How
To Write a Winning Scholarship Essay
By
Dante Lee
BlackScholarshipGuide.com
Here are some
tips on how to write a great scholarship essay.
Third
Person: Be sure to write your essay in 3rd person. This
means not to use words such as “I”, “we”
or even “you”. Rather, you want to write your essay
as if it’s a newspaper article or a press release. For instance,
suppose the essay question is “What do you think about abortions?”
Don’t start off saying “I think abortions are…”
or “I believe that abortions can…” Instead,
just say “Abortions are…” or “Abortions
can…”
Organization:
Be sure to organize your essay. This means that you will need
a definite introduction, a body, and a conclusion. Be sure to
use paragraphs, and make it clear which paragraphs are which.
Also, organize your thoughts. Don’t have random thoughts
within the essay that don’t exactly fit with the flow of
the paragraphs.
References:
Use references in your essay to show that you did your research.
You can cite a book, a magazine, or even a web site. Whenever
you make a claim in your essay that wouldn’t be obvious
to most people, you should definitely cite where you obtained
such a statement. You can also include a few quotes from notable
people, but make sure that it appropriately relates to the topic
of your essay.
Pay
Attention: Pay attention to the rules. Many people lose
essay contests because they don’t follow simple rules. For
example, if a scholarship contest requires that you put only your
name and phone number at the top of your essay – then do
just that. Don’t decide to add your address and fax number.
If they say to email your essay in, don’t submit it via
postal mail. This may very well be a test to see if you can follow
instructions.
No
Typos: Be sure that you spell all words correctly in
your essay. Make sure that you use quotation marks, commas, colons,
semi-colons, and periods appropriately. Avoid incomplete sentences
and run-on sentences.
Make
The Deadline: Shockingly, many applicants try to submit
essays after the deadline. Make sure that you get yours in on
time. Don’t procrastinate. Start early, and submit early.
Think
Big…and Small: Don’t just apply for the high-end
scholarships for $5,000 and up. Keep in mind that these generally
are more competitive due to more applicants. Be sure to also apply
for the smaller ones, like the $500 and $1,000 scholarships. These
opportunities are easier to win because most applicants don’t
take them very seriously. They also usually have less applicants.
|
BlackStudents.com is a FREE online resource and weekly email newsletter
for African American students. Our site features profiles of Black colleges
and the latest scholarships, internships and jobs. The service is 100%
FREE. |
 |
|
