Written by Fida
Studying abroad might be a dream for many students, providing an opportunity to expand their horizons. One trajectory to achieve this dream is by scholarship. However, securing this scholarship can be fiercely competitive with hundreds or even thousands of candidates vying for limited funding. Then, how to make scholarship providers choose you? The answer is by making yourself stand out! There are many ways to make yourself stand out and one of them is crafting your compelling essay.
What is a scholarship essay?
Scholarship essay is one of the crucial things and might be the most challenging part in the application process. Unlike ordinary essays, a scholarship essay requires students to answer the prompt question and sell their value at the same time. This is the opportunity to convince the scholarship committee that you are the exact students who deserve this scholarship. Because of that, scholarship essays are also commonly called personalized essays in which the reader can directly recognize what kind of person you are from reading your essay. It allows the scholarship providers to fit the scholarship’s objective with the best students. Now, to ace your scholarship essay, here are the essential steps that you can follow:
Pay Attention and Understand The Essay Prompt
While it may seem trivial, overlooking the essay prompt can affect your chances of selection. Pay attention and thoroughly understand the question prompts. The scholarship providers have their purpose for asking you certain questions, so ensure you respond to all of their questions and ensure your answers align with their objectives.
Don’t Procrastinate and Plan Ahead
It is highly recommended to start preparing well in advance. Once you decide to apply for a scholarship, begin your preparations right away. Early planning allows you to delve deeper into your self-discovery and to think carefully about the answer with the most appropriate response. Consider questions like why you've chosen your current path, what is your true passion, how the scholarship will benefit you, etc. Additionally, if the scholarship has not provided the prompts yet, you can seek the previous prompts to familiarize yourself with the questions, as they often follow similar formats.
Just Write, Then Develop Your Essay
Outline your responses into paragraphs by using essay writing methods. There are some methods that students usually use in writing their essays such as the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) and the PEEL method (Point, Evidence, Explanation, Link). Adjust which methods suit you to result in a great essay. Don't worry about grammar or word choice initially; focus on expressing your thoughts freely to give an overview of the essay. Additionally, avoid simply listing your answers but elaborate on each point. For instance, instead of listing your achievements, you can describe the process, the obstacle, and how you deal with it, and the impact on your personal growth.
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Polish the Essay
Once the essay is complete, it is time to polish your essay. Begin with a hook! The Hook is the opening sentence to grab the reader’s attention to make them keep reading your essay. You can employ various types of hooks, such as thought-provoking questions, impactful statements, statistical data, or quotes from well-known figures. Next, ensure your essay concludes strongly. Summarize the main points of your essay in the conclusion and show your optimism and positive outlook, aligning them with the thesis statement presented in the introduction. Finally, check the grammatical and put diverse vocabularies in the essay.
Proofread
Ask someone to proofread your essay! Is it mandatory to ask someone to proofread? The answer is no. However, seeking someone else's perspective through proofreading is highly recommended. We often overlook our mistakes or shortcomings while writing, convinced of our essay's perfection. Receiving feedback from another person allows us to identify areas for correction and enhance the quality of our essay. You can ask previous scholarship awardees, teachers, or even your peers to ask for their insight about your essay. If external assistance is unavailable, proofread it by yourself by reading it aloud. Sometimes, verbalizing the text helps identify errors.
Revision and Final Correction
Review the feedback received and decide which suggestions to incorporate into your essay. It is acceptable to disregard feedback that doesn't align with your vision since this is your essay and you are the one who knows the right answer. If necessary, repeat the proofreading process and seek additional feedback until you are satisfied with the final draft. Finally, give your essay one last comprehensive read-through. Once you're confident in its quality, you can submit the essay.
Crafting a compelling scholarship essay requires careful preparation, research, and attention to detail. By following these essential steps, you can ace your scholarship essay that effectively communicates your unique qualities and qualifications to stand out among the other candidates.
Reference:
www.checkcity.com. (n.d.). How to Write a Scholarship Essay. [online] Available at: https://www.checkcity.com/get-involved/how-to-write-a-scholarship-essay [Accessed 23 Feb. 2024].
Mailhot, B. (2018). Scholarship Essay Tips to Make Your Application Stand Out. [online] Going Merry. Available at: https://www.goingmerry.com/blog/scholarship-essay-tips/.
www.princetonreview.com. (n.d.). 8 Steps for Writing a Winning Scholarship Essay. [online] Available at: https://www.princetonreview.com/college-advice/scholarship-essays.
www.pierce.ctc.edu. (n.d.). Scholarship Application Essay Tips | Pierce College District. [online] Available at: https://www.pierce.ctc.edu/scholarships-essay-tips.
essaypro.com. (n.d.). How to Write a Scholarship Essay and Unleash Your Unique Narrative. [online] Available at: https://essaypro.com/blog/scholarship-essay#:~:text=Keep%20in%20mind%20that%20a [Accessed 23 Feb. 2024].
Sawyer, E. (2018). College Essay Guy – Get Inspired. [online] College Essay Guy – Get Inspired. Available at: https://www.collegeessayguy.com/blog/scholarship-essay-examples.
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