How to Write Scholarship Essay to Study in USA

Highlights

• A compelling scholarship essay will help you avail scholarship opportunities that can make your study abroad dream come true.
• Find a balance between readability and a formal tone. Don’t make your essay too casual, but don’t fill up technical jargon either.
• Colleges offering scholarships want to know what skills and values you have developed that can contribute to the institution.
• Create a first draft with all the skills, topics, examples and goals you want to include in your essay, before you write the main essay.
• Your conclusion should circle back to themes you outlined in your introduction, should be brief, and end with thanks.

Scholarships don’t come easy. But for some of us, scholarships are the only way to finance our study in the USA. To secure a scholarship, you need a) good grades, and b) a scholarship essay. There is not much you can do about your grades at this point, but you can still save your scholarship essay—and a good scholarship essay can save your application.

A compelling scholarship essay can help you stand out from the crowd, so you can avail scholarship opportunities that make your study abroad dream come true. So, how do you get a scholarship to study abroad? Read on to find out.

Purpose of Scholarship Essay

A scholarship essay is to judge a student’s merits and qualities, and sometimes, financial need. Colleges want to know what skills and values you have developed that can contribute to the institution. Other organizations are looking for attributes like leadership skills, time management, collaborative skills, etc in the candidates. You are required to present the information in the context of a specific question or essay prompt.

You can think of the essay as a captivating life story told to convince the scholarship committee that you are worthy and deserving of the scholarship. It has to be personal and believable. Your essay should outline your career goals and emphasize how the scholarship will help you achieve them.

A number of universities, especially the top ones like Harvard and Stanford, make sure you get the financial assistance you need once your application is selected. There are some universities like NYU Stem that automatically consider applications for scholarships, on the basis of need and/or merit.

Types of Scholarships Available to International Students

When shortlisting a university, your budget can become a hurdle, and the different types of scholarships can offset this. Scholarships are typically awarded on the basis of these criteria:

• Merit-based scholarships
• Need-based scholarships
• Athletic scholarships
• Subject-specific scholarships

Read: Need-Based v/s Merit-Based Scholarships: Eligibility & Criteria for Selection

The Indian government also provides scholarships to international students from the country. Some of these are provided below.

Format of Scholarship Essay

Before we get into how to write a scholarship essay, here’s what it should look like. The format of a scholarship essay, unless stated otherwise by your university, is given below:
Font Size: 12
Font Style: Times New Roman
Margin: Top, bottom and side margins, one inch each
Line spacing: Double spaced

It follows the typical essay structure:

Introduction (1 para): A hook introduction that captivates the reader’s interest from the get-go is crucial to writing a good essay.

Body (2-3 para): The main content of your essay goes here, persuading the scholarship provider that you are a deserving scholar dedicated to your career goals.

Conclusion (1 para): Your conclusion should circle back to themes you outlined in your introduction, should be brief, and end with thanks.

Methodology

The general rule when it comes to writing is “to each his own”, but when the stakes are high, it’s good to have a tried-and-tested method at your disposal.

Research: Every scholarship that you are targeting will need individual research. The aim of your research will be to find out more about the organization providing the scholarship, the former candidates who have been successful in achieving the scholarship, and the qualities the organization prioritizes as its core values. This research will help you craft a relevant essay with examples from your life.

Outline: Once you have an idea of what they’re looking for, you can start with an essay outline. Create a first draft with the skills, topics, examples and goals you want to include in your essay. For example, if the organization prioritizes community service, construct your essay around a life instance where you have worked for the greater good.

Writing: You have all the points you wish to include, you know what your essay is going to be about, you have your action plan. Remember, writing is not supposed to be the hardest part—that’d be editing. Write in a conversational tone without flowery language. Focus on how your story looks overall, not on how complicated words you can use. Follow the guidelines provided to the t.

Editing: Proofread your essay multiple times, in multiple fonts if you have to. Errors have a tendency to creep in unnoticed, and these errors can hurt your chances of getting the scholarship. Pay special attention to the length of sentences, the flow of your writing, the terms having been used correctly, and the points you’re covering. If possible, ask your friends or professors for feedback on your essay before you finalize it.

Do’s and Don'ts

Tips to Write a Winning Scholarship Essay

• Jot down the points you wish to include in your scholarship essay before you start writing.
• If you are writing for an organization other than your college, it’s a good idea to research their ideals, values and mission, and tailor your content accordingly.
• Don’t start with a quote—it has been done to death and takes up space in your essay that could’ve been used to write more specific and unique content.
• Find a balance between readability and a formal tone. Don’t make your essay too casual, but don’t fill up technical jargon either.
• Think of specific examples from real life that convey your values, goals and the reason why you chose this career.
• Don’t list all your achievements, keep it relevant to your course and nature of scholarship.
• Keep the scholarship and how it will help you achieve your goals the focus of your essay.

Top 10 Most Common Essay Prompts

Some organizations provide candidates with prompts to expand on in the essay. Some of the common essay prompts include:

• Tell us about you.
• Why do you want to pursue a degree in [X]?
• Describe your contribution to your community, or a community service you have provided.
• Describe a time when you failed, and what you learned from the failure.
• What makes you unique?
• What are your academic goals and how do you plan to achieve them?
• Why should we reward you with this scholarship?
• How will this scholarship help you?

Scholarship Essay Example

Prompt: Why should you be selected for a scholarship? Please describe any academic achievements, community service activities, examples of leadership, or other personal characteristics that make you deserving of this scholarship?

I am [ABC], an Indian national with a keen interest in environmental and social sciences and an excellent academic record. I believe I deserve to be selected for this scholarship because I am committed to making the most of the opportunity that it will provide me.

Besides being a hardworking scholar, I am dedicated to volunteer work that connects my passion for education with my desire to help others. As an educator, I am devoted to the betterment of my students. It is not only my students, however, that I have endeavored to help.

Visiting my hometown as a newly graduated academic, I was surprised by the number of kids out playing when they should’ve been in school. These kids hailed from the slums behind my gated colony. When I stopped one of them to ask what they were doing out here, I was surprised by the answer. They informed me they only went to school to collect meals—a result of the “Mid-day Meal” initiative by the government—and did not attend any classes. The teachers were often absent and most didn’t care. I decided, impulsively at first, to sit with them and introduce them to proper education.

Months later, it had turned into a full-fledged community project to help middle school kids learn the basics of grammar, math, and science. More children from the poorer neighborhoods joined this ‘home-school’, many brought friends and cousins along. They were eager to learn, as I was eager to teach. As the numbers increased, my neighbors appreciated the initiative and asked to join in. I organized the students into groups and allocated them to different ‘teachers’—which was just as well, since my stay in my hometown was coming to an end.

This project allowed me to employ leadership, resourcefulness, persuasion, and compassion, and it taught me to not take education for granted. Many are living in a dearth of these resources, and I am committed to bringing a change where I can.

With the help of this scholarship, I can take my ambition further, and contribute to society’s greater good. This opportunity will not only benefit me, it will also be instrumental in improving my community’s quality of life. Thank you for giving me the chance to present my story, and I look forward to your response.

In conclusion, there are a number of universities and private organizations that fund meritorious students and students in need. A bit of research and preparation can go a long way in your hunt for scholarships. You have less time than you think—start on your essay today!

Frequently Asked Questions