Here are some top tips for writing scholarship applications. Best of luck to you!
Step 1: Brainstorm
- What are the relevant milestones in your life and big lessons you’ve learned?
- What is the focus of your application and how do you want to organize it?
Step 2: Draft
Include the following:
- A strong opening statement. Give context; don’t be overly general.
- An introduction, body paragraphs (new point = new paragraph), and a brief conclusion.
- A storytelling structure. Visit https://www.sparkol.com/en/blog/8-classic-storytelling-techniques-for-engaging-presentations for examples.
- Your scholarly accomplishments and scholarly plan.
- The 3 Rs: recency (of your experiences), relevance (why you’re the best candidate based on your experiences), and responsibility level (your role titles and duties).
Step 3: Revise
- Take a break before each revision session to allow for a new perspective on your writing.
- Read your application aloud to check for clarity and flow.
- Strike a balance between a tone of professional writing and one of personal reflection.
- After revising your ideas and structure, proofread for grammar, spelling, and typos.
Include the “show, don’t tell” method of creating imagery; an honest picture of yourself with specific examples; a brief “thank you” at the end.
Don’t include a full autobiography; emojis, excessive exclamation points; clichés or inspirational quotes.
Other Tips:
- Be aware of the word count.
- Stick to the prompt if one is provided.
- Read past winning applications to understand what the scholarship committee is looking for.
Book an appointment at the Writing Centre at oscarplus.mcmaster.ca. Appointments available Monday – Friday during the academic year. For resume critiques, visit https://studentsuccess.mcmaster.ca/careers/job-search/.
References
Butler, M. Writing a strong scholarship application. Scholarships Canada. https://www.scholarshipscanada.com/News/8/2975/Writing-a-Strong-Scholarship-Application
How to write a scholarship essay and win big. https://myscholly.com/how-to-write-a-scholarship-essay/
University of Massachusetts Amherst. Tips for scholarship applications. https://www.umass.edu/sbs/tips-scholarship-applications