How to Write a Scholarship Essay and Win BIG (2024 Edition)


Chances are you’re not applying for just one or two scholarships; you’re applying for a bunch, right? And if you’re not applying for a bunch—or you aren’t yet—go over to or to see what you qualify for. Then come back.


We know you’re going to rock your essay with these scholarship essay format guidelines, so get to it! It’s best to start writing your essay as early as possible to give yourself time to review the essay, ask someone (like a parent, guidance counselor, or friend) to proofread your essay, and then make sure to submit it on time. (On , we’ll send you deadline reminders on your favorited scholarships and draft applications, so you won’t miss them!)

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.

I have no idea how to write a scholarship essay

Broadly speaking, colleges want to know what skills/qualities/values/interests you’ve developed that will contribute to a college campus. Organizations (i.e. not colleges) are still curious about the skills/qualities/values/interests you’ve developed, but in many cases they’re looking for you to share about those in the context of a specific question—how sports have helped you develop those values, for example, or how those qualities are relevant to your future career or goals. I’ll get into more detail for each type of essay in a moment.

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.

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.

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.


How to Get Scholarships for College (Write a Great Scholarship Essay)

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 is looking to hear about what makes you special, not what stories you can create to make yourself sound more qualified.

How to Write a Scholarship Essay in 2024

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 . 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.

Whats the best way to write a winning scholarship essay?

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.

Write A Tell Us About Yourself Scholarship Essay (3 Examples)

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.

How to write a winning scholarship essay | Top Universities

You’re probably used to double-spacing your high school papers and essays. Since adding line spacing can make essays more readable, using 1.5-spacing or double-spacing is a good idea if you’re attaching an essay as a Word doc or PDF. But again, unless the scholarship provider has specified this information, it’s not mandatory.