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52 How to Write a Winning Scholarship Essay For every scholarship you will be competing with students who share similar backgrounds and goals. If you are applying to an award that supports students who want to become doctors, you can bet that 99% of the students applying also want to become doctors. Therefore, the goal of every scholarship judge is to determine the best applicant out of a pool of applicants who at first glance look very similar. So let’s distill the underlying question that the scholarship judges really want answered; that is, Why do you deserve to win? (Your answer should not be, “Because I need the money!”) Think about these two hypothetical essay topics: The Farmers Association asks about the future of farming. The Historical Society wants an analysis of the importance of history. While at first these two questions seem unrelated, they are both driving at the same thing: Tell us why you deserve to win. In addressing either of these topics, you would need to recognize the underlying question. When writing the Farmers Association essay, you could discuss the general condition of farms and farmers, but you’d better be sure to include how you fit into the future of farming. Similarly when answering the Historical Society’s question, you could write about history in any way that you please; but you should also include if not focus on your own past and future contributions to the field of historical research or preservation. Use the essay question as a way to prove to the scholarship committee that you are the worthiest applicant for the award. #3 Share a Slice of Life As you are explaining why you deserve to win, it is important that you also reveal something about yourself. Obviously, in the short space of 500 to 1,000 words you can’t cover everything about you. This is why one of the most effective techniques is to share just a “slice of your life.” In other words, don’t try to explain everything. Just focus on one aspect of your life. If you are writing about your involvement in an activity, it may be tempting to summarize your involvement over the years and list numerous accomplishments. However, this would sound more like a resume and it would not tell the judges something that they could not learn by reading your resume. However, if you focus on just one aspect or one Chapter 4: Essay Writing Workshop   53 day of an experience, you could spend some time below the surface and share something about who you are. In other words, you would be sharing a slice of your life. Since many students write about activities in which they are involved, here are a few topics that you might want to consider. These will help you focus the essay and force you to share a slice of your life: What motivated you to get involved with this activity? ■ How do you personally benefit from participating? ■ How do you stay motivated during challenging times? ■ Is there a person that you’ve met through this activity that    has inspired you? How? ■ What one accomplishment are you most proud of? Why? ■ Have you ever considered quitting this activity? Why didn’t    you? ■ What is one thing you learned from being involved? ■ These types of questions make you examine yourself and find a specific incident, moment or thought to share. Even if the subject of the essay is an activity that you enjoy, it is important that the judges who read it come away knowing more about you. #4 Passion As a student you have written a lot of essays. And let’s be honest—most were probably on topics you didn’t care much about. You might be tempted to approach the scholarship essay in the same way that you did when writing about the Roman Aqueducts, but this would be a tragic mistake. The last common feature of all winning essays is that they are written on subjects about which the author is truly passionate. It is very difficult to fake passion for a subject. ( Just try to be excited throughout your Uncle Larry’s hourlong slideshow of his tonsil operation.) But when you are genuinely enthusiastic about something it does not take much effort for that energy to naturally show through in your writing. Therefore, when you are choosing a topic, be sure it is something you truly care about and are interested in. Without even trying, you will find that your sentences convey an excitement that the reader can almost feel. 54 How to Write a Winning Scholarship Essay When you read the examples in the next chapter, you will quickly see that the writers all cared deeply for their topics. How to Find the Perfect Topic When we were taught to color inside the lines, our artwork may have been neater but it was at the expense of creativity. The best time-tested method to develop creative ideas that lead to a great topic is through brainstorming. By thinking without restrictions, creativity flourishes. We have found that the best way to do this is to keep a notebook with you and write down ideas for topics whenever they pop into your head. Also set aside some time for a dedicated brainstorm session where you force yourself to generate new ideas. When brainstorming topics don’t be critical of the ideas you write down. Let your imagination roam. Also, ask your parents and friends for suggestions. The one shortcoming of brainstorming is that sometimes a good idea does not make for a good essay. A thought may be too complex to write about within the limitations of the essay requirements. The only way to really tell if an idea is good is to start writing. So from your list of ideas pick several that are the most promising and start composing an essay. Again, don’t pay attention to the quality of the writing just yet. You are basically testing the topic to see if it has the potential to become a great essay. If you get stuck and think the topic may not work then set it aside and try another. We have found that most students will try and then abandon two or three ideas for every good one they find. That means that you need a long list of ideas and must be willing to cut your losses and ditch a topic that does not pan out. Putting Words onto Paper At some point you can’t escape the need to start writing. The best way to begin is the same as removing a bandage—just do it, and do it quickly. To help get you going, here are some strategies for writing: Chapter 4: Essay Writing Workshop   Go beyond the Superficial Knight Ridder Minority Scholars Program To apply for the Knight Ridder Minority Scholars Program, students must write a personal statement. Many turn to the Knight Ridder website to get background information on the company. For some, this is a mistake. “You realize they went to the site and cut and pasted material from it into their essay. But it’s clear that they have little idea what these facts mean,” says Jacqui Love Marshall, vice president of human resources, diversity and development. The students cite statistics about the number of newspapers owned by Knight Ridder or the number of Pulitzer Prizes the media company has won. She adds,“It’s almost the difference between writing a book report by having read the CliffsNotes versus having read the book.” What’s more important than regurgitating statistics found on an awarding organization’s website is finding a personal connection to the organization. “When you’re looking at dozens of these essays in the middle of the night you begin to differentiate between someone who put their heart and soul in it, that there is a level of commitment there versus essays that have all the requisite information but not a personal involvement,” says Marshall. The Knight Ridder Minority Scholars Program is no longer offered, but this profile gives insight into the importance of learning about the sponsoring organization. Remember to Focus on Originality. While it is not always possible to come up with an original topic—especially if the question is the same for everyone—make sure that the essay contains originality or that the topic is approached in a novel way. If you are writing about involvement in a sport, don’t use common topics like how sports taught you the value of teamwork 55 56 How to Write a Winning Scholarship Essay or how you scored the winning touchdown, goal or point. These are repetitive topics. Using them risks having your essay lost among the hundreds of others that sound similar to yours. It’s perfectly fine to write about common topics like sports, but think of a different angle. Maybe you had a unique experience or can focus on an aspect of athletics that is often overlooked. Be Specific. A common mistake in essay writing is to use general statements instead of specific ones. Don’t write, “Education is the key to success.” Instead, give the judges a slice of your life. Show them how education has impacted your life in a single experience or realization. If you are writing about your desire to become an astronaut you might explain how this began when your father bought you a model rocket for Christmas. Focusing on a specific example of your life will help readers relate to your experiences and ensure that your essay is memorable and (as a bonus) original. Share Something Personal. While some questions ask about a national or international problem or event, the scholarship committee still would like to know something about you. After all, they are considering giving their money to you. Some of the better essays written about serious issues like drug abuse or nuclear proliferation have also found ways to incorporate information about the author. One student who wrote about the U.S. arms policy spoke about his personal involvement in a club at school that hosts an annual peace conference. He was able to tie in the large international policy issues with the more personal aspect of what he was doing on an individual level. It was a great policy essay, which also revealed something about the author. Have a Thesis. It sounds obvious, but many students’ essays don’t have a clear point. Whether you are describing the influence of your father or the effect of World War II on race relations, you must have a central idea to communicate to the reader. Chapter 4: Essay Writing Workshop   To see if your essay has a central thesis, try this simple exercise. Ask yourself, “What is the point of my essay in a single sentence?” Here are some answers that would satisfy the question for essays on independence and drug addition, respectively: “Growing up in the country taught me to be independent.” “Treatment of addiction is the only way to win the war on drugs.” If you cannot condense the point of your essay into a single sentence, then the main point may not be clear enough. Or worse, your essay may not have a thesis. Expand on Your Accomplishments. Winning a scholarship is about impressing the judges and showing them why you are the best candidate for a monetary award. Your accomplishments, activities, talents and awards all help to prove that you are the best fit. Since you will probably list your activities on the application form, use the essay to expand on one or two of the most important ones. However, don’t just parrot back what is on the application. Use the opportunity to focus on a specific accomplishment, putting it into the proper context. Share details. Listing on the application that you were a stage manager for a play does not explain that you also had to design and build all of the sets in a week. The essay allows you to expand on an achievement to demonstrate its significance. Beware of Meaningless Facts. Some students approach the essay like a research paper, cramming it with statistics and survey results. You might think that the facts and figures “wow” judges. While this does display research skills, facts and figures alone hardly make a good essay. In particular, if you are trying to impress a corporation with your knowledge of their sales and global markets, don’t just repeat facts from their website. You may use facts about the sponsoring organization, but be sure that they are essential to the essay. Don’t repeat statistics without a reason, and don’t think that the more you have the better. 57 58 How to Write a Winning Scholarship Essay Use Examples & Illustrate Mark R. Eadie, Coca-Cola Scholars Regional Winner “Make sure to use examples to illustrate points. Instead of saying ‘I was active in high school,’ describe your high school activities. Also, focus on one or two activities that had special meaning to you. “There’s a fine line between bragging and too much humility. Be honest about yourself and what you’ve done, and the scholarship committee will recognize this. Your essay is going to be read by real people who are intelligent and wise so don’t make things up. Trying to trick them is like trying to trick parents; it just doesn’t work. “Also, the essay readers may have to read hundreds of essays, so give them something to remember you by.” Avoid Clichés. We are all guilty of using a cliché in our writing. “Don’t cry over spilled milk.” “Good things come to those who wait.” “Try and try and you will succeed.” These are all common clichés. It’s important to avoid using them in the essay. Why? First of all, the use of clichés is just lazy writing. You are using a common phase instead of taking the time to come up with your own words. Second it’s not your words and therefore it’s not original. When you use a cliché you are penalized for being both lazy and unoriginal. It’s just not worth it. If you find yourself writing a cliché, stop, and rewrite the idea in your own words. Don’t Write a Sob Story. Tear-jerking stories may be popular subjects for television specials and song lyrics, but they rarely, if ever, win scholarships. A common theme students write about is why they need the scholarship money to continue their education. While this is a perfectly legitimate topic, it is often answered with an essay filled with family tragedies and hardships—a sob story. Again, there is nothing wrong with writing about this topic, but don’t expect to win if the intent of your essay is to evoke pity. Chapter 4: Essay Writing Workshop   59 If your main point (remember our test) is this: “I deserve money because of the suffering I’ve been through,” you have a problem. Scholarship committees are not as interested in problems as they are in solutions. What have you accomplished despite these hardships? How have you succeeded despite the challenges you’ve faced? This is more significant and memorable than merely cataloging your misfortunes. Plus, don’t forget that to win you have to be an original. The sob story is one of the more common types of essays, and it is hard to compete when you are telling the same story that literally hundreds of other students are also writing. Remember that every applicant has faced difficulties. What’s different and individual to you is how you’ve overcome those difficulties. Show Positive Energy. Mom has probably said: “If you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say anything at all.” Everyone likes an uplifting story. Especially, since you have your entire future ahead of you, scholarship judges want to feel your enthusiasm. In fact, one reason adults love to volunteer to be scholarship judges is to meet positive and enthusiastic young adults who do not have the cynicism or closed minds of adults. Try to stay away from essays that are overly pessimistic, antagonistic or critical. This doesn’t mean that you have to put a happy spin on every word or that you can’t write about a serious problem. But it does mean that you should not concentrate only on the negative. If you are writing about a problem try to present some solutions. Your optimism is what makes organizations excited about giving you money to pursue your passion for changing the world. Don’t shy away from this fact. The Importance of Editors There is an old writer’s saying: “Behind every good writer is an even better editor.” If you want to create a masterpiece, you need the help of others. You don’t need a professional editor or even someone who is good at writing. You just need people who can read your work and provide useful and constructive feedback. 60 How to Write a Winning Scholarship Essay Roommates, friends, family members, teachers, professors or advisors all make great editors. When others read your essay, they will find errors that you missed and help make the essay clearer to someone who is not familiar with the topic. You will find that some editors catch grammar and spelling mistakes but will not comment on the overall quality of the essay. Others will miss the technical mistakes but give you great advice on making the substance of your essay better. It’s essential to find both types of editors. As you find others to help improve your essay, be careful that they do not alter your work so much that your voice is lost. Editing is essential but your writing should always be your own. Recycle & Reuse Recycling in the context of this discussion has no relation to aluminum cans or newspapers. What we mean is that you should reuse essays that you have written for college applications, classes or even other scholarships. Writing a good essay takes a lot of time and effort. When you have a good essay you’ll want to edit it and reuse it as much as possible. Sometimes, to recycle an essay, you must change the introduction. Try experimenting with this. You may find that while you might have to write a few new paragraphs you can still use the body of the original essay. One word of caution: Don’t try to recycle an essay when it just doesn’t fit. The essay must answer the question given by the scholarship organization. It’s better to spend the extra time to write an appropriate essay than to submit one that doesn’t match the scholarship requirements. How to Write a Great Introduction or Conclusion Great novels have two things in common—a gripping introduction and a conclusion that leaves the reader with something to think about. Great essays share similar traits. Chapter 4: Essay Writing Workshop   61 The first impression that the judges get is from the introduction. If it does not catch their attention and make them want to read further then you will lose even before you have had a chance. Here are some strategies for beginning any essay: Create action or movement. Use an example or short story to create action right at the beginning. Have you noticed how most movies begin with a striking scene that quickly draws you in? Do the same with your introduction. Pose a question. Questions draw attention as the readers think about their answers and are curious to see how you answer them in the essay. You can also use an interesting or surprising fact in place of a question. Use descriptions. If you can create a vivid image for readers, they will be more likely to want to read on. Just be sure to do so succinctly since you don’t want the introduction to be filled with detail that does not move the plot forward. Conclusions are just as important as introductions since they are the last impression you will leave with the reader (the scholarship judge). Here are a few tips for the closing remarks. Be thoughtful. The conclusion should end with something insightful. You may even decide to withhold a thought from the essay so that you have something for the conclusion. Essays Get Better with Each Revision Kristin N. Javaras, Rhodes Scholar “I highly recommend showing your essay to people who have won fellowships themselves or who have read successful fellowship application essays before (and the more people the better). I feel that the revision process was crucial for my essay: I went through about seven or eight drafts of my personal statement before I was satisfied!”