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How to Make Your College Scholarship Essay Stand Out

Written by CB Community

In the last 10 years, the cost of tuition has increased by 79%. So scholarships have never been more crucial.

You’re not the only one with awesome grades and high aspirations. With the competition being so intense nowadays, is it even possible to be noticed among the scores of other applicants? The answer is “yes”, and we’ll tell you how to do it.

The scholarship essay is really a key to standing out. This piece of writing gives you the opportunity of a lifetime to grab your reader’s attention and show that you’re worth it. We’ll give you five tips that will help you write a stellar scholarship essay.

1. Make the Introduction Eye-catching

A good beginning makes a good ending, and this is essential when it comes to writing a scholarship essay. You should grab the reader’s attention from the very beginning. Use a convincing quote, open with a question, or make a bold statement you’ll support throughout the whole piece of writing. Hayley Capp, the winner of the 2013 QS Leadership Scholarship, told TopUniversities that an engaging start is one of the basic principles the essay writer should follow.

2. Don’t Beat Around the Bush

Be specific and concise. Imagine the judges reading through thousands of other scholarship essays. They have no time or energy to read the same idea explained several times. If it can be said in one sentence instead of three, make it so. Plus, remember to choose one specific accomplishment you believe is the most important for you to write about. As Gen and Kelly Tanabe, authors of the book “How to Write a Winning Scholarship Essay” put it, a committee can examine the list of your talents on your application, but in your essay, you can highlight one of your greatest strengths or accomplishments.

3. Show Your Passion

Another tip you should definitely try out is being yourself and showing your passions in the essay. Remember that there’s no one like you, so benefit from this. Let your excitement about certain things help you stand out among the other candidates. Your feelings and emotions help the judges to see you as a person rather than just another faceless candidate. This is the best way to show your personality and make the committee fall in love with you.

4. Think Outside the Box

Don’t be scared to think differently. Think of writing a scholarship essay as making a good impression on a first date. Try to not be like everybody else. You can use a moral tale or a story to support your answer to the essay prompt. Instead of saying what you hope for, you can also write about the things you don’t hope for. Also, you can tell about your life experience that will show why you’re the best candidate. Just be creative.

5. Proofread and Edit

Last but not least, make sure to check your essay for mistakes. Make sure you proofread it or ask your friends to read, or even hire a professional editor. Don’t let grammar or spelling errors spoil the overall impression of your personality. A well-structured and mistakes-free essay makes it easier to follow your ideas. As a result, it helps your paper to stand out as well.

Getting a scholarship is of crucial importance for many students. That is why they need to find a way to stand out from the crowd and be chosen as the best suitable candidates.

We hope these tips will help you create a stellar scholarship essay that will pave your way to the college or university you’ve always been dreaming about. Remember to stay positive and good luck!

For more great college tips, be sure to check out the blogs on College Basics!

Author bio: Rhonda Martinez is a senior writer and editor at Legit Writing Services. Writing has been her biggest passion since college days, so she is keen on composing short stories and writing poetry from her early school days. In addition to her main job and writing hobby, Rhonda also occasionally writes analytical articles on education and psychology topics.

About the author

CB Community

Passionate members of the College Basics community that include students, essay writers, consultants and beyond. Please note, while community content has passed our editorial guidelines, we do not endorse any product or service contained in these articles which may also include links for which College Basics is compensated.