winning scholarship essay examples

winning scholarship essay examples

Writing a Winning Scholarship Essay

1. Introduction

Another great thing about a ‘good student’ applying for a scholarship is that many of the essay topics can be reformulated to their past experiences or current academic pursuits – as a student history can attest, we always feel more comfortable writing about what we know. In essence, as a student may already have a plan for their future that coincides with an essay topic, preparation for the essay can double as preliminary brainstorming for a fulfillable long-term goal. With all these factors contributing to a favorable result, it is clear that a scholarship essay of any sort can be considered a worthy investment.

When scholarship essay instruction is specifically tailored to a writing style or topic, it allows the student to focus on the best way to leverage their resource of time and effort. For example, a scholarship essay for a more general award may direct the student to focus on their academic achievements and their plans for the future – implying that the student will surely be successful in college and beyond. On the other hand, an essay topic that is more specific can also be a good thing – with a more direct and logical requirement, the student can more easily identify if the essay is a ‘fit’ or ‘miss’ relative to the scholarship provider’s intentions, potentially leading to an essay rewrite in the case of a miss. This is in stark contrast to the uncertainty of an article on a topic that can be great or terrible with no degree in between.

Why a ‘Winning Scholarship Essay’ is unique. Scholarships are usually awarded based on a strong mix of academic achievement, performance (on standardized tests) or work, as well as an essay on a designated topic. While this can make excellent students feel somewhat discouraged when it comes to free financial assistance for college, there are a few distinct advantages to a ‘straight A’ student in the essay department.

2. Understanding the Scholarship Requirements

Scholarship providers are looking for students who exemplify their values. This section helps you understand these values. Let’s closely examine what the essay of who this will be critical. Always read it twice and note each point. Usually in the first read through you will have missed certain things. It is in the second reading that you will understand the importance. Read each paragraph or topic and think of it as an assignment which needs to be completed. Underline the key words to get a better focus on what is expected from you. You may want to re-write the question in your own words to make sure you have understood it. Look at the format. In what way do they want you to deliver the information? What are they looking for? These questions will help you understand the essay requirements. Read over the essay multiple times, but do it from a different perspective each time. I guarantee that there will always be a different way to understand the question and that you will often gain a new perspective in your approach.

3. Crafting an Attention-Grabbing Introduction

The best thing about learning how to craft a winning scholarship essay is that the argument and persuasion skills practiced will be useful for all things in life, not only scholarships. Any idea must be sold, said thesis being the product and the hook providing a means of advertisement. This is a lesson that cannot be taught enough.

Finally, there is the hook. This is the bait. The attention-grabber that makes the reader want to learn more about you. It should be fun or interesting, and not so involved that it becomes too lengthy. People should be able to know you better from your hook, and motivated to read your argument. Practice makes perfect, and knowing what you want to include in the body of the essay could help you generate ideas for a good hook.

Next is the thesis statement. It is a direct argument, a snappy comment that lets the reader know where you stand, and why. This is important; scholarship committees are typically seeking candidates who exhibit high levels of critical thinking. The thesis statement also guides logical and linear writing. This is good because the committee will know what you plan to prove, and what conclusions you have made, rather than being left to make decisions themselves. Thesis statements are the argument or assertion that your essay on the scholarship topic.

To craft an attention-grabbing introduction, employ the elements of basic essay structure. This means you must include an introduction, a thesis statement, and a hook. These are the first and foremost things included in a successful scholarship essay, and are what separates them from other essays. The introduction provides a first impression to the reader. This is the first opportunity to sell yourself, and where a great deal of scholarships are lost. A well-written introduction could be the deciding factor for a committee looking to reward a student with financial aid.

4. Highlighting Your Achievements and Goals

– A detailed description of your past/present activities and achievements: You should include information about your family, where you live, your financial situation, etc. Why? Because this will give you an edge in comparison to the other applicants. It will give them an understanding of what you do and who it might help (e.g., if your family is poor, getting a nursing degree would help your family and can increase your chances of getting a scholarship). – Your future: This could be an extension of the aforementioned, but isn’t just restricted to what you plan to do. The committee would like to know what your dreams are. What are you striving for? How will your studies now and future studies help you achieve your dream? Give them the complete picture. A powerful fact that could be used here is accidents. Many people have lost a career track due to a severe accident. Deploying this point with what you plan to do helps the committee gain a clear understanding of why this scholarship is in your best interests.

Focus on the future and what you are trying to achieve. You have already made the first step on the path to your goal by searching for this scholarship. One of the main reasons your goal is to persuade the committee that you deserve the scholarship more than the other applicants. Focus on the future and what you are trying to achieve. A good essay should be about modesty and confidence. A little humor never hurt anyone either. Let’s take a look at what constitutes a good essay in this category.

5. Concluding with a Strong and Memorable Message

A conclusion may restate the claim in the thesis, but now it has to be expanded upon, not just repeated. The restatement will create a desire to prove how the entire essay supports the claim. After this, your conclusion has to demonstrate a new way of thinking about your thesis. It should be the clincher in that which will leave a lasting impression with the reader, giving them something to think about. You can do this through a quick sentence or two quoting a source. This can lend credibility to what you are writing, but often they are not as powerful as you would hope. A good way to make a conclusion memorable is to package it with an image. You know that sound bite at the end of a commercial? They want you to remember that about their product. A strong image that leaves a lasting impression in the reader’s mind can be a terrific way to conclude an essay.

You finally made it to the conclusion. This is your opportunity to end on a positive note and leave a lasting impression with the reader. An ending is not a result of lazy writing. In fact, the effort you put into creating a strong beginning, the more effort you put into your essay’s middle, and the more effort you put into the conclusion will pay off with the reader. A conclusion will leave a lasting impression in the reader’s mind, so make sure it delivers a strong, summative statement.