Fitting the Puzzle Together:
Writing a
Great Scholarship Essay
Catherine Wishart
Literacy Coach
Adjunct College Instructor
Copyright 2008. All rights reserved.
Why Do I Have To Write
This?
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Once scholarship committees have weeded out
applications that are incomplete or obviously
inaccurate, they depend on the essay for the final
decision
Scholarship committees want to feel like they know
you to be an intelligent, articulate person
Scholarship committees want to feel that you are
genuine and creative
Scholarship committees remember essays that are
different and creative instead of traditional and
expected
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Answering like a Miss America contestant will get you
nowhere
How Do I Write This
Essay?
Just like any other essay, a good scholarship
essay has an introduction, a thesis statement,
topic sentences, and transitions
 MAKE SURE YOU ANSWER THE QUESTION!
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You should put your own spin on it, but make
sure that you answer the essay question
 Read the question several times
 Take note of every part of the question
 Plan how to infuse your own personality into the
essay
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Include Yourself in the
Essay
Make sure that you are front and foremost in
the essay
 Show confidence, but not arrogance
 Include a personal anecdote or
accomplishment
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Don’t exaggerate – this type of error stands out
 Don’t sell yourself short – this is not the time for
false modesty, either!
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You Try It
Think of something from your childhood
that is special to you
 Brainstorm about this object
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What makes it special?
 Who gave it to you?
 Did it comfort you through a rough time?
 Does it provide great memories of happy
times?
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Write a short paragraph that is full of rich
detail about the object
Make Sure You Analyze
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Analyze the question:
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What parts are there to the question? Is the question in
a particular order?
Do I have to do research?
Can I find a famous quote or statistic that relates to the
question?
Analyze the organization or company:
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Why did this group ask this question? Is there a rationale
that gives me a clue for what they are looking for?
Why was the scholarship started?
Can I predict who the judges will be?
Is there a website I can look at for this information, or is
there a phone number so I can talk to someone directly?
Some Typical Scholarship
Essay Questions
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
How would this scholarship impact your education?
If your education had no limits, you could stay as long as you wanted and money
were no object, what would you hope to get out of your time at college?
You have just retired. What would people say about you at your going-away
party?
What legacy do you hope to leave with your life?
Who is your hero and why?
Describe a personal experience that has profoundly changed your perspective on
an issue of regional, national or international importance. In what way has this
event impacted your previous perspective? How will it change your approach to
this issue (or similar issues) in the future?
Describe how a work of art, music, dance, theatre or literature has inspired you.
Who speaks for your generation, and what are they saying? If you answer “no
one,” why? What needs to be said?
Pearl S. Buck once said, "You cannot make yourself feel something you do not
feel, but you can make yourself do right in spite of your feelings." Tell us about an
experience where you felt that you did the right thing in spite of your feelings.
(Next Step: Your Life After High School.
http://www.nextstepmagazine.com/nextstep/articlePage1.aspx?artId=25&categor
yId=44)
Make Sure to Use Energy
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Show confidence – you need to
sound like a can-do person
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Even if you are talking about a difficulty in
your life, put a positive spin on it
Use energetic words – you need to
sound like the Energizer Bunny
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Show what you can do and how you can
keep going with a little assistance
A Short List of Buzz Words
– A to L
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Accomplish
Award
Build
Commend
Create
Define
Discover
Design
Earn
Empower
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Enhance
Expand
Explore
Express
Generate
Help
Influence
Implement
Impact
Innovate
A Short List of Buzz Words
– M to Z
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Justify
Motivate
Mediate
Navigate
Participate
Persuade
Promote
Pursue
Raise
Recommend
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Recruit
Represent
Start
Steer
Spark
Tackle
Teach
Tutor
Understand
Verify
Avoid the Whine
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Everyone has tragedies or difficulties in life
Avoid talking about your own in the essay unless you
can put a positive twist on the story
These tragedies or difficulties often help get a
scholarship – so how do you let the judges know
about these situations?
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Use the letter of recommendation
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Discuss the situation you want revealed with the person or people
writing a letter of recommendation for the scholarship
If the person or people don’t know about your particular tragedy or
difficulty, offer some proof so they feel comfortable including the
information
Make sure the letter of recommendation explains how this tragedy or
difficulty has not stopped you from being energetic and enthusiastic
towards life’s challenges
The Problem Of Passive
Voice
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Avoid Passive Voice – passive voice makes
it sound like you are unsure of yourself. 10%
of the essay can be in passive voice, but
90% should be not be
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Passive voice occurs in two different ways:
 The
subject receives action instead of taking action:
The plans were made by me. Instead, say, I made
the plans.
of words that sound unsure: I would use the
scholarship to better my education. Instead, say, I
will use the scholarship to better my education.
 Use
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Avoid would, could, should – instead, use will, can,
must
This is Not the Time to
Procrastinate
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A mediocre essay will take a couple of hours, but will
not win any money
A good essay will take a couple of days, but still
won’t win any money
A great essay will take a couple of weeks, but will
more than likely win the scholarship
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Don’t put off writing the essay – start working on the
essay as soon as you decide to apply for the scholarship
Revise, edit, and then revise and edit again and again
Make sure that your essay is read by at least 5 other
people that you trust. Don’t ask someone who will tell
you what you want to hear; ask someone who will tell you
what you need to hear
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Weigh the advice each person gives you – but make final decisions
on changes yourself
Other Things to Keep in
Mind
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Most scholarship essays limit the number of
characters, words, or pages – honor this limit
exactly
Avoid an unconventional format – you do not want
to confuse the judges
Don’t tell the judges, show the judges
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Be concise – use vivid verbs and nouns
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Use vivid examples – tell a story
Avoid adverbs and indefinite pronouns
Spend a lot of time on the introduction – hook the
reader immediately
An Important Warning
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Plagiarism is so easy to commit today, but
you will get caught!
If you use someone else’s work without
permission or if you improperly cite the
source, it is plagiarism.
Plagiarism may not only cost you the
scholarship, but may keep you out of the
college of your choice.
There are many websites designed to help
institutions catch plagiarism:
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Turnitin.com
Great Websites for
Additional Help
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Scholarship Help http://www.scholarshiphelp.org/index.htm
Winning Essay Samples http://www.essayedge.com/contentpartners/content/samp_
scholarship.shtml
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Next Step: Your Life After High School http://www.nextstepmagazine.com/nextstep/articlePage1.a
spx?artId=25&categoryId=44
Scholarship.com: Find Money for College http://www.scholarships.com/ScholarshipsEssay.aspx