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Essays 101: How to Write A Quality Scholarship Essay

Updated: Mar 4

Whether you're applying for your first scholarship or looking to refine your approach, this blog is here to help you craft essays that stand out.


Scholarship essays are your chance to showcase not just your achievements, but your personality, goals, and why you’re the perfect fit for the award.


From understanding the key components to perfecting your message, we’ll break down each step to ensure your essay makes a lasting impression and increases your chances of success.


Let’s get started on turning your story into a winning application!


Tip 1: Adhere to the principles of writing ANY strong essay

Your essay should catch the attention of the reader.  The structure and content of your essay should be clear, concise, and easy to digest. 


Create a ‘hook’ or thesis statement that represents the central idea of the essay. Always remember the purpose (topic) of your essay, doing so will allow you to input content that is relevant. 


Stick to the usual essay structure that includes an introduction, body, and conclusion. No matter how strict or loose the essay guidelines are, your essay should always show a clear beginning, middle, and end. 

If you are introducing a new idea, begin a new paragraph.

Conclude your essay in a neat and orderly fashion, do not introduce any new ideas and do not create any dead ends that leave the reader wondering what happened.  


Tip 2: Familiarize yourself with the prompt

Read, Read, Read. Read the essay prompt several times to ensure you have a detailed understanding of what the prompt is asking. 


If the essay prompt is not presented in a question format, re-format the prompt to a question before you begin writing. In restructuring the question, you will be able to better understand the topic and successfully address the question in its entirety.


Tip 3: Know the Character Limit

It is possible to be disqualified by going too far over or under the requested word/character limit. While you may not necessarily have to write an essay that hits the limit on the dot, you should always aim to come as close as possible. 


  • General rule of thumb: 

    • 250 words = one typed page, double spaced

    • 500 words = two typed pages, double spaced 


Tip 4: Brainstorm and Plan

Like traveling to any destination, the trip always goes smoother when you take the time to map out where you’re actually going. It’s nearly impossible to navigate yourself to the beach with absolutely no road map or GPS directions. 


Before sitting down to write, gather a few organic ideas and then choose a topic/subject that makes the most sense for you. 


  • Brainstorm Techniques: 

    • Idea Map

    • Idea List


Tip 5: Outlining Creating an outline is a crucial step in organizing your thoughts and ideas before you start writing. It’s essentially a roadmap for your essay or project, helping you structure your content logically and ensure that your writing flows smoothly.


When you create an outline, you break down the main points and supporting details in a hierarchical order, typically starting with an introduction, followed by the body paragraphs, and concluding with a summary or conclusion.


Tip 6: Appeal to the ethos, pathos, and logos

Ethos, pathos, and logos are all methods of persuading your reader. Utilizing these techniques show more power and are more convincing when you write. In the ideal essay, you should use all three types to help support your points and create a persuasive essay.


  • Ethos = how you establish your own credibility, reliability, or authority on the subject matter (hint: you’ll be relying largely on personal experience in your scholarship essay).


  • Pathos = how you use emotional appeal (including creativity, imagination, etc.) to tell your story or make your case.


  • Logos = how you use logic or ration to convey your point.


Tip 7: Avoid redundancies, controversy, and text speak

Avoid overusing words (redundancies), hot topics (controversy), and text acronyms and abbreviations.


Re-Adjust and Re-Use Your Scholarship Essays

Tricks to Writing Essays


  1. Consider Your Audience

Always write with the intent to immediately grab the attention of your reader.

Be professional, but also be yourself. Write in your own voice and tone while also being clear and concise.


Sell yourself, but also be humble. Find a strong balance between sharing your accomplishments without being too boastful.


  1. Edit, Edit, Edit

Contrary to popular belief, proofreading your scholarship essay is far more important than writing the essay itself.


Typos are a very quick way to be dismissed by the reader.


  1. Enlist Help

Utilize the wisdom, knowledge, and expertise of those around you by asking your teachers, counselors, administrators, parents, and other family members for help when needed.


Whether you’re experiencing difficulty coming up with a topic or need a proofreader, ask for help!


Scholarship Topic Examples:


  • Open Topic: ALWAYS choose a topic that you genuinely enjoy. You will produce a more authentic essay when you are writing about a topic you care about.


  • Explain something or someone that made a big impact on your life.


  • Please explain a personal hardship or catastrophic life event that you have experienced. How did you manage to overcome this obstacle? What did you learn and how did you grow from it?


  • Describe a change you would like to make in the world. Tell us about how you would plan to make that change and what obstacles you might encounter along the way.


  • Tell us about a time when you failed at something. What were the circumstances? How did you respond to failure? What lessons did you learn?


  • Please explain how your experience volunteering and participating in community service has shaped your perspective on humanity. Elaborate on how these experiences have influenced your future ambitions and career choice.


Tips to Help You Succeed


  1. The Planning Phase

    • Plan Far in Advance

    • Know Your Audience

    • Follow the Instructions

    • Choose a Topic That You Are Interested In & Passionate About


  1. The Writing Phase

    • Create a Strong Introduction

    • Keep a Good Structure

    • Show Emotions

    • Use Real Life Examples

    • Keep the Tone Inspirational & Positive

    • Stay Away from Dreary & Boring Conclusions


  2. The Editing Phase

    • Proofread and Ask for Help

    • Take Advantage of Resources

    • Reuse Essays When Possible


Essay writing is a skill that takes time and practice to master, but with the right approach, you can become a more confident and effective writer.


By understanding the essay structure, creating a solid outline, and refining your ideas, you’ll be well on your way to crafting essays that are clear, persuasive, and engaging.


Remember, writing is a process, and it’s okay to revise and refine along the way. With these foundational tips in mind, you’ll be prepared to tackle any writing challenge that comes your way.


Keep practicing, and soon enough, essay writing will feel like second nature!


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