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I've been applying for a few scholarships lately and I'm not sure how long these essays should be. To those who've written scholarship essays before, any suggestions? Thanks in advance!

Hey there! It's great that you're applying for scholarships. The length of scholarship essays can vary depending on the specific requirements provided by the scholarship organization. Some may have a strict word limit, while others might have a suggested range or not specify a length at all.

In general, a good rule of thumb is to aim for about 500-800 words for a scholarship essay unless otherwise specified. This length typically provides enough space to effectively communicate your main points and elaborate on your thoughts, while also remaining concise and engaging for the reader. Always make sure to carefully read the guidelines and follow any word count or formatting instructions provided for each scholarship you apply to. Good luck!

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5 Ways to Make Your Scholarship Essay Stand Out

A well-crafted essay can potentially win students thousands of dollars in scholarships, experts say.

Make Your Scholarship Essay Stand Out

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Applying for scholarships means starting early and writing strong essays.

Key Takeaways

• Start writing essays early to allow time for research and editing.
• Grab the reader's attention immediately with a compelling story.
• Answer questions directly with sound grammar and style.

It's no secret college is expensive . One way to alleviate the cost burden is through scholarships , a form of financial aid that doesn't need to be repaid. Scholarships can range from a few hundred dollars to several thousand dollars, but winning them requires strong credentials and a well-crafted essay.

With so many components to the college application , experts say it's common for students to rush through certain parts. But applying for scholarships and writing strong essays should receive careful attention, experts say.

"A scholarship can mean the difference between graduating debt-free or accumulating substantial student loans," says Liz Doe Stone, president of Top Tier Admissions, an admissions consulting company. "The financial relief can also provide more freedom in choosing a career path without the pressure of loan repayments and open up other professional opportunities, since (scholarships) look great on a resume and may facilitate networking opportunities."

Students should approach scholarship applications and essays as if they're applying for a job, says Haley Lindsey, director of financial aid at Missouri Western State University .

"Essentially, you’re trying to obtain money,” says Lindsey, whose role also includes reviewing scholarship applications. "When you’re writing your essay, be professional. You want to put your best foot forward."

Here are five ways students can make their scholarship essays stand out.

Start Early

Scholarships will set deadlines throughout the year, but experts say a majority – especially local scholarships – typically set deadlines from January through April of a student's senior year. Regardless of the deadline, experts agree on when to start writing essays: the sooner the better, as procrastination typically leads to poor writing.

"It's critical to give yourself enough time to research, write, revise and seek expert feedback," Stone says. "Your final draft should clearly make the case that your goals align with the scholarship's mission and values, and this process takes time."

Students can save a lot of time by pre-writing and reusing essays, but they should be prepared to carefully tailor them to the specific school or organization awarding the scholarship, experts say.

Pre-writing essays can be especially useful for students applying for a high number of scholarships. If students try to write a unique essay for every scholarship, there’s a chance they could experience burnout, which could negatively affect the quality of their essays, says Bethany Hubert, financial aid specialist and manager of high school partnerships at Going Merry, a free scholarship application platform.

"I would much rather a student have two or three essays in their pocket that they’re super confident about, that they spent hours on over the summer and can use again," she says.

Craft a Strong Opening

Scholarship committees often sift through hundreds of applications and essays – or more. The ones that stand out capture the reader's attention from the start with a strong hook that creates curiosity in the reader's mind, says Andrew Simpson, editorial director for College Essay Guy, which offers coaching on college admissions and essay writing.

The following example from an "open topic" prompt shows this well, he says.

Fedora? Check. Apron? Check. Tires pumped? Check. Biking the thirty-five minutes each evening to the cafe and back to work a six-hour shift was exhausting, but my family’s encouragement and gratitude for the extra income was worth it.

This opening "clearly sets up the experience and stakes that drive the essay forward, but again does so relatively succinctly," Simpson says.

Introductions like this, which drop the reader into the action through an anecdote or personal story, tend to be effective and persuade the reader to keep reading, Stone says.

"Remember, the classic advice to 'show, not tell' is key," she says. "Use descriptive language to paint a picture and immerse your reader in the action."

Tell Your Story

Committees want to see how students are able to connect their personal achievements to their future goals and how the scholarship will help them achieve them. Committees don't need applicants to be "level 10/10 vulnerable," Simpson says, "but a lot of strong scholarship essays we’ve seen include moments or details that make us feel connected to the students, that make us root for them."

Students can do this is by sharing their personal story. For example, Hubert says she won several scholarships by writing about her journey as a first-generation college student . Sharing such background allows scholarship committees to understand an applicant at a deeper level.

One student Hubert worked with wrote a scholarship-winning essay about attending college despite her parents not doing so, explaining how she plans to forge her own path.

Everyone makes mistakes, but it is those who learn from their mistakes who are successful. I am learning from their mistakes. Where they got stumped, I find a way to get over. Where they may have stumbled, I continue to run. I have to keep running for my goals in life. Even after reaching my goal I will continue to strive towards greatness. People use the saying, “the sky is the limit,” but it isn’t.

"This made me feel something, and it resonated with me on a personal level," Hubert says. "Statements that are direct, clear and evoke an emotion are great for essays asking you to discuss a personal experience."

Authenticity is important to scholarship committees, so applicants should focus on what makes them "a uniquely deserving candidate for this award," rather than what they think the committee wants to hear, says Carolyn Pippen, a college admissions counselor at admissions consulting firm IvyWise.

"A great essay about a seemingly mundane or 'unimpressive' topic that helps the reader understand you more clearly will always be more effective than a generic, surface-level response about a more 'exciting' topic," Pippen wrote in an email.

Be cautious of tone, however. While applicants don't want to come across as arrogant, they should sound confident in their essays and still be the main character in their story, Stone says.

"It’s easy to write an essay about a meaningful mentor, family member or friend," she says, "but these details distract from what the scholarship committee wants to know about: you! An effective scholarship essay will highlight your achievements and/or discuss the challenges you have overcome through concrete experiences that make your essay more memorable."

Answer Prompts Directly and Thoroughly

Scholarship essays vary in length, but in many cases students have around 500 words to share their message. Some essay prompts are open-ended, but most ask very specific questions. Applicants should read the prompt thoroughly and directly address what it's asking.

Lindsey says she occasionally reads essays where applicants don’t fully answer the prompt or even leave some blank.

“If you can’t answer all the questions, then why should I reward you?” she asks.

Since the runway for most scholarship essays is so short, students need to get to the point immediately and efficiently tell the story, focusing one or two solid examples to directly answer the question, Pippen says. Hubert says students should use the AEC formula to get their point across quickly: assertion, evidence, then commentary.

Students should have someone proofread their completed essay without knowledge of the prompt, Hubert says. If the reader can discern what the prompt was only by reading the essay, the student will know they answered the question directly.

"A lot of times, people who are writing miss that and they end up writing a really good essay, but it has nothing to do with the prompt or it dances around it," she says.

Use Strong and Sound Writing

While students may be lax when text messaging with friends, that style of writing should not carry over to scholarship essays. Using shorthand, slang or improper sentence structure, grammar or punctuation is a surefire way to lose credibility in the eyes of essay readers, experts say.

"It is very common and I see it a lot of the time where instead of saying ‘you,’ students put ‘u,’" Lindsey says. “That’s a huge turnoff to scholarship committees. If you can’t take the two extra seconds to put in the two extra letters, that’s not a good essay, to me. They don’t have to be a phenomenal writer, but if they’re not giving me the full word or (if they're) using that texting language, it’s an automatic out for me."

Such writing also typically signals a lack of time spent crafting the essay. Successful essays undergo multiple drafts and edits to ensure strong writing, Simpson says.

Example of a Scholarship-Winning Essay

The following excerpt, used with permission from Stone, comes from an essay that won a student a scholarship.

This prompt asked applicants how their course of study will contribute to their future career and why they chose that path.

By studying Spanish language and Latin American history in college, I plan to pursue a career that will allow me to advocate for immigrants and refugees. Since I plan to study in the United States, I am specifically interested in helping the Mexican-American immigrant community by creating lesson plans for schools that will teach students about immigrants’ struggles and educating people about the laws that will resolve injustices.

The applicant goes on to explain what they've already done to gain experience and knowledge in this field, including creating an app that educates people on bills being passed or voted on that pertain to immigrants' rights within their state. The applicant then mentions a class they took at Brown University in Rhode Island where the final project was an infographic highlighting the challenges immigrants face and what U.S. citizens can do to help.

The essay closes:

This project helped me to realize that I could be interested in a career in law or social services that will allow me to work directly with the immigrant community to address their needs.

"This scholarship essay effectively articulates the student's post-college goals and how these goals are rooted in their specific high school experiences and accomplishments," Stone says. "By linking their intended course of study to their advocacy for immigrants and refugees, they demonstrate both a strong commitment to community activism and a practical understanding of the challenges faced by immigrants. This alignment of past experiences with future aspirations – as well as their sincere dedication to making a positive impact through their chosen field – resonated with the scholarship committee."

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• Applying For Scholarships

Use This Scholarship Essay Format (w/example)

David Dec 24, 2018

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Winning a scholarship can be hard. There is a lot of competition, especially for the more prestigious awards. It is important that you do as much as you can to increase your chances of winning.

You may do this in many ways. Of course, if you apply to more scholarships, you increase your chances of winning. Getting awesome letters of recommendation is also key.

And then, there’s the dreaded scholarship essay that so many students have trouble with. As challenging as the essay is, it is critical to your application. 

The fastest path to earning scholarships

Simplify and focus your application process with the one-stop platform for vetted scholarships.

Your resume may show off all your achievements. But your essay shows the scholarship committee who you are. This is the place for you to set yourself apart from other candidates.

No doubt, the content of your essay is very important. (Like having an engaging introduction and memorable conclusion ). However, the scholarship essay format is also important for making a good impression.

Often times, students invest so much of their time focusing on the content requirements of the essay, that they forget about the es say format.

Why the Essay Format is Important

Scholarship committees have many essays to review. Setting a general format for all students saves them time when reading essays. They will not make any exceptions.

The last thing you want to do is ruin your awesome essay with a lousy format. So, here are some tips on how you should format your essay to make it look professional. You want to come across as a serious contender and a top candidate for the scholarship.

How to Format Your Scholarship Essay

Most scholarship applications  have the same format requirements for the scholarship essay. If you come across an application that doesn’t specify how to format your essay, the following format is a safe option for you to go with. Remember, if you ever have doubts, contact the scholarship committee for clarification.

Essay Format: 

• Double spaced
• 12 point Times New Roman font (Arial and Verdana is also okay). Don’t use any fancy script fonts, as beautiful as you may think they are.
• 1-1.5” margins (top, bottom, and side)
• Indent every paragraph or insert a blank line in between each paragraph to set them apart
• Insert your last name and page number (for longer essays) on the top left. You may also choose to sign your name at the end of your scholarship essay.
• Titles are optional. But, a catchy title can make a difference and engage your reader. Think about it, the title is the first thing your reader sees. 

Follow the word count guidelines as set by the scholarship committee. Scholarship judges usually don’t want to read an essay that is longer than ¾ to a page in length.

If your essay needs to be 300 words, it is okay if you don’t meet that exact number, such as 294 or 310. But, if you hand in a 450-word essay, they might not accept your application. It is best to get closest to the number as possible.

It can be tempting to write a long essay on all your accomplishments. But this isn’t what the scholarship committee wants to see . Quality is more important than quantity. 

Of course, there are exceptions. Always make sure that you know what the word requirement is.

Brainstorm your thoughts beforehand, create an outline, and stick to it. This should help you keep to the maximum work number.

Body Paragraphs

Your essay should consist of three or more paragraphs. Each paragraph should have at least three sentences.

Include a thesis statement in your introduction paragraph. The thesis sentence explains what you will talk about during your essay. Remember, your introduction paragraph should reel in your reader. 

Each body paragraph should f ocus on a different aspect that represents your thesis statement. Your concluding paragraph should revisit the theme and wrap up your main points. 

Use logical transitions between your body paragraphs. These help to connect the different topics in your essay. 

Other Tips: 

•   If you need to print and mail in your essay, use high-quality paper and an envelope that will fit the paper without folding it.
•   If your instructions state not to staple your materials, follow the rule. You don’t want to be disqualified for something as silly as this after you’ve worked so hard.
•   Take time to revise your essay. Read your essay out loud and pass it along to a family member to revise it as well. Sometimes, it takes many times (and eyes) to find errors.

When reviewing your essay, make sure that it is easy to follow. Are you answering the essay prompt in a concise manner? Ask family members if they know what the essay prompt is from reading your essay.

Before starting to write your essay, get to know the organization awarding the scholarship. What is its mission? The information you include in your essay should match their expectations and goals.

Finally, make sure that your essay focuses on you and not somebody else, like a role model. If you are talking about a role model, explain how that person has impacted your life and your goals.

Some of the guidelines ma y seem unimportant. But, the scholarship committee pays attention to minute details. They usually provide guidelines as a way to see how well applicants can follow them. If they don’t provide instructions, follow the essay format we have listed for you above.

Clearly read all instructions of the scholarship application. Making trivial mistakes is a sure way to get your candidacy revoked. If there’s something you don’t understand, reach out to the scholarship committee. They are there to assist you and answer questions. 

You may be tempted to apply only to scholarships that don’t require an essay. These scholarship applications are easier to fill out. But, for this reason, they receive a lot more applications. 

Using a free scholarship matching service can help you find loads of scholarships in no time. Get the money you deserve by applying to scholarships you qualify for. Spend time working on those essays and you may be a lucky winner.

Scholarship Essay Examp le: 

From Dad’s Shadow to My Own

Growing up, I always thought that I was going to take over my dad’s automobile shop. I had helped him in his store from a young age, handing him a screwdriver when he needed to turn a screw and a Coca-Cola when he was thirsty. He called me his mini-me and nothing made the smile on my face wider. I hid behind the shadow of my dad, a shy and awkward middle-schooler. I wanted to be just like him, that is, until I grew into Sam Foster and realized my own potential. 

When I entered freshman ye

ar of high school, I looked for a way to get to know new people. I decided to join my school’s drama club. Never having acted before, it was a pretty random choice. Especially because I was so shy. But, not being the sporty type or the science type didn’t leave me with many other options. 

We got our first assignment to perform a monologue in front of everyone. I was absolutely terrified. I practiced in front of the mirror in the bathroom for hours every night. I couldn’t imagine performing it in front of 20 other students in the club. 

The time came to perform my monologue. I got up on stage, my entire body shaking. My director gave me the okay to start. What happened next was a miracle. I started reciting my lines and gained confidence that I’ve never felt before. I became my character and didn’t not ice the crowd in front of me. 

On that day, I realized my calling in life. I was born to be an actor. Since freshman year, I have starred in every play at my school. I have taken acting classes in my high school, and outside acting classes. Next year, I am starting at the University of Michigan where I will major in drama. 

Unfortunately, my parents haven’t been the most supportive of my career choice. They were expecting me to take over the family business and not pursue my own path. I will have to rely on taking out loans to fund my education. 

I am planning to find a part-time job at school, but with all of the studying I will be doing and participation in school clubs and shows, my time to work will be limited. This scholarship will greatly assist me in pursuing my educational and career goals. 

As proud as little Sam Foster w as in his dad’s automobile shop, the Sam Foster of today is even prouder. No longer is he too shy to stand on his own, but he thrives in the spotlight. 

I am so excited to begin my bachelor’s degree in the fall. I know that I will gain invaluable skills. My education is so important to me and to my future. 

Thank you for your time and consideration for this award, 

• Scholarship Essay

David Tabachnikov is the CEO of ScholarshipOwl. Formerly at Waze and Google, David is an experienced CTO/R&D manager with over 10 years of experience of leading tech teams. David fervently believes that students should have greater access to education, and is passionate about using technology to help them achieve that goal.

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