How to Write a Winning Scholarship Essay?
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Dreaming of studying abroad with a scholarship? A compelling scholarship essay can make all the difference. This article provides step-by-step instructions on how to showcase your unique qualities and achieve your academic goals. With our expert tips, you'll learn how to write a scholarship essay with a persuasive narrative that highlights your achievements and makes a lasting impression on the selection committee.
- Steps to Write a Winning Scholarship Essay
- Short Scholarship Essay Examples
- Four Steps to Writing a Winning Scholarship Essay - FAQs
Steps to Write a Winning Scholarship Essay
Let us look at the steps below that determine how you can write a winning scholarship essay.
Step 1 - Research:
The first step to writing a winning scholarship essay is to research the scholarship that you want to get. You must find out the history of the trust that is offering the scholarship. What are the main aspects that they are looking for in a successful candidate? Mostly, the trust/society looks for good academic scores/ background, effective leadership abilities, innovation, the ability to take initiative, and a student who is an all-rounder. You must reflect on your life and select instances and qualities to discuss in the scholarship essay that will help you stand out from the rest. For instance, in your college/school if you established a club and increased its membership, then you can talk about your efforts and contributions to showcase your leadership and initiative. You may also do some research on the life stories of the winners in the past to understand the profiles eligible for the scholarship.
Step 2 - Ideate:
Having understood the expectations of the scholarship-offering organization/ body think about how you would want to depict your life’s story to suit their parameters. Another step to writing a winning scholarship essay would be to focus on the presentation of your facts/anecdotes/ information in a vivid manner. You must carefully plan your content to convince the reader. However, avoid the urge to gain sympathy when talking about your need for the scholarship. You must come across as a deserving candidate, not a needy one. Hence, you must discuss your achievements and victories, despite all odds. First, come up with an outline for the scholarship essay having an idea of the skills/topics/instances that you want to mention.
Step 3 - Write:
Organize your thoughts and structure your essay. The essay should have a clear introduction, body, and conclusion. Avoid grammatical mistakes and ensure clarity in the written matter. However, there is no need to use flowery language because it is your content/story that will be the deciding factor and not your word power. You must include all aspects of the question/ prompt/ guidelines. Also, adhere to the word limit, if specified.
Step 4 - Edit:
Moreover, do not underestimate the power of editing and proofreading. You must avoid spelling and grammatical errors by proofreading the essay two or three times. Make sure that the final copy is flawless.
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Short Scholarship Essay Examples
Here are two examples of short scholarship essays that include all the essential components of a scholarship essay.
Scholarship Essay Example 1
| From the moment I first peered through a microscope in biology class, I was captivated by the intricate world unseen by the naked eye. This fascination has only deepened, solidifying my aspiration to pursue a career in biomedical research. I am particularly drawn to the challenges of understanding and combating infectious diseases. Receiving this scholarship would not only alleviate the financial burden of my education but also empower me to fully immerse myself in my studies and dedicate more time to research opportunities. My goal is to contribute meaningfully to the development of innovative treatments that will improve global health, and this scholarship would be a crucial step in making that vision a reality. |
Scholarship Essay Example 2
| Growing up in a single-parent household with limited resources taught me the value of hard work and perseverance. Witnessing my mother's tireless efforts to provide for our family instilled in me a strong sense of responsibility and a determination to overcome obstacles. While financial constraints have often been a source of stress, they have also fueled my ambition to succeed academically. I have consistently sought out part-time work while maintaining a strong GPA, demonstrating my commitment to both my education and my responsibilities. This scholarship would provide invaluable support, allowing me to focus more intently on my studies in computer science and ultimately contribute my skills to creating accessible technology for underserved communities. |
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Four Steps to Writing a Winning Scholarship Essay - FAQs
Q. What are some of the steps to writing a winning scholarship essay?
A. There are a few simple steps to writing a winning scholarship essay. You must understand the prompt fully and then research on the expectations of the scholarship-offering trust/body. Your next step should be to recall instances from your life that align with the requirements. Going further, you must organize your thoughts and then give them a structure. Write the essay in a manner that there is a proper and strong introduction, body, and conclusion. Ensure that you have answered all parts of the prompt/ question, followed all the guidelines and word limit specified, and proofread the essay.
Q. Should I present myself as a distressed candidate in utter need of the scholarship?
A. While you may express your need for the scholarship, your goal should be to present yourself as the most deserving candidate. Rather than arousing sympathy, you should focus on winning the admiration and trust of the scholarship-offering organization.
Q. What are some of the qualities that I may highlight in the scholarship essay?
A. An important step to writing a winning scholarship essay is to make sure that you present yourself as someone with strong leadership skills, academic prowess, initiative, sincerity, focus, motivation, and critical thinking ability. You should mention your academic and other achievements too. If you have won scholarships in the past, you must talk about that.
Q. Is it important to learn about the scholarship-provider’s values?
A. Yes, it is a good idea to learn about and align with the values and goals of your scholarship-provider. You must also show how you may in the future contribute to the organization. This is an important step to writing a winning scholarship essay.
Q. How do you start writing an essay for scholarship?
A. Like any task that looks tough in the beginning, starting a scholarship essay looks the same. However, with some expert tips, you can articulate an impressive scholarship essay that can win over the scholarship committee. Here is the guide to help you get started:
1. Understand the Prompt:
- Read carefully: Before you write anything, thoroughly read and understand the essay prompt. Identify the keywords and what the scholarship committee is asking for.
- Analyse the requirements: Pay attention to word limits, formatting guidelines, and any specific themes or questions you need to address.
2. Brainstorm and Plan:
- Reflect on your experiences: Think about your academic achievements, extracurricular activities, personal experiences, and future goals.
- Identify key themes: What are the most important things you want to convey about yourself? What makes you unique?
- Create an outline: Organise your thoughts and ideas into a logical structure. This will help you stay focused and ensure your essay has a clear flow.
3. Craft a Compelling Introduction:
- Start with a hook: Grab the reader's attention with an engaging opening sentence or paragraph. This could be a personal anecdote, a thought-provoking question, or a powerful statement.
- Introduce your topic: Briefly introduce the main themes of your essay and provide context for your experiences.
- State your thesis: Clearly state your main argument or point. This should tell the reader what your essay is about and why you deserve the scholarship
At the University of Lancashire, international students can choose between over 350 undergraduate and around 200 postgraduate programs offered in leading fields of study. According to the historical data of the university's alumni, some of the most popular Lancashire University courses are:
Note: In the above pie chart, Others include Mathematics, Criminal Justice/Safety Studies, American/US Law/Legal Studies/Jurisprudence, Human Resources Management/Personnel Administration, and Organizational Leadership.
If you are an international students applying for an UG or PG program available at the University of Lancashire, you can go through the various type of scholarships teh university provides and check their eligibility whichever suits you best. For example, the Ashwin Kagadia Scholarship helps high achieving studets from low income households and offers need based scholarships. Other example includes, the Care Leaver Bursary which supoorts students who have been estanged from their parents. Check out below UCLan Scholarships for international students:
Undergraduate Scholarships:
Scholarships | Eligibility |
|---|---|
Ashwin Kagdadia Scholarship | Supports high-achieving students from a low household income. |
Care Leaver Bursary | Students who need extra support because they have been in care or are estranged from their parents. |
Care-experienced and Estranged Student Graduation Bursary | Support students who are care-leavers or estranged from their family, to transition to employment of postgraduate study |
Carers Bursary | Provides extra support because you have unpaid caring responsibilities alongside your studies. |
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University of Lancashire accepts country-specific qualifications from overseas applicants. Indian candidates who wish to pursue their higher studies from the university, must meet the University of Lancashire admission requirements for Indian students listed below:
Undergraduate Requirements:
Graduate Requirements: