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Tips for Scholarship Applications and Personal Essays*
Getting Started
Before you start filling out your scholarship applications, you need to spend some time thinking
about how to write a scholarship essay that will get the results that you want. For many students,
the hardest part of writing a scholarship essay is getting comfortable with highlighting your
accomplishments. Students often see this as bragging about themselves. But this is exactly what
you need to do in order to convince the judges that you should receive the scholarship instead of
the other applicants, you have to tell the judges what makes you a better candidate.
Therefore, one of the most important things you have to do when getting ready to write your
college scholarship essays is to spend some time reflecting on just how wonderful you really are.
When you write down all of the great things you have accomplished, it will be much easier for
you to create an essay that conveys your strong points to the judges.
Tips for getting ready to write a strong essay:
1. Make a list of all your accomplishments.
2. Develop a list of your extracurricular activities.
3. Write down the three accomplishments of which you are the most proud.
4. Think of a problem that you have faced and write down how you were able to overcome it.
5. Put in writing your career goals, or your reason for wanting to attend college.
6. Pretend that you had to write a letter of recommendation for yourself. Write down the
three most important things you would say.
Armed with this list of your best traits, accomplishments, and goals, you’re on your way to
writing a winning essay. Of course, you have to make sure that your essay is well written, on-
topic, sounds sincere, and is free of typographical errors. No matter what you end up saying
about yourself, be sure to proofread it very carefully. It’s always a great idea to have someone else
double check for spelling, grammar, and mechanical errors. Do not wait until the last minute to
write your essay!
Read the Instructions!!!!!!!
This is the first mistake that students make – they don’t “read the instructions”. Don’t let this
happen to you!
Do you qualify for the scholarship? Do you meet the criteria?
What is the deadline and what do you need to submit? i.e. essay, letters of recommendation,
transcripts, etc.
Are there any limits on the essay? i.e. words, fonts, spacing, pages, etc.
Example Scholarship Essay Questions
Describe one specific example of your leadership ability
Describe why you wish to obtain a college education and why you are deserving of a
scholarship
Describe what influenced your decision to pursue Engineering as a career
What personal information do you wish to share with the scholarship selection committees?