NOVEMBER 2018 5 Tips for Writing a Winning Scholarship Essay

With millions of dollars in scholarships being given away to students each year, a strong scholarship essay can be your key to getting through college with minimal student loan debt. This month’s 5 on the 5 th offers some tips for preparing, staying on track and ultimately writing an outstanding scholarship essay that will make you stand out from the crowd.

1. Read the instructions Make sure you understand all the essay expectations before you begin. Return to the instructions and reread them as you write your essay to make sure you are staying on track.

2. Write an outline Outlines are critical and writing one can help you organize your thoughts and help you stay focused on the essay topic.

3. Keep it readable You’re headed off to college and learned lots of big SAT words over the last year, but you should refrain from throwing them all into your essay. Keep your essay clear and concise. Essay readers are reading many essays in a sitting. Rambling sentences and confusing verbiage can bore a reader.

4. Tell your story Don’t just rattle off your resume but paint a picture that shows why your accomplishments matter to you. Adding meaning to your achievements will help you make a connection with the scholarship essay reader.

5. Proofread to perfection Check that your grammar and spelling are impeccable. Read it out loud to make sure the essay flows well. Then, once you’ve got your best product, have someone with strong writing and editing skills proofread the essay before you submit it.

Bonus Tip Once you've invested time in a scholarship essay, reuse it! Make any adjustments necessary to meet other scholarship program's requirements.

Want More Information? Join us for this month's FREE Wednesday Webinar: Getting the Most Out of Scholarship Websites Wednesday, November 14th 10:00–11:00 a.m. In this webinar we'll take a closer look at a few of the most popular scholarship listing websites used by students today. We'll also explore each site to find its strengths and discover how to use each site to the fullest. Register for Wednesday Webinar

For additional helpful information and resources, find  previous issues of 5 on the 5th on our website. FAME's College Access and Financial Education Team: Mila Tappan, College Access and Outreach Manager Jessica Whittier, College Access Counselor  Nikki Vachon, College Access Counselor Maria MacDougal, College Access Counselor Floreka Malual, College Planning Advisor Mary Dyer, Financial Education Officer Jennifer Lanphear, Education Programs Officer

Connect with Us!

‌ ‌

The Finance Authority of Maine (FAME) does not discriminate in the administration of any of its programs or in its employment practices on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, gender, religion, physical or mental disability, political affiliation, marital status or sexual orientation. FAME is an equal opportunity employer, provider and lender. FAME provides links to other websites as a convenience and does not endorse or guarantee the content, accuracy or usability of such sites.