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.
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!
Keep on reading to learn more about how you can nail the very first sentence and start your essay off right!
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.
Engage the reader with the first sentence
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.
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?
“I have grown up in a rural context and this has formed my aspirations and allowed me to accomplish academic success…”
A general account of events is easy to forget but when you talk about your own experiences, the message is much more impactful. Linking the content of the essay to your own life gives it a feeling of authenticity that compels the reader to empathize with the writer. Just imagine sitting in a panel reading through thousands of essays – wouldn’t you be drawn from your boredom by that one essay that reveals the vulnerability of an individual? It is even better when the essay is personal in a way that insinuates that the applicant has reconciled with their past life experiences – the more dramatic, the better.
A typical scholarship essay prompt would require applicants to state how the scholarship being contested for will help their career. Another common prompt is asking applicants to describe how their academics and skills have helped them to be better members of their society. In both these instances, the applicant must think about the story they want to tell. It is important to paint a picture of what existed before and what is anticipated for the future. Most scholarship essay writing services will ask applicants for a brief description of their life while growing up and they will use this to create a suitable essay
A scholarship essay is as diverse as a cover letter when you are applying for a job. Admission experts have deemed it acceptable for scholarship applicants to use a single essay several times provided it is customized for each application. If your essay is in line with the core mission of the awarding institution and aligns with the prompt, use it.
Essay scholarships advocate for personal representation in essay contents but without being heavily opinionated. It is best to know your reader beforehand and based on their ideologies
Be specific and make it personal
Writing an interesting piece for your essay writing scholarships applications will not come naturally because the prompts do not ask for any particular style of writing. It is up to the applicant to tie in the focus points into their essay.
You might be a helpful person but just stating that you have impacted the lives of other people will not get your scholarship essay noticed. Your reader will be pleased to read a story that portrays this trait. Tell it in a way that demonstrates obstacles, your struggles to exercise your passion and eventually how you succeeded. It is also a good idea to mention an express change of mindset brought about by some of your personal experiences.
It is quite frustrating for panels to read essays written without regard for instructions or guidelines. Applicants should be aware that guidelines are sometimes given to eliminate applicants on the basis of their ability to take simple instructions. Reading though the scholarship essay prompt several times will help you to pinpoint key areas that you need to pay attention to.
Luckily, there are some unique scholarships out there that are aimed just for online or “distance learning” students. Keep in mind, even some of the smaller scholarships (such as those for $50-$500) can still help you pay for books, online texts or subscriptions, or other essential learning materials.
If you’ve decided to pursue your education through an online bachelor’s degree or master’s degree program, it can be even more important to communicate effectively through your scholarship essay. It is entirely possible that you will never meet your collegiate benefactors or professors in person, and will only communicate with them via your writing online.
One of the best ways to start constructing and organizing an essay is to create a comprehensive outline. They serve as an essential tool to help you avoid structural mistakes, repetition, and to help you cover all your bases and ideas without rambling.
Once you’ve found a scholarship that you qualify for or that interests you, it’s important to read over the instructions thoroughly to understand what is expected of you. Then, follow these steps to write the perfect application essay for the scholarship of your choosing:
Follow Instructions
Scholarships on the other hand are often awarded based on merit. They may require that students meet (and sustain) a specific GPA in school, or that students with athletic excellence join the college’s sports team. Most scholarships will have rules that recipients are required to follow in order to continue to qualify for that scholarship. Many scholarships are funded by colleges, private organizations or donors, and some state or local programs.
For many people, it can be hard for them to revise their own work because they hold biases about their writing or are unaware of personal mistakes. Asking another person to review your work may help you refine your essay even more. Additionally, having another person read over your essay can help you determine the clarity of your point: do they understand the flow of your piece, or are they confused by any information? Does the context you provide make sense to the overall idea, or does the reader still have questions?
Your scholarship essay is going to be your primary (and sometimes sole) form of communication with the organization granting the scholarship. That’s why it’s so important to communicate directly and clearly through your essay in order to attract their attention and garner their support. Here are some additional tips to help you better communicate your intentions through your scholarship essay:
Aid may come from federal scholarship funds, state or local scholarship funds, or private organizations, such as churches, nonprofit groups, and more. Additionally, almost every scholarship will require an accompanying essay along with the application.
You can also use a hook to grab your reader’s attention. Here’s a medium-length example that does this:
Here’s a quick step-by-step guide to writing the “Tell us about you” essay:
Initially she couldn’t find an ending, but when she realized she also would have to write an essay explaining her career interests, she decided to focus the essay on the contrasts that helped her develop qualities that would serve her in the future (intellectual curiosity, solving puzzles), and use this essay for both. Yup, like a Super Essay.
After doing this, you should have a list of 3-4 uncommon values and examples of how they’ve manifested in your life. This may take you a little while, but be patient and stick with it. It’s worth it and will make up the bulk of your essay content.
How to Stand Out on Your Sports Essay If Your Topic and Achievements Are Common
Chances are you’re not applying for just one or two scholarships
Here’s a great example of a student who wrote a personal statement that shows their uniqueness:
Want the short version of the guide? Complete this 15-min exercise and you’ll have your outline.
“I am from a working-class family in Minnesota. My family never had a lot, but we pooled our efforts together to make ends meet. My parents both worked full-time (my father as a mechanic, my mother as a receptionist at the local gym), while my siblings and I all worked weekend jobs to contribute to the family income.”
If the essay prompt is a bit more open-ended (“Explain how this scholarship would help you”), your essay should probably be a combination of a financial need statement and a career goals/academic goals essay. That’s because you want to show how the award will help you financially and in your academic or career goals.
Bring it home by wrapping up your story. Explain how you plan to use the financial aid if you’re awarded this scholarship. How will you benefit from this award? What will you put the money toward, and how will it help you achieve your academic and/or career goals?
Give a short introduction to who you are, highlighting any family characteristics that might make you part of an underrepresented group at college.
Introduction: Your basic profile
Many scholarships and college financial aid awards are “need-based,” given to students whose financial situation requires additional support. That’s why one of the most common college scholarship essays is a statement of financial need. This might be very explicit (“Explain your financial need”), somewhat explicit (“Describe your financial situation”), or quite open-ended (“Explain why you need this scholarship”).
Scholarship review boards want to know that their money will be put to good use, supporting a student who has clear plans for the future, and the motivation and determination to make those plans a reality. This is like a shortened, one-paragraph version of the “Why do you deserve this scholarship?” essay.
My plan is to study human biology at UC San Diego, where I have been admitted, and eventually pursue a career as a Nurse-Practitioner. I know that being pre-med will be a real academic challenge, and this scholarship would help me focus on those tough classes, rather than worrying about how to pay for them. The $2000 award would be equivalent to about 150 hours of working at a student job. That’s 150 hours I can instead focus on studying, graduating, and achieving my goals.