Studying can get expensive. As you research your funding options, you come up with the idea of applying for a scholarship. One of the requirements involves writing an essay. But how to approach this piece of work?

Thousands of students compete for scholarships every year, and some even buy them from essay writing companies. Despite the common belief that writing services are not safe to use, students still use them, and according to betterwritingservices.com there are lots of reliable writing companies.

Writing of any sort can be a daunting task. Crafting a scholarship-winning essay might seem impossible at first, but with the right tools, you will be able to create what you desire. This is why those 7 tips for writing a scholarship-winning college essay will come in handy.

1. Investigate the requirements

 

Before each writing endeavor, we need to investigate the requirements of the task at hand. This is not something we can skim, because there is significant data hidden in the prompt. How is it composed, and what are they asking us to do? Try to answer those questions. You should also investigate the scholarship’s history, and if possible, see the winning essays from previous editions.

 

If you can come up with answers to those questions and model them according to the additional data you researched, you can proceed to the next step on your writing journey.

2. Plan out your work

 

After gathering all the necessary data, we can start the planning process. Each composition has an introduction, a body, and a conclusion. Each of those parts has a particular function, and you need to place specific information in them.

 

Starting with the introduction, we need to invite the reader. We need to write something eye-catching, emotional, something that will hold his attention, to make him move onto the next sentence.

 

The body of the work consists of the main story you want to sell. Those are the events that will strengthen your claim on the scholarship.

 

The work ends with a conclusion, where you sum up and show your ability to conclude the events.

 

The combination of all three makes up the essay. Those are the building blocks, to which you need to adhere. Those are the places where you insert your story.

3. Think about your topic and your story

 

They want to see you. They want to hear your story, your point of view on the matter. Write with those emotions, try to convey what you felt, and what you did. This is your story that you are telling, so try to tell it as close to reality as possible.

 

If you won an award, write about those emotions, write about what makes this event outstanding enough to put it into the essay. If you lead a group of people through a project, tell the commission about the results.

 

It is this professional take on emotions that they want to read. They want to read about your drive to do the things you do.

 

4. Connect the sentences. Brevity is important

 

While writing we cannot forget about logic. The emotional and professional stories need a connection. Each sentence should be crafted in such a way that the reader is encouraged to read another line from your essay. This sequencing is the glue that holds the work together.

 

The best way to achieve this is to read your work while you are writing. After a paragraph, stop and read the thing that you have written. Are those sentences connecting? Try to answer that question as faithfully as possible, as this might be the reason the commission drops your essay. If it is unreadable, how would it be able to win a scholarship?

 

Be to the point in what you are saying. Use words with a purpose, not just to ornament your writing.

5. Illuminate action, instead of using just adjectives

 

During the process of creation, it might tempt you to overuse adjectives and passive voice. An alternative is the use of verbs and active voice.

 

You need to illuminate your actions; show what you did, instead of describing it with adjectives. You do not need to use passive voice, because you want to be direct. In the words of William Zinsser from the book On Writing Well:

 

“Good writing is lean and confident.”

 

Speak with your voice, put yourself out there. Show the results of winning that award, or of leading that team. Show their actions because of your impact. Present the aftermath of your existence.

6. The conclusion is the lesson

 

The effects presented in the essay will help build a quality conclusion. Here you can put all the lessons you have learned, all the little bits that could sway the decision in the battle for the scholarship.

 

A good example of a scholarship-winning essay conclusion was written by Isabella Mendez-Figueroa:

 

“Sometimes, I only sleep 4 hours as I wake up and rush out the door in order to make it on time to 6am tutoring. Having to manage my schoolwork and home responsibilities has been difficult but I've managed to maintain high academic achievement by managing my time correctly and being persistent. If I truly want something, I need to go after it, and I will get it done. Sometimes being tired isn't an option.”

 

Here you can put all your hopes, dreams, and aspirations. This is the place for giving your work that last little push. Rephrase the points you made earlier, summarise the gained insight, and finish that essay.

7. Edit your work

 

You might feel relaxed after you finish writing. It is not over yet. One of the main parts of every writing work is editing. Give your writing a day or two. After that time, come back and edit with a new frame of mind.

 

Read your writing out loud, and try to figure out if those sentences or paragraphs make sense and connect. If not, then rephrase them so they do. Try to cut out the unnecessary words, and leave the elements that make the most sense for you. After you are done with it, you can give a copy to someone else. They will give you feedback, and show you places that need improvement.

 

Those tips will bring you closer to completing that scholarship-winning essay. Consider them while writing, and try to convey yourself in the things you create. The commission wants to give a scholarship to a compelling individual, and you are one.

 

So, pull up the requirements, and start the process.