A scholarship essay is a chance for students to introduce themselves to a scholarship committee in their own words. These statements are an opportunity to discuss your accomplishments, experiences, and your goals and hopes for the future. As such, the essay is an important part of your scholarship application and students are encouraged to be thoughtful and thorough when planning, writing, and editing scholarships essays.
Instructions for Writing & Submitting an Essay:
- Read the scholarship criteria carefully and note:
- The number of essays required
- The essay prompt (What are you being asked to write about?)
- Instructions for word count / essay length, spacing, font, or any other rules.
- Create a document and use MLA formatting.
- Write your essay and make sure to follow the scholarship’s essay instructions/rules.
- Save your document with your name, the scholarship name, and the document type. For example, student Jane Doe writing an essay for the Hedgehog Enthusiasts Scholarship would save the document as “JaneDoe HedgehogEnthuasiast Essay.doc.” If a scholarship requires multiple essays, number them starting at 1.
- Upload your essay to the appropriate scholarship folder in your E-Scholarship Google Drive Folder).
Plan:
- Always follow instructions regarding word/page limits, spacing, content, and any other specific rules.
- Learn about the scholarship organization and their values; know your audience.
- Jot down your thoughts or any points you want to mention in your essay.
Write:
- Never wait until the last minute to start writing your essay.
- Use a formal essay structure with an introduction, body, and conclusion.
- Be yourself! Remember, the scholarship committee wants to get to know you.
- Be professional. Use standard English, minimize the use of exclamation points, and save the lols / memes for social media.
Proofread:
- Always proofread your essay before submitting.
- Double check the formatting rules and requirements; make sure you followed the word/page limits.
- Ask a teacher, parent or friend with strong writing skills to proofread your essay (give them time to read and give feedback)
