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Steps of Effective Scholarship Essay Writing

A scholarship essay is one of the most important parts of the application, as the good one can make you succeed even if you were not considered as the best by the committee, and vice-versa, the bad essay can ruin the good impression your application has made. Therefore, you need to master scholarship essay writing, and these directions will certainly be of a great help to you.

  • Check the instructions. Be sure to read the guidelines carefully and follow them precisely. Sometimes, the guidelines will help you understand what exactly the committee wants to read in the essay and how you should develop it depending on the prompt. If the admissions see that you did not follow the instructions, you will be viewed as a student who has hard times following directions and may cause troubles if accepted.
  • While filling in the application, do not leave white spots if the question does not apply to you. Just write down that it does not and keep going afterwards.
  • Be interesting, and be yourself. Do not try to seem sophisticated by writing something too philosophical. You are not an old professor with own life philosophy who really has something decent to say. What is more interesting is what your life was all about all these years. You are young, creative, and full of enthusiasm, and that is what the admissions would like to know.
  • If you are free to write what you want, write about something you are found of. When you like the story you describe in the essay, it will flow beautifully, and it will be easier to write.
  • If you do not know what to write on a prompt, find some place quiet, and record your thoughts on the matter. Afterwards, listen to what you have brainstormed, and write down something that seems suitable.
  • Craft the essay outline beforehand. A good and thought-out scholarship essay structure will help you write a lot faster and a lot easier. Also, you will surely produce a consistent work, as the outline will guide the writing process.
  • Provide examples where necessary. While you may love helping people, and you know you have outstanding leadership skills, these are just words for the admissions. Show how and where you have used the skills you have and use examples to support the statements you make to look trustworthy.
  • Do not be abstract or purely descriptive. Your essay should be alive and let the committee members feel like they are a part of the story. Show emotions and feelings of other people and your own. Be vivid and specific while telling the story if you do not want anyone to feel confused while reading.
  • Do not exaggerate. Even if you think that your skills, achievements, or abilities are not enough to make you stand out, do not make things up or try to exaggerate. If you once helped a grandma with her heavy bags, do not claim that you help people all the time.
  • Proofread. This tip cannot be emphasized enough. Even tiny mistakes and typos left in the application or an essay can affect the way admissions see you. If you do not take your time to check and edit the essay, you will most likely be seen as a careless student who does not really need a scholarship that much.
  • Ask a teacher or a parent to review your essay. They will most likely spot the errors you have missed and shown you the parts they feel do not sound well. However, do not let anyone edit your essay. You are the one who should decide on the changes that should be made, so once you have the feedback from the person who read the essay, it is up to you to do something with it.