A great scholarship essay is your opportunity to shine. It can mean the difference between graduating with or without student loans, and it’s a chance to tell us who you are beyond your grades. This guide, based on advice from financial aid experts, will help you write an essay that makes a lasting impression.
5 Ways to Make Your Essay Stand Out
1. Start Early & Revise. Procrastination is the enemy of a great essay. Give yourself enough time to research, write, and get feedback. It’s better to have two or three essays you feel confident about that you can tailor to different prompts than to rush a new essay for every application.
2. Hook Your Reader Immediately. Scholarship committees read hundreds of essays. Your first few sentences are your chance to grab their attention. Use a personal anecdote or a compelling story to drop the reader into the action and make them curious to learn more. Avoid starting with a generic statement.
3. Tell Your Story, Not Someone Else’s. While it’s easy to write about an influential mentor or a meaningful family member, your essay needs to be about you. Use your personal experiences to show how you’ve grown and what drives you. Committees want to feel connected to you as a person and see your resilience.
4. Answer the Prompt Directly. Read the essay prompt thoroughly and make sure you answer all parts of the question. Don’t “dance around” the topic or use a canned essay that doesn’t fit the prompt. A good way to check this is to have someone read your essay without knowing the prompt – if they can figure it out from your writing, you’ve answered it well.
5. Use Strong and Sound Writing. Your essay is a professional document. Avoid using slang, text message shorthand, or improper grammar and punctuation. Proofread carefully and have others review your work. A polished essay demonstrates that you’ve put in the time and effort, which makes a strong impression on any scholarship committee.
A Note on BFCF Scholarship Essays
The Boswell Family Charitable Foundation scholarship essay is your opportunity to introduce your vision for the future. We want to hear how this scholarship will serve as a pivotal step in achieving your dreams. Be authentic, confident, and sincere – that’s what makes a lasting impression.
