation to achieve highest honors while in school.
Perhaps you’ll use your perseverance to apply for scholarships rather than just give up and say, “I can’t afford college.”
Revise Your Essay
Now that you have your entire scholarship essay written, go back and revise it. Make sure there are no grammatical errors. Make sure it makes sense. Make sure it flows well. Get someone else who will be honest with you to proofread it before sending it in.
Don’t Tell a Sob Story in Your Scholarship Essay
While some scholarship essays will give you very specific and unique prompts, most of them come down to two basic questions:
“Why do you need this money?” and “Why should we give it to you?”
When presented with these questions, it can be very tempting to write the saddest sob story you’ve got. There are two reasons you shouldn’t do this.
The first is that someone will always have a sadder sob story than your own. Trying to compete in this way is almost always futile.
The second is that while your story may stir up some empathy, that empathy may not be enough to answer the second question. When someone considers awarding someone a large sum of money, they want to see the merit of the person. Horrible things that have happened to you are just that: things that have happened to you. Show them instead how you have built skills to be able to deal with difficult situations.
Do Use Your Scholarship Essay to Highlight Your Strengths
To begin, think of some adversity or hard decision you have experienced in your life. Brainstorm a few, as the hardest thing you’ve ever dealt with may not be the best thing to write about relative to the question or prompt.
To decide which experience is the best one for your essay, ask yourself, “How did I react? Did my reaction turn the situation around to end on a positive note or make my story one of triumph rather than tragedy?“
Now make sure you can take that experience and turn it into an anecdote. Stories make for a much more fun read for those reviewing essays.
Tie Your Story Back to the Prompt
Once you have your first draft of your anecdote, highlighting the characteristics and qualities that have made you successful, make sure to tie it back to the prompt.
Briefly cover why you need the money. You may have bills, children, a mortgage, or simply tuition rates that are outside of your economic capabilities.
Then remind the reader why you deserve that scholarship money. Reiterate the characteristics you displayed in your anecdote that will make their investment in you a good one.
Perhaps you’ll use your empathy in the world of medicine.
Perhaps you’ll use your motivation to achieve highest honors while in school.
Perhaps you’ll use your perseverance to apply for scholarships rather than just give up and say, “I can’t afford college.”
Revise Your Essay
Now that you have your entire scholarship essay written, go back and revise it. Make sure there are no grammatical errors. Make sure it makes sense. Make sure it flows well. Get someone else who will be honest with you to proofread it before sending it in.
DISCLAIMER
This blog is written for entertainment purposes only. I am not a financial professional in any way shape or form. The information that is found here are my opinions and the opinions of other readers and should not be taken as financial advice. I try to only post about things I think will be helpful to my readers and have experience with, but anything that happens as a result of you using the information provided is your responsibility alone.
This blog is written for entertainment purposes only. I am not a financial professional in any way shape or form. The information that is found here are my opinions and the opinions of other readers and should not be taken as financial advice. I try to only post about things I think will be helpful to my readers and have experience with, but anything that happens as a result of you using the information provided is your responsibility alone.
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