Top 5 Scholarship Essay Mistakes to Avoid

1. Waiting to the last minute: Deadlines really light a fire under most people, but in order to do your best, start writing early!  Nothing is worse than sending out your application materials and then thinking of a great way of saying something better two days later.  Also!  Write when you are on vacation, the weekend, or other times when deadlines and demands on your time are at a minimum.

2. Not researching who/what you are writing for or about: Don't fall into the cookie cutter mentality!  While the bottom line is getting money for school, each application is to be approached appropriately.  Take your time to get to know your audience.  You know you can tell when someone is recycling, they can too!  Moreover, follow directions to the "T".  If they call for 12pt TNR font, and 1" margins, do it without question!

3. Blah Writing: The scholarship committees don't want to read dry, sterile drivel and incidentally, you don't want to sound this way, especially since you are talking about your favorite topic: You!

Be creative!  Use an original opening and ending that comes from the heart - your heart! not someone else's!

4. Using slang, and abbreviations: Your scholarship essay may require you to write only 300 words.  This does not mean that you use abbreviations that should be reserved for the cellular device!  Avoid slang at all costs, however, some colloquialisms are OK, but only in extreme moderation, maybe once per 300 words.  Be professional not texty!  For example, "through" is not spelled "thru", and "espc" is not an acceptable replacement for "especially"!  IMHO...

5. Spell check and grammar check are not enough: 

Will you please read your essay carefully before printing it or sending it out?  Spell and grammar check are good for picking up glaringly obvious errors, but leave plenty behind.  They are not perfect and may never be completely perfect. It doesn't pick up on the fact that you said, "amazing" three times in your essay, so proof it yourself before letting Dr. Grammar Check at the patient.  Have a friend read it over, or if your best friend is a rock, then try your school's writing center.

Top Ways to Make Your Scholarship Essay Get Results!

By MyStatementofPurpose

April 21, 2013

A personalized - not cookie cutter! - passionate scholarship essay can mean everything when it comes to obtaining your scholarship dollars.

It's not easy to separate your scholarship application from the background noise of thousands of other applicants. Even if you fit the main criteria for a scholarship, you're still going to have similar grades, goals, activities, and aspirations as dozens of other applicants.

That's where a great application essay comes in. The essay is your best chance to state your case for why you above all others should receive a scholarship; it helps the scholarship provider learn about the person behind the application, and gives them a much more detailed look at your unique story, what you took away from school and what it truly means to be you!

When done right, those few paragraphs can help your application stand out—and could mean the difference between getting a "thanks for applying" E-mail and the award you're looking for.

Of course, putting so much emphasis on a scholarship essay may make it seem like a daunting task, especially if you don't consider yourself a great writer. By following these four tips, just about anyone can create an amazing scholarship essay.

1. Research your audience: Each scholarship provider is different and looking for a specific set of students who meet their specific criteria. Look closely at the application questions, the organization giving the scholarship, and any past recipients, if they are listed.

Do they emphasize school performance? Looking for someone who's dealt with adversity? Interested in character or community service more than grades? Whatever the answers, your research will put you a step ahead of applicants who are copying and pasting "cookie-cutter" essays.

2. Plan, plan, plan!: Don't settle for a cookie-cutter essay!  Start your research and planning as far in advance as possible.  This will give you time to develop an outline.  List two or three main points you want to make in response to any essay questions, add some supporting information under each and consider a sentence or two of introduction and conclusion. 

3. Make it personal and passionate: The scholarship committee does not want to read dry, sterile drivel!  If you can't be passionate about your future, then who can?!  You want to convince the committee that you're the student they've been looking for. Answer the questions you've set out in your outline, but make sure every point you make is illustrated with a specific detail that shows you care about the subject.

Don't just mention that you work with disadvantaged kids; tell them how your love of soccer got you into coaching those kids. Don't just tell them about your acting awards; show how the stage helped you conquer your shyness.

4. Find an editor: Last but not least, make sure you have time to run your essay by a good editor. Even a well-researched and passionately written essay can be derailed by spelling mistakes or awkward sentences, and if you've spent a lot of time looking at your words, it's easy to miss the obvious.

A few minutes of proofreading by a trusted editor can make a huge difference. I also recommend reading your essay aloud to yourself, so you can hear how it flows.

Free Writing Help!

 While all of our work is original, and written in your unique voice, many people come to us for advice.  Well, here it is!

Writing a Letter giving someone Bad News can be, well, bad news!  Here's a sample to get you started!

Are you working for a Non-Profit?  Need a great angle on sending out a Fund-Raising Letter that gets results?  Try ours!

Sent from home rather than a business office, this letter uses a variation of the traditional format used for friendly letters, with address, date and close on the right, but with no indentations at the openings of paragraphs.  Sample Informal Letter of Request:

So you need to write a Formal Business Letter, but don't know what the proper format is?  Here you go!  Our Sample Letter Format!

So you need to send a Letter of Complaint, but really want to make it count?  Try this format!  Get results!

A Letter of Request is your way of reaching out to another agency or entity for something that you need.  Try this sample for best results!

So you've gotten a formal complaint and need to respond.  You want to sound professional and not defensive.  Try this sample Letter Responding to Complaint, mend the fences and get on with great business!

Writing Memos that sound professional and get your point across precisely are deceptively easy.  Try these tips and subsequent sample to get you started:

Here is a sample, Routine, Informal Memo that is still professional and still to the point:

And lastly, your Standard Memo for all intensive purposes, for the daily issues, such and what not.

Writing effective Business Letters that sound professional and get results are deceptively easy.  Try these tips for best results!

Best Resume, CV, and Cover Letter Samples That Get Results!