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Post by Marnie Winters on May 22, 2017 14:45:17 GMT
This is the place to ask questions you have about scholarships.
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Post by Marnie Winters on May 22, 2017 18:21:42 GMT
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Post by Marnie Winters on May 23, 2017 11:40:12 GMT
When you apply for a scholarship, you may have to write an essay. The essay plays a big part in determining whether or not you will be awarded any funds. It will be really important to put your best foot forward. Here are tips on writing an essay that will be helpful when writing the essay:
First, stick to the topic. Whatever subject the scholarship company instructs you to write about is the subject you should actually be writing about. Don't write about another topic.
Second, make sure to type the essay in a word processing program, such as Microsoft Word, and then print it off and submit it with the application. Typed essays are much easier to read. You don't want the scholarship representative struggling to figure out what you are trying to say. If the scholarship application instructs you to provide a handwritten essay (and some might), then write it out by hand. However, write a first draft in a word processing program. The reason is because the word processing program will have a spell checker and will catch misspelled words. It will give you an opportunity to catch any words you are misspelling.
Third, spelling and grammar are extremely important. Make sure to use proper, correct spelling and grammar. Have three of four people read your essay to check for grammar and spelling errors.
Fourth, follow the instructions. This is very important. If you don't follow the instructions, it may cost you a scholarship. Follow the instructions on the topic to be written, the length of the essay, instructions for submitting the application and essay, adhere to the deadline, and follow whatever other instructions are provided.
Fifth, in addition to using correct and proper spelling and grammar, make sure to use good writing mechanics. Make sure the paragraphs transition nicely from one paragraph to the next. Have an introduction and conclusion. The introduction is to introduce the topics you will talk about in your essay and the conclusion wraps everything up. Do not introduce any new topics in your conclusion. Use proper sentence structure. Don't write any run-on sentences. Use a range of grammar. The scholarship representatives want to see you know how to use more than just a comma and a period. Do not use cliches because they are often overused and because the scholarship representative want to read your own original thought, not a phrase that has been used way too often. If you don't know what a word means, then don't use it in your essay because you may end up using it incorrectly and this will be noticed by the scholarship representative. Don't use the same words over and over again. Keep a dictionary and thesaurus handy when writing your essay. The scholarship representative wants to see you have a good vocabulary. The essay services the purpose of testing your writing ability, which is why all of this information is important.
Following these strategies will help get you off on the right foot.
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Post by Marnie Winters on May 30, 2017 14:32:29 GMT
This particular area is a great place to ask any questions you have regarding scholarships such as the general process, essay questions, or general scholarship questions.
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Post by Marnie Winters on Jun 1, 2017 10:21:08 GMT
One of the best places to start looking for a scholarship is at the college you are attending. Most colleges have scholarships available for their students. You may be able to find more information about these scholarships available on your college website. If the website have a financial aid page, the scholarship information may be available there. Or, contact the financial aid office at your college for more information.
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Post by Marnie Winters on Jun 6, 2017 13:12:16 GMT
Some students have funded their entire education through scholarships. And, I'm not talking about students who have great athletic ability and were recruited by a college and handed one huge full ride scholarship. I am referring to students who have worked the scholarship avenue really well and worked really hard at finding and applying for scholarships.
It takes a lot of work. There really is money out there to be claimed, though, and the scholarship companies do want to give it away. If they can't give the money away, then it is only a matter of time before a company discontinues a scholarship and this could affect the jobs of the people working for those companies so, yes, they do want to give the money away and show the scholarship is a lucrative one that people benefit from and need. You may not get every scholarship you apply for and you may have to apply for a lot of scholarships before being awarded your first one, but don't get discouraged. Keep applying. Even if you were awarded one scholarship for $500, then it was worth it. That is $500 you didn't have before. And, you don't have to repay scholarships, like you do with student loans, so it is definitely worth applying for them.
If you have applied for scholarships before and been awarded funds, what scholarship was it? What did you have to do to apply? Is there a website? What have been the best scholarship websites you have visited? Where do you have the most luck in finding relevant scholarships?
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Post by Marnie Winters on Jun 13, 2017 10:56:18 GMT
General strategies when applying for scholarships:
Many students every year receive scholarship funds to assist with their college expenses. Since scholarship money is free money that does not need repaid, it is worthwhile (and recommended) to apply for scholarships. Only a few select students receive full ride scholarships to college and everyone else has to work really hard at applying for scholarships. It can take a lot of time and effort. And, since students are rarely awarded every scholarship they apply for, it is recommended to apply for multiple scholarships, in order to be told yes to some of those funds. When applying for multiple scholarships, you will need a strategy. Here are some tips for that strategy:
1. Make a folder to store all your scholarship information including the application, instructions, deadline, and the essay you write (if one is required)
2. Make sure you understand the instructions and deadlines
3. It is ok to take some long shots when applying for scholarships, but also make sure to apply for some scholarships where you realistically meet the guidelines (i.e. grade point average, major, future career, etc) because it will help improve the odds you receive a scholarship
4. Search your future college for scholarship offerings and also search for external scholarship offerings, too
5. Adhere to the deadline when turning in the scholarship application and essay; if you miss it, it is unlikely the application and essay will be accepted late. It is possible, but most often the applications and essays are not accepted late
6. When filling out the applications and writing essays, organize them in order of the deadlines. Work on the scholarships that are due first. If, for instance, the current date is December and some of the scholarships you plan to apply for are due in January and the rest are due in April, don't start working on April's first; work on January's scholarships first. Once finished, then work on April's.
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Post by Marnie Winters on Jun 20, 2017 9:14:05 GMT
When I write my online posts, I often use the internet to research topics, to see what others are writing about and reading, to see what is out there, to gather information, and so forth. Really, I want to see what is there because I want to write things that will be of interest to the people reading my forum. I wanted to write a post for the scholarships and in my searching and reading, I stumbled across on article on scholarships on Fastweb, which is a scholarship database. It talks about how to effectively prepare to win scholarships. It was a great article and I couldn't have done a better job myself. So, instead of basically rewriting everything they just said, I am just going to give you the link so you can go there and look for yourself. While you are there, browse through their available scholarships. Fastweb is one of my favorite places to send people for scholarship information and to apply for scholarships. Before giving you the link, I really do want to encourage everyone to apply for scholarships. Please don't think to yourself...oh, I will never get one, so I won't waste my time...because you never know until you apply. You may not get every single one you apply for, but if you keep applying and get awarded even one scholarship, it is going to feel like the most glorious victory of your life. There are less competitive scholarships available, some scholarships don't require an essay--just an application, some have less strict requirements and are more flexible, and they really do want to give their money away. I know I have mentioned this before, but some people have funded their entire education off scholarships. They haven't gotten every scholarship they applied for either. As a matter of fact, some of those individuals have been turned down for a lot of scholarships. But, they worked really hard. Just be persistent and keep applying and you will find something. Here is your link: www.fastweb.com/college-scholarships/articles/the-12-tips-on-winning-a-scholarship |
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Post by Marnie Winters on Jun 27, 2017 9:39:37 GMT
I just read a really good article on the topic of scholarship essays that I wanted to share. While there are some scholarships that do not require essays, many of them do. It will be important to write the best essay you can because it plays a large part in determining whether or not you will win the essay. This article brought up some really good points to consider when writing an essay: essayinfo.com/essays/scholarship_essay.php |
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Post by Marnie Winters on Jul 9, 2017 0:25:28 GMT
I borrowed a book from my local library that contained essays written by students who were admitted to Harvard. These essays were very good. At the end of each essay, the essay reviewer would make comments about the essay. I noticed something that I wanted to point out to those individuals who write essays and wanted to post it here, since many scholarships require applicants write an essay.
The writers did a good job at sticking to the topic they were assigned to write about or the topic they chose to write about. Their essays were extremely well developed and they had excellent writing skills. In several instances, though, there would be a period where they would get off topic. They would include a sentence or two, or even several sentences, that had absolutely nothing to do with the topic. While they were admitted to Harvard, it was noticed the writers got off track. They didn't completely stay on track the whole time. When writing an essay, make sure to stick to the point. If the topic you are writing about, for instance, is the leadership skills you developed while volunteering for Habitat for Humanity in tenth grade, don't suddenly avert your story and start talking about a camping trip you went on while in Boy Scouts/Girl Scouts in fifth grade. It is completely off topic and has nothing to do with the majority of your essay. When writing essays, truly try to make your essay as perfect as possible; you will position yourself better, if you do.
Also, one other important note: one of the writers was well below the required length and it was noticed. Most essays will have a length requirement. It is important to know what the required length is and to adhere to the requirement. Since it is difficult to hit a specific number of words when writing an essay, the essay instructions may give you a minimum number of words to write or they may give you a range. If a minimum number of words is given, make sure to write the minimum number of words. If a range is given, stay within the range. Don't go under and don't go over. And, try to write above the minimum. For instance, if you are instructed to write between 250 to 300 words, aim to write between 275 to 300 words. If you write right around 250 words, you have written the bare minimum and it will be noticed. Yes, technically you have met the requirement, but it will be noticed that you just wrote the minimum. Writing a little more, and still staying within the range, will make a good impression.
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Post by Marnie Winters on Jul 13, 2017 11:53:41 GMT
I've been reading books on essays recently, and have some really good ones. They were examples of essays written by students who were accepted into competitive colleges. I know I made a post previously about scholarships, but after reading the books, it is worth discussing again because I learned some new things. These recommendations apply for those who are applying for entrance to competitive colleges, as well as for scholarships. Here is what I recommend for scholarships.
1. The essay readers want to get to know you as a person. Who are you? What motivates you? What drives you? What has changed you and made you a better person? What events have shaped and molded you into the person you are today? Be honest and answer these questions honestly when answering your essay.
2. When you get ready to begin the essay, the particular college admission application or the scholarship program may give you one specific topic to write about, or they may provide you with a few choices from which you can pick. Use the questions in I listed above to help guide yourself through the essay. If you are asked to talk about a time when you developed leadership skills, search for that one experience that truly gave you those leadership skills, that changed you, that made you a better person, and that made you who you are today. Then, let that drive your essay. And, always pick the experience that served you best. Don't write about the experience you think they want to hear; write about the one that served you best. If, for example, the essay requires you to discuss your hero, don't discuss how your dad was an abusive father who cheated on your mom and left her for another woman before being sent to jail, how your single parent mother raised 12 kids her own, overcame alcoholism and drug abuse, worked 3 jobs, and still had time to parent, unless you really mean it and can write a very convincing essay. If your hero is really Batman and you can write a very convincing essay and you completely mean it, then this is the essay that the scholarship readers want to read.
3. Stay focused when writing your essay. Pick a topic and stick to it. Midway through your essay, don't interject another point or statement that has nothing to do with your essay. Keep to the topic. The one or two random statements that don't directly apply to your essay don't help you in any way, shape, or manner. And, if you throw in too many statements that wander from the topic you are writing about, it can cost you negatively, meaning you may not get into the college of your choice or be awarded the scholarship.
4. The books I read discussed the length of the essay. Length is really important. Some essay requirements may dictate the length to you. Stay within whatever range you are given. If the minimum length is 400 words, don't turn in a 200 word essay. If the maximum length is 500 words, don't turn in a 750 word essay. It will be noticed if you either underwrite or overwrite. A few of the books I read indicated it would be alright to write a shorter or longer essay (thus, disregarding the instructions you have been given), as long as it is not a drastic underwrite or overwrite, but in all my years serving as a scholarship rater, I can tell you it isn't alright. Don't believe those books or anyone who tells you it is ok. It's not ok. Competitive admissions offices and scholarship offices give you essays for a multitude of reasons and one of those reasons it to see if you can follow instructions. Giving you a length range is an instruction, so it is in your best interests to follow it. Don't disregard the length given. Follow the instructions. And, if the essay does not give you a word minimum of maximum, then it is up to you to decide how long to make the essay. In these instances, a 400 to 500 word range is an appropriate range for a scholarship.
5. Tell a story. Use descriptive words to paint a picture, but also use verbs to show action and move the story forward. Don't focus on one specific point for so long or use so many descriptive words or sentences that the story goes nowhere. Don't remain on one single point for three paragraphs in an attempt to paint a picture. You'll lose your reading audience. Paint the picture, but move forward. Readers want to know what happens next.
6. Now, for a few basic essay writing elements: first, make sure to stick to one of the topics given. Unless the scholarship indicates you can write about whatever you want, you need to select one of the topics provided. If you don't, then you likely will not be admitted to the college or awarded the scholarship. Second, make sure all your words are spelled correctly and your grammar is correct. If you fail to do these two things, your essay could end up in the rejection pile. Special note about grammar: use a variety of punctuation. Don't just use periods. The essay readers are testing your writing ability and want to make sure you have an understand of English, and proper writing skills, and this includes grammar. In addition to periods, use commas, question marks, exclamation points, hyphens, dashes, colons, semi-colons, or whatever kind of punctuation you like and can fit into the essay. Now, you don't have to use every single piece of punctuation I mentioned or that you find in a English book, but you should include a range, in order to demonstrate you have an understanding of grammar. Third, adhere to the deadlines. If you miss the deadline, your essay could end up in the rejection pile. Fourth, avoid using cliches. A cliche is a statement or phrase that has been overused to the point where its meaning has lost all value. The essay readers don't want to read an essay full of cliches. They want to see your own original thought. Examples of cliches include: time heals all wounds, only time will tell, all's well that ends well, woke up on the wrong side of bed, read the writing on the wall. Alright, you get the idea. Avoid cliches because they won't really help you; in the end, using too many cliches can cost you and your essay may end up in the rejection pile. Fifth, use the right words. There are a lot of commonly confused words, so make sure you understand what you are writing and choose the right word. What are some examples of commonly essay may confused words? Here are some examples: there, their, they're; accept, except; affect, effect; a lot, alot, allot; lose, loose; than, then; to, two, too. There are many other items to add to this list. You can do an internet search and easily find a complete list. Make sure you understand the differences between the words when writing an essay. Using the wrong word will be noticed and it can significantly alter the meaning of your sentence or change the true point you are trying to make. If you end up making too many errors, it can cost you and your essay can wind up in the rejection pile.
Good luck with your essays. You can do this.
If you have written essays in the past, what advice do you have for new essay writers? What has worked or not worked for you? I'd love your input.
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Post by Marnie Winters on Jul 20, 2017 13:11:33 GMT
Every scholarship will have a set of eligibility requirements. Make sure to read those before filling out the application and writing an essay. If you don't meet the eligibility requirements, don't apply. Your application won't be considered if you don't meet those requirements. If, for example, the eligibility requirements indicate that the scholarship is for computer science majors with a grade point average of 3.5 or higher, and you are a business administration major with a grade point average of 2.3, your application is going to be placed into the rejection pile.
You may get advice from many individuals about scholarships, and one of those pieces of advice may be to apply for every scholarship, regardless of whether or not you meet the eligibility requirements. And, it is perfectly within your rights to do so, if you choose. However, realize that your chances of being awarded that scholarship are next to nothing. You will likely receive a rejection letter or possibly even hear nothing at all. And, if you do hear someone say that they applied for a scholarship where they did not meet the eligibility requirements and were awarded the scholarship--because there is one in every crowd--realize that if this does happen, it is less than 1% of the population that it happens to. Your time and energy is going to be better spent applying for scholarships where you do meet the eligibility requirements
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Post by Marnie Winters on Aug 1, 2017 23:59:06 GMT
My name is Marnie Winters and I am the administrator for this particular forum. I would love to field your questions. If you have a question, please feel free to ask. If there is a topic you would like to see discussed, please post it. If you want to remain anonymous or don't want to register with the forum to ask a question or request a topic, please e-mail me at FindingMyPath@hotmail.com. I check this e-mail frequently and would be more than happy to address the question or topic for you. I really am receptive to hearing from you and hope to hear from you soon.
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