So many scholarship applications ask similar questions—why college, why this program, what’s your story? Save time by adapting your original essay, instead of starting from scratch every time. Think of your essay like a base recipe—you just switch out ingredients depending on the scholarship. Also, each time you change your essay, make sure to get a second pair of eyes on it. Ask a teacher, a mentor or even a friend but never submit a first draft! The best pieces of my writing have been revised at least 5 times and looked over by 3 different people.
Here’s a bonus tip: don’t be afraid to ask for help. Reach out early and often. Not everyone that you ask help from is going to be able to meet your deadline, so start early, in order to give them flexibility. Deadlines sneak up, especially for programs like Gilman and QuestBridge. So, start your essays now, collect those recommendation letters and keep track of deadlines. Make an Excel spreadsheet!
The world needs your voice heard and your story shared, so go write your version before you forget!
