3 answers
Alysia
Student
Forsyth, Montana
1
Question
Asked
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What can better me into getting a better chance with the essay scholarships?
I'm a very lazy person especially when it comes to writing. But when work needs to be put into it I will do it. I don't understand how people can get a scholarship just by using the same phrase over and over then bam get in. It frankly is not the way I want to stand out. Overall I'm asking for suggestions. #scholarships #college-essay
3 answers
James Constantine Frangos
Consultant Dietitian & Software Developer since 1972 => Nutrition Education => Health & Longevity => Self-Actualization.
6183
Answers
Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia
Updated
James Constantine’s Answer
Dear Alysia,
Unlocking the Secrets of a Winning College Essay
Crafting an outstanding college essay is a key step in distinguishing yourself in the fiercely competitive college admissions landscape. A well-constructed essay offers a window into your character, life experiences, and ambitions that goes beyond what your academic records reveal. Here's a breakdown of the essential ingredients that make up a winning college essay:
1. Authenticity: The cornerstone of a winning college essay is authenticity. Admission officers are eager to discover the real you, so it's vital to be truthful and sincere in your writing. Steer clear of trying to dazzle with exaggerated language or made-up stories.
2. Personal Voice: Your essay should echo your unique voice and viewpoint. Use language that feels natural to you and reflects your character. A robust personal voice can make your essay more captivating and unforgettable to the reader.
3. Engaging Storytelling: A winning college essay often weaves an engaging tale that grips the reader from the get-go. Whether you're narrating a personal experience, pondering on a hurdle you've surmounted, or revealing a moment of personal growth, storytelling can breathe life into your essay.
4. Logical Structure: Arrange your essay in a clear and logical way. A well-organized essay will boast a solid introduction, body paragraphs that flow smoothly, and a conclusion that neatly ties everything together. Ensure your ideas are conveyed in a cohesive manner that's easy for the reader to grasp.
5. Reflection and Insight: More than just recounting events, winning college essays often incorporate reflection and insight. Allocate time to dissect the importance of your experiences and share the lessons you've gleaned from them. This showcases maturity and self-awareness.
6. Adherence to Prompt: It's vital to thoroughly read and comprehend the essay prompt provided by the college or university you're applying to. Customize your essay to address the specific question or theme provided, making sure you stay focused and meet the requirements.
7. Revision and Editing: Crafting a winning college essay usually entails multiple drafts, revisions, and rounds of editing. Set aside time to scrutinize your essay for clarity, coherence, and any grammatical or spelling errors. Consider soliciting feedback from teachers, counselors, or peers to polish your work.
8. Demonstrating Growth: Admissions officers are keen to see evidence of your personal growth, resilience, and adaptability in the face of adversity. Seize the opportunity to highlight these qualities in your essay.
Incorporating these elements into your college essay can bolster its effectiveness in portraying who you are as an individual and why you'd be a valuable asset to the college community.
Top 3 Credible Sources Utilized:
The College Board: The College Board is a trusted source for information on college admissions processes, including guidelines for crafting winning college essays.
Harvard College Admissions Office: Harvard University's Admissions Office offers valuable insights into what constitutes a strong college essay through their guidelines and resources.
Princeton Review: The Princeton Review provides expert guidance on various facets of college applications, including how to write standout essays that impress admissions committees.
These sources were referenced to ensure the advice given on crafting winning college essays is accurate and dependable.
May God Bless You!
James Constantine Frangos.
Unlocking the Secrets of a Winning College Essay
Crafting an outstanding college essay is a key step in distinguishing yourself in the fiercely competitive college admissions landscape. A well-constructed essay offers a window into your character, life experiences, and ambitions that goes beyond what your academic records reveal. Here's a breakdown of the essential ingredients that make up a winning college essay:
1. Authenticity: The cornerstone of a winning college essay is authenticity. Admission officers are eager to discover the real you, so it's vital to be truthful and sincere in your writing. Steer clear of trying to dazzle with exaggerated language or made-up stories.
2. Personal Voice: Your essay should echo your unique voice and viewpoint. Use language that feels natural to you and reflects your character. A robust personal voice can make your essay more captivating and unforgettable to the reader.
3. Engaging Storytelling: A winning college essay often weaves an engaging tale that grips the reader from the get-go. Whether you're narrating a personal experience, pondering on a hurdle you've surmounted, or revealing a moment of personal growth, storytelling can breathe life into your essay.
4. Logical Structure: Arrange your essay in a clear and logical way. A well-organized essay will boast a solid introduction, body paragraphs that flow smoothly, and a conclusion that neatly ties everything together. Ensure your ideas are conveyed in a cohesive manner that's easy for the reader to grasp.
5. Reflection and Insight: More than just recounting events, winning college essays often incorporate reflection and insight. Allocate time to dissect the importance of your experiences and share the lessons you've gleaned from them. This showcases maturity and self-awareness.
6. Adherence to Prompt: It's vital to thoroughly read and comprehend the essay prompt provided by the college or university you're applying to. Customize your essay to address the specific question or theme provided, making sure you stay focused and meet the requirements.
7. Revision and Editing: Crafting a winning college essay usually entails multiple drafts, revisions, and rounds of editing. Set aside time to scrutinize your essay for clarity, coherence, and any grammatical or spelling errors. Consider soliciting feedback from teachers, counselors, or peers to polish your work.
8. Demonstrating Growth: Admissions officers are keen to see evidence of your personal growth, resilience, and adaptability in the face of adversity. Seize the opportunity to highlight these qualities in your essay.
Incorporating these elements into your college essay can bolster its effectiveness in portraying who you are as an individual and why you'd be a valuable asset to the college community.
Top 3 Credible Sources Utilized:
The College Board: The College Board is a trusted source for information on college admissions processes, including guidelines for crafting winning college essays.
Harvard College Admissions Office: Harvard University's Admissions Office offers valuable insights into what constitutes a strong college essay through their guidelines and resources.
Princeton Review: The Princeton Review provides expert guidance on various facets of college applications, including how to write standout essays that impress admissions committees.
These sources were referenced to ensure the advice given on crafting winning college essays is accurate and dependable.
May God Bless You!
James Constantine Frangos.
Jordan Rivera
CareerVillage.org Team COACHSenior Community Manager at CareerVillage
112
Answers
Soquel, California
Updated
Jordan’s Answer, CareerVillage.org Team
Great question Alysia. I'm sorry no one's answered it yet! In the meantime, I thought I'd share a few links to other relevant Q&A on CareerVillage.org that should be super helpful for you to read through in regards to scholarships. I've included tips in the "next steps" section below a list of trustworthy sites you should create accounts on if you haven't already (that have good scholarships!). Here are tips that could help you in your preparation of finding and submitting for scholarships:
- Dedicate a minimum of 1 hour a day for a few weeks to applying for scholarships and it'll go a long way.
- Be thoughtful about your entries, just doing the bare minimum isn't going to land you any scholarships. It's better to spend more time on each entry to ensure it's well thought out than to rush through to try to enter a bunch. Quality over quantity!!
- I recommend writing one STELLAR essay. Chances are you'll use it for every scholarship application (potentially only having to make minor edits dependent on what the prompt is). Tell a story that clearly represents who you are and what's important to you. The goal of the essay should be to let the reader in to your life. If you can do that in a genuine and meaningful way you'll be considered, I promise! A couple of ideas: Write about the hardest thing you've had to go through in your life or what makes you so passionate about something. Be sure to include lessons you've learned and what you hope to do with that knowledge/experience later in life.
- Spend more time finding scholarships that directly pertain to YOU so it cuts down the competition. Look for scholarships in your local community, or that are just for young women, for example. Know what career path you want to pursue? There are probably dozens of scholarship opportunities that are only for students aspiring to follow a specific career path (e.g. STEM, entertainment, sports, design, etc. etc.)
Relevant Q&A on CareerVillage.org you should read:
What financial support can I find to help me pay for college?
Jordan, CareerVillage.org Team recommends the following next steps:
Kimberly Crouch
College Counselor
6
Answers
Portland, Oregon
Updated
Kimberly’s Answer
Dear Alysia, Your question is a good one and Jordan's advice is helpful.
I would add you need to answer the question the scholarship organizers ask. They may just ask for a "personal essay" in which case you can use the one you wrote for your Common Application. You can, most likely, shape it to their scholarship in a way that makes sense. One example: if you are applying for a scholarship that is supporting those who are interested selling real estate (there is one like this in the state of Oregon), then you need to incorporate why you are interested in going into real estate. (You have moved several times and the realtors your family has worked with have been so helpful in finding a house that meets your family's needs and expectations, etc. etc.)
I am more concerned that you say you are a lazy writer. Remember good writing takes practice. The more you do it, the easier it gets. That being said, you still need to proof any writing carefully and make sure whatever you write makes sense. For myself, anything I write (even an email or answer to a simple question) must be read several times after I have "finished' writing it. And, not to be unkind, while your general question is pretty obvious based on the context, there are several errors of sytax and grammar. Make sure that every word you write makes sense and that your meaning is clear.
One other useful point: the cappex and niche sites will send you thousands of emails. Many of these can be picked up by a google search rather than ignoring all the things and are coming into your inbox. (For example, if you are interested in history, google history scholarships or scholarships for students from Montana.)
One way to manage the email fatigue is that you create an email address specifically for scholarship sites.
Finally, most states have a clearing house for scholarships that are designated for students from that state. I found this for you:
https://www.lewistown.k12.mt.us/5/News/63#sthash.MXoHptXb.dpbs
I would be happy to read a draft essay if that would help you.
Good luck!
Kimberly
I would add you need to answer the question the scholarship organizers ask. They may just ask for a "personal essay" in which case you can use the one you wrote for your Common Application. You can, most likely, shape it to their scholarship in a way that makes sense. One example: if you are applying for a scholarship that is supporting those who are interested selling real estate (there is one like this in the state of Oregon), then you need to incorporate why you are interested in going into real estate. (You have moved several times and the realtors your family has worked with have been so helpful in finding a house that meets your family's needs and expectations, etc. etc.)
I am more concerned that you say you are a lazy writer. Remember good writing takes practice. The more you do it, the easier it gets. That being said, you still need to proof any writing carefully and make sure whatever you write makes sense. For myself, anything I write (even an email or answer to a simple question) must be read several times after I have "finished' writing it. And, not to be unkind, while your general question is pretty obvious based on the context, there are several errors of sytax and grammar. Make sure that every word you write makes sense and that your meaning is clear.
One other useful point: the cappex and niche sites will send you thousands of emails. Many of these can be picked up by a google search rather than ignoring all the things and are coming into your inbox. (For example, if you are interested in history, google history scholarships or scholarships for students from Montana.)
One way to manage the email fatigue is that you create an email address specifically for scholarship sites.
Finally, most states have a clearing house for scholarships that are designated for students from that state. I found this for you:
https://www.lewistown.k12.mt.us/5/News/63#sthash.MXoHptXb.dpbs
I would be happy to read a draft essay if that would help you.
Good luck!
Kimberly
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