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How to Start a Scholarship Essay (With Examples)

Will Geiger is the co-founder of Scholarships360 and has a decade of experience in college admissions and financial aid. He is a former Senior Assistant Director of Admissions at Kenyon College where he personally reviewed 10,000 admissions applications and essays. Will also managed the Kenyon College merit scholarship program and served on the financial aid appeals committee. He has also worked as an Associate Director of College Counseling at a high school in New Haven, Connecticut. Will earned his master’s in education from the University of Pennsylvania and received his undergraduate degree in history from Wake Forest University.

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Bill Jack has over a decade of experience in college admissions and financial aid. Since 2008, he has worked at Colby College, Wesleyan University, University of Maine at Farmington, and Bates College.

Maria Geiger is Director of Content at Scholarships360. She is a former online educational technology instructor and adjunct writing instructor. In addition to education reform, Maria’s interests include viewpoint diversity, blended/flipped learning, digital communication, and integrating media/web tools into the curriculum to better facilitate student engagement. Maria earned both a B.A. and an M.A. in English Literature from Monmouth University, an M. Ed. in Education from Monmouth University, and a Virtual Online Teaching Certificate (VOLT) from the University of Pennsylvania.

As an admissions officer, I reviewed thousands of essays for students seeking admission and scholarships. The essay is one of the most important parts of the scholarship application process–a strong essay can go a long way. However, with so much competition, it is important for your scholarship essay to stand out. That’s why it’s important for you to start a scholarship essay off right!

There are some very simple things that you can do to ensure that your essay is engaging from the very first sentence. In fact, beginning your essay with an exciting opening is one of the most important things you can do, because it will immediately distinguish your essay from the others. 

Keep on reading to learn more about how you can nail the very first sentence and start your essay off right!

Engage the reader with the first sentence

No matter what type of essay you are writing, you will want to ensure that the very first line grabs the attention of the reader. One of the biggest mistakes that students make when starting their essay is simply restating the prompt. This is bland and boring. 

Now, you might be wondering, “how do I engage the reader with the very first line of my essay?”. The good news is that there are several ways that you can do this that are very simple to do. 

Related:  How to answer scholarship essay questions about your career goals

Begin with dialogue

First, you could begin your essay with conversation. This can be an interesting and unexpected way to start your scholarship essay. Maybe someone asked you an unexpected question? Perhaps you were having an interesting conversation with a friend or family member? Either way, dialogue can be a powerful tool to start your essay.

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Put the reader in your shoes.

Alternatively, you can choose to start your essay by placing the reader right in your shoes and show them something from your life. Appeal to the senses and show the reader what you see, hear, smell, or taste. These specific details will help your essay come to life and make it even more memorable. 

Also recommended: What’s the best scholarship essay format?

Scholarship essay introduction example

Next,  we’ll look at a specific example of how you can open up your essay. Let’s say you are applying for the Questbridge scholarship program . One of the essays that you will be asked is:

We are interested in learning more about you and the context in which you have grown up, formed your aspirations, and accomplished your academic successes. Please describe the factors and challenges that have most influenced you. How are they shaping your future aspirations?

You might be tempted to rephrase the question and start your essay with something like:

“I have grown up in a rural context and this has formed my aspirations and allowed me to accomplish academic success…”

This is generic and will not engage your reader at all. 

Instead, what if you started off your essay with something like this:

“I look outside my bedroom window and see Henry, my favorite chicken, pecking at something in the dirt.” 

Makes a big difference, right? As a reader, you are probably wondering: why does this person have chickens outside their bedroom window? Why did they name this particular chicken Henry?

See also: Here are our top writing & essay scholarships for students!

Keep the ending of your essay in mind as you write the opening

While crafting your opening, be open to ideas about how to close your essay. There is no need to stress about the ending now, but being mindful of effective ways to end an essay is always a good idea. Say you are opening your scholarship essay with Henry the chicken. Is there a way for Henry to make an impactful appearance at the end of the essay to close things out in a way that perfectly wraps everything up? The key is for the essay ending to be meaningful and memorable for the reader. 

Don’t miss: Our free scholarship search tool

If you can’t think of a “wow” scholarship essay beginning, keep writing!

Sometimes, we know what we want to say, point by point, but we are not ready to be creative when it comes to opening an essay. In that case, keep writing! There is always the option of going back and crafting an engaging opening after your essay is written. Simply write your main idea where the first paragraph would be to guide you as you write. After, go back when your creative juices are flowing, and craft the amazing opening (and closing) that your scholarship essay deserves!

Final thoughts

As shown, there are many questions that we as readers will have after reading an engaging essay opening such as the one just shared; We want to learn more about the student who is writing this essay. After all, as a writer trying to stand out in a pile of essays, that is our main goal. 

We hope that you have a better understanding of how to start a scholarship essay so you can maximize your chances of winning scholarships!

Additional resources

Scholarships360 is the go-to for all things college admissions and scholarships! Wondering how to write a 250 word essay and how to write a 500 word essay ? Curious how to write an essay about yourself ? Wow, do we have the resources to help! Additionally, check out our free scholarship search tool to help you finance your college education. Best of luck to you and your future endeavors! 

Key Takeaways

• The first sentence of the essay is what makes the reader want to continue reading 
• Engage the reader by appealing to the senses
• Create a sense of wonder in your essay, making the reader want to learn more about you
• Keep the ending of the essay in mind as you craft the beginning

Frequently asked questions about how to start a scholarship essay

What is an essay hook, how long should my scholarship essay be.

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How to Write a Scholarship Essay (with Examples)

September 27, 2023

While applying to college, many students are faced with an additional, daunting task: how to write a scholarship essay. Financial need, already a sensitive subject, can become a stressful factor in the process alongside other existential unknowns. Luckily, scholarship essays will not require you to go tiptoeing around the taboo topic of money. Furthermore, most scholarship essay prompts more or less resemble standard supplemental essay questions. The trick then is to make your scholarship essay stand out. The following article and scholarship essay example will offer up pointers for anyone striving to win a college scholarship.

Organizing Scholarship Essays by Prompt

You may feel like melting into a lump of despair when facing a browser full of tabbed scholarships. The best way to avoid getting overwhelmed is to organize and analyze a list of prompts. Why? Because your first goal is not simply to figure out how to write a scholarship essay. Rather, you’ll want to know how to save time while writing complex and relevant scholarship essays.

As you look over the various prompts, you’ll notice that some sound fairly open-ended, while others ask for something quite specific. In response, you should annotate each prompt with thematic keywords. This will help you figure out when you can use the same essay for several prompts.

Your annotated list may look something like the following…

Sample Scholarship Essay Prompts

1) “Explain something that made a big impact in your life.”

• Keywords: event , personal development, growth, background

2) “We’re committed to diversifying education abroad by providing funding to students who are typically under-represented in study abroad. Please describe how you and/or your plans for study abroad could be viewed as under-represented.”

• Keywords: minority, diversity, identity, study abroad

3) “Some students have a background, identity, interest, or talent that is so meaningful they believe their application would be incomplete without it. If this sounds like you, then please share your story.”

• Keywords: background, identity, interest, talent

Sample Scholarship Essay Prompts, Continued

4) “Please explain a personal hardship or catastrophic life event that you have experienced. How did you manage to overcome this obstacle? What did you learn and how did you grow from it?”

• Keywords: event, personal development, growth, challenge, background

5) Describe a change you would like to make in the world. Tell us about how you would plan to make that change, and what obstacles you might encounter along the way.

• Keywords: world development, challenge, future

6) “Tell us three things that are important to you. How did you arrive at this list? Will these things be important to you in ten years? Why?”

• Keywords: background, values, interest, development, identity, future

Scholarship Essay Prompts ( Continued)

7) “What does it mean to you to be part of a minority community? What challenges has it brought and how have you overcome them? What are the benefits?”

• Keywords: minority, community, challenge, growth

8) “Please explain how your experience volunteering and participating in community service has shaped your perspective on humanity. Elaborate on how these experiences have influenced your future ambitions and career choice.”

• Keywords: community service, humanity, community, background, future, values, career

9) “Discuss in your essay any challenges or obstacles you have dealt with and overcome in life and how this will help you succeed in college and beyond. Describe how volunteer, community service or extra-curricular activities have shaped who you are today and what it has taught you. May also include future educational plans and career goals.”

• Keywords: challenge, future, community service, interests, value, personal growth, career

How to Write a Scholarship Essay through Prompt Analysis

Let’s compare some prompts by keywords. You’ll notice that some prompts have a lot of overlap, such as prompts 1 and 4. Both have event, personal development, growth, and background as keywords . Prompt 4 includes the additional keyword challenge . This prompt explicitly asks you to explain how you have “overcome” a “personal hardship or catastrophic life event.” While prompt 1 is not so specific, it would be easy, even natural, to include this narrative arc in your response. This means depicting how you faced the thing that “made a big impact in your life.” In other words, these two essay prompts, though worded differently, allow you to tell the same story.

Other prompts provide potential overlap. In this case, it’s up to you to find and interpret these moments. You may consider the values, strengths, interests, and experiences you wish to relate. For example, prompts 7, 8, and 9 all mention community through different approaches. While prompt 7 focuses on one’s past involvement in a minority community, prompts 8 and 9 are more future-facing, and don’t mention minorities.

Scholarship Essay Examples (Continued)

Here, your best strategy involves answering prompts 8 and 9 together in a single scholarship essay. To do so, the essay would need to detail “a challenge or obstacle you have dealt with” (9) which has thus “shaped your perspective on humanity” (8). This narrative arc will thus inform your “future” educational and career plans (8 and 9). Note that prompt 9 allows you to mention extra-curriculars. However, I wouldn’t recommend it, since this would make your essay less relevant to prompt 8. After your essay is written, adapt it to align with prompt 7. Consider condensing the part about the future into one final sentence and focusing more on minority aspects of your community.

How to Scholarship Essay Avoid Burnout

The above tactic will allow you to avoid burnout by strategizing your essay approach ahead of time. In turn, you’ll be able to maximize your efforts from the get-go. You’ll also likely find that your essays become more complex and nuanced when you consider several prompts at once.

The next step involves editing. Refer back to the prompt, once you have a draft written. Ask yourself, did I answer the question fully? Do I need to edit this essay further to emphasize a particular point? Do I need to cut the essay down to fit a new word count? Contrarily do I need to bulk it up? If so, are there other essays in my portfolio from which I can borrow material? Strategic editing will allow you to respond to a large number of essays during peak essay-writing season.

Finally, you’ll notice that most essays require a word count between 250 to 600 words. It’s often easier to write a longer essay first. This will allow you to go into greater detail without censoring your ideas. You may find yourself including dialogue, scenery, emotions, and all sorts of other specifics that make an essay personal. As you whittle down this essay to comply with a similar prompt, you’ll want to identify which pieces of the essay do the most work to get your message across. Don’t simply condense everything by eliminating details, for details are often the most memorable aspects of an essay. More on this next.

How to Write a Scholarship Essay Using the Three Fs

The three Fs can be applied to any college essay, though they are particularily useful in scholarship essays. Why? Because the three Fs will enable you to impress readers and beat out other applicants. Ultimately, they’ll help you win financial support. Think of the three Fs as a checklist to go over, once you’ve completed an essay draft. Ask yourself, is my essay fabulous? Flawless? Fearless?

How to Write a Scholarship Essay (Continued)

If your essay is fabulous , it glitters with personality. It is detailed, unique, and does its best to highlight your impressive journey. If your essay lacks a little fab, ask yourself, how can I make this essay more enjoyable and memorable to read? If your essay is flawless , it lacks all spelling, syntactic and grammatical errors. It answers every aspect of the essay prompt, and leaves no room for vagueness or misunderstandings. To avoid flaws, give your essay to several people to proofread. Finally, if your essay is fearless , it is not afraid to get a little vulnerable. This may sound contradictory to the first F. On the contrary, this fearlessness refers to the confidence to tell your own story. A fearless story isn’t afraid to go deep, add complexity, or get emotional. It is unafraid to show why its author deserves a financial boost.

Scholarship Essay Example

Now that we’ve established how to approach the scholarship essay, let’s dive into a scholarship essay example. The scholarship essay below stems from a prompt we saw above: Describe a change you would like to make in the world. Tell us about how you would plan to make that change, and what obstacles you might encounter along the way (500 words).

My generation is growing up in a time of increased global turmoil. We’ve witnessed Brexit, the Russian interference in the 2016 U.S. elections, a series of refugee crises, and the invasion of Ukraine. It’s easy to liken this moment to Europe in the 1930s, which saw a spike in fascism and propaganda (their version of fake news). Only now, my generation must also contend with the hottest summers on record, raging forest fires, and the beginning of the 6 th extinction. It’s no wonder we deal with it all through increased skepticism and existential dread.

While I don’t have a simple solution, I believe most problems stem from ignorance. Xenophobia and racism, offshoots of ignorance, can be overcome by exposing isolated groups of people to greater diversity. This begins in the classroom. While dictators are hard to dispose of, education provides critical thinking skills, which allow citizens to make informed decisions when electing officials. Finally, developing a willingness to learn at an early age creates an instinct to continue learning throughout life. We desperately need intellectual flexibility if we are going to adapt to the planet’s needs as a world population and put a stop to industry-led fossil fuel burning.

Scholarship Essay Example (Continued)

The change I’d like to make is free, enhanced education for everyone, at every level, from elementary school to post-doctorate research institutes. To do so, I suggest defunding national militaries and channeling this spending into schools. Imagine if 80% of the 877 billion dollars the U.S. military spends annually went into learning. Combating fascism and climate change would look more feasible. And yet, no leader would agree to making their country more vulnerable by relinquishing arms and armies. Change must come from the people.

As the planet continues to heats up, and conflict over land increases, we must work together. The first step towards increased education is communicating this need for education: through journalism, on social media, in the streets. Next, I suggest lobbying politicians for incremental change. Finally, I believe a global grassroots movement to implement future-focused education, led by activists, educators, and philanthropists, would make this theoretical idea a tangible reality.

Last year, my mother, who never received a college education, decided to offer free gardening courses in our backyard. I quickly joined in. While teaching a handful of neighbors how to provide year-round food for pollinators may seem trivial, I’ve already seen positive repercussions. One conservative neighbor has set up an organization that collects and redistributes leftover produce from the markets to refugees. Another neighbor is now teaching middle schoolers how to cook and compost. These efforts have brought unusual strangers together and given visibility to our movement, #futurefocusededucation. I’ve seen it firsthand. The more we educate, the sooner we can combine our knowledge to create solutions.

Scholarship Essay Example Dissected

This scholarship essay succeeds at answering all parts of the prompt. It includes the change the author wants to make, and inevitable obstacles she’d face at the governmental and international level. These obstacles may sound insurmountable. Yet the essay shows that individuals are not powerless to enact change when they work together towards a common goal. The author provides various thoughtful steps we might take in order to prioritize education and peaceful collaboration.

Finally, the author portrays herself as someone personally invested in the political, humanitarian, and environmental state of the world. She proves that she’s already begun to make the changes she wants to see at the microscopic level. Overall, readers of this scholarship essay can see that this student is invested in bettering the world. This student would make for a proactive participant in her academic environment.

What’s Next?

Now that you have some inkling of how to write a scholarship essay and have reviewed of our scholarship essay examples, you may want to delve into more aid-related articles on the College Transitions Dataverse. You can read up on Need-Based Financial Aid Grants , and learn about Selective Colleges with Generous Scholarships . Furthermore, you may want to create your own Scholarship Timeline , in order to stay on top of the various deadlines. Good luck!

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Kaylen Baker

With a BA in Literary Studies from Middlebury College, an MFA in Fiction from Columbia University, and a Master’s in Translation from Université Paris 8 Vincennes-Saint-Denis, Kaylen has been working with students on their writing for over five years. Previously, Kaylen taught a fiction course for high school students as part of Columbia Artists/Teachers, and served as an English Language Assistant for the French National Department of Education. Kaylen is an experienced writer/translator whose work has been featured in Los Angeles Review, Hybrid, San Francisco Bay Guardian, France Today, and Honolulu Weekly, among others.

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• How to Write a Scholarship Essay | Template & Example

How to Write a Scholarship Essay | Template & Example

Published on October 11, 2021 by Kirsten Courault . Revised on May 31, 2023.

A good scholarship essay demonstrates the scholarship organization’s values while directly addressing the prompt. If you plan ahead , you can save time by writing one essay for multiple prompts with similar questions.

Table of contents

Apply for a wide variety of scholarships, make a scholarship tracker spreadsheet, tailor your essay to the organization and the prompt, write a focused and relevant personal story, scholarship essay example, other interesting articles, frequently asked questions about college application essays.

Scholarships are a type of student financial aid that don’t require repayment. They are awarded based on various factors, including academic merit, financial need, intended major, personal background, or activities and interests.

Like college applications, scholarship applications often require students to submit their grades, standardized test scores, letters of recommendation, and an essay.

A scholarship essay shares your values and qualities in the context of a specific question, such as “How does technology affect your daily life?” or “Who has had the greatest impact on your life?”

Be wary of scholarship scams

While some applications may not require an essay, be wary of scholarship scams that do the following:

• Guarantee you scholarship money for a fee
• Claim scholarship information is exclusive to their company
• Ask for your bank or credit card information to hold the scholarship

Some legitimate companies do charge for releasing comprehensive scholarship lists or creating a tailored list of scholarship opportunities based on your profile.

However, you can always discover scholarship opportunities for free through your school counselor, community network, or an online search.

Many students focus on well-known, large scholarship opportunities, which are usually very competitive. To maximize your chance of success, invest time in applying for a wide variety of scholarships: national and local, as well as big and small award amounts. There are also scholarships for international students .

In addition to charitable foundation and corporate scholarships, you should consider applying for institutional scholarships at your prospective universities, which can award money based on your application’s strength, your financial situation, and your demonstrated interest in the school.

Check with your guidance counselor, local organizations, community network, or prospective schools’ financial aid offices for scholarship opportunities. It’s a good idea to start applying as early as your junior year and continue throughout your senior year.

Choose the right scholarships for you

Choose scholarships with missions and essay topics that match your background, experiences, and interests. If the scholarship topic is meaningful to you, it will be easier for you to write an authentic and compelling essay.

Don’t shy away from applying for local scholarships with small dollar amounts. Even a few hundred dollars can help you pay for books.

Local scholarships may be more tailored to your community, background, and activities, so they’re likely more relevant to you. Fewer students apply for these scholarships, so you have less competition and a higher chance of success.

Some places to look for local scholarships include

• Civic organizations, such as the Rotary Club, Lions Club, etc.
• Your church, mosque, synagogue, or place of worship
• Community groups, such as the YMCA
• Ethnicity-based organizations
• Your local library or local small businesses
• Organizations related to your intended major
• Your city or town
• Your school district
• Unions, such as SEIU, the Teamsters, CWA, etc.
• Your employer or your parents’ employers
• Banks, credit unions, and local financial institutions

Prevent plagiarism. Run a free check.

While researching scholarship opportunities, create a scholarship tracker spreadsheet to keep track of the following:

• Scholarship amounts
• Required application materials

You can use our free Google Sheets template to track your scholarship applications.

Scholarship application tracker template

You can also include scholarship essay prompts in your college essay tracker sheet . By grouping or color-code overlapping essay prompts, you can plan to write a single essay for multiple scholarships. Sometimes, you can also reuse or adapt your main college essay .

Even if you’re adapting another essay, it’s important to make sure your essay directly addresses the prompt, stays within the word count limit , and demonstrates the organization’s values. The scholarship committee will be able to tell if you reuse an essay that doesn’t quite respond to the prompt, so be sure to tailor it to the questions asked.

Research each organization

Before writing, research the scholarship organization’s mission and reason for awarding the scholarship. Learning more about the organization can help you select an appropriate topic and relevant story.

While you should tailor your essay to the organization’s values, maintain your authentic voice. Never use false or exaggerated stories. If the organization’s values don’t align with yours or you can’t brainstorm a relevant story for the scholarship, continue searching for other scholarship opportunities to find a more appropriate one for you.

After researching the organization, identify a specific personal experience that embodies its values and exemplifies why you will be a successful student.

Choose a story with the following criteria:

• Responds to the prompt
• Demonstrates the organization’s values
• Includes an authentic story
• Focuses on you and your experience, not someone else’s

A good scholarship essay is not

• A resume of your achievements
• A lengthy opinion piece about the essay topic
• An essay featuring a negative tone that puts down others

If appropriate, you can briefly address how the scholarship money will help you achieve your educational goals. You should also end with a brief thank-you.

Take a look at the full essay example below. Hover over the underlined parts to read explanations of why they work.

Prompt: Describe how working for Chelsea’s Chicken restaurant has developed leadership skills that will help you succeed in college. Give specific examples of leadership characteristics that you have exhibited during your employment with us.

As a nervous 16-year-old, I walked into Chelsea’s Chicken for my first day of work determined to make enough money to put gas in my car and buy pizza on the weekends. My only previous job was mowing my neighbors’ lawns when they were on vacation, so I had no idea what to expect. I was a bit intimidated by my new responsibilities, especially handling money and helping disgruntled customers.

However, it didn’t take me long to learn my way around the cash register and successfully address customer complaints. One day, Roger, the store manager, asked me if I wanted to join Chelsea’s Chicken Leadership Training Initiative. He said he saw leadership potential in me because of my attitude with the customers and my enthusiasm for learning new job responsibilities. It surprised me because I had never thought of myself as a leader, but I quickly agreed, and Roger handed me a three-ring binder that was thicker than my math and science textbooks put together! He told me to take it home and read over it during the following week.

In that binder, I discovered that being a leader means taking the initiative, especially when the job is undesirable. One week later, I got to practice that idea when a little kid threw up in the bathroom and missed the toilet. It smelled terrible, but I stepped forward and told Roger that I would clean it up. My coworkers thought I was crazy, but I started to believe in my leadership potential.

That night as we closed the store, Roger pulled me aside in the parking lot and told me that he could tell that I had been studying the manual. He wanted to give me more responsibility, along with a dollar-per-hour pay raise. I was surprised because I had been working there for only a couple of months, but his encouragement helped me make a connection: good leadership helps other people, and it often is rewarded. I was determined to experience more of both.

Within a month, I was ready to take the Team Leader exam, which mattered because I would receive a promotion and a much bigger raise if I passed. But, when I got to work, two of the scheduled team members had called in sick. We were noticeably short-handed, and our customers weren’t happy about it.

I walked back to the lockers, put on my vest and hat, and took my place behind an open register. Customers immediately moved into my line to place their orders. Roger looked at me with surprise and asked, “Did you forget that you’re testing tonight?” I responded, “No, sir—but what’s the use of taking a leadership test if you aren’t going to lead in real life?” Roger smiled at me and nodded.

He stayed late that night after we closed so that I could leave early and still take the test. I noticed that Roger was always staying late, helping employees learn new skills. His example taught me that leaders take the initiative to develop other leaders. He gave me a clear picture of what shared leadership looks like, making room for others to grow and excel. When I asked him where he learned to do that, he said, “From the same leadership manual I gave you!”

Chelsea’s Chicken has offered me so much more than a paycheck. Because of Roger’s example, I have learned to take the initiative to care for my family and friends, such as being the first to do the dishes without my mom asking or volunteering to pick up my friend for our SAT prep course. Now, as I prepare to enter college, I have confidence in my leadership ability. I know I’m signing up for a challenging major—Biology, Pre-Med—yet I also know that Chelsea’s Chicken has helped me to develop the perseverance required to complete my studies successfully.

If you want to know more about academic writing , effective communication , or parts of speech , make sure to check out some of our other articles with explanations and examples.

Academic writing

• Writing process
• Transition words
• Passive voice
• Paraphrasing

 Communication

• How to end an email
• Ms, mrs, miss
• How to start an email
• I hope this email finds you well
• Hope you are doing well

 Parts of speech

• Personal pronouns
• Conjunctions

A scholarship essay requires you to demonstrate your values and qualities while answering the prompt’s specific question.

After researching the scholarship organization, identify a personal experience that embodies its values and exemplifies how you will be a successful student.

Invest time in applying for various scholarships , especially local ones with small dollar amounts, which are likely easier to win and more reflective of your background and interests. It will be easier for you to write an authentic and compelling essay if the scholarship topic is meaningful to you.

You can find scholarships through your school counselor, community network, or an internet search.

You can start applying for scholarships as early as your junior year. Continue applying throughout your senior year.

Yes, but make sure your essay directly addresses the prompt, respects the word count , and demonstrates the organization’s values.

If you plan ahead, you can save time by writing one scholarship essay for multiple prompts with similar questions. In a scholarship tracker spreadsheet, you can group or color-code overlapping essay prompts; then, write a single essay for multiple scholarships. Sometimes, you can even reuse or adapt your main college essay .

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How To Start a College Scholarship Essay (With 12 Examples)

So, you have a college scholarship essay to write… are you already typing away?

Or are your fingers hovering over the keyboard, not knowing how to start?! Well, don’t panic! I’m here to help you get started. I’ll even give you a few content examples and pointers on how to start a college scholarship essay.

Starting a College Scholarship Essay – General tips

Let’s start with a few general tips to get you started, shall we?

Tip 1: Answer the question

Usually, you will have a prompt to focus your essay on, so start there. You might be asked about how you show leadership skills, or how’s your community spirit. Whatever the starting point, think about how you are going to answer that question. But it’s not just that, is it? You also need to sell yourself!

Tip 2: Make it personal

I know it seems tricky, but the reader doesn’t just want to read your answer to their question.

They also want to know:

• Why they should support you in your studies?
• What skills do you bring to your course of choice?
• How you might grow if they offer you the scholarship?
• What experience do you have that makes you a good candidate?

This might seem like a lot to cover, but don’t worry, I’ll walk you through it! I’m also going to give you examples of what to put in your piece, remember? So, you will know exactly how to start a college scholarship essay.

Tip 3: Don’t wait to get started

If you’ll remember one thing, let it be this: plan! Don’t leave writing your essay until the night before it is due. You won’t do yourself justice and it will reflect in the quality of your writing. Evangelist and founder of Navigators , a worldwide Christian organization, Dawson Trotman once said:

“The greatest amount of wasted time is the time not getting started.”

Tip 4: Stand out

Your essay will be one of the many submissions the university or institution has received, so you need to make it stand out from the crowd. The best way to do this is with a strong introduction. It needs to grab the reader’s attention and keep it. Ask a question, and speak to the reader. Citing statistics or RELEVANT quotes can also be a great way to do this. Find what works for you, but make sure you have a great hook in the first few lines. It’s also important that you avoid clichés. By definition, a cliché is an overused phrase. If you want your scholarship essay to stand out, don’t use them!

Standing out in a field of thousands of applicants may seem easier said than done. But there are strategies you can employ to boost your chances of getting noticed.

How to Start a College Scholarship Essay – Examples of What to Write About:

Now that we’ve got some general tips, how about those content examples I promised you?! Here are some ideas on how you could frame your essay. If you still don’t know how to start your college scholarship essay , you soon will!

1. What are you passionate about?

You can frame your essay around something you are passionate about. It should also relate to the course you are applying for . Think about how you can show that passion. Examples from your childhood are always a winner here. Can you show you’ve been passionate about animals since you were a toddler and rescued a frog from the garden? Do you have an aptitude for math since kindergarten? Or perhaps, you are obsessed with robotics and building machines. Whatever is your chosen field of study, tell the reader why you care.

2. Your 5-year plan

You can write about how your chosen course and college fit into your 5-year plan. How will this scholarship impact what you aim to accomplish? You need to prove the benefits of getting the scholarship. This also shows the screening committee you are serious about your future. You must impress them you have strong career aspirations. Remember when I mentioned the importance of planning with your essay? You can apply it in your life too!

3. When things go wrong

If you’re still wondering how to start your college scholarship essay, this is for you. You don’t always need to talk about things that are going well. Sometimes it’s great to write about a time when life didn’t go your way. Did you grow up in a dysfunctional home? Did you survive a life-threatening sickness or accident? It’s a learning opportunity, right? So, what did you learn from those trials and unfortunate chapters of your life? Showing the readers how you overcome challenges and adversities can tell them a lot about you as a person.

4. Your driving force

It’s interesting to learn what makes a person tick. Tell your reader what drives you to achieve your goals. Are you making family members proud? Trying to prove someone wrong? Whatever pushes you will explain a lot about your motivation. Trust me, it will interest your reader. You can project yourself to be like “The Little Engine That Could”, and others will root for you as you chug along to your target destination.

Strong motivation and determination can turn what seems impossible to possible.

5. Who believes in you?

Maybe the question isn’t what drives you, but who? If there is a special someone who believes in what you can do, let your reader know. There is someone who sees your strength and determination, so tell your reader why. They want to know that you will succeed if they support you. Explaining why someone has faith that you will reach your goals can be a great way to show that you will!

6. Quote of your life

A great way to summarize your story so far is by using a quote that does the work for you! This can also be a useful way to grab your reader’s attention. Starting your scholarship essay with a quote can be wonderful, but make sure it is relevant! An adage may sound interesting, but if you don’t live by its words, why would others care? Stating it willy-nilly is just a way to lose your readers’ attention. You don’t want to do that!

7. Personal connection

Do you have a personal link to the college or scholarship you are applying for? This is a great time to mention it! For instance, following in the footsteps of your ancestors is an interesting talking point. If you have that going for you, don’t shy away from it. You can even frame your essay around this. Start by explaining what character traits you have in common with them. After all, they were successful, so you will be too, right?

Having a parent or other influential people in your life who graduated from the university you are applying to is worth mentioning in your essay.

8. Show off your research

When you were thinking about how to start your college scholarship essay, you did some research, right? You will have learned about the college or scholarship fund you are applying for. What did you find out along the way? If you learned something surprising or intriguing, this could give you a great start. It will show off your research and give you a chance to explain why you are a great fit for the college.

9. Learning through life

Most colleges want you to put what you learn into practice. Show them you already do! Discussing how you use your subject in your everyday life (with examples!) will interest your reader. They will want to know more about the practical applications of your studies. Do you use chemistry to create ‘magic’ or your knowledge of physics to design a new toy for your sibling? Practical examples of applied learning are exactly what your reader will want to see .

10. Are you ready?

The people who decide whether you are worthy of the scholarship will want to know that you are mature and ready to make the most of the opportunity. Are you ready? You can frame your essay by explaining how you know you are up to the challenge. You might even want to start with the signs you weren’t ready yet, and how they have changed over time. Whatever you say, conclude that you are ready to do your best now!

11. Why are you applying?

This might seem basic, but sometimes it’s the easiest to forget! Occasionally, we can be so busy trying to write unique scholarship essays that we forget the most primeval question… ‘Why are you applying?’ Make sure you address this! You don’t want to leave your reader wondering, that’s for sure.

12. Starting young

Did you find joy in a certain school subject from a young age? Demonstrating a lifelong passion for your chosen subject shows dedication. The scholarship committee wants to know if they are supporting someone who is fully committed. What better way to tell them this than showing you’ve always loved your chosen field?! For example, you’ve been practicing playing the piano every day since you were a kid, and you are now hoping to get accepted into Juilliard on a scholarship.

These examples should provide some sparks on how to start your college scholarship essay. There are so many ways to go about it. Whichever way you pursue, remember: to focus on the question, make it personal, and find ways to make your writing stand out. Next up, you may want to explore a guide on how to write a narrative essay about overcoming a challenge .

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13 Tips to Bring Your Scholarship Essay to the Next Level

Applying for scholarships would be a piece of cake if it wasn’t for the essay, which often forces us to reflect on ourselves, who we are as people, and what we’ve accomplished so far in life. While it can be the most difficult part of the application, it’s also the most important part.

The Planning Phase

1. plan far in advance, 2. know your audience, 3. follow the instructions & answer the prompt, 4. choose a topic that you’re interested in and passionate about, 5. consider reusing an existing essay., the writing phase, 6. create a strong introduction, 7. keep a good structure, 8. show emotions, 9. use real life examples (“show, don’t tell”), 10. keep the tone inspirational & positive, 11. stay away from dreary & boring conclusions, the editing phase, 12. proofread and ask for help, 13. take advantages of resources, but where you do apply.

The scholarship essay is your chance to make a case for yourself and to show the committee why you deserve to win. It gives you the chance to show your personality and what you’re most proud of in life. Your scholarship application should inform, but your scholarship essay should persuade. Scholarship committees read hundreds, or even thousands, of essays, so making your application stand out from the rest is crucial.

Luckily, you don’t need perfect writing skills to make it happen. With a few scholarship essay tips and tricks in mind, you can easily bring your scholarship application to the next level.

Here are our 13 scholarship essay tips to help you succeed:

If you wait until the last minute to write your scholarship essay, the quality will likely suffer. To make sure that you have enough time for the planning phase, create a calendar ( like this one ) with the deadlines and requirements for all the scholarships you want to apply for. Make sure to give yourself plenty of time for brainstorming and proofreading!

Hot tip : If you use Going Merry to find and apply for scholarships , you can save your favorite scholarships, and then our dashboard will keep track of all your upcoming deadlines for you. We’ll even email you reminders so you don’t miss out! Learn more about how Going Merry works here .

The best way to give the scholarship committee what they’re looking for is to actually know what they’re looking for. Figure out who their ideal candidate is and how you fit into that picture. But be careful not to cater to their expectations too much.

Don’t sacrifice your voice and personality to fit the bill. Rather, take a look at your strengths and then determine how you can spin them to become the ideal candidate.

Hot tip : Not sure how to do this? Check out the “Financial Literacy for Hispanic Women” and “Life Happens” scholarship essays here , for examples of past winners who’ve clearly taken the scholarship provider’s missions into account.

It might seem like one of the more obvious scholarship essay tips, but many applicants make their first mistake before they even begin – they don’t read the directions. Exceeding (or not meeting) the word count can hurt your chances since it shows that you didn’t prepare your essay as well as other applicants. Also, double check to make sure you’re responding thoroughly to all parts of the prompt and that you’re following the correct scholarship essay format.

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Your topic can have a heavy impact on how well your essay turns out. If you choose a topic that bores you, you’ll likely bore your reader too! Try to choose a topic that you’re passionate about or that interests you in some way, rather than a topic that you feel you should write about – that way, your personality and excitement can shine through in your writing!

Many scholarship essays use the same essay prompt. Some scholarship providers even use the ones from the Common App or allow you to choose your own topic. This means you can literally copy and paste your essay to submit to multiple applications (yay!).

Other times, scholarships use similar essay prompts, or ask questions that can be answered in the same way. You might be able to slightly change an existing essay, rather than writing a new one altogether. For example, these two prompts can often be answered the same way: 

• Discuss a moment or experience that caused significant personal growth.
• Discuss a time when you had to overcome an obstacle.

Since overcoming an obstacle often results in personal growth, if you have an essay for one of these prompts, you can usually tweak it to make it work for the other prompt.

Hot tip :  Going Merry makes it easy for you by combining scholarships with similar essay prompts into application bundles . This way, you can apply for multiple scholarships with just one essay. Sign up today .

Since the introduction is what draws the reader into your essay and convinces them to keep going, it should be one of the strongest parts of your essay . Instead of starting off with a general overview, why not hook your reader with a surprising first line?

For example, which of these two opening lines pulls you into the story more? Which one makes you want to keep going?

My first time traveling abroad was during a family vacation to Mexico in 2010.

It was 2010; I had just crossed the border into Mexico and my life was about to change.

The second sentence gives the reader something to look for; it makes them curious about not only how your life changed during your trip but also why it changed. It gives the readers unanswered questions and they have to keep reading to find the answers.

Overall, you’ll want to give your reader a quick preview of what they can expect from your essay – think of it like the written version of a movie trailer. Why should they keep reading? 

After the introduction, it’s important to make sure that your reader can follow along with your essay without too much effort. Creating a basic outline is a great way to make sure this happens!

To create an outline, first organize your thoughts. Write down the main points that you definitely want to cover in your essay. Next, organize those thoughts into various sections: introduction, body, and conclusion. Your ideas can either be in sentence form, short phrases, or simple words – whatever you prefer! Lastly, make sure your ideas flow in a logical order and, if necessary, add more detail under each point. Check out this source for more information .

Also, try to avoid going off on a tangent by taking the time to determine which information is relevant and which isn’t . Similarly, consider just how much detail you should include. Providing some detail can make your point clearer or more compelling, but  too much detail can bog down your essay. 

Hot tip : Check out Joseph Lee’s “What makes a good doctor?” essay here , for an example of a well-structured scholarship essay.

Connecting with an audience through writing can be challenging but, when done right, it can create a very powerful connection between the reader and the author. Showing your emotions is a great way to do that and to get the reader personally invested in your essay. Showing emotion can help the reader see you as a person, rather than a faceless author. Even though it’s crucial, it’s one of the scholarship essay tips that people tend to ignore the most.

We all have vulnerabilities, so don’t be afraid to show them. Scholarship committees don’t expect you to be perfect and want to see how you’ve grown as a person and handled the obstacles that life has thrown your way. In fact, opening up about times where you felt nervous or scared demonstrates maturity and self-awareness – two great qualities for a scholarship applicant to have.

Hot tip :  Check out Jesus’ winning scholarship essay here, which discusses a really tough moment in his life. It’s a great example of showing vulnerability.

Instead of telling your reader about your experiences, show them. Don’t be afraid to provide real-world examples of your experiences and/or how you’ve changed as a person. Nearly every applicant will have a somewhat similar response to the essay prompt and your personal examples are your chance to transform your essay from generic to unique.

Consider the difference between these two passages explaining why the scholarship applicant wants to pursue a career in science:

VERSION 1:  I have always been interested in science, even from a young age. Since my family supported my interest enthusiastically, I continued to pursue it throughout school. As I’ve gotten older, though, my scientific endeavors have become increasingly complex. 

VERSION 2: Too young to enter the school science fairs, I took to my family. Force-feeding different animal food to my siblings and parents, I graphed their favorite types. While I was only six, my family has never forgiven me; my “experiments” remain the family joke. Nevertheless, I have progressed from my dog food days, leaving taste tests for DNA gel electrophoresis experiments.  [ essay from Lauren Croda ]

Which is more engaging? While Version 1 explains things and may be well-written, it’s a bit boring, right? Version 2 makes the subject come alive and showcases the author’s quirky personality. While anyone (and probably many applicants) could write Version 1, only Lauren could write Version 2. It helps her stand out.  That ‘s the power of examples and “show, don’t tell.”

One of the most important scholarship essay tips is based entirely on your perspective and tone. Nobody wants to read a depressing and self-pitying story. Even if you’re writing about difficult or sad events in your life, try and keep the tone positive and inspirational. Rather than just writing about how you were negatively affected by an event, focus on how you grew from the experience and overcame the obstacle.

Most people use the conclusion to simply paraphrase their entire essay…but don’t be afraid to think outside of the box! Do something surprising and innovative. Make your essay interesting and attention-grabbing from the first letter until the last period.

One great way to bring your conclusion to the next level is to leave your readers with an interesting question for them to think about. For more ideas, check out these helpful tips .

As much as we like to believe that we’re perfect, we all make mistakes…which is why it’s so important to take the time to proofread your essay. One great way to find mistakes is to read your essay out loud. For more ideas, check out these helpful tips .

Once you’ve taken the time to proofread your own essay a few times, have someone else do it for you. Asking a family member or friend for help can provide you with a different perspective on your writing and a second set of eyes might catch a mistake that you didn’t.

When it comes to writing, you don’t have to do it completely on your own. Check out some of our resources including scholarship essay examples from Going Merry winners ,; a breakdown of why these 5 scholarship essays worked; and our guides to writing personal statements , academic goals essays , or career goals essays .

If you’re in college, most schools have a writing center that offers free feedback and guidance to students. They might even have some insightful scholarship essay tips that you (or we!) didn’t think about. Some high schools, communities, or libraries might also have similar services.

Now that you’re writing stellar essays, start applying for scholarships! Here’s a list of 10 scholarship search sites , but we’d just recommend you go straight for the best one: Sign up  for free with Going Merry , and then upload your essays to your documents section. Get started with your scholarship applications today.

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How To Write a Great Scholarship Application Essay

October 23, 2018

Authored By:

Earning a CIEE  Global Navigator Scholarship  is a prestigious honor that can help you stand out for years to come, especially on college applications! Plus, these scholarships give hundreds of students like you access to study abroad opportunities each year. Whether you are applying for a merit scholarship or a combination merit and financial need, our essay writing portion is a vital part of the scholarship applications, as they give us a unique window into each applicant. Stuck on the essay questions? Maybe writing isn’t your forté and you need some pointers. Or maybe you’re a seasoned wordsmith that loves a good blog post. Either way, read over these helpful hints before you begin your scholarship application essays. And remember, we’re here to help!

Read the questions carefully.

Some of the short essay prompts have multiple questions, so make sure you read through each a few times. Make sure you fully understand the question and how you can best answer it. It’s crucial that you answer all parts of each question fully. For example, our third short essay question asks, “How do you spend your time outside of school? This could include sports, extracurricular activities, family commitments, part-time jobs and more. Please share how many hours per week you spend on each activity or task. How have these activities helped you develop your personal strengths?” It may be easy to start answering the question right away, as soon as you read the first sentence. But, if you read carefully, you’ll see that there is a second follow-up question at the end.

Open up a Word/Google Doc.

Copy the essay prompts into your Word doc and brainstorm ideas and details to support your answers. We encourage you to write it all out in another document, check your word count, spelling and grammar, and then paste it into your application. Sometimes, it’s easier to write in a format you’re accustomed to rather than an online form.

Remember the basics.

Don’t forget your WWWWWH (you know, your Who, What, Where, When, Why, How)! Of course, you won’t need to use all of these to effectively answer the prompt. If something was hard, tell us why. If you overcame a challenge in some way, tell us how. Stick to one primary point and use details to support your answer. Strong essays answer questions fully and always keep the prompt in mind. For example, our first short essay question asks, “Why is it so important to you to experience the high school summer abroad program and the host country you selected?” Think about what it is that makes studying abroad with CIEE so important to you, and in particular, the country you selected. And why?

Get specific.

Don’t be vague! Give us detailed answers and use real life examples to make your point. Generic essays won’t stand out, but well-thought out responses will. For example, our second short essay prompt asks, “Please describe a moment in your life when you’ve overcome a challenge that felt particularly meaningful to you. What did you learn about yourself in that moment? How did it impact what you saw for your future?” Explain yourself thoroughly here and describe with as much support as you can.

But be concise.

Longer isn’t always better! Cut out any sentences that are repetitive or don’t help your point. Some of the stronger essays are able to answer our questions in fewer words, without extra words. Forget the fluff – these short essays deserve authentic, quality and honest answers. Looking for a sweet spot? Consider sticking to 350 words and no more than 600.

Always read your writing.

This is arguably the most important part! Spell-check is a helpful tool, but don’t rely on it to catch everything! Carefully read through your responses a few times and make sure everything is clear and your grammar is up to par. Ask a family member or classmate to read over your short essays, too. Would you turn this into your teacher for a grade? Consider that before you hit submit. This is your chance to make a good impression!

Applying early increases your chances to get a scholarship. It demonstrates your commitment to the program and gives our selection committee more time to evaluate your application.

Finish Your Scholarship Application Today!

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Scholarship Essay Format: A Comprehensive Guide For Success

Scholarship application comes in various shapes and forms. If you don't know how to go about the essay format, things will not work out. If you are struggling to attempt and perfect your next paper, then read this blog. It will serve as a lucid guide.

Here is everything you need to know.

What is a Scholarship Essay?

First of all, let us discuss and define what a scholarship application is. Take a look below to know more.

• These papers are quite similar to college application  synthesis essay .
• Students submit these papers along with their scholarship applications.
• The document is said to be a crucial part of their application process.
• The perfect application can help you grab the opportunity to secure a grant.

Now that you know about the basic definition of a scholarship application paper, let's move ahead.

Here's what more you need to know about this topic.

Understanding the Scholarship Essay Format

Understanding the perfect scholarship application essay paper format can be tricky. Not anymore. Take some time to read what we have listed below. This will help you to understand the actual format of a scholarship application paper.

• You need to submit your paper as a MS Word or Google doc.
• The assignment needs to be written in the Times New Roman font.
• Make sure the font size is 12 with double-spaced line spacing.

You just need to follow these simple steps. And you are good to go. Simply keep these suggestions in mind and follow the right scholarship application paper format.

Read also: Ultimate Guide On Argumentative Essay In 2023

How to Write a Scholarship Essay?

Let me assume safely that you are now aware of the assignment format. So, it's time to know how to write a scholarship essay. You just need to follow these simple suggestions.

Here you go!

1. Read the essay statement carefully

First of all, you need to read and re-read the topic statement carefully. Here's how.

• Read the topic statement you are asked to respond to.
• Take note of each of the key elements closely.
• Now identify the main theme of the  descriptive essay .
• Once done, develop the perfect slant to proceed with.
• Lastly, you should lay a complete focus on the thematic element.
• Now, decide on the approaches you would like to embrace.
• Voila! It's done. You are good to go.

2. Understand the key themes

Well, this is again one important point to be noted. Unless you understand the key thematic elements of your essay, you cannot add perfection. Here are a few suggestions to help you out in this matter.

• Identify the key themes and know what each of the ideas really refer to.
• See how relevant the theme is in terms of your critical understanding.
• Focus on delving deep into the main context of the paper.
• Ideate how you choose to structure the paper further.
• Keep referring to the thematic element of the paper while composing it.

3. Make the introduction engaging

If the introduction isn't engaging, the piece won't stand out. So, follow these simple steps and know how to make an engaging start to your piece.

• It is suggested you use quotes in order to make the intro engaging and unique.
• Use short yet impactful sentences to keep things interesting.
• Do not go haywire or come up with irrelevant statements.
• Introduce the assignment in a way that it reflects your knowledge and insights into the subject matter.

The idea is to keep referring to each of the suggestions mentioned below. Follow these steps and never miss out on beginning your next  reflective essay  paper with a bang. Now, let's take a look at the next important aspect.

4. Understand the criteria well

Understanding the essay requirement is as important as anything. Here are some suggestions that will help you in this context.

• Take a close look at the essay requirement.
• Understand what you are asked to do.
• See if you have relevant ideas and resources to proceed with the task.
• Ideate what element you should include in the essay.
• Shortlist a series of relevant keywords for your paper.

5. Know What to Include in A Scholarship Essay

Now, you should know and include the right elements in your scholarship paper. Here's all you need to know. Take a look at these questions and consider answering them accordingly.

• What made you get involved in the scholarship drive in the first place?
• What have you learned till now, and how was the experience?
• What obstacles or challenges did you face in the past?
• How do you strategize to proceed further?
• Why do you feel the application is important for your academic goals?

Once you have clear and concise answers to each of the questions mentioned, you're good to go. See if the answers are real, relevant, and contextual. So, keep referring to these suggestions. These are perhaps the simplest gateways to academic success. Now, let's move on to the next important part of the blog.

Read also: How To Write Expository Essay - Complete Guide

Scholarship Essay Sample & Examples

Scholarly sample paper is quite important for students. Unless they have a roadmap, they cannot proceed flawlessly. This is where  personal essay  examples walk in. Following the right example will:

• Help you ideate things better
• Allow you to come up with unique slants
• Make you aware of the potential dos and don'ts

So, the idea is to embrace the best practice and keep going. Here are some glimpses of examples you should look for.

Source : Internet

Interesting Scholarship Essay Prompts & Topics in 2023

Only knowing what an essay for scholarship is not enough. Neither can you proceed with a basic understanding of how to write a scholarly paper.

Things will be really difficult if you do not have good prompts to refer to. So, take a look below.

Here are some of the most interesting scholarship application prompts and topics in 2023.

Refer to them and keep winning.

• How will this scholarship help you?
• Tell us about yourself.
• Why do you think this scholarship is important for your academic goals?
• How have you contributed to your goals and community?
• Tell us about your time and situation when you have faced challenges
• Why do you deserve this scholarship?
• What difference the scholarship is going to make?
• What makes you unique?

Your job is to answer each of these questions in a compelling manner. Remember, there is no room for fillers and fluffs. So, be confident, logical, and relevant while writing a scholarship application paper.

Here are some more topics for your idea and reference.

• Describe an instance where you demonstrated great leadership skills
• Where do you see yourself in the next five years?
• How are you planning to pay for your education?
• What are your professional goals?
• How relevant are your academic choices?

Here are some more:

Centralis Scholarship Essay Topics

• Paper on academic challenges and achievements
• Creative scholarship essays for college students

Generic Scholarship Essay Topics

• Tell us about a time you faced failure
• Tell us how you managed to confront the same

College Scholarship Essay Topics

• Tell us about your academic contributions
• What are your long-term academic and professional goals?

Law Scholarship Essay Topics

• International convention and its effect on law
• Issues related to Gun Control Law in America

Common Scholarship Essay Topics

• Tell us about your inspirations
• How do you plan to achieve your academic goals?

Find concrete answers to each of the questions mentioned above. Once you know how to come up with impactful answers, half the job is done.

You will now only require to structure the paper well. So, let's move on to the next section and know about the same. It shall elaborate on how to structure an  persuasive essay  for scholarly application perfectly.

How to Structure a Scholarship Essay?

Perfecting a scholarship essay is no child's play. However, things can be easily streamlined if you follow the right structure.

Here's how you should ensure the same.

• Stick to the conventional introduction–body–conclusion format.
• Begin the essay with an engaging hook.
• Keep sentences short and appealing.
• Also, keep the paragraphs short and concise.
• You may break the main body content into a three-fold format.
• Lastly, make sure to conclude the essay with conviction.
• Do not use fillers and fluffs throughout the essay.

How to Write a 500-word Scholarship Essay?

Now, here comes the bigger question. How to write a 500-word essay for scholarly application? Follow these simple steps and uncover how to write a 500-word paper.

• Take note each paragraph of your essay should be about 75-125 words.
• And it should consist of 3-5 well-knit sentences.
• Make sure not to overstuff the essay with redundant expressions and phrases.
• Keep a tab on the number of words you have written at regular intervals.
• Do not use the same perspective twice or come up with similar messages.

Last but certainly not least, practice regularly. Keep referring to more such blogs. Also, sign up for mock exercises in order to upgrade your writing skills.

Read also: What Is Costco Essay And How To Write It?

Scholarship Essay Writing Service – Just a Click Away!

All said and done, you must be bugged by questions such as:

• Where can I get the best scholarship essay writing service?
• Who will write my paper for me?
• Can I get scholarship paper writing services on time?
• Can someone proofread my scholarly paper?

Well, we have just the perfect solution to each of these problems stated.

Here's all you need to know.

• We at Allessaywriter.com deal with a plethora of formats for scholarly applications.
• In addition, we are well-versed in other w.
• These include Cause and Effect essays, Persuasive essays, Descriptive essays, and more.
• Our in-house experts hold years of expertise and essay insights.
• They know how to go about scholarship essays with precision.
• Also, AllEssayWriter offers you a plethora of perks.
• These include yearlong discounts, free academic blogs, and more.
• Guess what? You get to refer to essay samples for free.
• We have the lowest price guarantee along with a deadline commitment.
• The free perks also include plagiarism reports, formatting, and more.
• You get to avail of essay proofreading and editing services for free.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q.1. what is a scholarship essay.

Refer to the following pointers to know what a scholarship essay is.

• Scholarship essays are quite similar to college application essays.
• These essays may vary between 300-500 words
• Or it can be more, depending on the criteria.
• These essays reflect the candidate's potential
• Also, it highlights the applicant's skills and overall expertise
• It demonstrates the candidate's goals and aspirations as well.

Q.2. How to write a scholarship essay?

Follow these steps to write a scholarship essay flawlessly.

• Focus on the topic carefully.
• Know what you are expected to come up with.
• Read and comprehend the criteria closely.
• Come up with relevant expressions.
• Avoid exaggerated sentences, fillers, and fluffs.
• Elaborate on why you deserve this scholarship.

Q.3. What should a scholarship essay typically be about?

A scholarship essay typically revolves around the following essentials

• Career goals and plans to achieve the same
• Academic and professional aspirations
• Insights into leadership qualities and problem-solving expertise

Q.4. Do scholarship essays need an introduction?

Yes, of course. No scholarship essay is ever complete without the perfect introduction. So, make sure to begin your essay on an engaging note. You may use quotes and other expressions to make the introduction strong.

Q.5. Should scholarship essays be informal or formal?

Well, it is advised that you write the essay in a formal style. Things can be otherwise if asked to be.

Q.6. Is there an ideal format for scholarship essays?

Here's what you need to know about the scholarship essay format.

• Use Times New Roman as your font style.
• The font size should be 12 (double-spaced).
• You can use normal default margins.
• It is advised to use first-line indent for paragraphs.

Q.7. Why do you need a scholarship essay sample?

Scholarship essay samples have not one but multiple advantages.

Here's what you must know.

• Essay samples make it easier for you to comprehend things.
• The right sample will help you introduce the essay interestingly.
• It will give you the right insights into scholarship essay writing.
• You can follow and take note of the dos and don'ts.
• It will help you to conclude the paper flawlessly.

Q.8. What is a thesis statement in a scholarship essay?

A thesis statement in a scholarship essay is a well-knit introduction. It serves as a foundation for your write-up. A thesis statement essentially elaborates on the main idea of the essay.

Q.9. How to conclude a scholarship essay?

Follow these suggestions to conclude the essay with perfection.

• Correlate your thesis with the main body paragraphs.
• Add thought-provoking expressions and phrases.
• Avoid including lengthy sentences.
• Keep things precise yet compelling in all aspects.

Q.10. Can anyone do my scholarship essay?

Our in-house experts at AllEssayWriter can definitely help you. They are well-trained and experienced. The writers know how to approach and perfect a scholarship essay. They will guide you through the tunnel with:

• Samples and examples
• Basic concepts
• Proofreading assistance
• Free blogs and much more

Lily’s expertise lies in crafting compelling narratives that captivate hearts and minds! Unlock the power of words with this wordsmith and storyteller at Allessaywriter.com. Let her blogs help you bring your ideas to life, one sentence at a time.

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