scholarship essay word limit

Scholarship Essay Writing

Scholarship Essay Format

Scholarship Essay Format - Samples & Writing Tips

10 min read

What is a Scholarship Essay Format?

A scholarship essay format is a set of rules and guidelines that you need to follow to organize your accurately.

Formatting plays an important role in scholarship essays and other types of essays and academic papers.

If you get the formatting right, it will show the committee members that you can understand and follow the required instructions.

A well-formatted scholarship essay can help you stand out. It will give the committee a sense of who you are, your career goals, and what makes you deserve financial aid.

Keep in mind that the scholarship essay is about yourself and not about someone else. So it’s essential to take a different approach to writing a scholarship essay, so you can present your views in an organized manner.

Now, let's see how you should format your scholarship essay!

How To Format A Winning Scholarship Essay?

If you’re not sure what format should you follow for a scholarship essay, don’t worry, we have got your back!

Well, most scholarship applications have the same guidelines for the scholarship application essay format. However, if you are working on an application that does not specify the format for your essay, the following format is good to follow.

Essential Scholarship Essay Format Guidelines

Here are the guidelines that you need to follow for formatting your scholarship essay.

Double-space your text or use 1.5-spacing.
Times New Roman, Arial, or Verdana font is appropriate to use
If not specified, a font size between 10 and 12 points should be used
1-inch margin on all sides of the paper
Insert a blank line in each body paragraph or indent every paragraph
Include your last name and page number on the left side of the paper
Titles are optional, but they might be provided to you by the committee

Don’t forget to follow the instructed word count by the scholarship committee. Scholarship committee members don’t read essays longer than ¾ of a page in length.

How Long Should a Scholarship Essay Be?

The ideal word count for a winning scholarship essay varies depending on the specific scholarship program's guidelines and requirements. Having said that, the usual length revolves around 500 words or fewer.

Following the word count limit is critical for a scholarship essay. Let’s say, you are asked to write a 300-word scholarship essay, then it’s appropriate to end your essay with 295 – 305 words.

Here is how you can structure your scholarship essay.

The Optimal Scholarship Essay Structure

There is no one way to structure a scholarship essay. But the most commonly used structure is the 5 paragraph format. However, the structure of the scholarship essay partially depends on the topic and your writing style.

Let’s see how to start a scholarship essay!

Always Start With a Captivating Introduction

To draw the reader’s attention, you should start with a well-written introduction. At first glance, the essay’s introduction should be able to hook the reader.

The introduction should always be related to the scholarship essay prompt . Include a strong thesis statement , and introduce the key points that you will be discussing in the body section of your essay.

Try to wrap up your introduction in a single paragraph.

Here is an example of a well-crafted scholarship essay introduction:

Use Clear and Concise Body Paragraphs

In the body of your essay, expand your main points, and back up your information with facts, statistics, quotes, and examples. Every single body paragraph should support your opinion.

To improve the readability, you should write 3 body paragraphs and keep the word limit requirements in check.

Take a look at a well-written example of a scholarship essay body:

End With An Impactful Conclusion

The conclusion paragraph holds prime importance in a scholarship essay. This part of your essay decides whether the committee forwards your application or adds it to the pile of papers!

Restate the main points from the essay in your essay conclusion . Always make use of strong and impactful words in the conclusion. Don’t forget to emphasize how the scholarship will help you fulfill your educational goals.

Here is a brilliant example of a scholarship essay conclusion:

Here is a summary of an optimal scholarship essay format:

Scholarship Essay Format Examples

For a better understanding of the scholarship essay format, take a look at some examples. The following samples will clear any doubts you might have regarding the formatting.

To get started with your scholarship essay format needs, here are some samples:

Scholarship Essay Format Template

College Scholarship Essay Format

Scholarship Essay Format for University

Scholarship Essay Format For High School

Scholarship Essay Heading

APA Format for Scholarship Essay

Scholarship Essay Letter Format

Scholarship Sample About Why I Deserve the Scholarship

Scholarship Essay Format Tips

When there is no specific guidance, it is common to struggle with certain formatting choices. Here are some expert tips for you to help you navigate the correct formatting of a scholarship essay.

Always read the instructions carefully before you start writing
Follow a clear and concise essay structure
No need to include the essay question at the top as committee members know what the prompt is
To start a new paragraph, either indent a new line or add an extra blank, but you shouldn’t do both.
Personalize your paper as much as you can
Always promote yourself but stick to the truth!
You can make your essay more compelling by adding a unique story about yourself
Keep a similar size for all paragraphs for coherency
Be consistent with citation style (such as APA, MLA Chicago, etc.)
Always double-check your scholarship essay for spelling or grammar mistakes
You can ask an instructor or a counselor to assess your work

Refer to the above formatting guide every time you write a scholarship essay. Always start writing your essay as early as possible to have enough time to review your essay.

Hopefully, you will write a perfect scholarship essay with the help of the above scholarship essay guidelines and tips.

To wrap it up , scholarships are a great opportunity for students to receive money for studies and forget their financial issues. However, thousands of students apply for these scholarships, and only a few students get aid.

But, you can hire a reputable scholarship essay writing service such as MyPerfectWords.com to maximize your chances!

Our expert writers will make sure you submit a high-quality scholarship essay written and formatted according to the required guidelines.

So, if you need someone to “ write my essay for me online ” MyPerfectWords.com is your solution!

Frequently Asked Questions

Should my scholarship essay be single-spaced or double-spaced.

Follow the scholarship provider's instructions. If none are given, use double-spacing for clarity. Adjust to single spacing if necessary to meet word/page limits.

How do you write a 500 word scholarship essay?

Here are four steps to write a 500-Word essay.

Create a Thesis.
Write the Introduction
Write the Body Paragraphs
Wrap It Up with a Conclusion

Are page numbers mandatory for scholarship essays?

Follow the scholarship's guidelines, as requirements vary. Comply with their instructions to ensure your essay aligns with their criteria.

What citation style should I use in my scholarship essay if I need to reference sources?

When referencing sources in a scholarship essay, follow the citation style specified in the guidelines. If not specified, use APA, MLA, or Chicago style consistently.

Can I reuse one scholarship essay for multiple applications?

You can reuse elements of your essay, but it's crucial to tailor each essay to the specific scholarship's requirements and criteria.

Is it acceptable to use a formal tone in a scholarship essay?

Yes, a formal tone is typically preferred in scholarship essays to convey professionalism and seriousness.

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How Long Should Your College Essays Be?

Cait Williams is a Content Writer at Scholarships360. Cait recently graduated from Ohio University with a degree in Journalism and Strategic Communications. During her time at OU, was active in the outdoor recreation community.

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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.

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.

For the most part, colleges tell you exactly how long your college essays should be, but what happens when they don’t? In this article, we will go over the reason behind word limits and what to do if a college you’re applying to does not provide a word limit.

Why is there a word limit?

Because most colleges receive such a large volume of essays, they don’t have time to read through multi page essays from every student. If you’re having trouble staying within a given word limit, you might begin to feel frustrated. Maybe you are asking yourself, “why is there a word limit?” Rest assured that colleges don’t just come up with these word counts randomly. They know how long it should take for the average student to answer the given questions.

Additionally, having a word count can be beneficial to you, even if you don’t initially realize it. Without a word limit, you might find yourself feeling anxious that you didn’t say enough or that you said too much. A word count can help you gauge how much detail you should go into and help reassure you that you said what you wanted to say within the guidelines.

How to draft your essay with a word count

Word count is a limitation to factor into your college applications, but it shouldn’t be what dictates how you answer essay questions. Write the first draft of your essay without a word limitation. Simply write down what it is you would like to convey and how. This will give you a good starting point from which you can tailor your essay to be either longer or shorter.

You can use some of the questions below if you find that your essay is getting too long or too short.

Is your essay too short?

Did you mention all necessary details and clearly convey your message?
Is there an added point that you would like to make that could strengthen the core of your essay?
Is there another essay question that you could answer in addition to the one you just answered?

Having an answer that you struggle to make long enough isn’t always a bad thing. If you can get your point across in fewer words, while not compromising the core of your essay, that’s okay. However, you should certainly check back through your answer a few times. The last thing you want to do is submit an answer that is too short and doesn’t fully answer the question asked.

Don’t miss: How to end a scholarship essay

Avoid “fluffy filler”

You might feel tempted to use a lot of filler words in order to hit a certain word count, but this isn’t the best strategy. College admissions officers want to read engaging responses to get to know you. With such limited space to show off who you are, it’s important to take advantage of the space you have. If you’ve entirely answered the essay and are short on words, try incorporating an added point that ties well to your essay.

Is your essay too long?

Are there any details that could be omitted without changing the core of your essay?
Is there anything you said that could be inferred and doesn’t need to be explicitly said?
Did you use any filler words or is there wording that you could change to be more concise?

Having an answer that is too long means you probably very thoroughly explained your answer, which is a good thing. But it also might mean that you went off track a bit and mentioned some things that weren’t necessary.

Scan back through your article and try to be as concise as possible with your writing. If you can’t find anywhere to make cuts, have a family member or friend read through it for you and offer an outside perspective.

Okay, but what happens if your essay really is too long, and you absolutely cannot cut it down…

What happens if you exceed the word limit?

If you exceed or come in just below the word limit by a few words and you’re sending your essay through a PDF or attached file, it’s not the worst thing. College admissions officers probably won’t notice that they had to read ten, or potentially even twenty extra words. The same goes for if you are below the word count.

However, if you have to answer the essay question within a textbox, or a provided space, you may be unable to submit your answer unless it falls somewhere within the word count. So, keep that in mind as you move forward. You may not have any other choice but to revise your answer to make it fit the word count.

Related: Tips for a successful college application

Additional resources

We have plenty of resources to help you with essay writing, so before you start writing. Learn some tips on writing 250 word essays as well as 500 word essays. Maybe you need help starting your essay? Learn how to start a scholarship essay (with examples!) One of the hardest things to do is write about one’s self. We can help you there too! Learn how to write an essay about yourself and wow whoever reads your essay!

Key Takeaways

Word counts aren’t meant to be an added challenge to the college application process
Before writing your essay, verify if you will be sending it via PDF, Word document, or if you will need to type it directly into a designated space
Write the first draft of your essay without a word count in mind and then critique your essay from there
If possible, give yourself a few different times to sit down and write various versions of your essay

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Frequently asked questions about essay word counts

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How to Write a Scholarship Essay

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"Be Bold" No-Essay Scholarship

Read the scholarship essay prompt and instructions
Outline your scholarship essay
Start writing your scholarship essay
Open with a hook
Use basic writing skills
Keep your scholarship essay descriptive but concise
Be professional
Be creative and different
Let your voice shine through
Make your scholarship essay stand out
Make your conclusion powerful
Revise and edit your first draft
Read your scholarship essay out aloud
Prepare to submit your scholarship essay

Frequently asked questions about writing scholarship essays

Writing a scholarship essay is a required part of many applications as a way for the scholarship committees to learn more about the candidates and their motivations. They have the power to make or break your scholarship application. Because of this, writing a scholarship essay can often seem stressful and daunting.

As a way to ease the essay writing process, we have compiled steps for writing strong scholarship essays, tips to make them stand out to a scholarship committee, and questions students often ask as they begin their scholarship applications. Here are the top scholarship essay tips to earn scholarship money:

Thoroughly read the prompt and instructions
Create a solid essay outline
Start writing early
Open with a solid hook
Prioritize basic writing skills
Keep it descriptive, yet concise
Be creative
Let your individual voice shine through
Stand out from the rest
Finish with a powerful conclusion
Read your scholarship essay out loud

Read below for more context and frequently asked questions about scholarship essays and create an account with Bold.org to unlock hundreds of exclusive scholarships ! .

1) Read the scholarship essay prompt and instructions

Always read the prompt before writing. It sounds like a simple suggestion, but if you don't understand what the prompt is asking, you won't be able to properly answer the question. Additionally, do research on the donor to understand the purpose of their scholarship . Many organizations have a mission statement and individual donors are often giving the scholarship in memorial of a loved one. Keep in mind the purpose of the scholarship provider's essay topic so you are able to understand and appreciate the scholarship program.

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Understand what the scholarship committees are asking for, and ensure that you know the word limit, page requirements, and/or other scholarship requirements in advance. If the essay question has multiple parts, pay attention to each part to make sure you are fully answering the question. It seems simple, but a scholarship provider looks to make sure you are properly answering the question.

2) Outline your scholarship essay

Don't start writing blindly. Once you have a good understanding of the scholarship essay prompts, make note of what you want to say and in what order . How do you want to open it? What are the key points you want to address? Answering questions like these can help ensure your essay is cohesive and well-written.

Student outlining an essay at a table outside

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3) Start writing your scholarship essay

Don't wait until the last minute to start writing your scholarship essay. The earlier you start writing your essay, the more time you have to plan, write, and edit. You have a better chance at success if you start early , rather than waiting until just before the scholarship application deadline to begin.

4) Open with a hook

Now that you have your scholarship essay format, it's time to begin the writing process. When you read strong scholarship essay examples, they almost always lead with something insightful or intriguing. Grab the reader's attention in a way that encourages them to read on. Don't start with a quote, a dictionary definition, or a generic cliché. Make what you have to say original , and show the committee right off the bat that you have something to say.

5) Use basic writing skills

Never underestimate the importance of good writing skills. Whether you're a high school student or a college student, using proper spelling, punctuation, and grammar is extremely important . Scholarship applications will be more credible, and it will show donors you have put thought and care into your essay.

6) Keep your scholarship essay descriptive but concise

As you get into your main paragraphs, remember that you are telling some sort of story. If your writing is bland and provides little detail, you are less likely to illustrate your point. Using the "show, don't tell" method is a helpful way to keep your writing interesting and descriptive. At the same time, don't go overboard with your descriptions. Be detailed, but don't let that cover up the point of your essay.

7) Be honest

Not every essay prompt is easy to answer. However, it is important that you are honest in what you write about in your essay. Don't make up a story that you think sounds impressive. A personal statement is looking to hear about what makes you special, not what stories you can create to make yourself sound more qualified.

8) Be professional

One of the most important scholarship essay tips to remember is to be professional. Put personality in your writing, but remember that you aren't talking to your best friend or sending a text. In other words, steer clear of slang words, excessive punctuation, and text lingo .

9) Be creative and different

The review committee will read many essays when choosing who will receive their scholarship award. When deciding who they give the scholarship money to, the review committee will look for essays that stand out . This means combining all of the scholarship essay tips from above to create a scholarship application that highlights your strengths, uniqueness, and personality. Be personal and follow scholarship essay tips, and you will write a compelling essay.

10) Let your voice shine through

Scholarship essays are brief but give you the time to tell the scholarship committee who you are and why you are the best candidate for the scholarship. Robotic and strictly informative essays may be technically adequate, but if you want your essay to stand out, make your personal statement personal. Showcase your personality in a way that is professional but shows the committee what makes you special.

11) Make your scholarship essay stand out

It's easy to write just anything, but it's harder learning how to write a scholarship essay that stands out from all the other scholarship essays the committees receive. If you want your scholarship to be creative and unique, steer clear of common clichés , song lyrics, and quotes. Scholarship committees want to hear what you have to say, not what somebody else already said.

The best essay examples are those that tell a clear story. While you may be tempted to share your whole life story in a scholarship essay, not every moment from your life is relevant to the essay prompt. Plus, the word count often doesn't allow this anyway. Instead, pick a key moment that highlights your character, your accomplishments, or something that you feel passionate enough about to write about. Stick to a scholarship essay format that allows you to share about yourself while still being concise and answering the essay prompts.

12) Make your conclusion powerful

When thinking about how to write a scholarship essay, remember the importance of a powerful beginning and ending. The end of your essay is the last thing read and therefore is the last thing the reader remembers. Bring the scholarship essay full circle without making general statements, such as "this is why you should pick me as your scholarship winner."

13) Revise and edit your first draft

No matter how good of an essay you've written, there is always room for improvement. Rough drafts are just the start . Take the time to look at your scholarship essay with a critical eye, pinpointing areas you can improve for the finalized draft.

14) Read your scholarship essay out aloud

A helpful part of the reviewing process is reading your essay out loud. This will allow you to catch mistakes you may not have noticed in your first edits. It also helps you get a sense of the essay's flow . When you read your scholarship essay out loud, ask yourself if there are parts that sound unnatural, forced, or out of place.

Students working on essays together at a table

15) Prepare to submit your scholarship essay

Before submitting your scholarship essay, double-check that your spelling and grammar are correct, that you answered the essay prompt, and that you met the word count. If you have given yourself enough time to complete the essay before the deadline, you will have had the chance to review your essay before submitting it. Don't wait until the last minute to submit , so that there is no panic if something goes wrong before the deadline.

Now that you're prepared to write your scholarship essay, click below to start applying to scholarships!

There are so many questions that come with writing essays, but we've chosen to answer a few of the most frequently asked questions about how to write essays, ways to win scholarships, etc. You can learn more about how to apply for scholarships in this guide .

How do you write a winning scholarship essay?

Earning financial aid from scholarship programs is heavily reliant on the strength of the essay submission. Just like writing college applications, the scholarship essay process takes thought and is often focused on the applicant's life or experiences. Because the topic often focuses on the student's life, it is helpful for students to think back to important moments in their life, ranging from experiences at a young age to middle school times up through the present.

Take these experiences and be creative , writing about personal lessons and experiences, rather than relying on clichés. Use what you're passionate about, for an essay about your dream school or career goals would be more compelling than one simply listing test scores and academic performance successes.

Follow the essential tips from above, layout a strategic essay structure, and submit the best representation of you. There isn't a guarantee for earning this financial aid through scholarships, but following these suggestions will give you a higher chance for future success on scholarships.

How do you begin a scholarship essay?

Open your first paragraph with something interesting that hooks the reader. At the same time, avoid corny statements and overly dramatic retellings. Don't tell the reader what you're going to do, such as saying "in this essay, I will..." for this is unnecessary. Use your intro to pique the reader's interest , while still giving an idea of what your essay will be about.

Do scholarship essays need a title?

This depends on the scholarship. Some essays may require or request a title, but most scholarships on Bold.org do not have a place to add a title. They are rarely required for Bold.org essays, but there are still exceptions. Additionally, other scholarships sites may prefer essays to be titled .

Student writing in a notebook and reading a laptop in bed

Where do I put my name in a scholarship essay?

This is another circumstance that depends on where you are applying for the scholarship. On Bold.org , you are submitting your application using your profile , so your name has already been shared in the application. Because of this, it is not necessary to include your name in the essay. Preferences may change depending on where you are applying for scholarships.

How do you answer "tell me about yourself" in a scholarship essay?

This question can be answered in so many different ways, but the most effective essays write less about academic credentials and more about interesting lessons and experiences that make them unique. If filled out thoroughly, your profile should already display your credentials, so use this space to share unique information about yourself, such as experience in the performing arts, time spent in a study abroad program, reasoning behind a college double major, work as an international student, and so on. Each person has a story; use this space to share it .

How do you start a scholarship essay about yourself?

One of the hardest parts of writing an essay about yourself is figuring out how to start. You want to sell yourself but still be humble, come across as fun but not stupid, show your strengths without ripping on others, etc. So, how should you start?

Don't start with a basic list of your accomplishments, for that doesn't draw readers into your essay. Begin with a hook that illustrates the point of your essay, without explicitly saying it. There is no right or wrong way to start your essay as long as you promote your strengths without being boastful. This is a difficult line to teeter on, but if you are able to showcase yourself in a genuine way, your chances of receiving scholarship financial aid will be much higher.

What to say when asked why you deserve a scholarship

Scholarships essays are a great place to show off your achievements, experiences, and personality, and this doesn't have to be in an arrogant way! Use a prompt about why you are deserving to share your story. When people know more about you, it becomes more apparent why you are qualified for the scholarship.

Use this section to show how you excel in different areas, giving examples, instead of simply saying that you are adequate in those fields. Share about your community service experiences, talk about your post-secondary education or plans to attend college, and include a note of how many scholarships you are earned in the past and what they were for. Don't be afraid to highlight your credibility, but do it in a way that gives examples . The "show, don't tell" technique is preached throughout schooling, and these essays are a perfect time to put that skill to use.

How do you sell yourself in a scholarship essay?

After you lead into your essay with a strong hook, begin by focusing on your morals and personal strengths. Do this in a way that doesn't just say you are strong in a certain area but shows it. Maybe this is a personal anecdote that shows your helpfulness, or maybe it's an example of your previous awards to demonstrate your academic excellence. Focus less on general academic achievement and more on specific awards, extracurricular activities, community service, and other notable accomplishments.

If your profile already shows your GPA, research experience, awards, and other information in your bio, don't feel that you have to go into depth with a specific list of all of your academic achievements. Stick to the aspects of your resumé that are individual to you , and you'll be more likely to find success in the different scholarship opportunities you apply for.

How to make a good impression in a scholarship essay

Many of the things to put in a scholarship essay have already been mentioned, but it is also important to mention what should not be added to an essay. In making a good impression on the scholarship committee, you must ensure that your message is clear. Avoid getting into controversial topics that detract from the focus of your essay, and stay on track to show your organization and thoughtfulness in approaching the scholarship application.

Additionally, don't flat-out say you need the money, even if you are in desperate need of financial assistance. Begging for money or using lack of financial stability as a way of appealing to the committee does not send a good message and often reflects badly on the rest of your application . If you do mention your economic background, do it in a respectful way that doesn't come across as offensive to the donors.

The committees ask the questions they do to get a good judge of a person's ambitions, interests, and most importantly, character. There are possibly many reasons you deserve this scholarship, but many other students are worthy too. Don't insult other applicants in order to make yourself look better. At the end of the day, you can only control yourself, so keep the focus on the positives about you, instead of the negatives about other people.

How long should a scholarship essay be?

Most, if not all, scholarship essays have a required word count range for your essay to stay between. Look at this when reading the prompt and preparing to write your essay so that you have an idea of how much to write. Keep your essay well inside the range to be safe.

Strong essays are less reliant on the number of words and paragraphs and more reliant on the quality of the writing. A 400-word essay packed with power can be more effective than a 1000-word essay that is poorly written. Because of this, it is less important to worry about what the committee will think of the length of your essay, as long as it's within the limit, and more important to make your scholarship effective.

Can I reuse my scholarship essays?

In some cases, it is okay to use the same essay, but be aware of what the question is asking and the purpose of the scholarship. For example, if you are applying to a computer science scholarship that wants to know about your interests in the subject, don't use an essay that focuses on your relationship with your family members.

If the prompt is the same for several scholarships and you want to reuse an essay, there is no rule against it. However, be aware of the little changes you can make to improve the applications for various scholarships .

Student sitting at a table outdoors and typing on a computer

Where can you find scholarships to apply for?

Scholarships are a great way to combat student loans , and Bold.org's mission is to help reduce the cost of student debt, providing a scholarship opportunity for all sorts of people, with different experiences, educations, and interests. In addition to looking for local scholarships in your area, and scholarships offered by your college, use Bold.org as a starting point to find scholarships that are right for you!

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Scholarship Essay Examples

With college tuition costs rising each year, many students apply for merit scholarships to help make college more affordable. However, merit scholarships can be competitive—and that’s where our scholarship essay examples come in. By reading our scholarship essay examples, you can learn what it takes to write an award-winning essay.

Scholarships are an excellent opportunity for students to lessen their college tuition costs. Most merit scholarships require a brief application, usually including one or more essays. Below, we’ve rounded up our best scholarship essay examples.

Reading winning scholarship essay examples, especially scholarship essay examples about yourself, can help you begin the scholarship essay process. By reviewing essay examples, you can learn how to craft a strong essay. You’ll also get a better sense of what scholarship committees look for when they review applications.

In this guide to Scholarship Essay Examples, you’ll find tips on how to write the best scholarship essay, as well as:

Various scholarship essay examples about yourself
A strong scholarship essay sample about why I deserve the scholarship
Scholarship essay examples about financial need, and more!

We’ve included scholarship essay examples specific to schools, including UC Berkeley, as well as specific programs, like the SHPE scholarship. We’ll also discuss the different types of scholarships you’ll find on your scholarship search.

Now, before we jump into our essay examples, let’s learn more about getting scholarship money for college.

What is a scholarship essay?

A scholarship essay is an essay you’ll include in your merit scholarship applications. In many ways, your scholarship essays might resemble your college essays. So, the scholarship essay format should seem familiar.

The best scholarship essays will highlight who you are and why you deserve money for college. Scholarship essay prompts will ask you to include various information, from details about your background to explanations of why you deserve a scholarship.

Crafting a compelling, well-written essay can help you win substantial financial awards to help cover your college tuition costs. However, not all scholarship essays are the same. Later on, we’ll review different winning scholarship essay examples to show you what kind of essays you’ll write in your application process.

Types of Scholarships

There are many different types of scholarships available to students. You can find a variety of scholarship opportunities on scholarships websites. The earlier you start your scholarship search, the more scholarships you’ll find.

While some scholarship applications accept applicants of all backgrounds and abilities, some have very specific eligibility guidelines. So, you may not be eligible for every scholarship. If you’re not sure whether or not you’re eligible, you can find eligibility information on most scholarships websites.

Here are a few different scholarship types you may come across in your scholarship search:

Academic scholarships
Merit scholarships
Essay competitions
Community service scholarships
Military scholarships

Scholarship essay prompts will differ across programs. As you’ll see in our winning scholarship essay examples, the prompts can vary in word count and complexity. We’ll provide you with descriptive essay examples to help you get an idea of what to expect.

Merit-Based Scholarships

Most scholarships we’ll highlight in this article are merit-based scholarships . A merit-based scholarship is money awarded by a college or community organization based on your academic achievements.

In contrast, a need-based scholarship is awarded based on a student’s financial need. If you are applying for financial aid, be sure to check out our scholarship essay examples about financial need. You’ll find both merit- and need-based scholarships on your scholarship search.

To qualify for a merit-based scholarship, you generally must meet specific criteria. Scholarship committees look at your grades, academic achievements, extracurriculars, and even test scores. Need-based scholarships can have similar requirements, but they’re primarily concerned with your family’s financial status.

There are many merit-based scholarships available to help students afford college, including:

National merit scholarships
Gates Scholarship
Jack Kent Cooke Scholarship
Robertson Scholarship

Check out our guides on these popular merit-based scholarships for more details. There, you’ll find tips on how to write a winning essay. Our descriptive essay examples can also help prepare you to apply to these programs After all, while prompts vary, the scholarship essay format remains fairly standard.

Finding scholarships

In this guide, we’ll highlight some scholarships you may be eligible for. However, make sure to check out the rest of our resources to help you approach the scholarship search.

Some scholarships we’ll discuss include:

QuestBridge scholarship : helps low-income students attend elite colleges
Park scholarships : for students attending NC State University
SHPE scholarship : offers financial assistance for Hispanic students interested in STEM degrees.

Scholarship essay examples about financial need will help you prepare for your scholarship applications. For instance, if you apply for the SHPE scholarship, you’ll include a lot of details about your background.

You can also use scholarship search portals or scholarships websites to find other scholarships you may be eligible for.

How do you write a scholarship essay?

While scholarship essay prompts may differ, you’ll usually stick to the same general scholarship essay format.

One resource that can help you write the best scholarship essays and find money for college is Sallie Mae. Sallie Mae is a private lender offering undergraduate, graduate, and professional student loans. They also grant scholarships and provide aspiring college students with a scholarship search portal on their scholarships websites. Here’s what they have to say about having a winning scholarship essay format.

Organization

When writing a scholarship essay, it’s best to start with a scholarship essay format that organizes your thoughts. This will allow you to follow a plan that clearly and concisely gets your points across. You should begin your essay with a solid introduction. Then, introduce your supporting arguments and add an appropriate conclusion.

A good scholarship essay clearly states why you deserve to win money for college with evidence to back up your argument. You’ll see how to do this in our scholarship essay sample about why I deserve the scholarship. The best scholarship essays will be original and honest. It should be written in an inspirational and positive tone, highlighting your strengths and capabilities.

When you feel like you have put your best foot forward, you should ask others for their feedback. This can be from a teacher, counselor, or one of our advisors here at CollegeAdvisor! Proofread your final essay and make sure you’ve caught any spelling and grammatical errors before submitting your application.

Up next, we’ll get into our descriptive essay examples and the different scholarship essay prompts they responded to.

By looking at scholarship essay examples, you can learn what exactly makes a good essay. So, let’s look at some descriptive essay examples written by students looking to secure money for college.

First, we will walk you through scholarship essay examples about yourself. Then, we’ll look at a scholarship essay sample about why I deserve the scholarship. Lastly, we will provide you with scholarship essay examples about financial need. Remember to keep these scholarship essay examples in mind when writing essays of your own!

Scholarship Essay Examples About Yourself

Let’s take a closer look at some scholarship essay examples about yourself.

Scholarship essay prompts vary quite a bit, so make sure you understand what the prompt really asks of you. That way, you can answer the question or address the prompt in its entirety.

Some scholarship essay prompts may ask how the scholarship will make a difference for you. They may also ask about any contributions you have made to your community.

Ready to look at some winning scholarship essay examples? Check out these scholarship essay examples below.

The first of our scholarship essays is for Phi Sigma Rho. Here’s the prompt:

How do you promote Phi Sigma Rho and STEM on your campus or in your community? (300 words Max)

Phi sigma rho scholarship essay.

In my campus and community, I strive to promote Phi Sigma Rho and STEM by promoting Phi Rho’s values and sharing my experiences and passion for Phi Rho.

My involvement in the Women in Engineering Program (WEP) and Society of Women Engineers (SWE) has allowed me the opportunity to promote Phi Rho and STEM. These activities have given me insight into how to successfully create a network that will support and encourage women in engineering to continue their careers.

Within WEP, I served as a sophomore orientation leader (Envoy), mentoring first-year women and assisting with program logistics. As an envoy, I was able to promote Phi Rho ideals of friendship and encouragement. I was also able to informally recruit for Phi Rho by sharing my experiences and passion for the sorority.

Within SWE, I was the Internal Relations Chair my freshmen year and am the Director of Member Engagement this year. Both roles are related to member engagement, allowing me to promote friendship within engineering. Member engagement is important for creating a community among female engineers. Similar to my envoy position, my leadership within SWE has allowed me to share my love for Phi Rho.

Additionally, my volunteer experience with Engineering Ambassadors (EA), a STEM outreach group, has allowed me to promote STEM in the community. In EA, I give presentations on engineering, speak on panels, and lead hands-on activities for K-12 students. EA has taught me strategies to promote STEM to children and teenagers.

Because of Phi Sigma Rho, I have the confidence to inspire and encourage the next generation of female engineers. I hold the values of scholarship, friendship, and encouragement in the highest regard and strive to embody those in every leadership position and volunteer role. Through SWE, WEP, and EA, I have promoted Phi Sigma Rho, its values, and STEM as a whole in both my campus and community.

This is, in many ways, a scholarship essay sample about why I deserve the scholarship. The writer clearly highlights how they’ve engaged with Phi Sigma Rho and how their values align with those of the organization. The writer also provides specific examples of their leadership positions, skills, and accolades.

The next two of our scholarship essay examples about yourself are for the SHPE scholarship. Here they are:

SHPE Scholarship essay example #1

Essay prompt:.

Summarize your life experiences and any challenges that have impacted your path to higher education. (250 Words)

Essay Example:

I vividly remember the first day of First Grade because I didn’t know the Pledge of Allegiance like the rest of my classmates. Growing up in a Hispanic household, I had never learned what the pledge was. This was the beginning of several years of disconnect.

From receiving weird looks when I told classmates my family opened Christmas gifts at midnight, to my parents’ confusion when I didn’t want them to speak Spanish in public, both sides of my life never understood the other. As a result, I always felt out of place in school, like I was behind in some way because I didn’t share the same upbringing as my classmates. In contrast, academics felt like a level playing field, something we were all learning together in the same way.

While I couldn’t tell you who won the super bowl, I could do mathematics or read just as well, if not better, than my classmates. Socially, I always felt out of place, but academically I was always comfortable, and as a result, I tried to excel in that area of my life. That desire to succeed created the relentless work ethic I have today and the appreciation I have for education.

Despite the lack of emphasis from my parents on schoolwork, I developed this sense of responsibility and persistence to pursue an education. Although my family’s Hispanic culture made my life difficult when I was younger, it made me a more resilient person.

More scholarship essay examples

Shpe scholarship essay example #2.

Discuss your educational and career aspirations as well as your ability to complete and achieve these goals. (250 words)

Using a degree in engineering, I hope to work on improving sustainability and efficiency in the aerospace industry by creating cheaper, safer, and more environmentally-conscious options.

Recently, Pratt and Whitney designed an engine that is 16% more efficient and will release 3600 less metric tons per airplane per year. Excitingly, it also greatly reduces the noise footprint of an airplane. Innovations like these will allow the aerospace industry to evolve and improve while reducing negative environmental impact. I hope to work at the forefront of this innovation, pushing the boundaries of improved engine performance and efficiency.

Last semester, I started working in the Experimental and Computational Convection Laboratory on campus to learn more about turbines. Some current projects in the lab involve new turbine cooling techniques and additive manufactured heat exchangers. Throughout the course of my undergraduate career, I hope to learn more about the barriers facing improved engine and turbine efficiency. Following undergraduate, I plan to attend graduate school to gain a deeper knowledge of these topics. Following graduate school, I may go into industry working on turbines and jet engines. Due to beginning research early, I believe graduate school is an attainable educational goal.

The potential ability to make a difference in the environmental impact of the aerospace industry is exciting. To accomplish this, I know studying Mechanical Engineering will give me the skills necessary to fulfill my career goals.

Both of these scholarship essay examples use specific details to highlight the writer’s strengths, experiences, and accolades. In reading these winning scholarship essay examples, we get a sense of who the writer is both as a person and as a student.

Scholarship Essay Sample about “Why I deserve the scholarship”

Another scholarship essay prompt you may come across is “why I deserve this scholarship.” A good scholarship essay clearly highlights why you deserve to win the scholarship and provides evidence to support your argument.

Below, you’ll find scholarship essay samples about why I deserve the scholarship. You can use these as a guide to help you tackle your own scholarship essays.

Here’s the first of our scholarship essay examples, which was used for the Park Scholarship:

The Park Scholarship is an investment in the potential of young people. It prepares scholars to make lifelong contributions to communities, states, nations, and the world. Tell us a story that illustrates your potential to make these lifelong contributions. (What have you done that should compel us to invest in you?) (Max. 3,990 characters including spaces.)

Park scholarship essay example.

Coming from a Venezuelan family, I have always been able to connect with total strangers through Spanish. Whether I’m eating at a restaurant or volunteering, I am constantly stumbling upon other Spanish speakers. The ability to converse in their language allows me to bond with them in a way I couldn’t in English, something I do not take for granted.

Because of my experience, I believe that learning a foreign language is an incredibly important skill. Being able to speak in a second language allows a person to understand another community and reach out to people within that community. Additionally, speaking a second language assists in appreciating other cultures. This appreciation is important for fostering open-mindedness, something America as a whole struggles with today.

In my school district, foreign language classes are not offered until late middle school. Once in high school, many students drop the class. In addition, those who stay in the class often find that the classes provide little more than a basic understanding of the language and then become discouraged in their learning. On a larger scale, this issue affects America as a whole. Second language programs often come second in terms of funding and planning and are not encouraged as rigorously as other academic courses. As a result, many Americans are ignorant to the benefits of bilingualism and are unable to understand the viewpoint of those who are multilingual.

After my freshman year of high school, my frustration with my community’s lack of priority for second language learning culminated in my desire to take some sort of action to promote foreign language education. In my sophomore year, a classmate and I created and ran an introductory Spanish program, Spanish in the Spring, at my local library for young children in the district. I spent hours at home creating lesson plans, activities, themes, and advertisements for the program. I placed heavy emphasis on cultural aspects and the importance of the Spanish language in America and the world as a whole.

My purpose for this program was to introduce children at a young age to learning a foreign language, so their desire to learn would continue throughout their life. Through the program, I was also able to share my belief of the importance of learning a second language with the children, as well as their parents. After the final day of the program, I was thrilled when one parent mentioned their desire to learn a foreign language program themself. I felt that if I made an impact on one person or family, the entire program was worthwhile.

Unfortunately, this past spring I was unable to continue the Spanish in the Spring program due to library scheduling restraints. However, I hopefully plan to offer the program again this spring with some changes that will improve and expand the experience. One of these changes will include the immersion of parents into the experience to encourage foreign language education as a family activity.

While this program was only offered once, the impact was immeasurable, for the children, for the cause of foreign language education, and for me.

This is another scholarship essay sample about why I deserve the scholarship. In it, the writer clearly and directly answers the prompt—that is, they highlight their potential to make a lifelong impact on members of their community.

Ready for another scholarship essay example? Here’s the next one:

How will a ScholarSHPE impact your life and education? (200 Words)

Shpe scholarship essay example.

Receiving a ScholarSHPE will give me the gift of time and opportunities. My parents are unable to support me financially throughout college due to large amounts of accrued debt. A ScholarSHPE will reduce my financial stress and allow me to improve my overall health as a result. It will also prevent the need to work several hours a week at a part-time job to pay for tuition, books, and living expenses, which will limit what I can do academically and outside of class. A ScholarSHPE will allow me to spend more time on research pursuits, engineering extracurriculars, volunteer work, and school work, instead of long hours at a part-time job.

This essay sample is fairly straightforward. In it, the writer follows a clear scholarship essay format, explicitly answering the prompt.

UC Berkeley Scholarships essay examples

Let’s look at some school-specific merit scholarship essay examples.

At the University of California – Berkeley , students can apply for a variety of merit scholarships. These scholarships can help offset the cost of UC Berkeley tuition.

Below, we’ve included various scholarship essay examples for the UC Berkeley scholarships. These UC Berkeley scholarships can help students cover their college tuition costs. This can make the UC Berkeley tuition less of a barrier for students hoping to attend.

You’ll find a variety of UC Berkeley scholarships that can help you afford UC Berkeley tuition. Available UC Berkeley scholarships include:

Berkeley Undergraduate Scholarship
Fiat Lux Scholarship
Middle Class Scholarship
Regents’ and Chancellor’s Scholarship

These are just a few ways to cover the cost of UC Berkeley tuition. UC Berkeley students also receive more than $10 million per year in outside scholarships to cover college tuition costs. If you are interested in exploring non-UC Berkeley scholarships, check out this list of outside scholarship resources .

To help you get started, check out our winning UC Berkeley scholarship essay examples. The authors of these scholarship essay examples about financial need all won money to help cover their UC Berkeley tuition.

UC Berkeley scholarship essay examples

I am grateful to realize how fortunate I am today. All the loved ones around me and their acts of kindness have given me such a great life. I also realize the sacrifices that those around me have had to give up in order for me to succeed. It is because of this that I have realized what “paying it forward” truly means. I have been given the opportunity to make an impact in my community and I have fully taken advantage of this opportunity. I have been a volunteer for the Buddyball Sports Organization, which is a non-profit sports organization dedicated to providing the opportunity for children with developmental disabilities to play sports.

Growing up, watching and playing sports has been one of my greatest pleasures of life, so teaching these less fortunate kids has been something I have enjoyed doing every single weekend. On top of this, I am also both a volunteer at the South Orangetown Ambulance Corps and the Nyack Hospital. With the desire to pursue a career in the medical field, volunteering at these places has given me a great idea of what my career could look like in the near future. While all of these volunteer activities have had a significant impact on me, little did I know that this summer would truly make a lasting difference in my life.

This past summer, my family decided to go on a vacation to India to visit my relatives. This was the first time in my life that I was going to India and this was only because my grandmother came down with Parkinson’s disease and was extremely sick. Little did I know at that time that my visit to India would be a life-changing experience. Never could have I imagined such a filthy village. Everywhere I looked, there was garbage and to make matters worse, no one seemed to do anything to try to ameliorate the repugnant image of my home country.

While I realized on my flight home that I was not going to be able to make a difference and help my community back in India, there was nothing stopping me from doing so right here in Rockland County, New York. When I was told that I would have the opportunity to help organize and direct “Make a Difference Rockland,” I joyfully accepted! Make a Difference Rockland is a free public meet and greet for all local non-profits and other government agencies in an attempt to promote different community service opportunities within the public. By gathering all the local non-profit organizations and giving them a chance to present themselves, people learn more about all of the local community service opportunities that are available to them. This way, the community will be able to recruit volunteers and will not have to suffer through calamitous conditions.

As one of the people in charge of organizing, it was my responsibility to adequately contact, invite and help prepare for hundreds of people. Once I gathered their contact information, I had to ask each one of these places if they would be interested in joining the fair. If interested, I had to also prepare a table for them to present themselves at the fair. The feeling of bringing all of these community service groups together brought me a feeling of happiness that I will never forget.

The best scholarship essays will teach the reader about who the writer is, what they care about, and why they deserve a scholarship. The essay above does just that—it highlights the writer’s background and describes how they give back to their community.

Next, let’s dig into a few more scholarship essay examples.

If you’re interested in more descriptive essay examples, keep reading.

Reading a ton of winning scholarship essay examples is a great way to pick up on what makes them winners. Over time, you’ll start to notice how the details, tone, and flow all work together to tell a story.

Below, you’ll find a few more scholarship essay examples. Our first one is from the NC Parks Scholarship. Here’s the prompt:

What do you do to serve your community? Why do you do the service that you do? What impact have you made? What challenges or insights have your service contributions given you? (Max. 3,990 characters including spaces.)

Community-focused scholarship essay example #1.

“What are the boys like in high school?” “Is it easy to get a boyfriend?” Sighing, the other frustrated leaders and I look at each other as we read the questions posed by the younger girls. Every year at Girls’ Night Out (GNO), a program that introduces and prepares eighth-grade girls for high school, the girls question the leaders about relationships and dating ad nauseum, irritating other leaders to the point of ignoring the questions.

Giving each question a careful and deliberate answer is often difficult, but instead of disregarding the issue, I try to offer my most sincere and honest advice. Originally, when I began as a group leader in the program I would give the same response, “You shouldn’t worry about boys. Instead, enjoy your friends, and do things you enjoy.” While that advice is true, it is often not the answer that will satisfy the girls. Through many years in the program, I have learned that advice is not “one size fits all”; it must be individualized to the person’s needs. Now, when faced with a question about dating, I respond with more questions before giving “words of wisdom”.

Many times I am able to understand the perspective of the middle school student, allowing me to give advice accordingly. Supplying proper advice about sensitive topics is one of the most impactful parts of GNO. As a role model and positive influence for the girls, I largely impact their ideas and perception of the environment when entering high school. In addition to teaching the students valuable lessons, volunteering at GNO has taught me that various perspectives may present themselves identically. To better understand those around me, it is important that I look beyond the surface for the other person’s viewpoint.

Beyond understanding other viewpoints from GNO, I have learned from other service that understanding a person’s situation is essential for providing exceptional assistance. Through Key Club, I volunteer many times a year at the local food pantry. As a volunteer, I help the recipients “shop” at the small grocery store using a point system. The process takes up a lot of time because shoppers do not always know what they want. Originally I thought this was a poor design. I believed it would be much more efficient to just hand out the food rather than giving out points and shopping with the food pantry recipients.

Upon expressing my opinion to one of the adult food pantry staff, he explained to me that the grocery store aspect of the store taught the recipients life skills. Additionally, by giving them autonomy over what food they “bought”, they retained a sort of independence, an important skill to have if they find themselves above the income level required to use the food pantry.

The next time I volunteered I took note of the skills presented. Budgeting of points, deciding whether or not they needed something, determining the quality of the fruit, and decision-making of choosing extra food or toiletries, were all skills that those above the poverty line have ingrained. For those who have been using food pantries and other assistance for prolonged periods of time, these skills are not so natural. As a result, teaching the people means after they no longer need the services of the food pantry, they have valuable skills necessary for their independence.

From this experience, I learned an important lesson: helping people is not just giving them what they need at the moment, but understanding what they will need in the future and providing that as well. After realizing this, I emphasize the abilities that the food pantry teaches whenever I dedicate my time. By doing that, I am positively affecting the development of those skills.

When reflecting on the various ways I have served my community, one thing stands out to me: I always understand another viewpoint or gain a new perspective afterwards. For me, the ability to look at something from different angles is an unparalleled talent, and one of the most important skills a person can have.

Describe your volunteer or community experience with SHPE or other organizations and any internships you have held. (250 Words)

Community-focused scholarship essay example #2.

In SHPE, I have been involved in planning the Penn State College of Engineering STEP-UP (Student Transition Engineering Program at University Park) Program as a chair. The STEP-UP program helps students from Penn State branch campuses smoothly transition to the University Park campus through a 3-day program in the spring. The program introduces them to engineering resources, other engineering students, and provides professional development. Due to COVID-19, this year it was held virtually.

Within the Society of Women Engineers and the Women in Engineering Program, I have volunteered at different STEM events in the community for elementary school students. I am also currently serving as an Envoy (a mentorship and logistical position) for the Women in Engineering Program Orientation. Additionally, I participate in many of SWE’s service events, such as donating and collecting donations, cleaning up areas on and around campus, and visiting nursing homes.

On campus, I am also involved with Engineering Ambassadors (EA), a group that does STEM outreach around Pennsylvania from the elementary school to high school level. EA goes virtually or in person to schools, does engineering presentations and activities, and answers questions.

Prior to COVID-19, I had secured an internship with Pratt and Whitney, however, they had to cancel their internship program. As a result, I was fortunate enough to obtain a Process Quality Engineering internship at Brentwood Industries for summer 2020.

Both of these scholarship essay examples highlight how the writers have given back to their communities. These winning scholarship essay examples highlight the writers’ strengths. In doing so, they highlight why these writers deserve help with college tuition costs.

Reflecting on scholarship essay format

As important as the content of your essay is, your scholarship essay format is equally important. As you write, be sure to adhere to the scholarship essay format guidelines provided to you.

However, there are some things all of the best scholarship essays have in common. Here are some general tips, tricks, and outlines to help you in your own writing process.

Three scholarship essay writing tips:

Word counts are hard to adhere to, but the other applicants must adhere to them, too. Make sure every word counts.
When you write a solid essay, you can repurpose some of your key points, including specific anecdotes and details, in other scholarship applications.
Writing a good essay helps you solidify who you are and what you want. This sets you up for success in the scholarship application process and beyond.

Three essential elements to include in your essay:

State your goals. Scholarship committees are investing in your future and your potential. To take a chance on you, they need to know your plan and what you want to do with your award.
Establish an implicit or explicit link between your goals and the scholarship you are applying for. Describe to the committee how the specific scholarship will help you attain your goals. Give them a tangible reason as to why you deserve their investment.
Share your story. Use personal details about your experiences that highlight your identity and objectives. How have you pursued your goals and prepared for your future? How will the scholarship help you going forward? Get personal and be honest.

Storytelling in your essay

Some of the best scholarship essays utilize good storytelling strategies. You should share the details of your personal story in a narrative, using a logical order. Remember, telling personal details about yourself and your goals does not mean simply restating your resume!

By the end of the essay, the scholarship committee should have an in-depth sense of why you applied. You should reveal:

When and how you arrived at your future goals
Your motivations to accomplish these objectives
What traits or skills you have developed along the way
The meaningful experiences that drive you to your goals
Any personal challenges you have faced and how you have overcome them
What has shaped you and your worldview

These details humanize you and show your complexity as a person and an applicant. It’s helpful to use anecdotes and personal experiences to give life to facts and details about yourself. Sharing real-life experiences will help make your essay more interesting and more fun to read.

Creating your scholarship essay format

Once you have thought about what you want to say, start thinking about your scholarship essay format. You may start by making a list of what your reader may be interested in:

How you spend your time
Your accomplishments
What your passions are, etc.

Start by brainstorming everything you may want to include in your essay. Then, think about whether the stories you include support your arguments. Ask yourself, “What did I learn?” or “How did this get me closer to my goals?”. These reflections help the reader connect to your purpose for writing.

Make sure to organize your thoughts in a narrative order. However, there isn’t just one way to write an essay. So, don’t limit yourself to one version of your story. You may find yourself writing multiple drafts before you get to your final scholarship essay format.

Editing and proofreading your essay

When you think you have finished, be sure to proofread and edit to ensure it’s ready to be submitted. Check that you’ve adhered to all the scholarship essay format guidelines (like the word count).

Reviewing also includes getting input from others! An outside reader’s opinion can help you confirm your essay effectively communicates your ideas.

Tips for scholarship essays

You may notice some similarities between the scholarship essay examples about yourself we’ve provided. That’s because the authors of the best scholarship essays all use similar strategies to make their essays great.

Here are 5 tips from U.S. News to help you make all of your scholarship essays stand out:

Tips for writing stand-out scholarship essays

1. get personal and be specific.

The best scholarship essays will share an authentic story with impactful details. The key is to be yourself and not shy away from personal details. The more the committee gets to know about you, the more likely they are to invest in your future. You want your essay to offer a genuine, in-depth look into who you are as a person.

2. Tell a story

Your essay should be more than a collection of facts—it should tell a story. That means having a solid introduction that grabs the reader’s attention from the very start. Then, you should include a logical flow of experiences or details. By the end of your essay, you want your reader to have learned something valuable about you.

3. Tailor the scholarship essay to the prompt

Some of your scholarship essay prompts may be similar across different scholarship applications. However, it’s important that your essay is specific to each prompt and answers the question entirely. While you can repurpose an essay you’ve already written as inspiration or a starting point, be extra attentive when doing so.

4. Don’t tailor yourself to the reader

Many students fall into the trap of telling a story they think scholarship foundation committees want to hear. Instead, stay true to yourself as you craft your scholarship application essays. Don’t tell your reader what you think they want to hear—just tell them who you are.

5. Follow directions

This final tip may arguably be the most important. Above all else, students should follow instructions. This means adhering to the scholarship essay format guidelines and word count. It also means answering the essay prompt in its entirety. Application readers can be easily frustrated by a student’s failure to follow directions. This could reflect poorly on you and your essay in the long run.

Use these tips to guide you as you approach the scholarship essay format.

Scholarship Essay Examples – Final Thoughts

We hope our roundup of scholarship essay examples has shown you how to approach your scholarship applications. With rising college costs, scholarships should be a part of your college financial planning process. Take the time to do your own scholarship search based on your specific interests. You can find plenty of scholarships to apply to on scholarships websites and college financial aid pages. There are many different scholarships websites to help you with your search.

Save this guide

Feel free to save this guide and review our scholarship essay examples about yourself and about financial need. You can always look back on our scholarship essay sample about why I deserve the scholarship when writing your own essay.

Start with an outline that organizes your thoughts. Then, make sure your essay is clear and concise. Be original and honest, and include personal details and anecdotes when appropriate. State why you deserve to win the scholarship. Then, support your claim in a way that makes a scholarship committee invested in your future.

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Writing a Compelling Scholarship Essay

Tips and tricks to make your essay shine.

Scholarships are a great way to offset the cost of a study-abroad program, but scholarships can be limited in how many are offered per semester. So it’s important that you make sure that your scholarship essay is readable, portrays who you are as a student and makes you stand out from the other applicants.

Here are 6 tips to make your scholarship essay shine:

1. If there’s an essay prompt, follow it!

Read it several times over so that you are sure that you understand what you are being asked to write about. As you read the prompt several times, note down ideas that come to mind. You can use these ideas later as you start to write your essay. This is absolutely critical: Do not deviate from the prompt! Your ability to write about a very specific question is what’s being assessed—and will serve you well in your university studies.

2. No prompt? Then write what you are passionate about!

Write about a subject area, an event or something that you value. When you enjoy what you’re writing about, you’ll have a deeper connection to the essay and can produce a thoughtful, competitive essay.

3. Stick to the word count.

Here’s a handy tip: As a rule of thumb, 250 words is equivalent to one typed page, double-spaced. Have you already written an essay for a previous class? Open it up and run a word count on it. You’ll have a better idea of how long or short you’ll need to write for the scholarship. Most organizations won’t penalize you for going a few words over the limit, but try to come as close as possible.

4. Have a clear introduction, body and conclusion statement. You should be precise in your writing and have an easy-to-follow statement.

Your introduction should get the reader’s attention and provide a very specific statement of why you are writing this essay.

The body paragraphs should address your “why” in your introduction. Use as many body paragraphs as you need to explain your “why.” It’s easier to read many short paragraphs than a couple of long paragraphs.

The conclusion summarizes what you explained in your body paragraphs and answers “why I should be awarded a scholarship.” You can also include a short “thank you for this opportunity and reading my submission.”

5. Leave yourself enough time!

Don’t wait until the last day to start working on your scholarship essay. Make sure you take time to think about what you want to write, draft the essay and then revise and revise again, and potentially again. We’d recommend giving yourself about two weeks before the deadline—and leave a couple of days in between your brainstorming period, your writing period and your revising period. This will help you have fresh eyes to find sentences that aren’t grammatically correct, phrases that don’t address the prompt and so on.

6. Proofread, proofread, proofread.

Would a grammatical error on your scholarship essay really keep you from your educational goal? It could, according to Randeep Kullar, manager for our Career Services.

“The biggest thing that I've noticed in reviewing any kind of document is that the minute there is a grammatical error, it pulls me away from the content,” says Randeep. “It's an automatic red flag for me. If I see that the author’s first language isn’t English, then I will take this into consideration and give them a bit of leeway, as learning another language is a feat unto itself that shows how adaptable and versatile the individual is in other ways.

“Overall, grammar is important, and it points to a variety of skills that employers, schools, et cetera, look for in candidates. However, any good reviewer of an application will take context into consideration and look at supporting documentation or details, if available, that paint a more comprehensive approach of a candidate.

Ready to submit your scholarship application for our Berkeley Haas Global Access Program or Legal Studies Global Access Program ?

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How to write a scholarship essay

With the increased cost of college tuition, students often need to apply for grants and scholarships in order to pay their way through school.

There are scholarships and grants for everyone from recent graduates to first-generation college students – even if you’re still a high school student.

Most scholarships require more than just good test scores. If you’ve ever wondered what it takes to win one of these awards, read on. The scholarship application process usually includes an essay question that the scholarship provider’s own committee will ask you to answer.

Scholarship applications can be stressful for students – especially international students. The worst part is that applicants don’t always know what they are doing wrong and how to fix it. This takes skill and preparation (and some good luck!).

Read this blog before you start writing – it will give you lots of tips that will help you write a great essay, so that your chances of winning the scholarship to attend college will increase dramatically!

Writing a Winning College Scholarship Essay

Great scholarship essays show the real person behind the application and this could be what gives you the edge over the competition (as long as you meet the other criteria for the scholarship).

Scholarship Essays

Scholarship essays are like college admission essays. They have a lot in common and they are similar in the way that you write them. Prospective students applying for scholarships are in competition with each other, as many will have good grades and great prospects. Your essay is a great chance to distinguish yourself from other applicants.

When applying for a scholarship, it is important to write an essay that the committee will notice. The committee will receive many, many versions of the same essay. All of these similar essays will blend together – in other words, you need to stand out by writing an attention-grabbing story in a unique voice.

These are some tips to think about when writing your essay:

Scholarships are not always based purely on grades, so it is important to mention what makes you strong outside of academics.

It is best to find a scholarship related to your academic or future career goals.

One way to make sure your essay meets the requirements of each scholarship competition is to do some research on which type of essay it requires.

How to write a winning scholarship essay – scholarship essay tips

It’s not enough just to know what you want to write about. You also need to meet any given requirements and develop a plan for researching the topic before starting on your essay.

Scholarship Essay Instructions

Before you start working on your essay, make sure to take a moment to read the instructions and fully comprehend what is required of you. If it’s not clear, then look over them one more time until you have all of the information that you need. Do not start writing until everything is clear in your mind. If you have any questions about the scholarship essay prompts, contact the scholarship committee and ask for instructions. This shows that you are serious about the essay prompt and will not make you look worse than if you did nothing at all.

Pay attention to the prompt and be sure you maintain focus on that

When reading the prompt, make sure to read it carefully several times and try to understand what is being asked. Scholarship essay prompts will typically ask a variety of similar themes, such as how receiving the scholarship or gaining your degree will change your life. A good way to start the essay would be figuring out which specific question the prompt is asking you.

You should also avoid adding anything unrelated to the prompt. You should be able to talk about the specific topic in-depth. Stay focused on the prompt when writing your essay.

If you can, choose a topic that you are interested in

You’ll create better work and be more expressive if you care about what you’re writing. You may get to choose the topic of your scholarship essay for some applications.

So if you have a choice, choose a topic that you are passionate about. This should make it easier to write your scholarship essay without having to do more work.

If the prompt is asking for your past, present or future goals and aspirations (or something else), it’s best to tie those into how receiving this scholarship will change what you’re able to do.

If you make your writing from your heart, it will be more meaningful.

Avoid Negative Topics

Don’t do essays that are about negative things. That’s not good to read or write.

Scholarship program administrators are most impressed with essays that inspire and give hope, shed light on overlooked problems, or tell stories of overcoming great obstacles.

Don’t be shy

Who are you? What makes you special? This is your chance to talk about what you want to say that you couldn’t say in other parts of the scholarship application essays. When you tell the story of your own life in a scholarship application or essay, it will seem more real to the people reading it.

Spelling and grammar are important

People notice mistakes in grammar. Even small mistakes can distract a reader from your message, and nailing the spelling and grammar in your scholarship essay shows your writing ability and attention to detail. This includes good sentence structure and a wide vocabulary throughout your entire essay.

Proofreading your essay is crucial to submitting an application that will be in with a chance of winning.

Stick to the word count

When you write a scholarship essay, the prompts usually tell you how many words (or characters) to use, so follow instructions and stick to the rules. You would be surprised how many applicants go over the word count, and despite submitting a well written scholarship essay, they make a bad first impression by sending something in that doesn’t meet the scholarship requirements.

You may not know what 250 words looks like. It’s hard to tell. As a general guide, you need to write 250 words for one typed page (double spaced). That means you need to write 500 words for two pages and so on. Microsoft Word and Google Docs both have functions to show you your word count.

You can’t go over the word or character limit. If you do, you may be disqualified. You do not need to write an essay that exactly hits the limit, but it is good to come close.

It’s easy to think that when you write more than the word limit, people will think you are working harder, have put in extra effort, and are therefore more deserving of the scholarship money. In truth, the people reading your essay care about how well you follow directions as much as they care about a well written essay.

For a great scholarship essay, do some research

What do you know about the organization awarding this scholarship? Look them up online. Learn about why they are offering the scholarship and their mission statement.

Learn about the award or scholarship provider’s mission and objectives. As you write your scholarship essay, think about the point of the company’s mission and what it is they are looking for in a successful candidate. Then share a story from your life that demonstrates how passionate you are for the organization or cause.

Many scholarship providers also showcase previous winning scholarship essays on their websites. You can see what a winning essay looks like and learn from their experience. Studying other scholarship essay examples will give you many ideas about what to write in your personal statement, how to create your essay’s introduction and a really good understanding of the scholarship essay format you should use.

Start the essay writing process early

Time management is key when applying for scholarships. Plan ahead to ensure you have the proper time available and be sure to check deadlines and requirements.

Give yourself plenty of time to come up with a thought-provoking essay. Take the time to brainstorm ideas, compile an outline, and edit your entry thoroughly just like you would for any assignment.

It is best to do your work before the deadline. That way you have time to make sure that it is good and you can fix anything if it needs to be fixed. When you finish writing the essay, leave a few days before you edit it. You’ll have a better chance of finding errors and places for improvement if you do not edit it right away.

Here are some scholarship essay tips:

Introduce the essay with a strong introduction or “hook.” Try to make your first sentence engaging enough to grab your reader’s attention.

Introduction, body, conclusion – a classic framework. Start with an introduction. The introduction should tell the readers what you are going to say in your essay. Write a body that tells about the main idea of your essay. The body should have many details, sentences, and paragraphs to support your argument. Finish by writing a conclusion that tells the reader what you talked about in the body of your

New ideas should always start new paragraphs. Paragraphs should be short and concise for easy reading!

Try to tie up any open threads and bring your essay to a conclusion with a personal statement.

Be truthful

The most memorable essays are written with the utmost authenticity and are often built around a series of events that detail how these experiences have impacted your life. Remember, you do not need to embellish or make up details to try to seem more deserving for the scholarship money.

Show, don’t tell

This is the most important tip for writing an essay. Instead of just explaining how you feel, try to paint a vivid picture through your words. For example: instead of saying that I’m really stressed at work and school, illustrate what stress looks like to you – late nights studying and forgetting to shower for days?

Keep it concise

Clear, specific and concise writing is one of the best tips for a solid scholarship essay.

Providing a compelling and concise essay is challenging, but necessary. Employing simple language with specifics and vivid imagery will help you do just that.

Write about resilience

Scholarship essays are rigorous and require a lot of thought. Often, the essay will ask you to write about an important issue in your life that required you to be very resourceful when solving it, or a specific hardship you have overcome.

Many applicants make the mistake of writing more about their struggles with overcoming obstacles and not giving much insight into how they actually accomplished it.

One of the most important components for crafting a worthy scholarship essay is to focus on one event that has influenced or had an impact on your life. If you have experienced many different adversities throughout your life, it can be hard to narrow down which one to focus on.

However, by choosing a central theme you will be able to provide a more concise, coherent essay and will be able to tell the story of overcoming your obstacles in greater depth.

Use a professional tone, but also show who you really are

Instead of using overly colloquial language, focus on professionalism. But don’t be too formal – this is still your essay! Just keep readers interested by being yourself and sounding like you instead of trying to sound stuffy or formal.

Balance humility and pride

Your scholarship essay is the place to share your accomplishments and backstory, but don’t just list all of your virtues in an effort to prove that you deserve a scholarship. It’s important to strike a balance between being humble and proud of what you’ve accomplished.

Avoid these common errors

Now that you have a general sense of how to approach your essay, let’s review what we should avoid mentioning.

Generic inspirational quotes

By all means put quotes on social media. Or on your desk. But for a scholarship essay, you should not use them.

Instead, include advice or wisdom you’ve been given from the people who are important to you. Doing this will add a personal touch and give readers insight into what motivates you.

Platitudes, cliches and meaningless phrases

Be original. Don’t paint the same picture as everyone else when you’re applying for scholarships.

Platitudes are common phrases that people use all the time. For example, “Good things come to those who wait.”

Try not to use them in scholarship essays because you will sound like everyone else if you do.

Cliches are overused phrases or stories that no longer have any power or meaning. If you want to write a great scholarship essay, don’t use any clichés.

Swearing

Sounds obvious, right? You’d never even think of doing this in a scholarship essay, would you? You’d be surprised at how many people actually do – and it can cost them the scholarship!

Try to avoid any swear or curse words, even if you hear others use them frequently in mainstream media or TV shows.

It’s unlikely that you will offend anyone, but be safe rather than sorry.

Use a thesaurus to find new exciting words and paint vivid imagery of your experience.

Txt spk and emoji

While you may be accustomed to using abbreviations and acronyms in daily conversations, keep them out of your scholarship essays.

The scholarship essay is one of the best places to showcase your writing skills, so it’s important that you write in a formal style unless otherwise directed.

Avoid using slang and informal language in your essay. Keep it professional and academic but also personal. A scholarship committee is looking for a special person with unique qualities.

The same goes for emoji. Keep them out of your scholarship essay! ;p

Essay Writing Process

Understanding how to write a scholarship essay can be difficult, but we’re here to give you some help.

Idea generation or brainstorming

Many students just dive straight into writing their essay. But if you want yours to really stand out, you should start thinking, planning and generating ideas before you begin writing.

Think about the essay prompt. Start to think of what you want to write about to address it fully.

To ensure that your idea fits with the prompt and communicates what you are trying to say, brainstorming is necessary. As you think of ideas, write them down as bullet points or notes on paper.

An outline is a useful tool to help you avoid structural mistakes, omission, repetition and fluff in your scholarship essay.

Your outline is like a complete answer to the essay prompt but without any of the detail.

As you write the full version of your essay you will have all the space you need to expand on what you’ve decided on in your outline.

The outline can help you structure your scholarship essay properly.

Your outline should allow you to see that you have answered the prompt, and done so in a logical order such as:

An introduction that sets out your ideas for the essay

Explanations that support the ideas you raised

A conclusion that summarises your points and wraps up the essay

Once you’ve drafted your article and outlined its key points, you can begin writing the piece for real. Be sure to follow your outline and check it for anything you may have missed while drafting.

Try to be succinct, avoid rambling on about unrelated topics and make your point quickly and clearly.

If the scholarship doesn’t mention a maximum essay length, a good rule of thumb is that your essay should be around one full page long.

Take 5 (or longer)

When you’ve completed a first draft of your essay, stop for a little while. Take a break by getting outside for some fresh air or going for a short walk. This will give you time to take in your own work and get some perspective on it.

When you return from your break, the essay will seem clearer in your mind than before. If possible, wait until the next day to come back to your essay. Continuing to edit it fresh in your mind will help you make any final revisions.

With a fresh set of eyes on your scholarship application essay you may notice things that you want to change, add or remove. Is there a better way to say something? Do you need to elaborate more on a certain part? Is there something that doesn’t make sense?

You also need to look out for grammatical errors, spelling mistakes and typos.

When revising your essay, you should always ask yourself if there is a better way to express what you want to say. Are any of the sentences not necessary? Could they be shortened or rewritten? Is it clear how this section connects with another?

If you find that you’ve repeated the same words too often, you try to vary your language. It will make reading and understanding your essay easier for a reader who is not familiar with what you’re trying to say.

Tools such as Grammarly can help find errors in writing, so it’s a good idea to check your work there before submitting anything or sending off your application.

Once you’re happy with the content it’s time to format your essay by following the instructions provided in the brief.

If no specific instructions are given, then our advice is to use a standard 12 point font like Arial, Times New Roman, Helvetica, Courier, or Georgia font.

Double spacing is a standard requirement for many scholarships.

It is also important to use a ‘Title Page’ and include the following information: name, address, year of study, current course(s), email address.

Ask someone to read your essay

It can be hard to be objective when reviewing your own work. That’s why you should ask someone else to read through it before you submit.

Ask them what they think about your writing, and if the essay presents all of the main points that were requested in a clear way.

If there are any gaps then ask them for ideas so that everything is well-balanced.

Ideally someone who has experience with reading essays would be the best person – someone like a teacher or counsellor. But really anyone like a friend or family member will do here because their perspective will be different than yours.

Take their advice and update your essay not submit your essay until you have made the requested changes.

This will give you an edge and help ensure greater success!

Don’t quit!

If you get tired, rest but don’t give up. Writing a scholarship essay is not an easy task, but if you break it down it is manageable. If you need more money to be able to afford to study abroad then winning some extra financial aid in the form of scholarships could make all the difference to your financial stability in college.

We hope that you’ve learned something new about how to write a scholarship essay in our article. Now it’s over to you…

Do you have any other scholarship essay tips? Let us know in the comments below!

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The Word Limit in Academic Writing (and How to Stick to It)

3-minute read

24th September 2016

Even the phrase “word limit” can cause panic among students . For some it’s the challenge of writing enough, while others find it hard to stick within the limit given. In either case, it can lead to spending more time worrying about the length of your paper than the content!

And length isn't everything, right ladies? Ahem.

But why do college papers come with set word limits? And what should you do to ensure you don’t write too much or too little?

Why Have a Word Limit?

There are two main reasons that academic papers usually come with a word limit:

Fairness It’s impossible to grade two papers of vastly different lengths (e.g., 20,000 compared to 2,000 words) on the same scale. The word limit makes sure that everyone taking the same class knows what is expected of them.
Communication Skills As well as testing your knowledge, college papers are about communicating clearly and concisely. Setting a word limit forces you to consider what you’re saying more carefully, helping you to develop your writing skills.

Sticking to the word limit is, therefore, part of being a good academic, since being a long way over or under could suggest you’ve misjudged the scope of the essay topic or that you’re having trouble communicating your ideas.

How to Stick to the Word Limit

Although many colleges give you roughly 10% leeway on the word limit, you should aim for your finished paper to be as close to the suggested word count as possible. If you find yourself writing too much, you can reduce the word count by:

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Editing out repetition, redundant words and padding phrases
Cutting down long or unnecessary quotations
Reducing the number of examples or case studies used (if you’ve included several)
Using the active voice instead of the passive voice

More generally, you should re-read your work and eliminate anything that isn’t directly related to the question you’re answering. As well as helping you stick to the word limit, this will make your work more focused, which could boost your grades.

How to Increase Your Word Count

If you’re struggling to write enough, the temptation might be to add padding phrases like “in my opinion” or long block quotations until you hit the minimum word count. But this will simply detract from the clarity of your writing.

Instead, the answer is usually to go back over your work and look for things that could be improved with a little additional attention. This might involve:

Addressing anything from your essay question that you’ve overlooked
Adding illustrative examples to support a point
Considering different sources and views on the same issue
Using short quotations as evidence for your arguments

Moreover, whether you’ve written too much or too little, getting someone else to read your work and offer feedback is a fantastic idea (especially if you ask a professional for help). This will help you to identify areas that could be expanded or cut in the next draft, so eventually you should be able to get your essay to the required length.

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July 8, 2023

College Essay Length: Go to the Maximum Word Count

This is McNutt Hall, Dartmouth's admissions office.

Previously Published on September 24, 2017:

College applicants should use the real estate offered in college essays to make their case — all of it! If the maximum word count for a college admissions essay is 650 words, applicants should not write 500 words. They should write 650 words — or pretty close to it.

When you’re a real estate developer in Manhattan, and you’re allowed to build twenty-five stories, you don’t construct ten stories and dedicate the rest of the space for the native pigeons of Manhattan. You build up —twenty-five levels. The pigeons have the skies.

And yet even though it seems only logical that college applicants should use all of the allotted real estate to make their case in essays, to tell their stories, to distinguish themselves in super competitive applicant pools, it never ceases to amaze us how many students write essays that don’t come anywhere near the maximum word count. Instead, they leave the space on the table to the disservice of their candidacies.

Students Should Go to the Word Limit in Every College Essay

It’s not as though students only make the mistake of leaving words on the table in their Common Application Personal Statement . They also often do so in their equally as critical supplemental essays.

If Brown University asks applicants to write a 200-250-word essay on how students would take advantage of the Open Curriculum, as the Ivy League school does on its 2022-2023 application, students should not offer them 200 words. College applicants are not interior designers — blank space does not look lovely. They should submit 250-word essays.

When Brown admissions officers come across an essay that doesn’t come close to the school’s maximum word count, they’re likely to think, “This student doesn’t love our school enough to put in the work to write an essay just for us. She probably wants to go elsewhere.”

And if that thought crosses the mind of an admissions officer, the odds are strong that the same admissions officer is unlikely to offer that student a spot in the incoming class. And, of course, this doesn’t just apply to Brown — it applies to every highly selective institution in America.

Students Should Use the Maximum Word or Character Count in Short Answers Too

We can’t stress enough the importance of taking advantage of the real estate an applicant is afforded in essays to make their case. But don’t be fooled that an essay only means boxes on The Common Application that allow students to include 100 words or more.

After all, many top schools pose short answer questions too. Maybe they’re called short-takes. On the 2022-2023 application, the University of Southern California , for instance, asks applicants to name their favorite movie of all time, their dream job, favorite trip, and favorite snack, among others.

Students should go up to the maximum character count in these opportunities too — and opportunities is the apropos word because they’re opportunities to wow admissions officers, present a window into a student’s world and distinguish themselves from other talented applicants. In short, students should not just name their favorite movie — they should say why concisely.

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Scholarship Essay Writing

Scholarship Essay Format

Scholarship Essay Format - A Complete Guide

11 min read

Published on: Apr 6, 2023

Last updated on: Jan 30, 2024

What is a Scholarship Essay Format?

Every piece of writing needs to be structured to be effective. Similarly, the scholarship essay also requires a writer to present content in a systematized manner.

A scholarship essay format is a set of guidelines that the writer must follow in drafting a structured document. This format organizes the information and makes it understandable for the scholarship committee.

Writing an essay in a proper format can be beneficial for both the applicant and the committee member. Committee members read and review the essays of different students. However, a formatted piece helps them analyze each essay in a better way.

Students often underestimate the importance of correct formatting. Just as essential it is to draft good content for your essay, it is equally important to get the format right.

When writing a scholarship, go through the guidelines provided and understand them thoroughly. It is to make sure that the format used is what is required and preferred by the committee.

The following section will be talking about the elements involved in the formatting of the winning scholarship essay.

How to Format a Scholarship Essay

Wondering what format should I use for a scholarship essay?

Every scholarship application provides a set of instructions that clearly states the formatting details. However, If you are not provided with any specifications, use the proper way to format scholarship essays.

According to the basic design, the following requirements should be fulfilled to make the scholarship essay well written and structured.

The content should be double spaced
Use a simple and easy-to-read font style, such as Times New Roman font
Keep the font size between 10 to 12 pt.
Align your content leaving a one-inch margin on all sides of the page
Present your last name and page number on the left side of the paper.
Titles can also be given. This is something optional and depends on the writerâs preference.

Other requirements, such as the word count and indented paragraphs, are mentioned in the guidelines. The average word count of a scholarship essay is around 300 words. The jury finds more extended essays monotonous that can risk your chances of getting the scholarship.

Moreover, the essay should be outlined appropriately, as well. All the content present in your essay should be divided into three sections; introduction, body, and conclusion. It will allow the committee to understand your document better.

Here's an example table for an overview of the format of a scholarship essay:

Again, this is just an example and your scholarship essay may require different formatting guidelines based on the prompt and the scholarship program.

How long Should a Scholarship Essay Be?

Some scholarships may require a very short essay, such as 250 words or less. Others may allow for a longer essay of 500-1000 words or more.

It is important to carefully read and follow the instructions to ensure that your essay meets their requirements.

If there is no specific word count requirement, it is still important to keep the essay concise and focused on the topic provided.

How to Write a Scholarship Essay

Outlining the essay is one of the most important steps that you should take before starting your writing. A scholarship essay outline helps organize thoughts and ensure that each paragraph presents an idea or point relevant to the essay topic.

How to Start a Scholarship Essay?

The introduction of your scholarship essay should be written in an interesting way. It should also be able to capture the attention of the reader at first glance. The introduction must convince your reader and establish an emotional connection with them.

You can start writing by introducing yourself, or you can start by introducing the topic of the essay. Introducing oneself is a great way to make a scholarship essay memorable, as it allows readers to connect with you on an emotional level.

How to Write Body Paragraphs for a Scholarship Essay?

The body of your essay should include all the arguments and points that support the essay topic. Each point should be discussed in a separate paragraph and presented with relevant examples, quotes, statistics, or facts.

The body must also state how each argument supports your opinion. This will make it easier for readers to understand your point of view.

Make sure to keep each body paragraph under 250 words. Writing longer paragraphs can make them monotonous and might lead the reader to lose interest.

How to Conclude a Scholarship Essay?

In the conclusion, you should restate the main points that you discussed in the essay. You should also emphasize how the scholarship can help you achieve your academic goals.

The conclusion must be written in a powerful way and leave an impact on the readerâs mind. You can also provide some advice, tips, or personal insight that will motivate readers to take action.

Scholarship Essay Format Examples

To understand the scholarship essay formatting better, go through some examples. Written samples will help you evaluate the writing process and the structure in a better way.

Here are some sample essays that might help to get you started

Below are some more scholarship essay samples and how they should be formatted.

Scholarship Essay Format Template

High School Scholarship Essay Example

Scholarship Essay Sample About Why I Deserve the Scholarship?

500 Words Scholarship Essay Examples

Scholarship Essay Format Heading

Tips for Scholarship Essay Format

Whether you are given the instructions to follow or not, it can be challenging to meet all the requirements. Even when formatting your essay, you will have to make choices to come up with the right option correctly.

To help you write the most structured scholarship application essay, the following are some tips from experts for you:

The first and foremost step is to read and understand the guidelines provided.
If not given, use the basic formatting where the font size is 10 to 12pt. And the word count is 300 to 350 words.
Understand the essay prompt carefully and stick to it.
If the instructions require you to write a one-page essay, avoid using double spacing.
Either use a blank line or a paragraph indent but never both.
To make the essay readable, use 1.5 or double spacing between the lines.
Your scholarship essay does not require you to add an essay question in the beginning so just provide answers.
Always proofread your essay, as it is extremely important to submit a perfect piece. Check for mistakes and errors and fix them before handing them over to the jury. Essay read again and again until you make it perfect.

Following these tips is essential to draft a high-quality and well-formatted essay. Whether you are a high school or a college student, you must know the basics to format all your essays.

Scholarship Essay Tips

The scholarship is an excellent opportunity to fulfill a dream of studying in a reputable institute. These scholarships require students to achieve their academic goals in the best possible way.

Impressing the committee with your writing skills is both important and challenging. However, if your essay does not portray the best of you, the chance of getting the aid might be a risk.

To avoid this situation, you can always get a professionalâs help in your scholarship essay. CollegeEssay.org is a legit essay writing website that assists students in drafting their academic assignments. You can also give our AI writing tool a try to get quality essays!

Whether it is a simple college essay or a complicated essay, expert writers can help you by providing professional essay writing service.

Simply place your order to hire a qualified writer today.

Barbara P (Literature, Marketing)

Barbara is a highly educated and qualified author with a Ph.D. in public health from an Ivy League university. She has spent a significant amount of time working in the medical field, conducting a thorough study on a variety of health issues. Her work has been published in several major publications.

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Applying For Scholarships

Why I Deserve This Scholarship Essay Examples 2023

Jennifer Finetti Aug 3, 2022

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One of the most popular scholarship essay questions is “Why do you deserve this scholarship?” Answering such a question can be difficult because you don’t want to sound too needy or greedy. Your essay must stand out from the competition while still being humble and appreciative. Check out these essay writing tips, along with a scholarship essay sample about why I deserve the scholarship.

Tips for writing a “Why do you deserve this scholarship?” essay

Your essay will be unique to your experiences, but there are some general guidelines you should follow. Here are tips for writing a “why I’m deserving scholarship” essay:

Explain how the scholarship money would contribute to your long-term goals. You’re asking the scholarship committee to invest in your future. They want to ensure their investment goes to a worthy cause. Explain how your education will play a role in your career and overall goals after graduation.
Focus on the purpose of the scholarship. While writing your essay, keep in mind what the scholarship is for and where it comes from. Tailor your response to the scholarship so it resonates with the review committee.
Don’t be afraid to promote yourself. This may be your only chance to tell the committee about your achievements. Showing your past success will instill confidence about your future success.
Use a thesis statement, just like you would with any other essay. You should refer back to the thesis throughout the essay and tie it into the conclusion. If you have trouble creating the thesis at the beginning, write the rest of the essay first. Read through, see what stands out the most, and then write an intro with a cohesive thesis.
When explaining obstacles in your life, focus on how you overcame them. Show that you’re a problem solver, able to persevere through any situation. You can mention difficulties from your past, but turn the attention to what you did as a result of them.
Avoid generalizations. Generic statements like “I deserve this because I am a hard worker” aren’t enough. Every applicant is a hard worker, has ‘good grades,’ etc. What makes you different, special and memorable? That should be the topic of your scholarship essay.
Support your statements with examples. Instead of saying, “I’m a hard worker,” say, “I upheld two jobs while I was in high school to support my family, and I still maintained a 3.75 GPA.” This is no longer a generalization. It is an achievement specific to your life and upbringing.
Use positive language. Phrases like ‘well-prepared,’ ‘qualified candidate’ and ‘specialized training’ showcase achievements in a positive light. Even in a negative situation, show the positive way you got through it.
Avoid words like ‘very’ and ‘really.’ You can typically find a one-word substitute that sounds more professional. Very hard turns into difficult. Very good becomes exceptional. Here is an excellent guide for modifiers that replace very .
Take a one-day break before you edit. Once you have a solid draft written, do not jump straight into editing. Wait a day before looking over your essay. This will let you read the essay with fresh eyes so you can catch inconsistencies, grammar mistakes, and more.

Student preparing for college and writing essays

Example 1: Why I deserve this scholarship essay (100 words)

With a 100 word scholarship essay, you need to jump into the thesis as quickly as possible. There is not enough space for a lengthy introduction. Use concise language, and showcase your biggest achievements/goals. You should have enough sentences to break into two small paragraphs, though one may only be two to three sentences.

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I believe I deserve this scholarship because I am an innovative problem solver. As the student council president, I helped re-organize my school library to better accommodate students’ needs. I worked with staff to categorize books to better reflect current school subjects. I will use the same leadership mindset to obtain my business degree with a focus on project management. My goal is to work in construction management to increase efficiency in low-income housing development. With this scholarship and the need-based grants I will receive, I can complete my education and continue to solve problems within my community.

Word Count: 98

Example 2: Why I deserve this scholarship essay (250 words)

A 250-word scholarship essay usually consists of 4-5 paragraphs. The introduction can have a short lead-in, but it should arrive at the thesis quickly. The body paragraphs should support the assertion made in the first paragraph (the reason you deserve the scholarship). The conclusion should summarize the essay collectively, and it may include a statement of appreciation.

One of the most debated topics in America is how to provide affordable healthcare to the masses. I believe the answer lies in accessible healthcare providers. Nurse practitioners often go unappreciated and unrecognized for their versatility and value in the medical profession. With this scholarship, I could continue my training to become a nurse practitioner and provide attainable medical services to underserved communities. Growing up in a small Montana farming town, the closest hospital was 45 minutes away. The only local family doctor charged whatever he wanted because he was the sole provider. My parents relied on home remedies to treat any ailment my brother and I developed. This is when my passion for medicine first took form. Minimal medical care was not a concern until my father went to the hospital for severe stomach problems. These were the result of Crohn’s disease, a condition that can be managed with treatment. Because my father had not been to the doctor in years, the flare up was highly aggressive. It took months to get it under control and get him on preventative medication. I decided to go to college to help people like my father. As a nurse practitioner I can practice medicine without charging a fortune for my services. I plan to serve in rural communities where hospitals and doctors are limited or non-existent. I am grateful to be considered for this scholarship opportunity, and should I be selected, I will use it to advance my medical education.

Word Count: 248

Example 3: Why I deserve this scholarship essay (500 words)

With a 500-word scholarship essay, you have room to tell your story and create an experience for the reader. Use several introductory sentences to lead into your thesis and set the tone for the essay. The body paragraph should flow in a logical manner, most often chronologically. Then the conclusion should re-emphasize the thesis and leave the scholarship committee with something to remember.

Winston Churchill once said, “Success consists of going from failure to failure without loss of enthusiasm.” And while I never define my obstacles as ‘failures,’ I mark my success by my repeated perseverance through adversity. I have faced several challenges over the years, from dyslexia to homelessness; yet I continued to earn exemplary grades and graduate at the top of my class. I deserve this scholarship because I have the strength and determination to achieve my goals, no matter what hurdles I have to overcome. I was not born a gifted student. Testing and assignments were always difficult for me, whether I studied or not. In second grade, my parents had me tested for learning disabilities. The psychologist said that I had a hyperactivity disorder and prescribed medication to suppress my energy. After two years abiding by that treatment, I was re-evaluated and diagnosed with dyslexia. This helped me get the treatment I needed, and I finally made progress in school. Shortly after I learned how to study with dyslexia, my father lost his job. He was the sole breadwinner for the household, and I was soon on the street with my mother and two younger siblings. I got a job in newspaper delivery, one of the few fields that will hire a 12-year-old. My father found odd jobs to bring money to the family, and together we were eventually able to pay for a two-bedroom apartment to live in. I was valedictorian that school year, and I maintained a perfect attendance record. Like my father, I knew I had to do whatever was necessary to succeed and thrive. In high school, I developed an interest for psychology. I noticed patterns in behaviors, both in myself and in the people around me. I asked my child therapist, the one who officially diagnosed me with dyslexia, if I could work at his clinic over the summers. He allowed me to intern at his counseling center my junior and senior year, and I gained valuable insight into the business side of psychology. I am now entering the second year of my psychology degree. I plan to complete my bachelor’s degree and earn a Doctorate of Neuropsychology in the years that follow. My focus is on psychological testing, specifically for children with autism or learning disabilities. I spent years struggling in school because of a preventable misdiagnosis. I want to ensure that other children do not face the same struggles in their future. Why do I deserve this scholarship? Because I have the passion and determination to become a trusted member of the psychological community. With my education, I can help children get the treatment they need at an early age, giving the best chance at finding their own success. You’re not just helping me get through college. You’re improving the quality of life for countless families to come. I appreciate your consideration, and I look forward to building a lasting relationship with your organization.

Word Count: 492

You Should Also Read…

How to Write a Scholarship Motivation Letter

Why Are You Applying to This Scholarship Essay (with Example)

How to Write a Scholarship Essay Introduction (With Example)

How to End a Scholarship Essay

How to Write a Great 250-Word Essay

How to Write a Great 500 Word Essay

5 People Who Should Review Your Scholarship Essays

Scholarship Essay

Jennifer Finetti

As a parent who recently helped her own kids embark on their college journeys, Jennifer approaches the transition from high school to college from a unique perspective. She truly enjoys engaging with students – helping them to build the confidence, knowledge, and insight needed to pursue their educational and career goals, while also empowering them with the strategies and skills needed to access scholarships and financial aid that can help limit college costs. She understands the importance of ensuring access to the edtech tools and resources that can make this process easier and more equitable - this drive to support underserved populations is what drew her to ScholarshipOwl. Jennifer has coached students from around the world, as well as in-person with local students in her own community. Her areas of focus include career exploration, major selection, college search and selection, college application assistance, financial aid and scholarship consultation, essay review and feedback, and more. She works with students who are at the top of their class, as well as those who are struggling. She firmly believes that all students, regardless of their circumstances, can succeed if they stay focused and work hard in school. Jennifer earned her MA in Counseling Psychology from National University, and her BA in Psychology from University of California, Santa Cruz.

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College Scholarship Tip: Heed Essay Word Count

Dec 20, 2022

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Use this college scholarship tip to write a stronger essay!

These word limits (500 words, 1000 words, etc.) are in place for a number of reasons.

They keep students from rambling on and on, they save time in the judging process, and they show if a student is following directions by sticking to the required number of words.

Students who follow word count directions are looked upon more favorably than those who ignore the scholarship guidelines or decide to squeeze in just a few more words.

Scholarship judges need to eliminate the applicants who will not be winners in order to narrow down their choices and ultimately pick the scholarship recipient.

When writing their essays, students need to write as close as possible to the number of words required. This means that if a scholarship essay calls for 500 words, 450-500 is great, but 510 or 100 is NOT.

Remember, the essay is the heart of the scholarship application and allows the judges to learn more about the student on a deeper level.

Be sure to read: 10 Epic Tips Straight from a College Scholarship Judge

Don’t give the scholarship judges an easy reason to disqualify your application, and always follow scholarship word count requirements!

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Use this college scholarship tip to make sure all essay guidelines are followed and to impress the judges!

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How to Apply

Required Materials

To apply, you'll submit some required materials via the Law School Admission Council (LSAC) and complete an online application by a specific deadline .

Online Application and Electronic Attachments

Before you begin, review the Admission 2024 Application Instructions (PDF: 350 KB).

You’ll need to choose one program to which you’ll apply this cycle (September to June).

Be sure to use the right application form for the program you’ve chosen and for the semester in which you’d like to start studies, if applicable.

You must fully and accurately complete each section of the application form, and attach the required materials. (Do not print and mail the form or attachments; they will be discarded.)

The $85 application fee is non-refundable. You will be prompted to pay it with a credit card when you submit the application form.

The fee isn’t a tuition credit, if admitted.

Tell us about all of your education and work experience in one to two pages. Please include details about any 3-month period when you weren’t in school or employed.

Other than length, there is no required format for your résumé/CV. It is fine to include extracurricular activities, publications, presentations, or other career-related information, if you have them.

This is a brief statement—make it no more than 500 words.

It is also personal. Describe aspects about yourself, your accomplishments, or your academic and professional goals. Take a moment to reflect on these, and consider including your thoughts about how they motivate you toward graduate study and/or illuminate the reason(s) you are applying for one of our programs or a particular specialization.

LLM in Legal Theory

If you are applying to this specialization, be sure to address your main field(s) of interest within legal theory and some of the potential research questions or projects you’d like to explore.

Part-time Applicants with a US JD

For candidates applying to the part-time LLM, E-LLM, or APC in Taxation programs, you are strongly encouraged, but not required, to submit a personal statement. All other part-time applicants must submit a personal statement.

We offer the addendum option so that, if there is any information you’d like to share, you can.

Not all applicants submit an addendum—in fact, not even the majority—but we wouldn’t want to put you in the position of being unable to share important and relevant information just because we didn’t ask about it.

The addendum option can also be used if you need additional space to respond to a character and fitness question.

There are some items that are not an addendum; do not attach these:

Writing samples, articles, or research papers;
Digital versions of academic credentials, test scores, or recommendations;
An extended essay to augment your personal statement.

Hauser Global Scholarship Essay

If you’re applying for the Hauser Global Scholarship Program , you’ll need to attach an additional essay (500-750 words) before submitting the application.

Your essay should briefly describe a current legal dilemma, controversy, or issue facing a country, a region, or the world, and suggest a strategy to address the problem.

Research and Writing Samples

If you’d like for your previous research and writing to be considered, please make note of it on your résumé/CV.

Do not submit samples. We do not require them for application to the LLM program and we do not review them.

If you’re a CPA, please provide a digital image of your certificate.

We reserve the right to validate its authenticity or your standing with the governing board at any time.

You must electronically attach these materials to the application form.

Take your time to ensure you’ve arrived to the final versions of these materials before submitting the application. Late submission and/or revisions are not permitted.

Sample Research Paper

To fulfill this requirement, you can submit a published paper, a research paper written for seminar credit, or a paper prepared specifically for your application to the doctoral program. You must have originally written it in English.

Ideally, but not necessarily, it will address a question in the same substantive area you plan for your dissertation.

We do not set a page or word limit, but the file must be 2MB or smaller so that it can be attached.

Proposal of Study

You’ll need to submit a dissertation proposal of no more than 3,000 words. It must be written in English and contain a bibliography.

Your proposal should have sufficient specificity to make possible an evaluation by a member of our faculty familiar with the proposed field.

The substance of your proposal should:

Clearly state the research questions to be addressed;
Review the current literature in the field;
Identify the original contribution the dissertation will make;
State the methodological approach that the applicant plans to adopt;
Identify any difficulties that might be encountered during research.

If your proposal includes fieldwork, address the time needed for it, your plan to integrate it into the program’s required residency period , and any impact that plan may have on your project’s design or its completion.

You are not expected to be in contact with, nor seek approval from, faculty members in advance of application. Instead, you should identify in the proposal possible dissertation advisors after reviewing the NYU faculty biographies online . Students admitted into the program will be notified of their designated advisor.

Supporting Materials Sent to LSAC

All applicants must use the LSAC Credential Assembly Service . If you hold foreign education credentials, you must purchase the International Authentication and Evaluation Service. While not required, we strongly recommend your materials arrive at least two weeks early for processing.

Official transcripts from all institution(s) you have attended are required. These should be accompanied by translations, if the original is not in English.

Make sure your school includes a statement of your class rank with your transcript. If your school does not issue a class rank, a statement of that policy can be included instead.

Please follow LSAC’s instructions to ensure your school(s) send the correct documentation in proper form. You may also wish to view LSAC’s helpful country-by-country guidance as you prepare to ask institutions for your credentials.

Hint #1: Get transcripts from all the school(s) you attended, even if you didn’t earn a degree (e.g. exchange studies or transfer credit).

Hint #2: If you need translations, ask for two transcripts. Have the school send one to LSAC, and use the second for translation.

Hint #3: If you haven’t completed a degree, please have your school send any updated academic results to LSAC once they become available (including after the deadline). LSAC issues report updates at no additional cost to you.

Most foreign-trained applicants must take an approved English proficiency exam. Applicants are strongly advised to register for and take one of the approved tests at a test center. The Committee on Graduate Admissions prefers score results from exams taken at test centers, and there is availability for these exams in countries around the globe.

What tests are approved?

The internet-based Test of English as a Foreign Language ( TOEFL iBT )
The academic version of the International English Language Testing System ( IELTS )

What are the minimum scores to be considered for admission?

Applicants should at least meet these scores; JSD applicants are expected to exceed them: TOEFL: 100/120

Listening: 26
Reading: 26
Speaking: 22
Writing: 22

IELTS: 7.0/9.0

Listening: 7.5
Reading: 7.5
Speaking: 7.0
Writing: 7.0

Who is exempt from submitting a score?

If you earned your law degree (or bachelor’s degree for MSL applicants) in English in a country where English is a primary language.

Have more questions?

Check out our FAQs .

In your LSAC account, be sure to both register recommender(s) and assign letters . Whether requesting letters to be sent electronically or by mail, we encourage you to review the submission process with your recommender.

Our master’s and certificate programs require one letter and the JSD program requires two. Three is the maximum.

If you’re applying to the LLM, E-LLM or APC program, submit at least one academic letter. Choose the person who knows you best as a student and who can comment with specificity about your academic skills, personal qualities, and preparedness for graduate study.

If you’re applying to the MSL, the required letter should be from someone who is able to comment on your substantive tax experience.

JSD applicants need two letters from law school professors who know your academic work and can attest to your ability to complete a doctoral dissertation that will make a significant scholarly contribution.

Should I submit more than the required number?

More is not necessarily better. If you opt to submit more than required, make sure the recommender will provide a new, relevant perspective.

For candidates applying to the part-time LLM, E-LLM, or APC in Taxation programs, you are strongly encouraged, but not required, to submit a recommendation. All other part-time applicants must submit at least one academic letter.

Reapplicants

If you’re reapplying, be sure that we receive your online application and all of the required materials in a timely manner.

Typically, the easiest way to reapply is to use the same LSAC account because your credentials are preserved for a number of years after they are submitted to LSAC. Be sure to check if there are any incomplete transcripts or expired test scores before applying.

Provided the recommender agrees, it is fine to reuse letters that were submitted with a prior application. It is equally fine to obtain a new letter or choose new recommenders.

If you’re a current NYU Law student, check out special information about applying to the Graduate Division’s programs.

CFA ® Scholarship Guide

A CFA Scholarship is financial support for individuals who may be unable to afford all the fees of the CFA program . All CFA Institute Scholarships include a waived enrollment fee and discounted registration.

There are multiple scholarships and each one has a different set of application requirements, eligibility rules, and application windows. CFA scholarships are available for existing CFA program candidates and people considering pursuing the CFA charter. If you are an existing CFA program candidate you can apply for a scholarship for Level I, II, or III exams depending on which stage of the program you are at.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

What Are The Total Fees of The CFA Program?

CFA Access Scholarship
CFA Women’s Scholarship
CFA Student Scholarship
CFA Professor Scholarship
CFA Regulator Scholarship
How To Check Your CFA Scholarship Application Status
Can You Reapply for A CFA Scholarship If You Aren’t Chosen?

How Many People Get CFA Scholarships?

The total fees for a CFA program candidate are over $3,000 USD. Considering it’s common for CFA program candidates to have accrued debt from gaining a traditional education in finance from a college or university, a CFA Scholarship can make a difference.

What Is The CFA Access Scholarship?

The CFA Access Scholarship is designed to specifically improve access for individuals who are considering the CFA program and may be unable to afford all the fees associated with the program. Recipients of the CFA Access Scholarship will be able to enroll in the CFA Program for free and pay $250 USD to register for the CFA exam vs the standard exam registration fee.

CFA Access Scholarship Application Requirements

As you gather materials for the CFA Access Scholarship application don’t forget to:

Disclose any potential conflicts of interest
Include references
Write a personal statement
Submit the application within the designated application window

How To Apply For The CFA Access Scholarship

The first step to applying for the CFA Access Scholarship is to make sure you meet the enrollment criteria and requirements for the CFA program .

If you meet those requirements, check to see when applications are being accepted for the CFA Access Scholarship .

The CFA Institute usually opens registration for the CFA Access Scholarship once or twice a year. When the application window is open you can submit your application for the scholarship through your CFA Institute account.

How To Write A Personal Statement For The CFA Access Scholarship

Writing a personal statement for the CFA Access Scholarship is an important part of developing your application because awards may be granted based on a combination of factors. The factors to emphasize in your personal statement should be:

Financial need
Academic, professional, or other accomplishments
Any obstacles you’ve overcome
Any contributions to your local community
Why you’re interested in pursuing the CFA charter
Some personal characteristics that indicate why you should be considered for the scholarship

What Are The Rules For The CFA Access Scholarship?

Besides being eligible to enroll in the CFA program and submitting your application on time, there are rules that you should be aware of when applying for the CFA Access Scholarship.

While your scholarship application is pending, you should not register for a CFA Program exam.
If you are awarded the CFA Access Scholarship, you’ll receive email instructions that must be followed about when you can register for the exam.
Awards may not be sold, transferred, deferred, or assigned and are not convertible to cash.
If you are awarded the CFA Access Scholarship, and you don’t show up for the exam, you may be ineligible to receive future scholarships.

CFA Access Scholarship Deadlines

CFA Access Scholarship application windows contain an open date and a deadline. The deadlines for applying to the CFA Access Scholarship fluctuate each year but are usually around 35 days after the open date.

What Is The CFA Women’s Scholarship?

The CFA Women’s Scholarship is designed to specifically improve access for women who are considering or currently enrolled in the CFA program and do not qualify for other CFA Institute scholarships. Recipients of the CFA Women’s Scholarship will be able to enroll in the CFA Program for free and pay $350 USD for exam registration vs the standard exam registration fee.

CFA Women’s Scholarship Application Requirements

Make sure to include these components in your CFA Women’s Scholarship Application:

Disclosure of any potential conflicts of interest
A personal statement

How To Apply For The CFA Women’s Scholarship

CFA Women’s Scholarship applicants can be currently enrolled in or be in the consideration phase of enrolling into the CFA program. The steps for applying are the same however if you are not already enrolled in the CFA program you should make sure you meet the enrollment criteria and requirements for the CFA program first.

The next step regardless of what stage of the CFA Program you are in is to check when applications are being accepted for the CFA Women's Scholarship .

The CFA Institute usually opens registration for the CFA Women’s Scholarship once or twice a year. When the application window is open you can submit your application for the scholarship through your CFA Institute account.

If you receive the CFA Women’s Scholarship, apply for Kaplan Schweser’s materials scholarship to help cover the cost of your materials.

How to write your essay for the cfa women’s scholarship.

Writing a personal statement for the CFA Women’s Scholarship is an important part of developing your application because awards may be granted based on a combination of factors.

The factors to emphasize in your personal statement should be:

Experience in the investment management industry

What Are The Rules For The CFA Women’s Scholarship?

Besides submitting your application on time and being eligible to enroll in the CFA program if you haven’t enrolled yet, there are rules you should be aware of when applying for the CFA Women’s Scholarship.

If you are awarded the CFA Women’s Scholarship, you’ll receive email instructions that must be followed about when you can register for the exam.
If you are awarded the CFA Women’s Scholarship, and you don’t show up for the exam, you may be ineligible to receive future scholarships.

CFA Women’s Scholarship Deadlines

The CFA Women’s Scholarship application window contains an open date and a deadline. The deadlines to apply for the CFA Women’s Scholarship fluctuate each year but are usually around 28 days after the open date.

What Is The CFA Student Scholarship?

The CFA Student Scholarship is designed to financially support students around the world who are enrolled at a CFA Insitute affiliated university and considering entering the CFA program. Recipients of the CFA Student Scholarship will be able to enroll in the CFA Program for free and will be able to pay $350 USD for exam registration vs the standard exam registration fee.

CFA Student Scholarship Application Requirements

Each CFA Institute-affiliated university has a different set of requirements for the CFA Student Scholarship so pay extra attention to the additional documentation pertaining to your college or university for the CFA Student Scholarship.

How To Apply For The CFA Student Scholarship

The first step to applying for the CFA Student Scholarship is to make sure your school or college is in the CFA Insitute University Affiliation Program . If they are not currently enrolled in that program you will need to discuss enrolling your college or university into this program with the appropriate person at your school.

If your college or university is enrolled in the CFA Institute University Affiliation Program, start by checking when applications are being accepted for the CFA Student Scholarship .

The CFA Institute usually opens registration for the CFA Student Scholarship once or twice a year. When the application window is open you can submit your application for the scholarship through your CFA Institute account.

If you receive the CFA Student Scholarship, apply for Kaplan Schweser’s student scholarship to help with the cost of your exam prep materials.

What are the rules for the cfa student scholarship.

Besides being enrolled at a college or university that is a part of the CFA Institute University Affiliation Program, there are rules that you should be aware of when applying for the CFA Student Scholarship.

If you are awarded the CFA Student Scholarship, you’ll receive email instructions that must be followed about when you can register for the exam.
If you are awarded the CFA Student Scholarship, and you don’t show up for the exam, you may be ineligible to receive future scholarships.

CFA Student Scholarship Deadlines

The CFA Student Scholarship application window is open for most of the year but does contain an open date and a deadline. The deadline to apply for the CFA Student Scholarship fluctuates each year but is usually around 10 months after the open date.

What Is The CFA Professor Scholarship?

The CFA Professor Scholarship is designed specifically for full-time college or university professors or department administrators who teach topics found in the CFA Program Candidate Body of Knowledge . Recipients of the CFA Professor Scholarship will be able to enroll in the CFA Program for free and pay $350 USD for exam registration vs the standard exam registration fee.

CFA Professor Scholarship Application Requirements

Applications for the CFA Professor Scholarship must:

Confirm you are a full-time professor and the number of credit hours you teach per quarter or semester
Include a CV
Attach a form of employment verification
Be submitted within the designated application window
Be submitted before registering for an exam

How To Apply For The CFA Professor Scholarship

The first step to applying for the CFA Professor Scholarship is to make sure you teach the minimum number of credit hours at your institution, which is set by the CFA Institute.

If you do, then you must get that information verified by obtaining an English language letter from your university. This English language letter should be on a university-branded letterhead and signed by an administrator from your institution.

Then you’ll need to gather one of the following forms of employment verification:

A copy of a university-issued identification card
A university-affiliated email address
Proof of a teaching license from an issuing government agency
A list of current publications, research papers, or some other document that confirms your affiliation with said institution

Once you have those materials, you can start checking to see when applications are being accepted for the CFA Professor Scholarship .

The CFA Institute usually opens registration for the CFA Professor Scholarship once a year. When the application window is open you can submit your application for the scholarship through your CFA Institute account.

If you receive the CFA Professor Scholarship, apply for Kaplan Schweser’s professor discount to help with the cost of your exam prep materials.

What are the rules for the cfa professor scholarship.

Besides being teaching the minimum number of credit hours in topics covered in the CFA Program Candidate Body of Knowledge, there are rules that you should be aware of when applying for the CFA Professor Scholarship.

If you are awarded the CFA Professor Scholarship, you’ll receive email instructions that must be followed about when you can register for the exam.
If you are awarded the CFA Professor Scholarship, and you don’t show up for the exam, you may be ineligible to receive future scholarships.

CFA Professor Scholarship Deadlines

The CFA Professor Scholarship application window is usually for most months of the year but it does contain an open date and a deadline. The deadline to apply for the CFA Professor Scholarship fluctuates each year but the application window usually closes around 11 months after the open date.

What Is The CFA Regulator Scholarship?

The CFA Regulator Scholarship is designed specifically for organizations in the financial industry that regulate operations in the investment management industry. Organizations that receive CFA Regulator Scholarships will be able to nominate employees to apply internally to receive free enrollment in the CFA Program and a reduced exam registration fee of $350 USD vs the standard exam registration fee.

CFA Regulator Scholarship Application Requirements

If you are applying for the CFA Regulator Scholarship as an organization, the application should contain:

Disclosures of any potential conflicts of interest
Confirmation that the organization oversees or regulates operations, standards of practice, or business conduct in the investment management industry
Agreement to the terms and conditions of participation set by the CFA Institute

How To Apply For CFA Regulator Scholarship

If you represent an organization, you will need to get in touch with the CFA scholarship team at CFA Institute to discuss the process of entering into a program agreement with CFA Institute.

If you have been nominated to receive a CFA Regulator Scholarship on behalf of your organization, HR or the CFA representative in your organization will determine the requirements for your scholarship application.

What Are The Rules For The CFA Regulator Scholarship?

As an individual who gets nominated for the CFA Regulator Scholarship through their employer, you should be aware of the rules below if you are awarded the CFA Regulator Scholarship.

You’ll receive email instructions that must be followed about when you can register for the exam.
If you don’t show up for the exam, you may be ineligible to receive future scholarships.

CFA Regulator Scholarship Deadlines

CFA Regulator Scholarships are allocated annually to participating organizations and those organizations will determine the application window.

Check Your CFA Scholarship Application Status

If you want to check the status of your CFA Scholarship application, start by logging in to your CFA Institute account and looking for a status update on your application. Pay attention to the dates listed for the application window and make sure the application deadline has passed.

If you would like to speak with someone directly about your application email the CFA Insitute Scholarship department .

When Are CFA Scholarships Recipients Announced?

It can take a few weeks or months for the CFA Institute to announce CFA Scholarship recipients. Sometimes members of the CFA society will request additional information from you or request to conduct a reference check or personal interview.

Can You Reapply For A CFA Scholarship If You Aren’t Chosen?

Yes, if you are eligible and apply for a CFA scholarship and don’t get selected, you can re-apply. Even if you receive a CFA scholarship, you can be selected again for the same CFA scholarship if you re-apply.

The CFA Institute does not disclose how many scholarships are awarded each year, however, it is fair to assume that at least one CFA scholarship is awarded each year for each type of scholarship.

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Regions Riding Forward® Scholarship Contest

Their Story. Your Voice.

Your voice is your own. But it's also been impacted by others. Who, we wonder, has inspired you? Let us know by entering the Regions Riding Forward Scholarship Contest.

You could win an $8,000 college scholarship

For the opportunity to win an $8,000 scholarship, submit a video or written essay about an individual you know personally (who lives in your community) who has inspired you and helped you build the confidence you need to achieve your goals.

The details

The 2024 Regions Riding Forward Scholarship Contest consists of four (4) separate Quarterly Contests - one for each calendar quarter of 2024. Regions is awarding four $8,000 scholarships through each Quarterly Contest.

Each Quarterly Contest has its own separate entry period, as provided in the chart below.

The entry deadline for each Quarterly Contest is 11:59:59 PM Central Time on the applicable Quarterly Contest period end date (set forth in the chart above).

No purchase or banking relationship required.

Regions believes in supporting the students whose passion and actions every day will continue to make stories worth sharing. That’s why we have awarded over $1 million in total scholarships to high school and college students.

How to enter, 1. complete an online quarterly contest application.

Enter the Regions Riding Forward Scholarship Contest by completing a Quarterly Contest application. The second Quarterly Contest runs from April 1, 2024 through June 30, 2024. Complete and save all requested information.

2. Prepare your Written Essay or Video Essay

For each Quarterly Contest, the topic of your Written Essay or Video Essay (your “Essay Topic”) must be an individual you know personally, who lives in your community. Your Written Essay or Video Essay must address how the individual you have selected as your Essay Topic has inspired you and helped you build the confidence you need to achieve your goals.

Written Essay and Video Essay submissions must meet all of the requirements described in the contest Official Rules. Your Written Essay or Video Essay must be (i) in English, (ii) your own original work, created solely by you (and without the use of any means of artificial intelligence (“AI”)), and (iii) the exclusive property of you alone.

Written Essays must be 500 words or less. You can write your Written Essay directly in the application, or you can copy and paste it into the appropriate area in the application form.

Video Essay submissions must be directly uploaded to the contest application site. Video Essays must be no more than 3 minutes in length and no larger than 1 GB. Only the following file formats are accepted: MP4, MPG, MOV, AVI, and WMV. Video Essays must not contain music of any kind nor display any illegal, explicit, or inappropriate material, and Video Essays must not be password protected or require a log-in/sign-in to view. You must upload your Video Essay to the application, and you may not submit your Video Essay in DVD or other physical form. (Video Essays submitted via mail will not be reviewed or returned.)

Tips to Record Quality Videos on a Smartphone:

Don’t shoot vertical video. Computer monitors have landscape-oriented displays, so shoot your video horizontally.
Use a tripod. Even small movements can make a big difference when editing.
Don’t use zoom. If you need to get a close shot of the subject, move closer as zooming can cause pixilation.
Use natural lighting. Smartphone lighting can wash out your video.

3. Review and submit your Quarterly Contest application

Review your information on your Quarterly Application (and check the spelling of a Written Essay) and submit your entry by 11:59:59 p.m. Central Time on the applicable Quarterly Contest period end date. The second Quarterly Contest period end date is June 30, 2024.

4. Await notification

Winning entries are selected by an independent panel of judges who are not affiliated with Regions. If your entry is selected as a Quarterly Contest winner, you will need to respond to ISTS with the required information.

Eligibility

For purposes of this contest:

The “Eligible States” are defined as the following states: Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and Texas.
An “accredited college” is defined as a nonprofit, two- or four-year college or university located within one of the fifty (50) United States or the District of Columbia.

To be eligible to enter this contest and to win an award in a Quarterly Contest, at the time of entry, you must:

Be a legal U.S. resident of one of the Eligible States.
Be age 16 or older.
Have at least one (1) year (or at least 18 semester hours) remaining before college graduation.
If you are not yet in college, begin your freshman year of college no later than the start of the 2025 – 2026 college academic school year.
As of your most recent school enrollment period, have a cumulative grade point average of at least 2.0 in school (and if no GPA is provided at school, be in “good standing” or the equivalent thereof in school).

View Official Rules

NO PURCHASE OR BANKING RELATIONSHIP REQUIRED. PURCHASE OR BANKING RELATIONSHIP WILL NOT INCREASE YOUR CHANCES OF WINNING. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED. The 2024 Regions Riding Forward Scholarship Contest (the “Contest”) consists of four (4) separate quarterly contests (each a “Quarterly Contest”): (1) the “Q-1 Contest;” (2) the “Q-2 Contest;” (3) the “Q-3 Contest;” and (4) the “Q-4 Contest.” The Q-1 Contest begins on 02/01/24 and ends on 03/31/24; the Q-2 Contest begins on 04/01/24 and ends on 06/30/24; the Q-3 Contest begins on 07/01/24 and ends on 09/30/24; and the Q-4 Contest begins on 10/01/24 and ends on 12/31/24. (For each Quarterly Contest, entries must be submitted and received by 11:59:59 PM CT on the applicable Quarterly Contest period end date.) To enter and participate in a particular Quarterly Contest, at the time of entry, you must: (a) be a legal U.S. resident of one of the Eligible States; (b) be 16 years of age or older; (c) have at least one (1) year (or at least 18 semester hours) remaining before college graduation; (d) (if you are not yet in college) begin your freshman year of college no later than the start of the 2025 – 2026 college academic school year; and (e) as of your most recent school enrollment period, have a cumulative grade point average of at least 2.0 in school (and if no grade point average is provided at school, be in “good standing” or the equivalent thereof in school). (For purposes of Contest, the “Eligible States” are defined as the states of AL, AR, FL, GA, IA, IL, IN, KY, LA, MS, MO, NC, SC, TN and TX.) Visit regions.com/ridingforward for complete Contest details, including eligibility and Written Essay and Video Essay requirements and Official Rules. (Limit one (1) entry per person, per Quarterly Contest.) For each Quarterly Contest, eligible entries will be grouped according to form of entry (Written Essay or Video Essay) and judged by a panel of independent, qualified judges. A total of four (4) Quarterly Contest Prizes will be awarded in each Quarterly Contest, consisting of two (2) Quarterly Contest Prizes for the Written Essay Entry Group and two (2) Quarterly Contest Prizes for the Video Essay Entry Group. Each Quarterly Contest Prize consists of a check in the amount of $8,000 made out to winner’s designated accredited college. (Limit one (1) Quarterly Contest Prize per person; a contestant is permitted to win only one (1) Quarterly Contest Prize through the Contest.) Sponsor: Regions Bank, 1900 Fifth Ave. N., Birmingham, AL 35203.

2023 Winners

High school:.

Amyrrean Acoff
Leon Aldridge
Kharis Andrews
Colton Collier
Indya Griffin
Christopher Hak
Aquil Hayes
Jayden Haynes
McKenna Jodoin
Paris Kelly
Liza Latimer
Dylan Lodle
Anna Mammarelli
Karrington Manley
Marcellus Odum
Gautami Palthepu
Melody Small
Lauryn Tanner
Joshua Wilson
Mohamed Ali
Kayla Bellamy
Lauren Boxx
Alexandria Brown
Samuel Brown
Thurston Brown
Conner Daehler
Tsehai de Souza
Anjel Echols
Samarion Flowers
Trinity Griffin
Kristina Hilton
Ryan Jensen
Miracle Jones
Shaniece McGhee
Chelby Melvin
Lamiya Ousley
Kiera Phillips
Gabrielle Pippins
Ethan Snead
Sydney Springs
Kirsten Tilford
Tamira Weeks
Justin Williams

2022 Winners

Paul Aucremann
William Booker
Robyn Cunningham
Kani'ya Davis
Oluwatomi Dugbo
Lillian Goins
Parker Hall
Collin Hatfield
Gabrielle Izu
Kylie Lauderdale
Jacob Milan
Jackson Mitchell
Carmen Moore
Madison Morgan
Kaden Oquelí-White
Kaylin Parks
Brian Perryman
De'Marco Riggins
Brianna Roundtree
Sydney Russell
Carlie Spore
Morgan Standifer
Ionia Thomas
Ramaya Thomas
Jaylen Toran
Amani Veals
Taylor Williams
Alana Wilson
Taryn Wilson
Aryaunna Armstrong
Hannah Blackwell
T'Aneka Bowers
Naomi Bradley
Arianna Cannon
Taylor Cline
Catherine Cummings
Margaret Fitzgerald
Chloe Franklin
Camryn Gaines
Thomas Greer
Kayla Helleson
Veronica Holmes
Logan Kurtz
Samuel Lambert
Jaylon Muchison
Teresa Odom
Andrew Payne
Carey Price
Emily SantiAnna
Curtis Smith
Jered Smith
Mariah Standifer
Maura Taylor
Anna Wilkes

IMAGES

Proper heading for scholarship essay in 2021
Why I Should Be Considered for a Scholarship Essay Example
A Complete Guide to the College Scholarship Essay
Learn How to Write a Truly Impressive Scholarship Essay!
Download Pdf
4 Steps to an Effective Scholarship Essay

VIDEO

WORD LIMIT SWT SST ESSAY #pte
How to CHEAT Essay Word Counts 💀
CSS PMS English Essay
Kamala Harris Spills Motivational Mumbo Jumbo During Rally Speech
How to Write a Scholarship Essay
Commonwealth Shared Scholarship Essay Guide

COMMENTS

Scholarship Essay Format
The ideal word count for a winning scholarship essay varies depending on the specific scholarship program's guidelines and requirements. Having said that, the usual length revolves around 500 words or fewer. Following the word count limit is critical for a scholarship essay. Let's say, you are asked to write a 300-word scholarship essay, then ...
3 Fatal Flaws That Will Ruin Your Scholarship Essay
In a 900 word college essay length, you should aim for 4-5 paragraphs. However, this will depend on the essay structure and spacing you use in your essay and how much you have to say about the topic. 2. Grammar. Second fatal flaws that will ruin your scholarship essay is grammar.
How to Write a Scholarship-Worthy Essay
Your scholarship essay should include: Introduction. Include your thesis within the introduction. If you are a talented theses writer, it can extend into two sentences. Keep your introduction short and punchy. A long artistic introduction is tempting, but resist the urge. You have a point (and likely a word limit) to get to. Body. Make at least ...
How Long Should Your College Essays Be?
Don't miss: How to end a scholarship essay. ... If you are not given a limit for your college essay, then 900 words is not technically too long. However, it will depend upon the essay prompt that you are given. Not all essay prompts will require long answers. If 900 words is necessary, then that is okay.
How to Write a Scholarship Essay
1) Read the scholarship essay prompt and instructions. Always read the prompt before writing. It sounds like a simple suggestion, but if you don't understand what the prompt is asking, you won't be able to properly answer the question. Additionally, do research on the donor to understand the purpose of their scholarship.
9 Scholarship Essay Examples
Three scholarship essay writing tips: Word counts are hard to adhere to, but the other applicants must adhere to them, too. Make sure every word counts. ... However, there isn't just one way to write an essay. So, don't limit yourself to one version of your story. You may find yourself writing multiple drafts before you get to your final ...
Foundation Scholarship Essay Guidance
Writing a scholarship essay gives us another way to evaluate you independent of those factors. Writing a stand-out essay can increase your chances of receiving a scholarship. ... Essays must be at least 200 words (about two paragraphs), but there is no maximum word limit. You should write as much as necessary to fully address the prompt. The ...
Scholarship Essay Tips That Will Boost Your Odds of Winning
Scholarship essays have a word count limit. You don't want to waste precious words repeating any details. Avoid talking about religion, or politics in your essay. These are highly controversial topics. If the person reading your essay has a different view from yours, they'll have a difficult time being objective. The same goes for ...
Writing a Compelling Scholarship Essay
Here are 6 tips to make your scholarship essay shine: 1. If there's an essay prompt, follow it! ... Most organizations won't penalize you for going a few words over the limit, but try to come as close as possible. 4. Have a clear introduction, body and conclusion statement. You should be precise in your writing and have an easy-to-follow ...
How to write a scholarship essay
It's hard to tell. As a general guide, you need to write 250 words for one typed page (double spaced). That means you need to write 500 words for two pages and so on. Microsoft Word and Google Docs both have functions to show you your word count. You can't go over the word or character limit.
How to Write Your CFA® Scholarship Essay?
In your conclusion, summarize the key points from your essay and reiterate why you're the best candidate for the scholarship. End with a solid call to action, encouraging the scholarship committee to consider your application and supporting your pursuit of a CFA charter. Your conclusion should also include a statement of gratitude, thanking ...
The Best College Essay Length: How Long Should It Be?
In the simplest terms, your college essay should be pretty close to, but not exceeding, the word limit in length. Think within 50 words as the lower bound, with the word limit as the upper bound. So for a 500-word limit essay, try to get somewhere between 450-500 words. If they give you a range, stay within that range.
The Word Limit in Academic Writing (and How to Stick to It)
There are two main reasons that academic papers usually come with a word limit: Fairness. It's impossible to grade two papers of vastly different lengths (e.g., 20,000 compared to 2,000 words) on the same scale. The word limit makes sure that everyone taking the same class knows what is expected of them. Communication Skills.
How Long Should a College Essay Be?
Students Should Go to the Word Limit in Every College Essay. ... If Brown University asks applicants to write a 200-250-word essay on how students would take advantage of the Open Curriculum, as the Ivy League school does on its 2022-2023 application, students should not offer them 200 words. College applicants are not interior designers ...
Scholarship Essay Format
To help you write the most structured scholarship application essay, the following are some tips from experts for you: The first and foremost step is to read and understand the guidelines provided. If not given, use the basic formatting where the font size is 10 to 12pt. And the word count is 300 to 350 words.
Why You Deserve This Scholarship Essay (3 Sample Answers)
Example 1: Why I deserve this scholarship essay (100 words) With a 100 word scholarship essay, you need to jump into the thesis as quickly as possible. There is not enough space for a lengthy introduction. Use concise language, and showcase your biggest achievements/goals. You should have enough sentences to break into two small paragraphs ...
College Scholarship Tip: Heed Essay Word Count!
These word limits (500 words, 1000 words, etc.) are in place for a number of reasons. ... This means that if a scholarship essay calls for 500 words, 450-500 is great, but 510 or 100 is NOT. Remember, the essay is the heart of the scholarship application and allows the judges to learn more about the student on a deeper level.
What to Do If You're Over the Word Limit on Your Admissions Essays
Here are some other quick tips on condensing: 4. Use Contractions and Abbreviations. For your college admission essays, "don't" is just as good as "do not" and "the US" is a fine substitute for "the United States of America.". 5.
Additional Scholarships,Aggie One Stop
Attach your essay as a PDF or Microsoft Word document to the email. The length of the essay should be a minimum of 1200 words (there is no maximum word limit). The essay should be original text and not published anywhere. The essay should include an introduction, main body, and conclusion. Amount: $2,000 MORE INFORMATION
How to write a winning CFA Access Scholarship Essay
The Access Scholarship involves two essay prompts, each with a 250-word limit. ... Link these points together using crisp linking words while maintaining the 250 word limit.
Required Materials
Hauser Global Scholarship Essay. If you're applying for the Hauser Global Scholarship Program, you'll need to attach an additional essay (500-750 words) before submitting the application. ... We do not set a page or word limit, but the file must be 2MB or smaller so that it can be attached.
CFA Scholarship Guide
Scholarship Guide. By: Kaplan Schweser. May 17, 2023. A CFA Scholarship is financial support for individuals who may be unable to afford all the fees of the CFA program. All CFA Institute Scholarships include a waived enrollment fee and discounted registration. There are multiple scholarships and each one has a different set of application ...
Riding Forward Scholarship Contest
The 2024 Regions Riding Forward Scholarship Contest consists of four (4) separate Quarterly Contests - one for each calendar quarter of 2024. Regions is awarding four $8,000 scholarships through each Quarterly Contest. Each Quarterly Contest has its own separate entry period, as provided in the chart below. The entry deadline for each Quarterly ...

Scholarship Essay Format - Samples & Writing Tips

What is a Scholarship Essay Format?

How To Format A Winning Scholarship Essay?

Essential Scholarship Essay Format Guidelines

How Long Should a Scholarship Essay Be?

The Optimal Scholarship Essay Structure

Always Start With a Captivating Introduction

Use Clear and Concise Body Paragraphs

End With An Impactful Conclusion

Scholarship Essay Format Examples

Scholarship Essay Format Tips

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you write a 500 word scholarship essay?

Are page numbers mandatory for scholarship essays?

What citation style should I use in my scholarship essay if I need to reference sources?

Can I reuse one scholarship essay for multiple applications?

Is it acceptable to use a formal tone in a scholarship essay?

Keep reading

Student-centric advice and objective recommendations

How Long Should Your College Essays Be?

Why is there a word limit?

How to draft your essay with a word count

Is your essay too short?

Avoid “fluffy filler”

Is your essay too long?

What happens if you exceed the word limit?

Additional resources

Key Takeaways

Start your scholarship search

Frequently asked questions about essay word counts

10 Tips for Successful College Applications

Coalition vs. Common App: What is the difference?

College Application Deadlines 2023-2024: What You Need to Know

How to Convert Your GPA to a 4.0 Scale

PSAT to SAT Score Conversion: Predict Your Score

What Are Public Ivy League Schools?

How to Write a Scholarship Essay

Access thousands of exclusive scholarships for free

Frequently asked questions about writing scholarship essays

1) Read the scholarship essay prompt and instructions

Get Matched to Thousands of Scholarships

2) Outline your scholarship essay

3) Start writing your scholarship essay

4) Open with a hook

5) Use basic writing skills

6) Keep your scholarship essay descriptive but concise

7) Be honest

8) Be professional

9) Be creative and different

10) Let your voice shine through

11) Make your scholarship essay stand out

12) Make your conclusion powerful

13) Revise and edit your first draft

14) Read your scholarship essay out aloud

15) Prepare to submit your scholarship essay

How do you write a winning scholarship essay?

How do you begin a scholarship essay?

Do scholarship essays need a title?

Where do I put my name in a scholarship essay?

How do you answer "tell me about yourself" in a scholarship essay?

How do you start a scholarship essay about yourself?

What to say when asked why you deserve a scholarship

How do you sell yourself in a scholarship essay?

How to make a good impression in a scholarship essay

How long should a scholarship essay be?

Can I reuse my scholarship essays?

Where can you find scholarships to apply for?

Related Posts

Scholarship Essay Examples

In this guide to Scholarship Essay Examples, you’ll find tips on how to write the best scholarship essay, as well as:

What is a scholarship essay?

Types of Scholarships

Here are a few different scholarship types you may come across in your scholarship search:

Merit-Based Scholarships

There are many merit-based scholarships available to help students afford college, including:

Finding scholarships

How do you write a scholarship essay?

Organization

Scholarship Essay Examples About Yourself

How do you promote Phi Sigma Rho and STEM on your campus or in your community? (300 words Max)