Page 81 - Scholarship Guide Feb 2020

ARTICLE 79

How To

Ace Your

Scholarship

Essay

SCHOLARSHIP COMMITTEES

RECEIVE THOUSANDS OF

APPLICANTS ON A YEARLY
BASIS, SO WHAT MAKES A

CANDIDATE TRULY SHINE

AND STAND OUT FROM THE

RABBLE? NAILING YOUR
SCHOLARSHIP ESSAY IS ONE

STEP TO SET YOURSELF

APART.

Aside from an impressive resume, stellar GPAs or GMATs scores, and
known referrals, an unique and articulate essay can get you one step
closer to that scholarship interview.

Here are some quick pointers on acing that introductory essay:

Project your best parts
1 We don’t mean physically! Flex your mental muscles. Your essay is
essentially an glimpse into your personality, it’s the fi rst impression the
selection committee obtains of the applicant. You are more likely to be
selected if you have thoughtful, insightful and personable responses.
As with any situation in real life, people (in this case the judging panel)
are more likely to choose someone they feel interests them.

Humble bragging is completely acceptable in this respect, you are
trying your best to get one foot in the door. However, it has to be done
tastefully,

After receiving the essay topic, formulate a skeleton of the subject –
place it in point form. Shuffl e the points around as you wish and make
sure it fl ows. From there, add the details as you would a debate or
conversation manoeuvring the topic into deeper waters as it goes.