Tips for Writing Strong
College and Scholarship Essays
The personal statements and essays you are writing for colleges and scholarships are meant to convey who you are
to the people reading them. To help you write strong essays, first think about your audience and then apply the tips
below.
•
Strive for depth rather than breadth. Narrow your focus to one or two major themes rather than trying to
cover too much.
•
Gather your thoughts. Start by completing a self-assessment form to help you brainstorm your unique
strengths and qualities. The more brainstorming you do, the more insightful your essay will become.
•
Begin writing early. Before applications are due, write several essays based on some common essay prompts
so that you do not need to start from scratch each time.
•
Be original. Write your essay in a way that provides scholarship committees and admissions officers with
insight into your character and goals. Find a way to differentiate yourself from other qualified applicants. What
makes an essay interesting is not so much the topic you are writing about in and of itself, but your analysis of
that topic— your ability to reflect, to make connections, and to create meaning.
•
Don’t state; evaluate. For example, rather than telling me that you value volunteering in the community,
illustrate that concept through a story in which you were a volunteer.
•
Bring it to life. Get creative in the opening remarks. Bring the reader in with a captivating start and end with a
powerful conclusion. Provide details and examples throughout to illustrate your main points. Consider beginning
your essay in the middle of the most exciting part of a story that’s related to your topic. You could also start with
an interesting fact or a provocative statement that sums up your way of looking at life.
•
Steer clear. When writing about world events or social issues, remember to be as objective as possible. Avoid
controversial topics because you do not want to risk offending the reader.
•
Do your research. Make sure to research the college or scholarship organization you are applying to and cater
your essay accordingly. Don’t copy and paste info from the organization’s website!
•
Follow instructions. If the scholarship application is seeking information or asking you particular questions,
make sure to answer them fully. Many times you are rated on your ability to directly answer their questions.
•
Be positive. The essay writing process is your opportunity for the essay reader to get to know you. Consider an
addendum to explain deficiencies or blemishes.
Things to Consider:
Don’t
go over or under the word limit
list your accomplishments
use clichés (be original)
neglect to edit errors (grammatical, spelling)
complain or whine
write an essay with no structure
repeat or use info that is not relevant
not typed
Do
answer the question/address the topic
proof-read for errors
describe strong goals that are within reach
use examples/stories
start strong and end strong
be yourself, not the “ideal” candidate
explain abbreviations
be professional
Last Revised: 10/1/13
Common Essay Prompts
Brainstorm ideas you could write about:
What are my strengths/weaknesses?
What is special about me?
What kind of person am I? What will I become?
What do I care about?
What is it like growing up in _____ ?
Why is __ more important to me than __ ?
Who has helped me/inspired me?
• Start sentences with “I.” “I” sentences are empowering, and enable you to tell your story.
• Begin each paragraph with a topic sentence that tells the reader what you are writing about.
• Include a 1-2 sentence thesis statement at the end of your intro paragraph that summarizes your essay’s main
point.
• Use descriptive words and phrases.
• Ask friends and family, teachers, College Depot staff, etc. to read it and be open to their comments.
Some things to help you get started:
1. What are your major accomplishments, and why do you consider them accomplishments? Do not limit yourself to
accomplishments you have been formally recognized for since the most interesting essays often are based on
accomplishments that may have seemed trite at the time but become crucial when placed in the context of your life.
2. What is your strongest, most unwavering personality trait, attribute, or quality? How did you develop it? Do you
maintain strong beliefs or adhere to a philosophy? How would your friends characterize you? What would they write
about if they were writing your admissions essay for you?
3. Of everything in the world, what would you most like to be doing right now? Where would you most like to be?
Who, of everyone living and dead, would you most like to be with? These questions should help you realize what you
love most.
4. Consider your favorite books, movies, works of art, etc. Have these influenced your life in a meaningful way? Why
are they your favorites?
5. What was the most difficult time in your life, and why? How did your perspective on life change as a result of the
difficulty?
6. Have you ever struggled mightily for something and succeeded? Or failed? What made you successful? How did
you respond to failure?
7. Have you experienced a moment of epiphany, as if your eyes were opened to something you were previously blind
to?
8. What have you done outside of the classroom that demonstrates qualities sought after by universities? Of these,
which means the most to you?
9. What are your most important extracurricular or community activities? What made you join these activities? What
made you continue to contribute to them?
10. What are your dreams of the future? When you look back on your life in thirty years, what would it take for you
to consider your life successful? What people, things, and accomplishments do you need? How does this particular
university fit into your plans for the future?
College Depot Located at the Burton Barr Central Library
1221 N. Central Ave, 2nd Floor, Phoenix, AZ 85004
602-261-8847 college.depot@phoenix.gov
phoenixpubliclibrary.org/collegedepot
Last Revised: 10/1/13