college scholarship essay examples

college scholarship essay examples

College Scholarship Essays: Examples and Tips for Success

1. Introduction

Every year, the path to college is paved with more roadblocks. Increasing applications from the U.S. and abroad mean that universities across the country are rewarded with an even more elite pool of candidates. Impeccable grades and test scores alone are no longer enough to set students apart from the crowd. As social media and technology begin to change the landscape of higher education, admissions officers are looking for new ways to get to know potential students. There is still no better way to introduce yourself than through an admission essay. In the sixteen years since its inception, AdmissionsEssays has been helping students craft and edit memorable personal statements and letters of recommendations. Our gifted writers are familiar with the changing face of college admissions. After all, we were among the first online essay and personal statement development services. Our editors have reviewed thousands of essays. This means that our editing and proofreading services are based specifically on work with admissions essays. We know what students like to write, and what admissions officers like to read. Unlike other sites, we are also able to offer complete essay development through our proprietary biograph process. This means that we can help you craft an essay based upon your own unique experiences and aspirations. Since 1996, our goal has been helping students achieve their dreams. Our editors help students craft and edit written work for undergraduate, post-graduate, medical school, law school, and business school. Writing isn’t something that comes easy to every student – no matter how smart or driven. That is where our services come in. We work with students to help them convey in words what they are hoping to communicate to the admissions officers. Our editors want to help!

2. Crafting a Compelling Story

These are the stories behind the list of activities and leadership roles on your application. Go beyond the dry facts, and show the reader who you are. You know that you’re a good match for the college you’re applying to, but that doesn’t mean it will be a good match for you. It careful review of this essay, that we realize the applicant wants to apply to Swarthmore, and it does a great job convincing Swarthmore that it’s a perfect place for this student. So be yourself and write honestly about why you want to apply to a certain school, because the colleges to which apply will find it out.

Think of your essay as a creative way to help college officials get to know you. You may be thinking that you’re not a creative person, so how are you supposed to put your point across in an imaginative way? Not everyone has an excessive style of writing and still every person has a unique story. Your writing should reflect your individualism and that alone will set you apart from other applicants.

3. Highlighting Academic Achievements

1. Test Scores: For many scholarship providers, the standardized test is the most objective measure available and takes precedence over all other components in a scholarship competition. The test score makes it easier to compare a student from one region to a student in another region. The standardized test in the United States is the SAT. If you are going to college in a Western or Northern state, it is likely that you should take the SAT. If you are going to school in the Midwest or on the East coast, then it is likely that you should take the ACT. These tests are not necessarily interchangeable, so be sure to ask a college or university which test they prefer. A good way to prepare for these tests is to take a PSAT exam in your sophomore year and then review extensively for the SAT at the beginning of your junior year. Students taking the ACT should study for the PLAN test in tenth grade and the EXPLORE test in ninth grade. Having a high GPA helps, but extensive preparation for these tests can be an absolute game changer in a scholarship competition. A tip for improving SAT scores is to spend some time searching various SAT vocabulary lists and using the words in your daily language.

Have you recently received an admittance letter from a college or university offering you a scholarship? Did you respond by saying, “I don’t think I deserve a scholarship…I’m just an average student.” If you answered yes to either one of these questions, then it’s time to learn what scholarship providers look for as they choose who deserves their money. The good news is that scholarship providers have very objective criteria for awarding money. It is a level playing field. Their decisions are based on the following academic criteria:

4. Demonstrating Leadership and Community Involvement

My leadership style is supportive, yet stern when it needs to be. I am a leader that is capable of doing the task that I set out to do and I don’t expect anything of my followers that I wouldn’t expect of myself. I am a leader that has to know what they are working towards. I am not one to wander around in the dark or to go about something half-cocked. I prefer to have a well thought out plan, knowing exactly what has to be done and the method to do it. This strategy has been effective thus far, and I see no reason to change it.

Over the years, so much of what I have been involved in has been about service and helping others. Most of my leadership has been displayed in marching band, where I have held various positions of leadership throughout the years. I currently hold the position of assistant drum major for the upcoming season. My first leadership position was as section leader, where I was in charge of the alto saxophones. I have been a leader for my church youth group as well, planning and implementing a variety of service projects.

Leadership

Sample high school student resume for scholarships

5. Conclusion: Standing Out and Securing Scholarships

As the author says, the best preparation for the challenge of creating a winning essay is to keep abreast of all the requirements, both personal and general. Find out what they are, and if you have time, pursue the general requirements through a course in good writing. Learn about the scholarship organization to which you are applying. This knowledge gives you a great advantage. Information is the key. If you know what the scholarship committee is looking for in a candidate, you will be able to cater your essay to meet their standards. As a rule, the more specific the better. This is an essay that makes the decisive difference. Be personal and specific, whether it is through the format or content. Appeal to the emotions of the reviewers, and provide concrete evidence for your achievements. It also might help to actually print handwriting the essay. It has been mentioned that every high school student should have to write essays in handwriting. Not only is it an art form, but the use of cursive writing has been shown in several studies to help the flow of ideas when taken down on paper. The following is a sample of the more general approach to writing a winning scholarship essay. All specific examples of how this method will be used should be taken from the two previous articles that focus on personal and random scholarships.