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Scholarship Essay
Scholarship essay generator.
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Essays are compositions of widescale function. Essay writing is also often a part of academic examinations or a composition that helps someone express his/her ideas to the world. Commonly, essays are written to pass school; however, there is a form of document that can also take someone into school.
What is a Scholarship Essay?
A scholarship essay is a personal statement written as part of a scholarship application. It’s designed to demonstrate your values, qualities, and suitability for the scholarship on offer, responding to specific prompts or questions posed by the scholarship provider. The essay is a critical component of the application process, allowing the selection committee to understand more about you, your background, and your educational goals.
Format of Scholarship Essay
- Introduction : Introduces the main idea or response to the essay prompt, includes a hook to grab the reader’s attention.
- Body Paragraphs : Provide detailed examples and experiences that showcase your qualifications, achievements, and how you align with the scholarship’s values.
- Conclusion : Summarizes your essay, reinforces how the scholarship will help you achieve your educational goals, and includes a thank you to the scholarship committee.
How Do You Write a Scholarship Essay?
- Understand the Topic : Grasp what the scholarship committee seeks in responses.
- Plan Your Essay : Brainstorm ideas that showcase your strengths and alignment with the scholarship’s goals.
- Compelling Introduction : Draw readers in with an engaging start that introduces your main point.
- Develop the Body : Use specific examples and experiences to demonstrate your qualifications and how you meet the scholarship criteria.
- Conclude Effectively : Summarize key points and express how the scholarship will aid your educational or career ambitions.
- Proofread : Ensure your essay is clear, error-free, and impactful.
Types of Scholarships Essay
- Merit-Based Essays : Focus on academic achievements, leadership qualities, or artistic talents.
- Need-Based Essays : Highlight financial need and how the scholarship would support educational goals.
- Personal Statement Essays : Reflect on personal experiences, challenges overcome, and personal growth.
- Career Goal Essays : Discuss professional aspirations and how education will help achieve them.
- Community Service Essays : Describe involvement in community service or volunteer work and its impact.
10+Scholarship Essay Examples
Scholarship self introduction essay.
![example of scholarship essay pdf Scholarship Self Introduction Essay](https://images.examples.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/Scholarship-Self-Introduction-Essay.png)
Sample Scholarship Essay in PDF
![example of scholarship essay pdf Sample-Scholarship-Essay-in-PDF1](https://images.examples.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/Sample-Scholarship-Essay-in-PDF1.jpg)
Scholarship Personal Essay Sample
![example of scholarship essay pdf Scholarship-Personal-Essay-Sample1](https://images.examples.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/Scholarship-Personal-Essay-Sample1.jpg)
Education Scholarship Essay Sample
![example of scholarship essay pdf Education Scholarship Essay Sample](https://images.examples.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/Education-Scholarship-Essay-Sample.jpg)
Scholarship Personal Statement Essay Example
![example of scholarship essay pdf Scholarship-Personal-Statement-Essay-Example1](https://images.examples.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/Scholarship-Personal-Statement-Essay-Example1.jpg)
Student Scholarship Personal Statement Essay
![example of scholarship essay pdf Student Scholarship Personal Statement Essay](https://images.examples.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/Student-Scholarship-Personal-Statement-Essay.jpg)
Scholarship Essay Example
![example of scholarship essay pdf Scholarship-Essay-Example1](https://images.examples.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/Scholarship-Essay-Example1.jpg)
Field of Study Scholarship Essay
![example of scholarship essay pdf Field-of-Study-Scholarship-Essay](https://images.examples.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/Field-of-Study-Scholarship-Essay1.jpg)
Sample Scholarship Essay Outline
![example of scholarship essay pdf Sample-Scholarship-Essay-Outline](https://images.examples.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/Sample-Scholarship-Essay-Outline1.jpg)
Simple Scholarship Essay Sample
![example of scholarship essay pdf Simple-Scholarship-Essay-Sample](https://images.examples.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/Simple-Scholarship-Essay-Sample1.jpg)
Sample Scholarship Essays
![example of scholarship essay pdf Sample-Scholarship-Essays](https://images.examples.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/Sample-Scholarship-Essays1.jpg)
What do scholarship essays want to hear?
Scholarship essays seek to understand the applicant’s unique experiences, achievements, and aspirations. They want to hear a genuine, compelling story that showcases your character, resilience, and how you’ve overcome challenges. Essays should also reflect your academic and career goals, demonstrating how the scholarship will help achieve them.
What are the essay requirements for scholarships?
Essay requirements for scholarships vary but typically include a word limit, specific formatting guidelines (e.g., font type, size), and a prompt or theme to address. They may ask you to discuss personal achievements, challenges you’ve overcome, your career goals, or why you deserve the scholarship. Always follow the provided instructions carefully.
How do you start a strong scholarship essay?
To start a strong scholarship essay, open with an engaging hook that captures the reader’s attention. This could be an intriguing question, a surprising fact, or a brief anecdote related to the essay prompt. The goal is to make the scholarship committee want to read more about you and what you have to say.
What should be the first sentence of a scholarship essay?
The first sentence of a scholarship essay should be captivating and thought-provoking. It could introduce a pivotal moment, a personal insight, or a question that hints at the essay’s theme. This sentence sets the tone for your essay and encourages the reader to continue reading.
Do I put my name on a scholarship essay?
Whether you put your name on a scholarship essay depends on the specific instructions provided by the scholarship provider. Some may request that you include your name and other identifying details, while others may prefer anonymous submissions for unbiased evaluation. Always follow the application guidelines
What is the importance of a scholarship essay?
The reason why it is essential for you to make sure that you will create a comprehensive and detailed scholarship essay is due to the benefits that it can provide to your scholarship application. Some of the importance of a scholarship essay include the following: it can help the committee know more about you , it can showcase your writing skills and other abilities.
How to format your scholarship essay?
Aside from the content of your scholarship essay, its outline format and choosing what type of format essay you use like, MLA format essay , APA essay , or even Chicago style format are also of importance. Be aware of your word count. Do not use any fancy fonts as it can make the essay look informal. Make sure that your font size can make your discussion easy to read. Your margin should be an inch from the document’s top, bottom, and sides. The margin that you will use in the document can play a big part in the overall appearance of the letter.
How to write a 500 word essay?
Be thoroughly acquainted with the directions in your essay, completely comprehend the essay prompt, identify important points and keywords, compose a compelling introduction, craft an interesting body, remarkably close your scholarship essay, and proofread.
A scholarship essay is an important document that is used in the processes of a scholarship application. This letter may be simple but it can provide a lot of difference with regards the decision on whether an individual will be approved for a scholarship grant or not. A scholarship essay is a composition written by an applicant to avail the perks of a certain education-supporting program. Considering that this document will be one of the bases of one’s admission, facilitators of the scholarship program you are applying for may give you specific instructions regarding the format of your essay.
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Text prompt
- Instructive
- Professional
Crafting Your Winning Scholarship Essay: Essential Tips
How to Start Your Scholarship Essay: Engaging Introductions
Overcoming Obstacles: A Key Theme for Scholarship Essays
Personal Growth Stories: Perfect for Scholarship Essays
Why I Deserve This Scholarship: Essay Writing Strategies
Educational Goals and Your Scholarship Essay: A Guide
Leadership Experiences: Highlighting Them in Scholarship Essays
Community Service Impact on Scholarship Essay Success
Scholarship Essay on Career Aspirations: Mapping Your Future
Creative Scholarship Essay Ideas: Standing Out from the Crowd
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- How to Write a Scholarship Essay | Template & Example
How to Write a Scholarship Essay | Template & Example
Published on October 11, 2021 by Kirsten Courault . Revised on May 31, 2023.
A good scholarship essay demonstrates the scholarship organization’s values while directly addressing the prompt. If you plan ahead , you can save time by writing one essay for multiple prompts with similar questions.
Table of contents
Apply for a wide variety of scholarships, make a scholarship tracker spreadsheet, tailor your essay to the organization and the prompt, write a focused and relevant personal story, scholarship essay example, other interesting articles, frequently asked questions about college application essays.
Scholarships are a type of student financial aid that don’t require repayment. They are awarded based on various factors, including academic merit, financial need, intended major, personal background, or activities and interests.
Like college applications, scholarship applications often require students to submit their grades, standardized test scores, letters of recommendation, and an essay.
A scholarship essay shares your values and qualities in the context of a specific question, such as “How does technology affect your daily life?” or “Who has had the greatest impact on your life?”
Be wary of scholarship scams
While some applications may not require an essay, be wary of scholarship scams that do the following:
- Guarantee you scholarship money for a fee
- Claim scholarship information is exclusive to their company
- Ask for your bank or credit card information to hold the scholarship
Some legitimate companies do charge for releasing comprehensive scholarship lists or creating a tailored list of scholarship opportunities based on your profile.
However, you can always discover scholarship opportunities for free through your school counselor, community network, or an online search.
Many students focus on well-known, large scholarship opportunities, which are usually very competitive. To maximize your chance of success, invest time in applying for a wide variety of scholarships: national and local, as well as big and small award amounts. There are also scholarships for international students .
In addition to charitable foundation and corporate scholarships, you should consider applying for institutional scholarships at your prospective universities, which can award money based on your application’s strength, your financial situation, and your demonstrated interest in the school.
Check with your guidance counselor, local organizations, community network, or prospective schools’ financial aid offices for scholarship opportunities. It’s a good idea to start applying as early as your junior year and continue throughout your senior year.
Choose the right scholarships for you
Choose scholarships with missions and essay topics that match your background, experiences, and interests. If the scholarship topic is meaningful to you, it will be easier for you to write an authentic and compelling essay.
Don’t shy away from applying for local scholarships with small dollar amounts. Even a few hundred dollars can help you pay for books.
Local scholarships may be more tailored to your community, background, and activities, so they’re likely more relevant to you. Fewer students apply for these scholarships, so you have less competition and a higher chance of success.
Some places to look for local scholarships include
- Civic organizations, such as the Rotary Club, Lions Club, etc.
- Your church, mosque, synagogue, or place of worship
- Community groups, such as the YMCA
- Ethnicity-based organizations
- Your local library or local small businesses
- Organizations related to your intended major
- Your city or town
- Your school district
- Unions, such as SEIU, the Teamsters, CWA, etc.
- Your employer or your parents’ employers
- Banks, credit unions, and local financial institutions
Prevent plagiarism. Run a free check.
While researching scholarship opportunities, create a scholarship tracker spreadsheet to keep track of the following:
- Scholarship amounts
- Required application materials
You can use our free Google Sheets template to track your scholarship applications.
Scholarship application tracker template
You can also include scholarship essay prompts in your college essay tracker sheet . By grouping or color-code overlapping essay prompts, you can plan to write a single essay for multiple scholarships. Sometimes, you can also reuse or adapt your main college essay .
Even if you’re adapting another essay, it’s important to make sure your essay directly addresses the prompt, stays within the word count limit , and demonstrates the organization’s values. The scholarship committee will be able to tell if you reuse an essay that doesn’t quite respond to the prompt, so be sure to tailor it to the questions asked.
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Research each organization
Before writing, research the scholarship organization’s mission and reason for awarding the scholarship. Learning more about the organization can help you select an appropriate topic and relevant story.
While you should tailor your essay to the organization’s values, maintain your authentic voice. Never use false or exaggerated stories. If the organization’s values don’t align with yours or you can’t brainstorm a relevant story for the scholarship, continue searching for other scholarship opportunities to find a more appropriate one for you.
After researching the organization, identify a specific personal experience that embodies its values and exemplifies why you will be a successful student.
Choose a story with the following criteria:
- Responds to the prompt
- Demonstrates the organization’s values
- Includes an authentic story
- Focuses on you and your experience, not someone else’s
A good scholarship essay is not
- A resume of your achievements
- A lengthy opinion piece about the essay topic
- An essay featuring a negative tone that puts down others
If appropriate, you can briefly address how the scholarship money will help you achieve your educational goals. You should also end with a brief thank-you.
Take a look at the full essay example below. Hover over the underlined parts to read explanations of why they work.
Prompt: Describe how working for Chelsea’s Chicken restaurant has developed leadership skills that will help you succeed in college. Give specific examples of leadership characteristics that you have exhibited during your employment with us.
As a nervous 16-year-old, I walked into Chelsea’s Chicken for my first day of work determined to make enough money to put gas in my car and buy pizza on the weekends. My only previous job was mowing my neighbors’ lawns when they were on vacation, so I had no idea what to expect. I was a bit intimidated by my new responsibilities, especially handling money and helping disgruntled customers.
However, it didn’t take me long to learn my way around the cash register and successfully address customer complaints. One day, Roger, the store manager, asked me if I wanted to join Chelsea’s Chicken Leadership Training Initiative. He said he saw leadership potential in me because of my attitude with the customers and my enthusiasm for learning new job responsibilities. It surprised me because I had never thought of myself as a leader, but I quickly agreed, and Roger handed me a three-ring binder that was thicker than my math and science textbooks put together! He told me to take it home and read over it during the following week.
In that binder, I discovered that being a leader means taking the initiative, especially when the job is undesirable. One week later, I got to practice that idea when a little kid threw up in the bathroom and missed the toilet. It smelled terrible, but I stepped forward and told Roger that I would clean it up. My coworkers thought I was crazy, but I started to believe in my leadership potential.
That night as we closed the store, Roger pulled me aside in the parking lot and told me that he could tell that I had been studying the manual. He wanted to give me more responsibility, along with a dollar-per-hour pay raise. I was surprised because I had been working there for only a couple of months, but his encouragement helped me make a connection: good leadership helps other people, and it often is rewarded. I was determined to experience more of both.
Within a month, I was ready to take the Team Leader exam, which mattered because I would receive a promotion and a much bigger raise if I passed. But, when I got to work, two of the scheduled team members had called in sick. We were noticeably short-handed, and our customers weren’t happy about it.
I walked back to the lockers, put on my vest and hat, and took my place behind an open register. Customers immediately moved into my line to place their orders. Roger looked at me with surprise and asked, “Did you forget that you’re testing tonight?” I responded, “No, sir—but what’s the use of taking a leadership test if you aren’t going to lead in real life?” Roger smiled at me and nodded.
He stayed late that night after we closed so that I could leave early and still take the test. I noticed that Roger was always staying late, helping employees learn new skills. His example taught me that leaders take the initiative to develop other leaders. He gave me a clear picture of what shared leadership looks like, making room for others to grow and excel. When I asked him where he learned to do that, he said, “From the same leadership manual I gave you!”
Chelsea’s Chicken has offered me so much more than a paycheck. Because of Roger’s example, I have learned to take the initiative to care for my family and friends, such as being the first to do the dishes without my mom asking or volunteering to pick up my friend for our SAT prep course. Now, as I prepare to enter college, I have confidence in my leadership ability. I know I’m signing up for a challenging major—Biology, Pre-Med—yet I also know that Chelsea’s Chicken has helped me to develop the perseverance required to complete my studies successfully.
If you want to know more about academic writing , effective communication , or parts of speech , make sure to check out some of our other articles with explanations and examples.
Academic writing
- Writing process
- Transition words
- Passive voice
- Paraphrasing
Communication
- How to end an email
- Ms, mrs, miss
- How to start an email
- I hope this email finds you well
- Hope you are doing well
Parts of speech
- Personal pronouns
- Conjunctions
A scholarship essay requires you to demonstrate your values and qualities while answering the prompt’s specific question.
After researching the scholarship organization, identify a personal experience that embodies its values and exemplifies how you will be a successful student.
Invest time in applying for various scholarships , especially local ones with small dollar amounts, which are likely easier to win and more reflective of your background and interests. It will be easier for you to write an authentic and compelling essay if the scholarship topic is meaningful to you.
You can find scholarships through your school counselor, community network, or an internet search.
You can start applying for scholarships as early as your junior year. Continue applying throughout your senior year.
Yes, but make sure your essay directly addresses the prompt, respects the word count , and demonstrates the organization’s values.
If you plan ahead, you can save time by writing one scholarship essay for multiple prompts with similar questions. In a scholarship tracker spreadsheet, you can group or color-code overlapping essay prompts; then, write a single essay for multiple scholarships. Sometimes, you can even reuse or adapt your main college essay .
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How to Start a Scholarship Essay (With Examples)
![example of scholarship essay pdf Will Geiger](https://scholarships360.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/will-e1570151838395-150x150.jpg)
Will Geiger is the co-founder of Scholarships360 and has a decade of experience in college admissions and financial aid. He is a former Senior Assistant Director of Admissions at Kenyon College where he personally reviewed 10,000 admissions applications and essays. Will also managed the Kenyon College merit scholarship program and served on the financial aid appeals committee. He has also worked as an Associate Director of College Counseling at a high school in New Haven, Connecticut. Will earned his master’s in education from the University of Pennsylvania and received his undergraduate degree in history from Wake Forest University.
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![example of scholarship essay pdf Bill Jack](https://scholarships360.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/Bill-Jack.jpg)
Bill Jack has over a decade of experience in college admissions and financial aid. Since 2008, he has worked at Colby College, Wesleyan University, University of Maine at Farmington, and Bates College.
![example of scholarship essay pdf Maria Geiger](https://scholarships360.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/IMG_5930-150x150.jpeg)
Maria Geiger is Director of Content at Scholarships360. She is a former online educational technology instructor and adjunct writing instructor. In addition to education reform, Maria’s interests include viewpoint diversity, blended/flipped learning, digital communication, and integrating media/web tools into the curriculum to better facilitate student engagement. Maria earned both a B.A. and an M.A. in English Literature from Monmouth University, an M. Ed. in Education from Monmouth University, and a Virtual Online Teaching Certificate (VOLT) from the University of Pennsylvania.
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As an admissions officer, I reviewed thousands of essays for students seeking admission and scholarships. The essay is one of the most important parts of the scholarship application process–a strong essay can go a long way. However, with so much competition, it is important for your scholarship essay to stand out. That’s why it’s important for you to start a scholarship essay off right!
There are some very simple things that you can do to ensure that your essay is engaging from the very first sentence. In fact, beginning your essay with an exciting opening is one of the most important things you can do, because it will immediately distinguish your essay from the others.
Keep on reading to learn more about how you can nail the very first sentence and start your essay off right!
Engage the reader with the first sentence
No matter what type of essay you are writing, you will want to ensure that the very first line grabs the attention of the reader. One of the biggest mistakes that students make when starting their essay is simply restating the prompt. This is bland and boring.
Now, you might be wondering, “how do I engage the reader with the very first line of my essay?”. The good news is that there are several ways that you can do this that are very simple to do.
Related: How to answer scholarship essay questions about your career goals
Begin with dialogue
First, you could begin your essay with conversation. This can be an interesting and unexpected way to start your scholarship essay. Maybe someone asked you an unexpected question? Perhaps you were having an interesting conversation with a friend or family member? Either way, dialogue can be a powerful tool to start your essay.
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Put the reader in your shoes.
Alternatively, you can choose to start your essay by placing the reader right in your shoes and show them something from your life. Appeal to the senses and show the reader what you see, hear, smell, or taste. These specific details will help your essay come to life and make it even more memorable.
Also recommended: What’s the best scholarship essay format?
Scholarship essay introduction example
Next, we’ll look at a specific example of how you can open up your essay. Let’s say you are applying for the Questbridge scholarship program . One of the essays that you will be asked is:
We are interested in learning more about you and the context in which you have grown up, formed your aspirations, and accomplished your academic successes. Please describe the factors and challenges that have most influenced you. How are they shaping your future aspirations?
You might be tempted to rephrase the question and start your essay with something like:
“I have grown up in a rural context and this has formed my aspirations and allowed me to accomplish academic success…”
This is generic and will not engage your reader at all.
Instead, what if you started off your essay with something like this:
“I look outside my bedroom window and see Henry, my favorite chicken, pecking at something in the dirt.”
Makes a big difference, right? As a reader, you are probably wondering: why does this person have chickens outside their bedroom window? Why did they name this particular chicken Henry?
See also: Here are our top writing & essay scholarships for students!
Keep the ending of your essay in mind as you write the opening
While crafting your opening, be open to ideas about how to close your essay. There is no need to stress about the ending now, but being mindful of effective ways to end an essay is always a good idea. Say you are opening your scholarship essay with Henry the chicken. Is there a way for Henry to make an impactful appearance at the end of the essay to close things out in a way that perfectly wraps everything up? The key is for the essay ending to be meaningful and memorable for the reader.
Don’t miss: Our free scholarship search tool
If you can’t think of a “wow” scholarship essay beginning, keep writing!
Sometimes, we know what we want to say, point by point, but we are not ready to be creative when it comes to opening an essay. In that case, keep writing! There is always the option of going back and crafting an engaging opening after your essay is written. Simply write your main idea where the first paragraph would be to guide you as you write. After, go back when your creative juices are flowing, and craft the amazing opening (and closing) that your scholarship essay deserves!
Final thoughts
As shown, there are many questions that we as readers will have after reading an engaging essay opening such as the one just shared; We want to learn more about the student who is writing this essay. After all, as a writer trying to stand out in a pile of essays, that is our main goal.
We hope that you have a better understanding of how to start a scholarship essay so you can maximize your chances of winning scholarships!
Additional resources
Scholarships360 is the go-to for all things college admissions and scholarships! Wondering how to write a 250 word essay and how to write a 500 word essay ? Curious how to write an essay about yourself ? Wow, do we have the resources to help! Additionally, check out our free scholarship search tool to help you finance your college education. Best of luck to you and your future endeavors!
Key Takeaways
- The first sentence of the essay is what makes the reader want to continue reading
- Engage the reader by appealing to the senses
- Create a sense of wonder in your essay, making the reader want to learn more about you
- Keep the ending of the essay in mind as you craft the beginning
Frequently asked questions about how to start a scholarship essay
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Sample Scholarship Essay. You have the DREAM. We have the resources. Not sure where to start with your scholarship essay? Here are some sample responses from one of ScholarshipsA-Z’s student leaders. These well-written, powerful essays helped this student win scholarships worth over $1,000.
Easy and Free Scholarship Essay Samples | PDF Example. New York University College of Arts and Science $39,500 Scholarship by Ana. Prompt: Explain something that made a big impact in throughout your life. “If you can’t live off of it, it is useless.” My parents were talking about ice skating: my passion.
A scholarship essay is a personal statement written as part of a scholarship application. It’s designed to demonstrate your values, qualities, and suitability for the scholarship on offer, responding to specific prompts or questions posed by the scholarship provider.
How to Write a Scholarship Essay | Template & Example. Published on October 11, 2021 by Kirsten Courault. Revised on May 31, 2023. A good scholarship essay demonstrates the scholarship organization’s values while directly addressing the prompt.
As with applying to college, the scholarship essay can either make or break your chances of winning. This guide outlines the steps you need to take to ensure that your essay gives you
Your introduction to your scholarship essay should engage the reader from the very first sentence. Learn more about how to start a scholarship essay! Get matched with vetted scholarships and enter our $10,000 No-Essay Scholarship