Mastering Scholarship Essay Writing: Essential Tips & Examples
Dive into the world of scholarship essay writing with guidance on interpreting prompts, aligning with organization missions, and crafting impactful responses. Explore examples and exercises to enhance your essay skills.
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SCHOLARSHIP ESSAY WRITING Jancy Rickman Professor of Biology Tammy Oranje Financial Aid Scholarship Program Specialist
The Essay Prompt Most scholarships have an essay component to their application. Always read the essay prompt before starting your essay. 1. Summarize what you think the prompt is asking you to write about. 2. Create a list of things you could include in your essay that would address the criteria in the prompt. 3. For each item, brainstorm 2-3 different life events and/ or experiences that describe / explain how you meet the criteria.
Establish the mission of the organization Ask yourself: What values do they promote? How do you represent their values? What specific criteria do they expect you to meet to be worthy of their support? Incorporate these ideas into your essay
Examples of Essay Prompts Kennedy-King We want to get a better idea of your career and personal hopes and aspirations. Think of this as the typical interview question of: Where do you see yourself in five years? LMC Please tell us about a personal challenge you have faced or have chosen to take on. What have you learned from this challenge and how has this influenced your goals and perspectives?
Take 5 minutes Pick one of the essay prompts and discuss (with a neighbor) what you think the essay prompt is asking for. Kennedy-King We want to get a better idea of your career and personal hopes and aspirations. Think of this as the typical interview question of: Where do you see yourself in five years? LMC Please tell us about a personal challenge you have faced or have chosen to take on. What have you learned from this challenge and how has this influenced your goals and perspectives?
What do you think the reader wanted to know?
LMC Scholarship Essay Prompt Working Exercise Please tell us about your educational and career goals. Explain why you have chosen your major/program, how long you have been interested in this subject, the steps you will take to accomplish your educational goals, what do you want to accomplish after college and the steps you will take to accomplish these goals.
Take 10 minutes to. Take a few minutes to list out points you would want to include in your essay. 1. Create a list of things you could include in your essay that would address the criteria in the prompt. 2. For each item, list 2-3 different life events and/ or experiences that describe / explain how you meet the criteria.
SHARE YOUR IDEAS Take a few minutes and share your ideas with your group
Putting The Essay Together Turning the bullet points into a compelling essay that holds the readers attention by painting a realistic but captivating story about you.
This your opportunity to tell your personal story and demonstrate personal qualities, characteristics, and accomplishments. The essay should focus on YOU, and what you have achieved, how you have succeeded thus far in your life. With each story (anecdote): describe what happened, how or why it happened, and why it is important for the scholarship selection committee to know.
Showing vs. Telling Your essay should paint a picture of you, representing your personal story, values, aspirations and why you are deserving of the organizations support. Showing: Invokes on the reader a mental image of the story. Showing incorporates details, specifics, and examples of HOW you did something. Telling: Summarizes or tells the reader WHAT happened. Telling is explaining, analyzing, and reflecting.
Always use details and examples Detached (telling) Detailed (showing) My name is .. And my career goal is to become a nurse. Growing up in the country of Brazil, only the people with money were granted access to medical care. Often, my family was denied access to medical care because we did not have the financial means to pay for medical services. This is why I want to become a nurse so I can help others with low income get the medical help they need.
Breakout Session 10 minutes Use one item from your list to practice showing vs telling
Some Basics/Logistics Find out the word count Always type and save your essay. You may be able to re-use pieces of your essay on other essay prompts (if applicable). Think your done? Reread the prompt and reread your essay. Have someone proofread your essay (provide them with the essay prompt) Nevercopy someone else s work.
Scholarship Opportunities Opportunity Award Amount Vary $10,000 $10,000 UP to $4,000 $2,500 Up to $3,000 Apply By 2/18/20 2/07/20 02/18/20 03/23/20 03/29/20 04/04/20 LMC Foundation Kennedy King Transfer Scholarship CALRTA Diablo Vista Scholarship Community College Transfer Scholarship Return to School Scholarship Spotlight on You Scholarship Upcoming application workshops: Kennedy King: Friday, January 31, 2020 @ 12:00 pm - CC 2nd Floor, Room 236 LMC Foundation: Tuesday, February 4, 2020 @ 2:30 pm - CC 2nd Floor, Room 236 Additional scholarship opportunities are available, visit https://www.losmedanos.edu/scholarships/list.aspx
