No Fear Writing Scholarship Essays

When it comes to writing essays for scholarships, you’d probably rather not. We get it. Filling out applications and jumping through the hoops to get financial assistance can be draining.  

Does it feel like writing isn’t one of your strongest skills? Scholarship essays and applications don’t have to be scary. In fact, your writing will benefit if you approach it with confidence.

If you happen to come across a scholarship that requires an essay, we have a few tips for award-winning writing. 

  1. Start with an outline. What’s the primary question you need to answer? Put that question at the top and use an outline to explore your answer.
  2. Don’t expect perfection on your first draft. Once your outline is filled out, start writing. Get all of your thoughts down on paper. But don’t expect your first draft will be your final draft. That kind of pressure will cripple your thoughts. A first draft is just one step in the process of crafting a good essay.
  3. Read it out loud. When you’re ready to start revising, start by reading your essay out loud to yourself. You’ll quickly find places where you have incomplete sentences, missing words, or things that just don’t make sense. It will also help you reorganize your talking points to give your reader the best experience.
  4. Keep it brief. Stick to the requirements for length, as this could be a quick disqualifier for your essay.
  5. Allow someone else to read it. Ask a trusted friend or mentor to read your essay. Seek out people who have an eye for detail and are competent communicators. They may see opportunities for revision you may have missed.

If you're ready to begin your scholarship search, here are a few suggestions to get you started


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