how to write an essay about deserving a scholarship

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Why I Deserve This Scholarship Essay Examples 2023

Jennifer Finetti Aug 3, 2022

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One of the most popular scholarship essay questions is “Why do you deserve this scholarship?” Answering such a question can be difficult because you don’t want to sound too needy or greedy. Your essay must stand out from the competition while still being humble and appreciative. Check out these essay writing tips, along with a scholarship essay sample about why I deserve the scholarship.

Tips for writing a “Why do you deserve this scholarship?” essay

Your essay will be unique to your experiences, but there are some general guidelines you should follow. Here are tips for writing a “why I’m deserving scholarship” essay:

• Explain how the scholarship money would contribute to your long-term goals. You’re asking the scholarship committee to invest in your future. They want to ensure their investment goes to a worthy cause. Explain how your education will play a role in your career and overall goals after graduation.
• Focus on the purpose of the scholarship. While writing your essay, keep in mind what the scholarship is for and where it comes from. Tailor your response to the scholarship so it resonates with the review committee.
• Don’t be afraid to promote yourself. This may be your only chance to tell the committee about your achievements. Showing your past success will instill confidence about your future success.
• Use a thesis statement, just like you would with any other essay. You should refer back to the thesis throughout the essay and tie it into the conclusion. If you have trouble creating the thesis at the beginning, write the rest of the essay first. Read through, see what stands out the most, and then write an intro with a cohesive thesis.
• When explaining obstacles in your life, focus on how you overcame them. Show that you’re a problem solver, able to persevere through any situation. You can mention difficulties from your past, but turn the attention to what you did as a result of them.
• Avoid generalizations. Generic statements like “I deserve this because I am a hard worker” aren’t enough. Every applicant is a hard worker, has ‘good grades,’ etc. What makes you different, special and memorable? That should be the topic of your scholarship essay.
• Support your statements with examples. Instead of saying, “I’m a hard worker,” say, “I upheld two jobs while I was in high school to support my family, and I still maintained a 3.75 GPA.” This is no longer a generalization. It is an achievement specific to your life and upbringing.
• Use positive language. Phrases like ‘well-prepared,’ ‘qualified candidate’ and ‘specialized training’ showcase achievements in a positive light. Even in a negative situation, show the positive way you got through it.
• Avoid words like ‘very’ and ‘really.’ You can typically find a one-word substitute that sounds more professional. Very hard turns into difficult. Very good becomes exceptional. Here is an excellent guide for modifiers that replace very .
• Take a one-day break before you edit. Once you have a solid draft written, do not jump straight into editing. Wait a day before looking over your essay. This will let you read the essay with fresh eyes so you can catch inconsistencies, grammar mistakes, and more.

Example 1: Why I deserve this scholarship essay (100 words)

With a 100 word scholarship essay, you need to jump into the thesis as quickly as possible. There is not enough space for a lengthy introduction. Use concise language, and showcase your biggest achievements/goals. You should have enough sentences to break into two small paragraphs, though one may only be two to three sentences.

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I believe I deserve this scholarship because I am an innovative problem solver. As the student council president, I helped re-organize my school library to better accommodate students’ needs. I worked with staff to categorize books to better reflect current school subjects.  I will use the same leadership mindset to obtain my business degree with a focus on project management. My goal is to work in construction management to increase efficiency in low-income housing development. With this scholarship and the need-based grants I will receive, I can complete my education and continue to solve problems within my community.

Word Count: 98

Example 2: Why I deserve this scholarship essay (250 words)

A 250-word scholarship essay usually consists of 4-5 paragraphs. The introduction can have a short lead-in, but it should arrive at the thesis quickly. The body paragraphs should support the assertion made in the first paragraph (the reason you deserve the scholarship). The conclusion should summarize the essay collectively, and it may include a statement of appreciation.

One of the most debated topics in America is how to provide affordable healthcare to the masses. I believe the answer lies in accessible healthcare providers. Nurse practitioners often go unappreciated and unrecognized for their versatility and value in the medical profession. With this scholarship, I could continue my training to become a nurse practitioner and provide attainable medical services to underserved communities. Growing up in a small Montana farming town, the closest hospital was 45 minutes away. The only local family doctor charged whatever he wanted because he was the sole provider. My parents relied on home remedies to treat any ailment my brother and I developed. This is when my passion for medicine first took form. Minimal medical care was not a concern until my father went to the hospital for severe stomach problems. These were the result of Crohn’s disease, a condition that can be managed with treatment. Because my father had not been to the doctor in years, the flare up was highly aggressive. It took months to get it under control and get him on preventative medication. I decided to go to college to help people like my father. As a nurse practitioner I can practice medicine without charging a fortune for my services. I plan to serve in rural communities where hospitals and doctors are limited or non-existent. I am grateful to be considered for this scholarship opportunity, and should I be selected, I will use it to advance my medical education.

Word Count: 248

Example 3: Why I deserve this scholarship essay (500 words)

With a 500-word scholarship essay, you have room to tell your story and create an experience for the reader. Use several introductory sentences to lead into your thesis and set the tone for the essay. The body paragraph should flow in a logical manner, most often chronologically. Then the conclusion should re-emphasize the thesis and leave the scholarship committee with something to remember.

Winston Churchill once said, “Success consists of going from failure to failure without loss of enthusiasm.” And while I never define my obstacles as ‘failures,’ I mark my success by my repeated perseverance through adversity. I have faced several challenges over the years, from dyslexia to homelessness; yet I continued to earn exemplary grades and graduate at the top of my class. I deserve this scholarship because I have the strength and determination to achieve my goals, no matter what hurdles I have to overcome. I was not born a gifted student. Testing and assignments were always difficult for me, whether I studied or not. In second grade, my parents had me tested for learning disabilities. The psychologist said that I had a hyperactivity disorder and prescribed medication to suppress my energy. After two years abiding by that treatment, I was re-evaluated and diagnosed with dyslexia. This helped me get the treatment I needed, and I finally made progress in school. Shortly after I learned how to study with dyslexia, my father lost his job. He was the sole breadwinner for the household, and I was soon on the street with my mother and two younger siblings. I got a job in newspaper delivery, one of the few fields that will hire a 12-year-old. My father found odd jobs to bring money to the family, and together we were eventually able to pay for a two-bedroom apartment to live in. I was valedictorian that school year, and I maintained a perfect attendance record. Like my father, I knew I had to do whatever was necessary to succeed and thrive. In high school, I developed an interest for psychology. I noticed patterns in behaviors, both in myself and in the people around me. I asked my child therapist, the one who officially diagnosed me with dyslexia, if I could work at his clinic over the summers. He allowed me to intern at his counseling center my junior and senior year, and I gained valuable insight into the business side of psychology. I am now entering the second year of my psychology degree. I plan to complete my bachelor’s degree and earn a Doctorate of Neuropsychology in the years that follow. My focus is on psychological testing, specifically for children with autism or learning disabilities. I spent years struggling in school because of a preventable misdiagnosis.  I want to ensure that other children do not face the same struggles in their future. Why do I deserve this scholarship? Because I have the passion and determination to become a trusted member of the psychological community. With my education, I can help children get the treatment they need at an early age, giving the best chance at finding their own success. You’re not just helping me get through college. You’re improving the quality of life for countless families to come. I appreciate your consideration, and I look forward to building a lasting relationship with your organization.

Word Count: 492

You Should Also Read…

How to Write a Scholarship Motivation Letter

Why Are You Applying to This Scholarship Essay (with Example)

How to Write a Scholarship Essay Introduction (With Example)

How to End a Scholarship Essay

How to Write a Great 250-Word Essay

How to Write a Great 500 Word Essay

5 People Who Should Review Your Scholarship Essays

• Scholarship Essay

Jennifer Finetti

As a parent who recently helped her own kids embark on their college journeys, Jennifer approaches the transition from high school to college from a unique perspective. She truly enjoys engaging with students – helping them to build the confidence, knowledge, and insight needed to pursue their educational and career goals, while also empowering them with the strategies and skills needed to access scholarships and financial aid that can help limit college costs. She understands the importance of ensuring access to the edtech tools and resources that can make this process easier and more equitable - this drive to support underserved populations is what drew her to ScholarshipOwl. Jennifer has coached students from around the world, as well as in-person with local students in her own community. Her areas of focus include career exploration, major selection, college search and selection, college application assistance, financial aid and scholarship consultation, essay review and feedback, and more. She works with students who are at the top of their class, as well as those who are struggling. She firmly believes that all students, regardless of their circumstances, can succeed if they stay focused and work hard in school. Jennifer earned her MA in Counseling Psychology from National University, and her BA in Psychology from University of California, Santa Cruz.

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How to answer “Why do you deserve this scholarship?” essay prompt (with examples!)

When you’re applying for scholarships, you’ll see tons of different essay prompts. Two of the most common are “Why do you deserve this scholarship?” or its variant “Why are you applying for this scholarship?” While these might seem like intimidating questions, don’t overthink them! These are straightforward questions that you can easily answer. Here’s how.

What’s the scholarship committee looking for?

Tips to consider.

• Examples of “Why I Deserve It” scholarship essays

Variant: “Why are you applying for this scholarship?”

Variant: “why do you need this scholarship”, ready to start answering an essay prompt like this.

Scholarship providers want to give the award to the most deserving student. So by including these prompts, they’re basically asking: Why should it be you?

In particular, they want to know:

• What makes you unique? What are your particular interests and motivations?
• How do your strengths and goals fit in with this particular scholarship? For instance, why you might deserve an athletic scholarship might be different from why you deserve a financial need scholarship . 
• How will you make use of the scholarship funds? Scholarship providers want to know their awards will make a difference. Show them how this money would really help advance your goals.

Link your passions to the scholarship

One of the first things to consider is to express who you are in your writing. Show scholarship providers why you deserve this scholarship by painting them a picture of who you are and what drives you. But remember to keep it related to the scholarship. For example:

• If you’re applying for a journalism-related scholarship, explain how you became interested in journalism, and what kind of journalism you hope to pursue.
• If you’re applying to a community service scholarship , explain what kind of community service you do and why you’re committed to it.

Show your grit

This is where your scholarship essay might get personal . You might deserve this scholarship because you have persevered through some personal struggles. Those struggles might be more serious–for example, related to family income (growing up poor) or physical obstacles (a disability or injury). Or it might be a more fleeting personal circumstance (like not getting that student organization position you were vying for).

In any case, focus on how you overcame these difficulties–and how the experiences have shaped who you are today. Also remember to focus it back on the scholarship topic at hand.

For example, if you’re applying to an arts scholarship, you might say:

Although I always loved art, growing up poor in a rural area made it difficult to have access to the fine arts museums (far away) or materials (too expensive). So I made do in other ways. I borrowed art books from the library and did virtual tours of the Met and the MOMA from my home computer. And since I couldn’t afford a fancy SLDR camera, I learned all the iPhone photography tricks I could, and used open-source software to do post-production on my photos.

This kind of statement shows how much the student loves art and the lengths the’ve gone to, in order to explore the medium, despite obstacles. A scholarship committee might read this and think: “This student is particularly deserving of our scholarship.

Share what you plan to do with the scholarship award

Why you are deserving doesn’t just have to do with your past achievements; it also has to do with your future plans and goals. Scholarship providers want to fund students who will go on to achieve great things or who wish to give back to their communities.

For instance, in scholarship winner Michelle Marie Charles’ essay, she explains how the award money will be put to good use:

My wish is to help guide undocumented people to obtain a job in a foreign country, and to fight for them to stay in the country. […] Once I am an attorney, I will seek new opportunities to expand the help provided to immigrants. I will create programs that specifically target undocumented people to know their own voice and to educated themselves about the law. […] I know the long journey that lays ahead of them and know how difficult the process of transferring to undocumented to citizen is, but I want to be there so they know that they still have a choice.

Examples of “Why I Deserve It” scholarship essay s

In general, there are three ways we’ve seen Going Merry students successfully tackle this essay. 

1. Treat it like a résumé, in paragraph form.

Since it’s asking you to brag about your strengths, some essay answers simply describe the applicant’s multiple accomplishments (either in chronological order, or grouped by interest/category – like academics, sports, research, student clubs). This is a particularly good strategy if the scholarship application doesn’t ask for a résumé or list of extracurricular activities. In that case, this essay is your opportunity to discuss those.

An example version of this might read like this :

“I [have been committed] to programs that would further develop my view of the world. I have been involved in Choir and Music Club. I have also been a member of the Red Crescent club for 3 years, which has expanded my exposures to other cultures by learning another language and studying multiple customs. I have been the captain of both the varsity golf and softball teams for two years, developing my leadership skills. My involvement in both my school and community prove that I am a student committed to developing a promising future.”

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2. Treat it like a personal statement. 

Maybe you deserve the scholarship because of the type of person you are: someone who has overcome adversity, thinks deeply, is passionate about a specific subject, or wants to contribute to their community. In that case, you might simply be able to reuse your personal statement , tweaking it slightly to be able to explain how your personal characteristics or narrative make you a deserving scholarship recipient. 

One example of this is Going Merry winner Jesús Adrian Arroyo-Ramirez’s essay , which discusses how he overcame the obstacle of his immigration status. He writes:

I was illegally brought to this country when I was just six years old. At the time I had no clue that I was breaking any laws, and I did not realize the fact that my life was going to change forever. Growing up with a different citizenship situation than my peers was and still is the biggest challenge I have to face in my life. Looking back there is not a single thing that I would change. Knowing that I had to work harder than everyone else led me to be the person that I am today. I took that fire inside of me, pushed myself, graduated first in my class with a cumulative 4.0 GPA, became a Kansas Scholar, and graduated High School with a semester’s worth of college credit. In November of 2016, everything began to look up for me. I received a work permit and a social security card all thanks to the DACA program. I was finally able to get my license, get a job, and most importantly attend college. I plan to continue my success in the classroom and do everything to the best of my ability as I know that under my current circumstances it can all be ripped away from me at any moment. Growing up with my situation has taught me to not take advantage of a single opportunity. 

3. Treat it like a career and/or academic goals essay. 

You’re likely using your scholarship money to attend college or grad school, so that you can pursue certain academic or career interests. You can discuss those, and then explain how scholarship funding would allow you to continue down that intended path, just like this short essay did : 

“The scholarship award will only push me further towards my Accounting degree and my dreams of one day having a successful career as an Accountant. […] Five years from now I see myself employed at a large local firm, crunching numbers, evaluating,and solving certain financial matters. I just feel blessed that I am given the opportunity to be awarded a scholarship to help fulfill my dream and I will prove that I do have what it takes to not only be a successful student, but an outstanding accountant.”

Here’s a guide on writing a career goals essay , and another guide for writing an essay on your academic goals . 

Is this the same question as “Why do you deserve this scholarship?” Yes and no. Both questions get at the same core idea (why are you relevant and deserving of the scholarship money), so for both essay prompts, your essay should describe your strengths and future plans. 

However, to properly answer this “why are you applying” question, you’ll need to more explicitly address your interest in the scholarship topic (e.g. if it’s a scholarship for nursing, why are you interested in nursing), as well as information about your financial situation (you are likely applying because you have need for the money, to pay for college or grad school). 

What about this one? Is this the same question?

Nope! This is a question about financial need. Although it may be uncomfortable to discuss, this prompt is asking you directly about your financial situation and why additional funding is necessary for you to pursue your academic or career plans.  Here’s more information about how to write a statement of financial need .

Also, check out this helpful list of the 10 most common scholarship essay topics to get started!

Now that you’ve got a better grasp on how to answer a prompt like, “Explain why you deserve this scholarship,” we think you’re ready to start writing and applying to scholarships! Get started by signing up for a free profile with Going Merry . You can write your essay and apply to thousands of scholarships . Just think of us as your one-stop shop for all things scholarships, including essay writing resources.

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• How to Write a Scholarship Essay | Template & Example

How to Write a Scholarship Essay | Template & Example

Published on October 11, 2021 by Kirsten Courault . Revised on May 31, 2023.

A good scholarship essay demonstrates the scholarship organization’s values while directly addressing the prompt. If you plan ahead , you can save time by writing one essay for multiple prompts with similar questions.

Table of contents

Apply for a wide variety of scholarships, make a scholarship tracker spreadsheet, tailor your essay to the organization and the prompt, write a focused and relevant personal story, scholarship essay example, other interesting articles, frequently asked questions about college application essays.

Scholarships are a type of student financial aid that don’t require repayment. They are awarded based on various factors, including academic merit, financial need, intended major, personal background, or activities and interests.

Like college applications, scholarship applications often require students to submit their grades, standardized test scores, letters of recommendation, and an essay.

A scholarship essay shares your values and qualities in the context of a specific question, such as “How does technology affect your daily life?” or “Who has had the greatest impact on your life?”

Be wary of scholarship scams

While some applications may not require an essay, be wary of scholarship scams that do the following:

• Guarantee you scholarship money for a fee
• Claim scholarship information is exclusive to their company
• Ask for your bank or credit card information to hold the scholarship

Some legitimate companies do charge for releasing comprehensive scholarship lists or creating a tailored list of scholarship opportunities based on your profile.

However, you can always discover scholarship opportunities for free through your school counselor, community network, or an online search.

Many students focus on well-known, large scholarship opportunities, which are usually very competitive. To maximize your chance of success, invest time in applying for a wide variety of scholarships: national and local, as well as big and small award amounts. There are also scholarships for international students .

In addition to charitable foundation and corporate scholarships, you should consider applying for institutional scholarships at your prospective universities, which can award money based on your application’s strength, your financial situation, and your demonstrated interest in the school.

Check with your guidance counselor, local organizations, community network, or prospective schools’ financial aid offices for scholarship opportunities. It’s a good idea to start applying as early as your junior year and continue throughout your senior year.

Choose the right scholarships for you

Choose scholarships with missions and essay topics that match your background, experiences, and interests. If the scholarship topic is meaningful to you, it will be easier for you to write an authentic and compelling essay.

Don’t shy away from applying for local scholarships with small dollar amounts. Even a few hundred dollars can help you pay for books.

Local scholarships may be more tailored to your community, background, and activities, so they’re likely more relevant to you. Fewer students apply for these scholarships, so you have less competition and a higher chance of success.

Some places to look for local scholarships include

• Civic organizations, such as the Rotary Club, Lions Club, etc.
• Your church, mosque, synagogue, or place of worship
• Community groups, such as the YMCA
• Ethnicity-based organizations
• Your local library or local small businesses
• Organizations related to your intended major
• Your city or town
• Your school district
• Unions, such as SEIU, the Teamsters, CWA, etc.
• Your employer or your parents’ employers
• Banks, credit unions, and local financial institutions

Prevent plagiarism. Run a free check.

While researching scholarship opportunities, create a scholarship tracker spreadsheet to keep track of the following:

• Scholarship amounts
• Required application materials

You can use our free Google Sheets template to track your scholarship applications.

Scholarship application tracker template

You can also include scholarship essay prompts in your college essay tracker sheet . By grouping or color-code overlapping essay prompts, you can plan to write a single essay for multiple scholarships. Sometimes, you can also reuse or adapt your main college essay .

Even if you’re adapting another essay, it’s important to make sure your essay directly addresses the prompt, stays within the word count limit , and demonstrates the organization’s values. The scholarship committee will be able to tell if you reuse an essay that doesn’t quite respond to the prompt, so be sure to tailor it to the questions asked.

Research each organization

Before writing, research the scholarship organization’s mission and reason for awarding the scholarship. Learning more about the organization can help you select an appropriate topic and relevant story.

While you should tailor your essay to the organization’s values, maintain your authentic voice. Never use false or exaggerated stories. If the organization’s values don’t align with yours or you can’t brainstorm a relevant story for the scholarship, continue searching for other scholarship opportunities to find a more appropriate one for you.

After researching the organization, identify a specific personal experience that embodies its values and exemplifies why you will be a successful student.

Choose a story with the following criteria:

• Responds to the prompt
• Demonstrates the organization’s values
• Includes an authentic story
• Focuses on you and your experience, not someone else’s

A good scholarship essay is not

• A resume of your achievements
• A lengthy opinion piece about the essay topic
• An essay featuring a negative tone that puts down others

If appropriate, you can briefly address how the scholarship money will help you achieve your educational goals. You should also end with a brief thank-you.

Take a look at the full essay example below. Hover over the underlined parts to read explanations of why they work.

Prompt: Describe how working for Chelsea’s Chicken restaurant has developed leadership skills that will help you succeed in college. Give specific examples of leadership characteristics that you have exhibited during your employment with us.

As a nervous 16-year-old, I walked into Chelsea’s Chicken for my first day of work determined to make enough money to put gas in my car and buy pizza on the weekends. My only previous job was mowing my neighbors’ lawns when they were on vacation, so I had no idea what to expect. I was a bit intimidated by my new responsibilities, especially handling money and helping disgruntled customers.

However, it didn’t take me long to learn my way around the cash register and successfully address customer complaints. One day, Roger, the store manager, asked me if I wanted to join Chelsea’s Chicken Leadership Training Initiative. He said he saw leadership potential in me because of my attitude with the customers and my enthusiasm for learning new job responsibilities. It surprised me because I had never thought of myself as a leader, but I quickly agreed, and Roger handed me a three-ring binder that was thicker than my math and science textbooks put together! He told me to take it home and read over it during the following week.

In that binder, I discovered that being a leader means taking the initiative, especially when the job is undesirable. One week later, I got to practice that idea when a little kid threw up in the bathroom and missed the toilet. It smelled terrible, but I stepped forward and told Roger that I would clean it up. My coworkers thought I was crazy, but I started to believe in my leadership potential.

That night as we closed the store, Roger pulled me aside in the parking lot and told me that he could tell that I had been studying the manual. He wanted to give me more responsibility, along with a dollar-per-hour pay raise. I was surprised because I had been working there for only a couple of months, but his encouragement helped me make a connection: good leadership helps other people, and it often is rewarded. I was determined to experience more of both.

Within a month, I was ready to take the Team Leader exam, which mattered because I would receive a promotion and a much bigger raise if I passed. But, when I got to work, two of the scheduled team members had called in sick. We were noticeably short-handed, and our customers weren’t happy about it.

I walked back to the lockers, put on my vest and hat, and took my place behind an open register. Customers immediately moved into my line to place their orders. Roger looked at me with surprise and asked, “Did you forget that you’re testing tonight?” I responded, “No, sir—but what’s the use of taking a leadership test if you aren’t going to lead in real life?” Roger smiled at me and nodded.

He stayed late that night after we closed so that I could leave early and still take the test. I noticed that Roger was always staying late, helping employees learn new skills. His example taught me that leaders take the initiative to develop other leaders. He gave me a clear picture of what shared leadership looks like, making room for others to grow and excel. When I asked him where he learned to do that, he said, “From the same leadership manual I gave you!”

Chelsea’s Chicken has offered me so much more than a paycheck. Because of Roger’s example, I have learned to take the initiative to care for my family and friends, such as being the first to do the dishes without my mom asking or volunteering to pick up my friend for our SAT prep course. Now, as I prepare to enter college, I have confidence in my leadership ability. I know I’m signing up for a challenging major—Biology, Pre-Med—yet I also know that Chelsea’s Chicken has helped me to develop the perseverance required to complete my studies successfully.

If you want to know more about academic writing , effective communication , or parts of speech , make sure to check out some of our other articles with explanations and examples.

Academic writing

• Writing process
• Transition words
• Passive voice
• Paraphrasing

 Communication

• How to end an email
• Ms, mrs, miss
• How to start an email
• I hope this email finds you well
• Hope you are doing well

 Parts of speech

• Personal pronouns
• Conjunctions

A scholarship essay requires you to demonstrate your values and qualities while answering the prompt’s specific question.

After researching the scholarship organization, identify a personal experience that embodies its values and exemplifies how you will be a successful student.

Invest time in applying for various scholarships , especially local ones with small dollar amounts, which are likely easier to win and more reflective of your background and interests. It will be easier for you to write an authentic and compelling essay if the scholarship topic is meaningful to you.

You can find scholarships through your school counselor, community network, or an internet search.

You can start applying for scholarships as early as your junior year. Continue applying throughout your senior year.

Yes, but make sure your essay directly addresses the prompt, respects the word count , and demonstrates the organization’s values.

If you plan ahead, you can save time by writing one scholarship essay for multiple prompts with similar questions. In a scholarship tracker spreadsheet, you can group or color-code overlapping essay prompts; then, write a single essay for multiple scholarships. Sometimes, you can even reuse or adapt your main college essay .

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How to Write an Essay on ‘Why I Deserve This Scholarship’

Scholarships & Financial Aid

Updated on October 27th, 2023

While there are a lot of potential topics a committee may want a student to cover in their scholarship essay, the “why I deserve this scholarship” prompt is one of the most common ones around.

Ultimately, it seems simple at its core, but the “why I deserve this scholarship” topic can feel like the most complex question on the planet if your child isn’t sure how to tackle it.

Ideally, your student needs to strike a balance in their tone, making sure they don’t come off arrogant while also not selling themselves short. Additionally, they need to cater their response to their target audience, the scholarship committee.

If your child isn’t sure how to begin, here are some tips for writing a winning “why I deserve this scholarship” essay.

• 1.1 Consider the Source of the “Why I Deserve This Scholarship” Question
• 1.2 Use Examples, Not Trait Descriptions
• 3 Look to the Future
• 4.1 Related Video: Scholarship Essay Sample About Why I Deserve The Scholarship

Why I Deserve This Scholarship: Having the Right Attitude

It isn’t uncommon for students to struggle with the “why I deserve this scholarship” prompt because of self-doubt. Not everyone is comfortable tooting their own horn, and some even have trouble viewing their accomplishments as noteworthy, their experiences as valuable, and their perspective as unique.

However, nearly every student has overcome an obstacle over the course of their life or had to persevere to reach a point of academic excellence and success. That means they do have something to share that can showcase why they deserve the scholarship.

Before your child begins writing their “why I deserve this scholarship” essay, they need to have the right mindset. It’s important for them to realize that they are worthy and to use that feeling to drive their writing.

If your student needs a little help, consider sitting down with them and reflecting on their biggest achievements. Remember, the accomplishments don’t have to be academic. Life experiences of all kinds can qualify, so don’t be afraid to mention events that happened outside of the classroom.

Consider the Source of the “Why I Deserve This Scholarship” Question

When your child writes a scholarship essay, the scholarship committee is their target audience. After all, these are the people who select the winner, so catering the content to them can help your student force a stronger, more meaningful connection with the committee members.

As your child gets ready to brainstorm ideas, they need to keep the organization behind the scholarship in mind. This allows them to choose the accomplishments that will genuinely speak to the reader.

For example, a scholarship from a charity that focuses on giving back to the local community may appreciate hearing about your student’s volunteer experiences. A for-profit company might connect with your child’s story about running a side business or how they worked part-time while maintaining a high GPA. Organizations that focus on academics could connect with your student’s work as a tutor or time spent participating in school clubs or community organizations that enhanced their learning experience.

By focusing on the scholarship provider, your child can select accomplishments that align with the organization’s values and goals. If they aren’t sure how to find this information, the organization’s “About Us” page on their website can provide powerful insights, especially in their mission and core values statements.

Ultimately, taking a little time to research the organization before your child writes their “why I deserve this scholarship” essay can pay off big if it gives them the ability to forge a more meaningful connection with their audience.

Use Examples, Not Trait Descriptions

Scholarship committees often get inundated with scholarship essays with statements like, “I’m a hard worker,” and other generalizations or platitudes. Sentences like that aren’t particularly powerful and aren’t almost guaranteed not to be convincing.

However, a well thought out example has the potential to sway hearts and minds. In the vast majority of cases, people enjoy stories, so your student should tell theirs in their “why I deserve this scholarship” essay. Encourage them to take people on a journey instead of using clichés. It will be significantly more impactful, and can dramatically improve their odds of being selected.

If you and your student are working on the scholarship application process, make sure you don’t miss our free scholarship training. It’s about 45 to 60 minutes long and I cover exactly where you can find more scholarships your student is actually eligible for and are legitimate. Grab your spot here:  6 Steps to Quickly Securing Scholarships for College

Look to the Future

Scholarship committees don’t just want to know where your student has come from; they also want to know where they are going. Along with discussing their accomplishments, your child should also include details about their career goals and how the scholarship can help them reach them.

To create an effective scholarship essay, your child will need to look beyond simply getting their degree. For example, do they have a future career in mind? Do they want to change the world in some way? Is there something they are hoping to achieve outside of academia?

Once your student has an idea of where they want to go, they need to explain how the can enable them to get there. For example, giving them the ability to attend a school with a rigorous and respected program in a relevant field that would otherwise be unaffordable could be a pertinent point.

Similarly, if the scholarship allows them to access additional experience that would help them excel, such as a chance to participate in a non-paid internship instead of working a part-time job, that could also be worth discussing.

The idea is to showcase that, by awarding your child this scholarship money, more people could benefit than just your student. In the end, a scholarship is an investment made by an organization, so they want to know that it is money well spent.

Related articles:

• How to Win Scholarships with the Right Scholarship Essay Format
• How to Get Started with Scholarships

How to Structure a Winning Essay

If your child wants to impress the scholarship committee, they need to make sure they use the proper structure when writing their essay, no matter what topic is being covered.

Generally, this involves starting with an introduction (also known as a thesis) that both catches the reader’s attention and summarizes what is going to be discussed. Then, they transition into the body of the essay, where each paragraph will cover a single point or a relevant example that addresses the topic. Finally, they again summarize the essay, reemphasize how their points support the topic, and discuss lessons learned to create a solid conclusion.

Related Video: Scholarship Essay Sample About Why I Deserve The Scholarship

If your student isn’t comfortable with creating the structure for their “why I deserve this scholarship” essay, have them check out this article: How to Write a Winning Essay . It covers the basics of everything from brainstorming to editing the final piece, providing them solid guidance to help them craft a great essay for any question they may encounter.

Ultimately, writing an amazing “why I deserve this scholarship” essay doesn’t have to be challenging. Your child just needs to consider their accomplishments, cater the achievements they cover to the audience, speak about the future and how the scholarship will help, and bundle it all together using the proper structure.

With a little self-reflection, your student can certainly come up with something that sets them apart and highlights why they are such an amazing investment. And, if they have trouble, offer to sit down with them and reminisce about everything they’ve been through and achieved.

Everyone has something that makes them a great scholarship recipient, so bolster your student’s confidence and let them showcase their awesomeness for all the world (or, at least the scholarship committee) to see.

Related Video:

• 7 College Scholarship Essay Ideas to Win More Funding

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How to Start a Scholarship Essay (With Examples)

Will Geiger is the co-founder of Scholarships360 and has a decade of experience in college admissions and financial aid. He is a former Senior Assistant Director of Admissions at Kenyon College where he personally reviewed 10,000 admissions applications and essays. Will also managed the Kenyon College merit scholarship program and served on the financial aid appeals committee. He has also worked as an Associate Director of College Counseling at a high school in New Haven, Connecticut. Will earned his master’s in education from the University of Pennsylvania and received his undergraduate degree in history from Wake Forest University.

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Bill Jack has over a decade of experience in college admissions and financial aid. Since 2008, he has worked at Colby College, Wesleyan University, University of Maine at Farmington, and Bates College.

Maria Geiger is Director of Content at Scholarships360. She is a former online educational technology instructor and adjunct writing instructor. In addition to education reform, Maria’s interests include viewpoint diversity, blended/flipped learning, digital communication, and integrating media/web tools into the curriculum to better facilitate student engagement. Maria earned both a B.A. and an M.A. in English Literature from Monmouth University, an M. Ed. in Education from Monmouth University, and a Virtual Online Teaching Certificate (VOLT) from the University of Pennsylvania.

As an admissions officer, I reviewed thousands of essays for students seeking admission and scholarships. The essay is one of the most important parts of the scholarship application process–a strong essay can go a long way. However, with so much competition, it is important for your scholarship essay to stand out. That’s why it’s important for you to start a scholarship essay off right!

There are some very simple things that you can do to ensure that your essay is engaging from the very first sentence. In fact, beginning your essay with an exciting opening is one of the most important things you can do, because it will immediately distinguish your essay from the others. 

Keep on reading to learn more about how you can nail the very first sentence and start your essay off right!

Engage the reader with the first sentence

No matter what type of essay you are writing, you will want to ensure that the very first line grabs the attention of the reader. One of the biggest mistakes that students make when starting their essay is simply restating the prompt. This is bland and boring. 

Now, you might be wondering, “how do I engage the reader with the very first line of my essay?”. The good news is that there are several ways that you can do this that are very simple to do. 

Related:  How to answer scholarship essay questions about your career goals

Begin with dialogue

First, you could begin your essay with conversation. This can be an interesting and unexpected way to start your scholarship essay. Maybe someone asked you an unexpected question? Perhaps you were having an interesting conversation with a friend or family member? Either way, dialogue can be a powerful tool to start your essay.

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Put the reader in your shoes.

Alternatively, you can choose to start your essay by placing the reader right in your shoes and show them something from your life. Appeal to the senses and show the reader what you see, hear, smell, or taste. These specific details will help your essay come to life and make it even more memorable. 

Also recommended: What’s the best scholarship essay format?

Scholarship essay introduction example

Next,  we’ll look at a specific example of how you can open up your essay. Let’s say you are applying for the Questbridge scholarship program . One of the essays that you will be asked is:

We are interested in learning more about you and the context in which you have grown up, formed your aspirations, and accomplished your academic successes. Please describe the factors and challenges that have most influenced you. How are they shaping your future aspirations?

You might be tempted to rephrase the question and start your essay with something like:

“I have grown up in a rural context and this has formed my aspirations and allowed me to accomplish academic success…”

This is generic and will not engage your reader at all. 

Instead, what if you started off your essay with something like this:

“I look outside my bedroom window and see Henry, my favorite chicken, pecking at something in the dirt.” 

Makes a big difference, right? As a reader, you are probably wondering: why does this person have chickens outside their bedroom window? Why did they name this particular chicken Henry?

See also: Here are our top writing & essay scholarships for students!

Keep the ending of your essay in mind as you write the opening

While crafting your opening, be open to ideas about how to close your essay. There is no need to stress about the ending now, but being mindful of effective ways to end an essay is always a good idea. Say you are opening your scholarship essay with Henry the chicken. Is there a way for Henry to make an impactful appearance at the end of the essay to close things out in a way that perfectly wraps everything up? The key is for the essay ending to be meaningful and memorable for the reader. 

Don’t miss: Our free scholarship search tool

If you can’t think of a “wow” scholarship essay beginning, keep writing!

Sometimes, we know what we want to say, point by point, but we are not ready to be creative when it comes to opening an essay. In that case, keep writing! There is always the option of going back and crafting an engaging opening after your essay is written. Simply write your main idea where the first paragraph would be to guide you as you write. After, go back when your creative juices are flowing, and craft the amazing opening (and closing) that your scholarship essay deserves!

Final thoughts

As shown, there are many questions that we as readers will have after reading an engaging essay opening such as the one just shared; We want to learn more about the student who is writing this essay. After all, as a writer trying to stand out in a pile of essays, that is our main goal. 

We hope that you have a better understanding of how to start a scholarship essay so you can maximize your chances of winning scholarships!

Additional resources

Scholarships360 is the go-to for all things college admissions and scholarships! Wondering how to write a 250 word essay and how to write a 500 word essay ? Curious how to write an essay about yourself ? Wow, do we have the resources to help! Additionally, check out our free scholarship search tool to help you finance your college education. Best of luck to you and your future endeavors! 

Key Takeaways

• The first sentence of the essay is what makes the reader want to continue reading 
• Engage the reader by appealing to the senses
• Create a sense of wonder in your essay, making the reader want to learn more about you
• Keep the ending of the essay in mind as you craft the beginning

Frequently asked questions about how to start a scholarship essay

What is an essay hook, how long should my scholarship essay be.

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“Why Do You Deserve This Scholarship” Essay (+Examples)

Securing a scholarship is a game-changer, not just for students, but for their families too.

While landing a full-ride scholarship might seem like hitting the jackpot, numerous scholarships offer amounts between $1000 to $5000. With the right strategy, these can significantly reduce college debt and associated expenses. But here’s the catch: crafting the perfect scholarship essay is often a requirement. Surprisingly, many students overlook the immense impact of a compelling essay, even though it’s a cornerstone of college admissions. This essay is a canvas to paint who you are, your values, and your aspirations. And often, the pivotal question to address is: “Why do you deserve this scholarship?” For those seeking an edge, there are resources like scholarship essays for sale to help craft the perfect piece. But in this guide, we break down how to ace that pivotal question and increase your scholarship odds. Plus, stick around for a sample essay to spark your inspiration.

Twelve keys to a successful scholarship essay (summary):

• The right length – around 500 words.
• Proper formatting , grammar, and  vocabulary.
• Give strong reasons why you deserve it.
• Share powerful, memorable stories.
• Use language that will create an emotional impact.
• Give proof of your accomplishments.
• Grab their attention at the very beginning of the essay.
• Show your positive attitude.
• Paint a bright future for yourself.
• Politely ask for the money.
• Follow the essay instructions closely
• Cater to the scholarship provider’s mission and vision

Why Do You Deserve This Scholarship Essay: How to Write it Properly?

1. write at least 500 words.

This will show that you care and want the scholarship. But, the essay won’t be too long to bore the review committee.

2. Respect the grammar, vocabulary, and formatting rules

5 paragraphs (1 for the introduction, 3 body paragraphs, and 1 for the conclusion). Make sure the essay is free of typos and grammatical errors. That’s the first step to writing a winning scholarship essay.

3. Give strong reasons for why you deserve the scholarship and what will you do with the money – be specific.

Powerful reasons drive human behavior. You can think about your essay as a persuasive letter that needs to evoke certain feelings and emotions. Brainstorm and come up with a few great reasons you deserve it. Adding the word “because” snowballs the chances of eliciting a positive response. A famous example from a persuasion study:

“I have 5 pages, Can I use the Xerox machine before you because I’m in a rush” got a 94% success rate vs. 60% when no “reason why” was given.

An example you could use in your scholarship essay:

“I deserve this scholarship because I graduated top of my class, even though I still had to help my little sister with her homework”. “I would be so grateful if I could receive this scholarship because my family is in a tough financial situation now, and my younger sister also dreams about going to college”.

4. Include a powerful, memorable story

There was one  essay that got a student into 14 colleges , including Harvard, Stanford, and Princeton. Although a scholarship essay is different, you can use principles from an admissions essay to achieve the desired results. The secret ingredient in this one was a powerful personal story about bullying and reconciliation with a homeland.

Here’s an excerpt:

This memory has woven itself into my philosophy and my dreams. The very personal knowledge that millions live in a way such that electric toothbrushes are an unfathomable luxury (my cousin, Aina), has given me the following personal rules:

• Education is an opportunity, not a burden;
• You always have enough to share.
• While I may not be certain of my future, I know for certain that I want to serve.

If you can, include a beautifully written, personal story like this in the essay, you will be so much closer to getting the scholarship you deserve.

5. Use words with an emotional impact

Pushing the right emotional buttons is key to persuasion and showing that you’re a gifted student. Share stories of your hardships. If you’re in a tough financial situation, say it. If someone in your family is chronically ill and you need financial and emotional resources to help them, say it. But mostly, focus on positive emotions. Talk about your childhood dreams, and about the great things you are going to do in the future. In a great book called “Contagious” , emotional triggers are one of the five main elements that help things spread and make us take action. Use them. Example: “Since I was a little boy, I always wanted to be a great scientist. I used to hang posters of astronauts and planets on my bedroom walls and dreamed about making grand discoveries. This dream is still alive somewhere deep inside. But now I’m not sure how to nurture it. I would like to concentrate on my studies, but because of my hard financial situation, I have to take odd jobs instead of following my dreams”.

6. Give proof of why you deserve it

If you want to convince the committee that you truly deserve to receive a scholarship, you need to back up your claims with solid proof. It’s not enough to share powerful stories, and give strong “reasons why”. You also need to make the case more believable by proving that what you say is true. You need to be specific in this area. Do you have excellent grades in high school? Your GPA is off the charts? Did you take part in interesting extracurricular activities? Do you have high achievements in sports and athletics? Did you win an award for your accomplishments? An important person gave you a word of praise? Did you score north of 1400 on your SAT or notched a score of at least 24 on the ACT? You can use these things to make your claim more believable. Make it appear that you deserve the money because of your true accomplishments and hard work. Example: “In my senior year of High School, I received the MVP award for my accomplishments in football. My coach said he sees me in the big leagues if I work hard enough for it.”

7. Hook – get attention from the very beginning

The scholarship committee has to go through dozens and dozens of essays and applications every day. Most of them are quite bland and follow the same tired script. To stand out, you need to come up with an attention-grabbing paragraph  that will stop them in their tracks and get them focused. This is called a “hook”. There are a couple of ways in which you can do it.

You can start with:

• An anecdote
• An interesting number or a statistic
• A powerful quote
• Asking a question

“More than 70 percent of workers say they don’t feel satisfied with their career choices, and I believe we have a serious epidemic on our hands.”

8. Demonstrate the right attitude

Being humble yet ambitious is the attitude you need to present if you want to get financial aid for your studies. Do not be demanding, arrogant, or appear like a beggar. This will disqualify you immediately. Rather, be nice, positive, optimistic, future-oriented, respectful, and promising. This kind of attitude goes a long way.

9. Paint a bright picture of your future

Try to stir the imagination of the recipients of your essay. How this money is going to help you move ahead? What great things are you going to accomplish in the future? What do you want to do when you graduate? What are your goals for the next 5 years? How are you going to help people and contribute to society? By answering some of these questions, you will prove to the committee that you are worth investing in. You can bolster your claims by providing evidence of activities you take part in and the character traits you possess. This will help the committee gain valuable insight into your psychology and increase your chances of getting the scholarship money. Have you participated in community service activities, volunteered for a worthy cause from an early age, and achieved exemplary grades during the school year? Being a trusted member of your community matters a lot and shows that you’re destined for great things. Example: “Deep inside, I know that I’m going to succeed, and help many other people on the way. This is just a matter of time.”

10. Call to action (close the essay with a bang)

At the very end of the essay, try to sum up why you deserve the scholarship and then politely but firmly ask for the money. You need to state your intention – “Ask and ye shall receive, right?”

“I have great expectations for the future and this scholarship would help me move forward with my dreams. I will be eagerly waiting for your positive response.”

Additional tips for editing and managing the scholarship essay:

According to the National Center for Education Statistics, there are over 750,000 scholarships available to students. That’s over $122 billion distributed every year. In fact, around two-thirds of students receive financial aid during their time in college. So – someone is getting the money. And that’s why you need to apply and send the essays to as many scholarship and grant-giving organizations as possible. Treat it as a part-time job. Now, among these 750,000 organizations (whether federal, university-based, or private), the majority will ask in one way or another: “Why should you receive this scholarship”? Of course, you will not send a unique essay along with every single application. You need to learn how to recycle it and adapt it to the specific situation. For example, if you apply for a university scholarship, the focus should be on scholastic achievements and a future in science and technology. If it’s a military organization, talk more about self-discipline, organization, and willpower. Religious groups? Adjust the essay so it relates to faith-based communities. Businesses? Talk about the entrepreneurship of the student, and their ability to  get things done. You get the point. When writing the essay, put yourself in the other person’s shoes and think – “If I were this person, which reasons would convince me that this student deserves a scholarship?” Turn yourself and your child into scholarship copywriters and adapt the approach as you go. There’s nothing that will get the application rejected faster than receiving a “cookie-cutter” type of essay that goes to hundreds of organizations without any changes.

An example of a “Why do you deserve this scholarship” essay

• Note: See how the essay includes the rules and elements I described at the beginning of this article.
• Also: If you need more inspiration, here are  fourteen examples of scholarship essays  that won thousands of dollars.

Two-thirds of students who earned a four-year degree borrowed for college. The average student loan is $28,500. These numbers seem mild in comparison to what I and my family are facing. My older brother and sister are already in college because my mom always wanted us to be  well-educated and make a positive impact on society. But this has caused us to borrow, and now we’re over $60,000 in debt. Our father is never here to help us as he left us when we were still small children. But this hasn’t stopped me from dreaming and painting a brighter vision for my future. I know that to get out of this situation, I will have to work harder than anyone else around me. Even though I’m young, I have already worked part-time in a local cafeteria and earned a little bit of money  on the side as a blogger to help my family. My true vocation is architecture. Ever since I was a child, I used to flip through the pages of “The Most Beautiful Buildings in The World” book in the nearby library and think that one day, I too would be able to construct magnificent structures full of light and color. I’m drawing as much as I can, and I have already filled 12 notebooks with my projects. I also received straight “A’s” in mathematics and physics since the very beginning of my school time. I even got first place in my high school art competition and my teachers say I’m going to accomplish great things in the future. I am dedicated to succeeding no matter what, but nowadays it’s becoming harder and harder because I have to save every penny and worry about money almost all the time. I fear that instead of pursuing my dream, I will have to settle for a low-paying job simply to survive and help my mom. But I don’t want to postpone my studies and wait until my siblings pay off their debt. I don’t want to put everything on hold. If I received a bit of financial help, it would be so much easier for me to go through college and become somebody. I deserve this scholarship because of my hard work, dedication, fantastic grades, and my entrepreneurial spirit. I promise I will make this money go a long way and continue with my efforts to make the world  a better place. I’m eagerly waiting for your response.

As you can see, writing a “Why do you deserve this scholarship” essay is easier than it seems. Once you have the final draft, you can use it as a template (with modifications), when applying for many scholarships. The important thing in scholarship essays is to push the right emotional buttons, share the exact reasons you deserve the money, and never give up until you get the scholarship. Don’t trust the companies that say they will find the scholarships for you and write  the best essay that will guarantee success. No one cares about your situation more than you, and it’s who needs to show up as a hard worker with strong leadership skills to make it happen.

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How To Write A Scholarship Essay With Examples In 2023

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This is your time to shine!

When you apply for a scholarship, you have to submit an essay for it! Many students face one issue when they come across this step, and that is how to write a scholarship essay! Don't worry; this is an issue we will help you solve by teaching you everything you need to know about how to write a scholarship essay, from how to start a scholarship essay to how to end one! So, let's dive right into it! 

What is a Scholarship Essay?

Before we tell you about how to write a scholarship essay, you need to understand what it is! In a scholarship essay, you explain and persuade the committee members as to why you deserve financial aid. This essay is submitted with the scholarship application, and it is your one opportunity to demonstrate that you are the best candidate for the scholarship.

How to write a Scholarship Essay?

Let's discuss how to write a scholarship essay! Here are a few things to keep in mind on how to write a scholarship essay. One simple tip on how to write a scholarship essay is just to make sure that your essay provides insight into your vision and experience, which ultimately defines you and your passion for your study subject. Here are a few points to note when you write an essay on a scholarship.

1. Have an engaging start

Have questions about how to start an essay? Try including a quote or phrase related to your planned course that you may later introduce in the essay. Giving an idea about your interest in the subject will persuade the committee. Showing a broader understanding of your subject can assist in persuading the judges to provide you with the financial aid you need. 

2. Know your target audience.

When you start to write your essay for a scholarship, you need to know your target audience, in this case, the scholarship committee; you need to understand their requirements and expectations. Find out their ideal prospect and make sure you fit into that vision. Make a list of key points you want to include in your essay. You don't have to give up your vision; modify your essay to fit their parameters.

3. Read the scholarship essay prompts thoroughly.

When you think about how to start a scholarship essay, the biggest tip is to read the essay prompts thoroughly. You must comply with the appropriate essay prompt structure and word count. Also, double-check that you are simply replying to all prompt sections.

4. Research about the scholarship provider

Read about the corporation or organisation in charge of the scholarship programme. You will find their mission and requirements on their website; this is one of the best tips on how to write a scholarship essay. This can help you customise your essay according to their needs. Many scholarship sponsors also showcase former scholarship winners on their websites, often with the winning essay. Examine what the scholarship provider says about prior winners to determine which of your qualities to emphasise in your essay.

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5. Authenticity is your power

One of the best tips on how to write a scholarship essay is that your life and experiences are essential and significant! You are not required to fabricate or invent details to appear more deserving of the scholarship money. Your authenticity is your power; use it for your gain. It is recommended to show and not tell, as it is evident for the readers to spot such things. Instead of just explaining everything, try constructing a vivid image for the reader. Don't just claim you're stressed out because you're juggling employment and high school; make a mental image and provide clear, credible instances. 

Gain a competitive edge by delving into the intricacies of scholarship opportunities in sought-after destinations such as Australia, Ireland, and the US. Your journey to academic excellence begins with the wisdom shared in our insightful blogs on student scholarships in Australia , scholarships in Ireland and if you want to apply in US then there is a blog on top scholarships in the USA for international students.

6. Seek out writing advice

To make your essay stand out, it's important to seek out writing advice and guidance from reliable sources when you are lost on how to write a scholarship essay. Your academic advisor can provide valuable insights into the writing process, such as how to write a scholarship essay, how to start a scholarship essay, and how to make your argument compelling. There are plenty of online resources that can help you improve your writing skills, such as grammar and style guides, online writing courses, and writing communities where you can get feedback on your work.

7. Look out for grammatical errors.

Make sure you proofread your essay and look for grammatical errors. You can scan your essay through various grammar-checking websites before submitting your essay.

Scholarship Essay Format

One of the key aspects of how to write a scholarship essay is to write a compelling argument to stand out from the competition and convince the selection committee that you are the best candidate for the award. However, it is equally important to pay attention to the essay format. We will discuss the important things to remember and include in a scholarship essay format.

1. Fonts to Use for Scholarship Essay

One tip on how to write a scholarship essay is to stick to a consistent professional style. This includes 1-inch page margins, a 12-point font size double-spaced, and a "standard" script like Times New Roman in classic black. Don't experiment with fonts or colours here. You want the content of your essay to stand out, not your unconventional formatting.

2. Scholarship Essay Title

The essay submission format determines this. You can copy and paste the body of your essay without a title if there is a text box entry. If you attach an essay as a Word or PDF document, you can include a title, although this is usually unnecessary unless there are specific scholarship essay format rules. Also, there is no need to add the essay question or prompt at the top of your essay.

3. Scholarship Essay Structure

The structure of the essay is a very crucial element. The structure of the essay helps you make a blueprint and guides you in deciding which points have to be included under which section. This is a format that is generally used when you think about how to write a scholarship essay. 

Introduction

When you think about how to start a scholarship essay, it needs to draw the attention of the reader with a catchy beginning line relating to the question. Introduce your significant points, which you will discuss later in your essay. Include a strong point that proves your determination and drive to attend college.

Extend your critical points in the essay for a scholarship here. Support your claims with proof, examples, and facts. This is the section where you can tell the committee how you got to where you are now, what inspired your hobbies, interests, or desire to attend college, and how the essay for a scholarship will help you reach your academic and personal goals. Remember to utilise specifics instead of broad remarks.

Describe how earning this award might help you achieve your goals and have a broader community impact, if any. Explain how critical this scholarship is to you, not only financially but also in terms of helping you reach your goals, and this is how to end a scholarship essay. You can know more through our blog on how to write personal statements . 

We have compiled some of the best scholarship essay examples which you can go through before starting your essay.

Next Edition of amberscholar is coming soon!

Scholarship essay examples.

However, many overlook that receiving many minor scholarship applications can be life-changing. The essays below can help you move from planning and living your college and achieving professional goals.

1. This essay example is from the New York University College of Arts and Science essay.

"Although I agree that I will never be able to support myself only via ice skating, the education and talents I have obtained have opened endless avenues. Ice skating has given me the work ethic, resilience and inspiration to grow as a teacher and English speaker. It has helped my academic performance by instilling in me the importance of rhythm, health, and routine. "

2. This essay example is an excerpt from the North Coast Section Foundation Scholarship-winning essay.

"My parents pushed me to respect school when I was five years old because they were born in Vietnam and had limited access to education. Because of this disadvantage, I learnt to take everything seriously and to give everything I had to fulfil projects like founding my school's Badminton Club in my fresher year and the Red Cross Club this year. The more I got involved, the more I grew as a leader and as a person. As a leader, I acted the same way I did with my younger cousins and siblings."

Top 5 Scholarships and Scholarship Essays

The essay for a scholarship is written in order to give a small demonstration to the scholarship committee as to why you deserve the scholarship and what makes you the best among other students. You can highlight some of the challenges and how you coped up and overcame them, which shows your problem-solving ability. Here are the top 5 scholarships:

1. Kang Foundation and Legal Scholarship

2. New York University Scholarship

3. North Coast Section Foundation Scholarship

4. Fund for Education Abroad Scholarship 1

5. Questbridge Scholarship

Scholarship Essay Prompts

Are you struggling to come up with ideas on how to write a scholarship essay? There are plenty of standard essay prompts and topics out there to guide you. These prompts will help you get started on your essay for a scholarship and give it a definite structure. Let's explore some useful prompts that you can use to write an outstanding essay.

1. My family members.

2. My part-time job efforts in high school.

3. The doors I have opened.

4. My dreams and inspiration.

5. Learning for the best - how (person) changed my life.

6. The person who is influenced by views.

7. Goals I will achieve in 10 years.

8. What differentiates you from the hundreds of students who apply for our scholarships?

9. How has the death of a parent or guardian impacted your life financially and emotionally?

Scholarship Essay Tips

It is crucial to make your essay for a scholarship stand out from the hundreds of other applicants while working on it. A well-written and formatted essay can not only grab the attention of the scholarship committee but also make a strong impression, increasing the likelihood of obtaining the scholarship. Here are some tips to follow to make your essay engaging and memorable

• Choose a topic you are passionate about.
• Follow a narrative structure.
• Re-read the essay prompt and identify the key themes. 
• Outline your essay before writing.
• Make sure your outline does justice to your essay prompt.
• Add your real-life experiences and highlight your problem-solving abilities.
• Talk about your accomplishments without bragging too much.
• Make sure your essay has a flow.
• Have someone with strong writing skills proofread your essay.
• Be concise and specific, and avoid generalising.
• Empower your sentences with punctuation.
• Do a little research about the university and the scholarship they are providing before starting your essay. 
• Be professional, but write the essay in your voice. 
• Avoid including inspirational quotes in your essay.

Do's and Don'ts of Writing a Scholarship Essay

When you think about how to write a scholarship essay, it may seem like a daunting task, but keeping the necessary guidelines in mind will make the process smoother. Here are some do's and don'ts that you should follow when you write an essay for a scholarship.

• Before writing your essay for a scholarship, read and understand the prompt carefully. You need to know the requirements and what the college is looking for, so tailor your essay accordingly.
• Your essay for a scholarship should showcase your achievements and why you deserve the scholarship out of all the other applicants. Mention your achievements, skills and experiences that prove your suitability for the scholarship.
• Be authentic and personal in your writing; your essay for a scholarship should be a reflection of who you are as a person. Your goal should be to create a lasting impression on the scholarship committee after reading your essay.
• Do edit and proofread your essay with care before submitting it. Check for grammar mistakes, coherence and flow of content. Your essay should be polished and professional.

Don'ts

• Never plagiarise in your essay, as this will definitely get your application rejected. Use your authentic words and ideas, and cite any sources properly if you need to use them in your essay.
• Avoid drama and emotions in the content of your essay. Even though you wish to add a personal touch to the essay with your qualities and experiences, you don't want to come across as insincere or overly emotional. 
• Submit your essay before the deadline, as missing it could potentially disqualify you from consideration.
• Your essay should be relevant to the scholarship you are applying for. Do not write an essay that is unrelated and does not answer the prompt. This may lead to disqualification, too.

We hope this guide helped you find new ways to write your scholarship essay. The amber scholarship is a scholarship provided by amber; we hope you try your luck with it! This is your chance to show the scholarship committee what you have to deserve the scholarship. Also, read about our blog on what should be written in personal statement . You can also check our detailed blog on how to write thesis statement

Frequently Asked Questions

How to start an essay for a scholarship for masters, why is an essay for a scholarship for masters an important part of the application process, are essays for a scholarship and college essays the same, can you write an essay for a scholarship in a 2nd and 3rd person perspective, what are some important aspects to keep in mind when writing an essay for a scholarship for a masters.

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• Scholarships

How To Write A Scholarship Essay Why You Deserve

• 6 minute read

• November 30, 2023
• No comments

How To Write A Scholarship Essay Why You Deserve? When you apply for a scholarship, you will be presented with a ton of different essay prompts. Two of the most common questions are “Why do I deserve this scholarship? ” or its variant “Why should I apply for this scholarship?” These questions may seem scary but don’t overthink them.

In the pursuit of higher education, scholarships stand as invaluable tools that not only alleviate financial burdens but also open doors to opportunities that might otherwise remain out of reach. As you embark on the journey to secure a scholarship, one critical element takes centre stage—the scholarship essay. This piece serves as a personal canvas where you have the chance to paint a vivid picture of your aspirations, achievements, and the reasons why you are deserving of financial support for your academic endeavours.

In this guide, we will unravel the art of crafting a compelling scholarship essay, providing insights and strategies to help you effectively communicate why you deserve the scholarship you are vying for. Let’s delve into the key components that will transform your words into a powerful narrative, showcasing your unique qualities, experiences, and aspirations that make you a standout candidate.

These are simple questions that are easy to answer. Here’s how:

•  What do scholarship committees look for?
• Thinking Tips “Why I Deserve It” Scholarship Essay Examples Variations: “Why Apply for This Scholarship
• Why do I need this scholarship?
• Are you ready to start answering?
• How to start an essay prompt like this?

What do scholarship committees want?

Scholarship providers want to award awards to the most deserving students. So if you include these prompts, you’re asking questions like: Why should it be you? What they specifically want to know is:

• What makes you unique?
• What are your special interests and motivations?
• How do your strengths and goals relate to this particular scholarship?

For example, are the reasons you deserve an athletic scholarship different from the reasons you deserve a financial scholarship? Scholarship donors want to know that their award is making a difference. Show them how this money will help you achieve your goals.

Tips to Consider

One of the first things to consider is expressing who you are in your writing. Show the scholarship recipient why you are worthy of this scholarship by portraying who you are and what drives you. But don’t forget about the scholarship connection.

• If you are applying for a journalism fellowship, please explain how you became interested in journalism and what type of journalism you would like to pursue.
• If you are applying for a community service grant, please explain what type of community service you do and why you are passionate about it.

Sharing What You Plan To Do With Your Scholarship.

Past success isn’t the only reason you deserve it. It also concerns your plans and goals. Scholarship providers want to fund students who will go on to achieve great things or give something back to their communities. For example, in scholarship holder Michelle Marie Charles’ essay, she explains how the prize money will be used wisely: My wish is to be undocumented It’s about helping people find jobs abroad and fighting for them abroad. The country will remain. […] Once I become a lawyer, I plan to explore new ways to expand support for immigrants. I create programs specifically aimed at undocumented immigrants so they can find their voice and learn about the law. […] I know we have a long way to go and how difficult the process of transitioning from undocumented status to citizenship is, but I want to be there to let them know they still have options.

Why Am I Eligible for a Scholarship Essay Example

In general, three ways Going Mary students successfully approached this essay.

Treat it like a paragraph resume:

Because you are asked to boast about your strengths, some essay responses simply describe the applicant’s various accomplishments (in chronological order, or academics, sports, research, student clubs, etc.) (grouped by interest/category).

This is an especially good strategy if your scholarship application doesn’t require a resume or list of extracurricular activities. In this case, this essay is an opportunity to discuss them. A sample version of this would look like this: I am working on a program that develops the way I see the world. I was in a choir and a music club. I have also been an active member of the Red Crescent Society for three years, learning another language and learning different customs has expanded my contact with other cultures. I served as captain of my university’s golf and softball teams for two years, honing my leadership skills. My involvement in both the school and the community proves that I am a student who is committed to building a promising future.

Treat it Like a Personal Statement.

Maybe you deserve the scholarship because of the type of person you are: someone who has overcome adversity thinks deeply, is passionate about a specific subject, or wants to contribute to their community. In that case, you might simply be able to reuse your statement , tweaking it slightly to be able to explain how your characteristics or narrative make you a deserving scholarship recipient.

One example of this is  Going Merry winner Jesús Adrian Arroyo-Ramirez’s essay , which discusses how he overcame the obstacle of his immigration status. He writes:

I was illegally brought to this country when I was just six years old. At the time I had no clue that I was breaking any laws, and I did not realize the fact that my life was going to change forever. Growing up in a different citizenship situation than my peers was and still is the biggest challenge I have to face in my life.

Looking back there is not a single thing that I would change. Knowing that I had to work harder than everyone else led me to be the person that I am today. I took that fire inside of me, pushed myself, graduated first in my class with a cumulative 4.0 GPA, became a Kansas Scholar, and graduated High School with a semester’s worth of college credit. In November of 2016, everything began to look up for me. I received a work permit and a social security card all thanks to the DACA program. I was finally able to get my license, get a job, and most importantly attend college.

I plan to continue my success in the classroom and do everything to the best of my ability as I know that under my current circumstances, it can all be ripped away from me at any moment. Growing up with my situation has taught me to not take advantage of a single opportunity.

3 . Treat it like a career

You’re likely using your scholarship money to attend college or grad school so that you can pursue certain academic or career interests. You can discuss those, and then explain how scholarship funding would allow you to continue down that intended path, just like  this short essay did :

“The scholarship award will only push me further towards my Accounting degree and my dreams of one day having a successful career as an Accountant. […] Five years from now I see myself employed at a large local firm, crunching numbers, evaluating, and solving certain financial matters. I just feel blessed that I am allowed to be awarded a scholarship to help fulfill my dream and I will prove that I do have what it takes to not only be a successful student, but an outstanding accountant.”

Here’s a guide on  writing a career goals essay , and another guide for writing an  essay on your academic goals .

I believe that receiving a scholarship would not only alleviate this financial stress but also provide me with the validation and recognition that I have worked hard to achieve. Knowing that someone else recognizes and values my efforts would give me the motivation and encouragement to continue pushing myself toward success.

Frequently Asked Questions

• A: Highlight your achievements, goals, and unique qualities. Showcase how the scholarship aligns with your aspirations and contributes to your academic journey.
• A: Yes, typically, include an introduction, a body with supporting evidence, and a strong conclusion. Follow any specific guidelines provided by the scholarship provider.
• A: Tell a compelling story, be authentic, and emphasize personal experiences that demonstrate your character, resilience, and commitment to your academic and career goals.

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Why I Deserve This Scholarship Essay | Outlines and Examples

Are you applying to a scholarship program at your dream university? Here are some scholarship essay outlines and examples to help you stand out from the rest!

Crafting a compelling essay for your scholarship application is more than just a task; it's an opportunity to showcase your dedication, aspirations, and unique perspective. The weight of this essay cannot be understated – from its formatting to its grammar and content, every detail could sway the decision between acceptance and rejection. It's crucial to express both your academic achievements and your future career plans with clarity and confidence. For many, distilling their aspirations and achievements into a concise and persuasive essay can be daunting. If you ever feel lost or overwhelmed, consider turning to resources that can assist, such as online writing tools known to help streamline the process. They can be invaluable in guiding you, organizing your thoughts, and ensuring that your essay stands out in a sea of applications.

General tips on how to write a proper scholarship essay:

A scholarship essay should be clear and concise, it should also be unique to your own experiences to emphasize your unique qualities as a candidate for the scholarship. Here are some of our tips:

Emphasize your individual skills and promote your personal strengths by highlighting your achievements and projects. This will show the scholarship committee that you are worth investing in.

Be yourself and talk about your long-term goals and how you believe you can achieve them. You can also talk about your hobbies, goals, and interests outside of school, as this will further highlight your personality and give them an idea of who you are as a person.

Talk about the life experiences that have influenced you and why you want to study at this particular university/field of study. Make sure to relate your experiences to the scholarship you are applying for and how they will help you achieve your dreams.

Avoid using general statements like “I want to achieve my academic goals” or “I am passionate about this field.” General statements like this are overused and will not stand out to the scholarship committee. Make sure to state your specific goals and ambitions and use the essay to demonstrate why you should be awarded the scholarship.

Explain your personal characteristics that make you a deserving candidate for the scholarship. What makes you different from your other fellow students? What unique skills and talents do you have?

Write a short and concise overall summary of what you want to say in your essay of around 4-5 paragraphs. Make sure not to write too much content as this will only confuse the scholarship committee and make sure to write in a professional tone.

Make sure to give sufficient supporting details about your experiences by providing examples to support your ideas. Talk about your life past experiences like accomplishments, grades, and extracurricular activities that have helped shape who you are today.

Proofread and make proper adjustments. Make sure that you are taking breaks when creating your essay scholarship draft throughout the writing process to avoid burnout and ensure a high-quality final product. You can also ask a friend or a teacher to read your essay and scan through errors that you might have overlooked during the writing process.

Make sure to submit the scholarship essay before the deadline! After properly proofreading, make sure that the essay is submitted in a punctual manner to prevent disqualification due to late submissions.

Scholarship Essay Examples

Now that you are fully equipped with the guidelines and the tips mentioned above, we can now show you a couple of examples of how to write a scholarship essay for your dream university or field of interest.

Scholarship Essay Example #1

"Dear Scholarship Committee,

Two years ago, I learned that over 100,000 ocean animals die every year from plastic. Two years ago, I became committed to reducing the amount of plastic I use. Two years ago I became a minimalist.

I am the kind of person that once exposed to a fact, I am unable to turn a blind eye to it. When I understood the crux of consumerism and the impact that it was having on our earth, I knew that I had to do something about it.

I started small. I bought a stainless steel water bottle and started using reusable grocery bags. I stopped purchasing food items wrapped in plastic. I started making my own soap and deodorant. I started shopping in second-hand stores.

But, I knew that my initiatives weren’t enough. Sure, they were something. But I knew that I had to involve more people in my undertaking. So, naturally, I took to social media.

I began to share my zero-waste project with family and friends. I started to see a lot of support coming in. People were interested. How was I making my dish soap, they wanted to know. Where were the best second-hand shops? There was a response.

So, I started a Facebook page called “Clean Your Act” and began to share environmental problems that were happening around the world. I also shared my tips on reducing your waste.

I decided to start an environmental awareness group at my high school, during my junior year. I recruited an environmental science teacher to help me. Every week, I share with participants how-tos like starting a compost. We also have discussions on environmental issues plaguing our planet.

Next year, I will be starting my bachelor’s degree at the environmental science school of the University of Virginia. With the rising costs of college, it will be difficult for me to pay for the expenses on my own.

For this reason, I am applying to the Environmental Studies Scholarship Program. I have dreams of pursuing this field and by obtaining a degree in it, I know that I will get the necessary tools to grow my passion into something big.

I am going to work very hard in the program and learn all that I can. I am hoping to bring my “Clean Your Act” group to campus and get other students involved in the movement.

I am committed to saving our environment, one animal and tree at a time. I may not be able to save all 100,000 animals, but I can definitely save some of them. I don’t need to move mountains to save the world. But, if I can make others appreciate the mountains and our world, then they’ll want to learn how to treat it better."

This scholarship application works well because the writer is talking about relevant things related to the field he/she is applying for. The writer also talks about themselves and the learnings they have obtained through their experience thus far and how they plan on using their skills and their future education to help the world.

Another great thing about this scholarship essay is that the writer talks about their achievements and projects, which would make them stand out to the scholarship committee.

Scholarship Essay Example #2

"To Whom It May Concern:

My name is [Name] and I am a third-year student at Oklahoma State University. I am currently pursuing a five-year Bachelor of Architecture Degree. My plan is to follow up with a one-year master’s degree after I graduate.

In high school, I worked extensively with my local Habitat for Humanity branch to help build homes for low-income families. I learned about the construction process from the ground up, and I discovered the importance of function in architectural design. The homes we built during my four years as a volunteer were never extravagant. They served their purpose and became a beacon of hope for their owners.

My education has been focused on this mindset: function over form, stability over showmanship. I have enrolled in several classes that crossover to the Architectural Engineering major. My goal is to have a comprehensive view of how design meets structure. I have worked on three extra-credit residential design projects under the supervision of my architecture professors (Dr X and Dr Y). This helped speed up my research and education.

My goal is to become an architect to create accessible, affordable housing opportunities in underprivileged communities. Living in a college town, I have seen countless rental properties available. Yet there are few homes for sale that are affordable enough for college students and first-time buyers. This is the case in many towns throughout America, especially areas with a low standard of living. I want to create neighbourhoods that include affordable starter homes. This would enable low and middle-class families to build equity, avoid excessive debt, and create financial stability for their futures.

This summer, I will intern with LMNOP Architects. Upon completion of my master’s degree, I hope to continue there as I further develop my skills. After working under acclaimed residential architects Suzan Craft and Peter Wood, I would like to open my own architectural firm focused on developing inexpensive, high-quality housing. I also would like to work with Habitat for Humanity again, this time as an architect instead of a general labourer. I believe firmly in their mission to build “a world where everyone has a decent place to live.” I appreciate your consideration. With your help, I can continue my schooling in architecture and design to bring accessible homes to those in need.

[Name]"

This is another scholarship essay that clearly and concisely states the purposes of the program sought by the applicant. Additionally, they state details about the goals they want to attain in the near future if they get accepted by their desired school of choice. Again, clear aims are established as to why they desire to continue their education and how they plan to use the knowledge they gain through this new program.

Scholarship Essay Example #3

"Winston Churchill once said, “Success consists of going from failure to failure without loss of enthusiasm.” And while I never define my obstacles as ‘failures,’ I mark my success by my repeated perseverance through adversity. I have faced several challenges over the years, from dyslexia to homelessness; yet I continued to earn exemplary grades and graduate at the top of my class. I deserve this scholarship because I have the strength and determination to achieve my goals, no matter what hurdles I have to overcome.

I was not born a gifted student. Testing and assignments were always difficult for me, whether I studied or not. In second grade, my parents had me tested for learning disabilities. The psychologist said that I had a hyperactivity disorder and prescribed medication to suppress my energy. After two years of abiding by that treatment, I was re-evaluated and diagnosed with dyslexia. This helped me get the treatment I needed, and I finally made progress in school.

Shortly after I learned how to study with dyslexia, my father lost his job. He was the sole breadwinner for the household, and I was soon on the street with my mother and two younger siblings. I got a job in newspaper delivery, one of the few fields that will hire a 12-year-old. My father found odd jobs to bring money to the family, and together we were eventually able to pay for a two-bedroom apartment to live in. I was valedictorian that school year, and I maintained a perfect attendance record. Like my father, I knew I had to do whatever was necessary to succeed and thrive.

In high school, I developed an interest in psychology. I noticed patterns in behaviours, both in myself and in the people around me. I asked my child therapist, the one who officially diagnosed me with dyslexia if I could work at his clinic over the summers. He allowed me to intern at his counselling centre during my junior and senior years, and I gained valuable insight into the business side of psychology.

I am now entering the second year of my psychology degree. I plan to complete my bachelor’s degree and earn a Doctorate in Neuropsychology in the years that follow. My focus is on psychological testing, specifically for children with autism or learning disabilities. I spent years struggling in school because of a preventable misdiagnosis. I want to ensure that other children do not face the same struggles in the future.

Why do I deserve this scholarship? Because I have the passion and determination to become a trusted member of the psychological community. With my education, I can help children get the treatment they need at an early age, giving them the best chance at finding their own success. You’re not just helping me get through college. You’re improving the quality of life for countless families to come. I appreciate your consideration, and I look forward to building a lasting relationship with your organization."

This is yet another fantastic essay because the writer used a quote, a personal story, and the experiences that made them want to become a psychologist to help others overcome their struggles and live a better life. The quote they used was powerful and shows why the writer deserves the scholarship because they are determined to make their dreams come true despite the obstacles they face and want to do what others cannot in order to help others have a bright future. 

To sum it all up:

Writing a scholarship essay letter on why you deserve the scholarship is quite daunting and you really have to stand out from the rest in order to get accepted. So you need to really think about what makes you special and stand out from everyone else and give a clear reason as to why you should be getting the scholarship that you are asking for.

Jenni.ai is an AI writing assistant that can help you create a flawless scholarship college essay prompt that will greatly increase your chances of getting accepted to your dream university. So what are you waiting for? Get the help you need by signing up here today !

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Scholarship Essay Writing

Scholarship Essay Examples

12 Winning Scholarship Essay Examples for Aspiring Students

18 min read

People also read

Scholarship Essay – A Complete Guide With Examples

Scholarship Essay Format - Samples & Writing Tips

Practical Scholarship Essay Prompts For Students in 2023

Scholarships can be the key to your dreams of higher education, but the process often begins with one crucial step - the scholarship essay. 

A scholarship essay is not just another requirement. It is your chance to stand out from the competition and convince the selection committee that you are the perfect candidate deserving of their support.

However, crafting a winning scholarship essay is not an easy task. You are in competition with hundreds of applicants, and you need to get a lot of things right to stand out.

But don’t worry; reading some winning samples can help you understand how to write better scholarship essays. 

This blog presents 12 remarkable scholarship essay examples to inspire your success. These real-life essays, written by scholarship recipients, offer invaluable insights and strategies to help you secure funding for your education. 

So read on!

• 1. Financial Need Scholarship Essay Example for College
• 2. Leadership Scholarship Essay Examples
• 3. Scholarship Essay Example for Engineering
• 4. Nursing Scholarship Essay Example 
• 5. Scholarship Essay About Yourself
• 6. Winning Scholarship Essay Examples
• 7. Tips to Write a Winning Scholarship Essay 

Financial Need Scholarship Essay Example for College

Students often apply for financial assistance scholarships for their college education. Such scholarships require you to provide compelling reasons as to why you deserve financial aid. 

Here is an example that successfully caters to this question:

Why This Scholarship Essay Succeeded

This scholarship essay effectively conveys the applicant's financial need while also highlighting their determination and commitment to education. Here are some key elements that contributed to its success:

• Personal Story: The essay starts with a personal story about growing up in a single-parent household, providing context for the financial need. This makes the essay relatable and emotionally engaging.
• Specific Financial Challenges: The essay details the specific financial challenges the applicant faces, such as tuition, textbooks, and living expenses. Specificity adds credibility to the financial need.
• Explains the Significance of the Scholarship for Education: The essay explains how receiving the scholarship would positively impact the applicant's education, allowing them to focus more on studies and extracurricular activities.

Leadership Scholarship Essay Examples

When applying to programs for training young leaders, they often require you to write an essay. Here is a leadership scholarship essay sample:

Why This Scholarship Essay Worked

This leadership scholarship essay effectively showcases the applicant's leadership journey, growth, and suitability for the scholarship. Here are some key elements that contributed to its success:

• Personal Growth: The essay highlights the applicant's personal growth and development through their leadership experiences, demonstrating a clear understanding of what leadership entails.
• Specific Examples: The applicant provides specific examples of challenges faced and initiatives undertaken as a leader, adding credibility to their claims.
• Lessons Learned: The essay discusses the lessons learned, emphasizing qualities such as communication, teamwork, and empathy, which are essential for effective leadership.
• Alignment with Scholarship: The essay explains how the scholarship will support the applicant's continued leadership growth and commitment to making a positive impact.

Scholarship Essay Example for Engineering

Engineering schools have a strong vetting process to ensure that they only let in serious students. Writing a scholarship essay is their way of judging a student’s interests and capabilities. 

Check out this catchy sample:

Why this Engineering Scholarship Essay Worked

Here are some key elements that contributed to the essay’s success:

• Passion and Dedication: The essay clearly communicates the applicant's deep passion for engineering, emphasizing their lifelong commitment to the field.
• Specific Examples: The applicant provides specific examples of their experiences in engineering, such as the cooling system project and the sustainable housing initiative, demonstrating their practical application of engineering skills.
• Financial Need: The essay briefly touches upon the financial challenges faced by the applicant, which adds context to their need for financial support.
• Impact and Contribution: The essay discusses how receiving the scholarship will enable the applicant to focus more on their studies and research projects, emphasizing their desire to contribute meaningfully to the field of engineering.

Nursing Scholarship Essay Example 

Nursing institutions require hard-working and committed pupils. That’s why the scholarship essay is an essential part of their application process.

So, what does a good nursing scholarship essay look like? Here’s an example:

Why This Nursing Scholarship Essay Succeeded

This nursing scholarship essay effectively conveys the applicant's passion for nursing and their commitment to patient-centered care. Here are some key elements that contributed to its success:

• Passion for Nursing: The essay clearly communicates the applicant's passion for nursing, emphasizing personal experiences that ignited this passion.
• Continuous Learning: The essay highlights the applicant's commitment to ongoing learning and professional growth, which is essential in the nursing field.
• Community Engagement: The applicant showcases their involvement in community health initiatives and volunteering, demonstrating a dedication to improving healthcare beyond the clinical setting.
• Leadership Experience: The essay discusses leadership roles within the nursing program, emphasizing the applicant's understanding of nursing as a leadership role in healthcare.
• Impactful Clinical Experience: The inclusion of the palliative care unit experience adds a unique perspective. It also adds an emotionally resonant dimension to the essay, highlighting the applicant's dedication to patient-centered care.

Scholarship Essay About Yourself

Some scholarship essays require a more personal touch. Scholarship committees are interested to learn about your experiences and how you express them. 

Here is an example of an essay focusing on the applicant’s life experiences.

This scholarship essay effectively highlights the applicant's personal experiences and qualities that make them a suitable candidate for the scholarship. Here are some key elements that contributed to its success:

• Values and Background: The essay begins by establishing the applicant's background and values, emphasizing the importance of education and family sacrifices.
• Academic Excellence: The applicant showcases their commitment to academic excellence, including being named valedictorian, which adds credibility to their dedication to learning.
• Passion and Career Goals: The essay highlights the applicant's interest in psychology and mental health, revealing their career aspirations and a deep sense of purpose.
• Courage to Grow: The essay concludes with a strong commitment to education and the desire to use it as a tool for positive change in their community.

Winning Scholarship Essay Examples

You have read five scholarship essay examples with a complete analysis of why they were successful. Here are some more excellent examples that stand out due to similar reasons.

Read these samples and ask yourself, can you figure out why these essays catch the readers’ attention?

Sample Scholarship Essays

Sometimes, scholarship essays require a limited word count. You should always read the instructions and requirements of an essay before writing. 

Here are two scholarship essay samples with different word limits.

500-Words Scholarship Essay Example About Career Goals

250 Words Scholarship Essay Example

Scholarship Essay Examples for Different Academic Levels

These scholarship essay examples cater to various academic levels. They demonstrate how students at different stages of their education can craft successful essays.

Scholarship Essay Example For High School Students

Scholarship Essay Example For College Application

Masters Scholarship Essay Example For Students

Scholarship Essay Examples - Why You Deserve This

These examples focus on explaining why the applicants deserve the scholarship, emphasizing their qualifications, achievements, and aspirations.

Why I Deserve This Scholarship Essay Example

Why Should You Receive This Scholarship

There are many different prompts you can be assigned for your scholarship essay, so better be prepared. Check out this list of scholarship essay prompts to get a better idea!

Tips to Write a Winning Scholarship Essay 

The following are some useful tips and suggestions for writing a successful scholarship essay:

• Understand the Prompt: Carefully read and understand the essay prompt. Ensure that your response directly addresses the specific questions or topics provided. Tailor your essay to the scholarship's requirements.
• Plan and Organize: Start with an essay outline . Identify key points you want to cover and the structure of your essay. A well-organized essay with a clear introduction, body, and conclusion is more engaging and easier to follow.
• Be Authentic: Be true to yourself and your experiences. Authenticity resonates with scholarship committees. Share your genuine motivations, goals, and challenges, as it makes your essay more relatable.
• Address Your Audience: Consider your audience, that is the scholarship selection committees. Tailor your essay to their expectations and values, emphasizing how you align with the scholarship's mission and goals.
• Highlight Achievements and Impact: Showcase your accomplishments, both academic and extracurricular, and discuss the impact they've had on your life and your community. Explain how the scholarship will enable you to achieve even more.
• Express Your Passion: Demonstrate your passion for your field of study or the cause the scholarship supports. Explain why you are deeply committed and how the scholarship will help you make a significant contribution.
• Follow Instructions: Pay close attention to any specific instructions or requirements provided by the scholarship organization. Failure to comply with guidelines can lead to disqualification.
• Revise and Rewrite: After an initial draft, take time to revise and rewrite your essay. Don't hesitate to make substantial changes if necessary to improve clarity, coherence, and impact.
• Seek Feedback: Have someone else, such as a teacher, mentor, or family member, review your essay. Fresh perspectives can identify areas for improvement.

To conclude,

These essay examples were a good way to start. You’ve read and learnt the qualities that made them successful. Now, it’s your time to apply what you’ve learnt to your own scholarship essays.

Remember, crafting a winning scholarship essay takes time and effort. Be authentic and convey your aspirations, achievements, and the impact you hope to make. With dedication and these valuable tips, you can create a compelling scholarship essay that helps you achieve your education goals.

In addition, we understand that writing a scholarship essay can be incredibly difficult due to the high stakes. But don’t let the stress takeover, let our professional scholarship essay writing service handle it. 

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How to Write a "Why I Deserve This Scholarship" Essay

How to Write College Scholarship Essays

Writing a scholarship essay can be difficult, especially for people who are not used to advocating for themselves or praising themselves. However, writing a "reasons why I deserve a scholarship" essay is an excellent excuse to learn how to brag about yourself.

How Do You Write An Essay for a Scholarship?

There are a number of reasons people might want to write an essay explaining why they deserve a scholarship. For many students, education is prohibitively expensive. The expense required to send a student to school, particularly to a private four-year college, can make the prospect of going to school an impossibility for some families. Scholarships and student loans are a lifeline to a student who otherwise would not be able to afford college, but in almost every case, a scholarship requires writing an essay, possibly a 250-word essay on "why I deserve a scholarship."

When you write an essay for a scholarship, you are going to be speaking about your accomplishments and selling yourself as someone who is deserving of this financial assistance and the honor itself. It's important, therefore, to make sure that your tone is appropriate at all times. Make sure your tone is honest and direct without being pompous. You want to communicate your many accomplishments, but you don't want to risk sounding conceited.

Point out that you understand the evaluation criteria for this scholarship and then highlight the parts of your experience that you feel correspond directly to this criteria. By demonstrating that you understand what this scholarship is for, you set yourself up for an opportunity t o clearly express why you think you are in a position to deserve it. By articulating the particulars around the evaluation, you can begin to point to all the reasons you are the most qualified student to receive the honor.

How To Express "Reasons Why I Deserve A Scholarship"

Begin the essay by expressing your understanding of the evaluation criteria and why you think this scholarship is being offered. Use a bold, attention-grabbing sentence to open your essay, one that will help your essay stand out from all the rest and encourage the evaluators to keep reading. Once you've got the attention of the committee evaluating the essay, you want to quickly and easily transition to the point of your essay: why you feel you are deserving of this scholarship.

Next, it is critical to lead into your own achievements and how they dovetail with the evaluation criteria that the scholarship board is using to judge applications. It can be difficult and intimidating to talk about your accomplishments. Unfortunately, when advocating for yourself to be the recipient of something based on a demonstration of merit, you are inextricably tasked with talking yourself up.

When discussing the reasons you feel that you should receive this scholarship, you will need to point out the accomplishments you have made in your career as a student, your special talents, the effort you have put into your work and the unique activities that occupy your time.

What to Include in a Scholarship Essay

Once you have clarified and explained your list of accomplishments and pointed out how they align with the goals of the scholarship evaluators, it's time to talk about the different things that make you unique from other applicants. These can be as broad as your gender or ethnic background or as unique as the conditions of your particular upbringing and the experiences that have led you to the place you are in today.

Many of the applicants who are reaching for this same scholarship will have similar accomplishments. Your task is to make yourself stand out. This is the time to discuss what is special, unique and unusual about you. It may be that you have a very unique personal history, or it may be that you have demonstrated an incredible gift or talent for which you are hoping to be recognized. Whatever it is, be sure to express what makes you unique.

It's also a good idea to try to bring as much of your personality into your essay as possible. Your essay should be grammatically correct and written in standard English, but what you should also strive for is being true to your own voice , not being a mechanical reiteration machine who is only trying to please the scholarship board. By bringing your unique voice and personality to the essay, you cannot help but be an original, particularly because most students will simply be trying to write in the manner that they think will best please the evaluators.

How Do You Start An Application Essay?

Begin an application essay with a strong statement that will draw in the reader. No matter for what you are applying, application evaluators will read dozens if not hundreds of essays, and ones that stand out will stand to get the most attention. It should be related to the content of the essay and tied to the goal of the scholarship in some way. It may be helpful to ask a guidance counselor for some educational and career goals essay examples.

Avoid using a lot of purple prose in the opening paragraphs of your application essay. Purple prose is defined as flowery, ornate writing that doesn't serve a purpose beyond its own existence. It contains a lot of adjectives and descriptions and serves only to draw attention to itself. Many young students make the mistake of thinking that excessive description enriches their writing when it only distracts from the point they are trying to make.

Make sure that your application essay starts with a sentence or two that conveys that you understand how this application will be evaluated. It is important to communicate that you understand the purpose of this essay, why you are writing it and why the committee must evaluate it. Doing so sends the message that you understand that whatever you are applying for is something you must prove you deserve, not simply something you are due because you want it.

Tips for Essay Writing

Write from the heart. No matter what your scholarship is for, take some time and think about what it means to you. The obvious answer to why you are applying for this scholarship is "the money." Think beyond that. What is it that makes this particular scholarship right for you? How have you earned it with the work you have done up to this point? Take the passion that got you to this point and use it to craft your essay.

Speak honestly. Many people believe that the time to embellish their accomplishments comes when they need to speak in favor of themselves. This is not true. Speak with honesty to avoid being caught in a lie in the future.

Don't be afraid to laud yourself and your achievements. Applying for a scholarship is a chance to celebrate the work that you have done and the things you have achieved. Don't be afraid to shine a light on the things of which you are proud and the things for which others have praised you.

Additional Essay Tips

While it's absolutely OK to point out your accomplishments, make sure everything you bring up is related to your overall theme. Don't just make a laundry list of the reasons you're great.

Be careful with grammar, spelling, and punctuation. You want to send the message that you have spent time on your work and that the committee evaluating this scholarship essay should take you seriously.

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Qualities That Make You a Worthy Candidate for Scholarship Awards

• International Student: Sample Scholarship Essays
• College Essay Guy: Fourteen Scholarship Essay Examples That Won Thousands 2018
• The Princeton Review: Writing a Winning College Scholarship Essay
• CollegeBoard BigFuture: Tips for Writing an Effective Application Essay

Ashley Friedman is a freelance writer with experience writing about education for a variety of organizations and educational institutions as well as online media sites. She has written for Pearson Education, The University of Miami, The New York City Teaching Fellows, New Visions for Public Schools, and a number of independent secondary schools. She lives in Los Angeles.

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Ultimate Guide to Writing Your College Essay

Tips for writing an effective college essay.

College admissions essays are an important part of your college application and gives you the chance to show colleges and universities your character and experiences. This guide will give you tips to write an effective college essay.

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Student story: admissions essay about a past mistake, how to write a college application essay, tips for writing an effective application essay, sample college essay 1 with feedback, sample college essay 2 with feedback.

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how to write a "Why do you deserve this scholarship" essay Answered

Hi! I'm a rising senior and will be attending CC summer semester. I am applying for a grant to cover the costs. They require a 250 word essay on why I deserve this scholarship. I have never written one of these before and I have no clue where to start! Some background- I will be attending CC in the county in which I lived all my life, I'm very community-oriented, I plan to be a doctor and live in my hometown. How do I do this? Thanks in advance!

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I suggest talk about why you want to be doctor (what spark your interest) you are in the community showing you love to help go on to talk about how being a doctor will help people (further detail) then go on to say how this scholarship money will help towards being qualified and being more prepared for taking your position in the medical career.

Good afternoon! If you are looking for professional writing assistance, then take a look at the EssayShark custom essay writing service essayshark.com/custom-essay.html website. These writing experts will help you solve any learning problem and even improve your academic performance in a very short time. Don't miss the chance to get rid of boring paperwork.

I would answer it honestly, why do you deserve it? Be humble like not bragging but also you are community oriented and want to be a doctor for some reason, explain this. And then explain how this scholarship will help you and the community as a whole. If you have a lot of expenses or some financial trouble (medical school is expensive so this is more than enough) just explain this and say the scholarship will help you to reach your goals. Keep is simple and well written.

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Why i deserve a nursing scholarship essay example | outline, bob cardens.

• August 24, 2022

What You'll Learn

Why I deserve a nursing scholarship essay Example | Outline

Outline of the nursing scholarship essay, introduction, my background and why i am a good candidate for a nursing scholarship, why i want to be a nurse and how it would benefit my patients, my goals for becoming a nurse and how the nursing profession can help me meet them, how the nursing profession can help me develop as an individual and meet my future goals, why i deserve a nursing scholarship essay example.

I am writing this essay in order to prove that I deserve a nursing scholarship . Nursing has always been my passion, and I have dedicated my entire life to becoming a nurse . I believe that I have what it takes to be a great nurse and contribute to society in a positive way .

I have worked extremely hard to achieve the successes that I have, and I am confident that I can continue to do so as a nurse . My achievements include receiving scholarships for academic excellence and community service, being named a “rising star” by my hospital, and being part of the National Honor Society.

Nursing is an extremely challenging field , but I am determined to become the best nurse possible. My ultimate goal is to provide quality care for my patients and make a positive impact on their lives.

As you continue,  thestudycorp.com  has the top and most qualified writers to help write your nursing scholarship essay. All you need to do is  place an order  with us.

Not a nursing student here’s How To Write An Appealing Scholarship Essay [+ Examples & Outline]

Scholarship Essay Writing Services

My name is ____________ and I am a senior at ___________. I have been involved in extracurricular activities such as nursing and volunteering my time to different organizations since I was a child. My involvement in these activities has shaped me into the person I am today, and I believe that my skills and experiences make me the perfect candidate for a nursing scholarship .

First and foremost, I am a dedicated nurse. Throughout my years of involvement in this field, I have developed an innate understanding of how important it is to provide quality care to my patients . My experience has also taught me how to be organized and how to work efficiently under pressure. These skills are essential for a nurse , as they constantly face deadlines and stressful situations.

In addition to my dedication to the nursing field, I also possess strong leadership skills . Throughout my years of volunteering and working within various organizations, I have been responsible for directing others on multiple occasions. My ability to lead teams successfully is something that will be invaluable when working in a clinical setting as a nurse. Finally, I am deeply passionate about helping others and feel that nursing is the perfect profession for me to dedicate my career to. All of these qualities make me the perfect candidate for a nursing scholarship. I believe that my skills and experiences will be a valuable addition to any hospital or clinic , and I am eager to begin my career in this field.

I am a hard-working and motivated student who has always strived to accomplish the best I can. I have excelled in all areas of my academic career, including during my nursing studies . I have completed many challenging courses and have obtained numerous awards, scholarships, and accolades throughout my schooling. In addition to this, I have also contributed volunteer time and services to various organizations and communities . My goal has always been to make a positive impact on the people around me, and I believe that being a nurse is the perfect way to do that.

I am confident that with hard work and dedication, I can become a successful nurse and contribute greatly to the health of those in need . I believe that the Nursing Scholarship offered by my chosen nursing school is an excellent investment – one that will pay off both financially and emotionally for years to come.

As you continue,  thestudycorp.com  has the top and most qualified writers to help write your nursing scholarship essay. All you need to do is  place an order  with us. The above Why I deserve a nursing scholarship essay Example provides guidance on how to write a nursing scholarship essay.

I want to be a nurse because it would benefit my patients immensely. I have always been drawn to helping others, and being a nurse would allow me to do just that on a daily basis. Nurses are some of the most important people in the healthcare system , because they are responsible for keeping patients safe and healthy. They provide relief and comfort to those who are facing difficult times, and their work has a huge impact on the quality of life of those who rely on them. I know firsthand how important nurses are, and I am committed to giving the best care possible to my patients .

As a student, I know that I want to pursue a career in nursing. I have come to understand that the nursing profession can help me meet my goals and achieve success . Nursing offers a wide range of opportunities for growth and advancement, as well as an array of benefits that are important to me.

Nursing allows me to work with people who are in need and provide them with care and support. In addition, the nursing profession provides stability and security, which are important factors in my life. The environment at a nursing home or hospital is challenging, but I am confident that I can meet the challenges posed by this profession.

The nursing profession is growing rapidly and there are numerous opportunities available for those who are willing to pursue them. The field of nursing is changing rapidly, so today’s nurse has the opportunity to create her own path and be her own boss. I am excited about the prospects that the nursing profession offers me and I believe that it can help me achieve my goals.

Nursing is a profession that can help me develop as an individual and meet my future goals . It provides me with the opportunity to work with people, learn new things, and help others. It is also a fast-paced field that offers variety and challenges. I believe that nursing can help me grow as a person and make a positive impact in the world.

Nursing is an incredibly demanding and challenging profession, which is why so many students want to pursue a career in nursing . In order to be successful in this field, you need to demonstrate that you have the qualities that make a good nurse . One of the most important qualities is empathy — being able to put yourself in someone else’s shoes and understand their situation. This essay was designed to show how well I meet the requirements for a nursing scholarship , and I hope that it has convinced you that I am deserving of this opportunity.

The above Why I deserve a nursing scholarship essay Example provides guidance on how to write a nursing scholarship essay.

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25 college scholarships high school seniors can still apply for

The products and services mentioned below were selected independent of sales and advertising. However, Don't Waste Your Money may receive a small commission from the purchase of any products or services through an affiliate link to the retailer's website.

Prices keep going up for college students. This year, attending some American colleges and universities is expected to cost students more than $90,000 a year.

Granted, that’s based on figures for tuition, room and board and other expenses from some of the country’s most elite private institutions. Even so, the Education Data Initiative reports that the average private college student living on campus actually spends about $55,840 per year, with $38,768 of it going towards tuition and fees). And students at public universities spend an average of about $26,027 per year.

That’s still quite a chunk of change, even if you’ve decided it’s worth the cost . In fact, college prices have risen by 169% since 1980, according to a report from Georgetown University’s Center on Education and the Workforce . If you’re a high school senior or college student (or the parent of one) who is trying to figure out how to pay these bills, you may want to consider some of the scholarships available to defray costs.

And while the deadlines of some scholarships have passed, there are still lots of options if you act fast. Here are 25 scholarships for high school seniors.

Scholarships That Award Over $15,000

1. breakthrough junior challenge: $250,000.

Deadline to apply:  June 25, 2024

Who’s eligible : High school students

This generous scholarship is offered by the philanthropists Yuri and Julia Milner, who have a special interest in science and technology. To apply, you create a 2-minute video that explains a scientific or mathematical theory or principle.  Think creatively and incorporate elements like diagrams, simulations and physical demonstrations.

If you submit the most impressive video, you’ll receive a $250,000 scholarship to college. Your teacher will receive $50,000, and your school will receive $100,000 for a science lab. Apply here .

2. Niche ‘No Essay’ Scholarship: $25,000

Deadline to apply:  May 31, 2024

Who’s eligible: High school and college students, as well as anyone looking to attend college or graduate school in the next year

Niche is a ranking and review site that runs a scholarship directory and offers many of its own scholarships. This one couldn’t be easier to apply for. Start by creating a Niche account. Then fill out the online application; the winner will be determined in a random drawing by June 15, 2024. They will contact you if you were selected. Apply here .

3. ‘Be Bold’ No-Essay Scholarship: $25,055

Deadline to apply: May 1, 2024

Who’s eligible: Any student of any age or education level

Bold.org is a scholarship search website. To apply for any of their scholarships, you’ll need to create a free profile on the site. And the site wants to challenge you to create the boldest one.

What does being bold mean to you? The folks at the “Be Bold” Scholarship define it in three words: earnest, determined and moving. If your profile does the best job of matching this description, you could win $25,055 towards your college education. The eligibility requirements don’t mention a minimum GPA. All you need to be is … bold!  Apply here ASAP, as the scholarship favors early applicants for rolling application deadlines.

4. Ayn Rand Scholarship: ‘The Fountainhead’ Essay Contest: $25,000

Deadline to apply:  June 7, 2024

Who’s eligible: High school juniors and seniors

The Ayn Rand Institute offers rolling essay contests three times a year to encourage students to engage with this prominent novelist’s works and ideas. The upcoming summer essay contest for “The Fountainhead” is currently open.

You’ll write a double-spaced essay that’s between 800 and 1,600 words, based on a prompt question (about the book) that The Ayn Rand Institute provides. If you are one of the top three entries, you’ll receive a cash prize of up to $3,000, and the first-place entry from each season will go on to compete against the other seasonal winners for an annual grand prize of $25,000. You can spend the money on college — or anything else you like. Apply here .

5. Ayn Rand Scholarship: ‘Atlas Shrugged’ Essay Contest: $25,000

Deadline to apply:  June 14, 2024

Who’s eligible: High school seniors, college students and graduate students

Another one of The Ayn Rand Institute’s rolling essay contests is based on her novel “Atlas Shrugged.” The upcoming summer essay contest for this novel is currently open.

You’ll write a double-spaced essay that’s between 800 and 1,600 words, based on a prompt question about the book that The Ayn Rand Institute provides. If you are one of the top three entries, you’ll receive a cash prize up to $3,000, and the first-place entry from each season will go on to compete against the other seasonal winners for an annual grand prize of $25,000. You can spend the money on college or anything else. Apply here .

Scholarships That Award Between $5,000 and $15,000

6. stuck at prom scholarship contest: $15,000.

Deadline to apply:  June 5, 2024

Who’s eligible: All high school students

Well, this is a fun one. To win the Stuck at Prom scholarship, you need to make your own prom outfit (a dress or a tux) completely out of Duck Brand duct tape or Duck Brand crafting tape. Then fill out the online entry form, which includes a place for you to upload at least one photo of yourself wearing this DIY prom outfit. You can submit up to five photos.

The entry form will ask you to supply some written details about your creation or to upload a video showing the requested details. The first-place winners for dress and tux will each be awarded $15,000, while four runners-up in each category will win $1,000 each. And this year they will also be handing out “Judges’ Choice” awards worth $1,000 each to three finalists. Apply here .

7. ScienceSaves High School Video Scholarship: $10,000

Deadline to apply:  May 6, 2024

Who’s eligible: High school seniors

Not a big fan of writing essays? This scholarship contest asks entrants to create a 20-30 second video, answering the question, “What has science done for me?” or “What has science done for somebody I know?”

Be creative! You can use photos, video clips and text. Add the hashtag #ScienceSaves to your video before uploading it. While the grand prize winner will receive $10,000, there will also be prizes for 2nd place ($2,000), 3rd place ($1,000), and 4th place finishers ($500). Apply here .

8. Exceptional Youth Scholarship: $10,000

Deadline to apply:  May 17, 2024

Who’s eligible:  high school seniors

This scholarship is offered through The Foundation for Global Sports Development, and it’s indeed designed for an extraordinary young person. To apply, you must have a minimum GPA of 3.0 and have devoted at least 100 hours to some form of community service, volunteerism or mentorship activities.

It’s also need-based, so you’ll be required to submit a completed FAFSA form (which is the application for federal student aid) and other financial materials. You’ll also need two letters of recommendation (one from your school and one from your community). Ten graduating seniors will each receive this $10,000 scholarship. Apply here .

9. Ted and Holly Rollins Scholarship: $5,000

Deadline to apply:  June 1, 2024

Can you write a compelling essay? For this scholarship contest, you’ll submit at least 500 words that tell your life story, describe your interest in your intended field of study, and/or explain how you plan to impact the world. If you write the winning essay, you’ll be notified by July 15, 2024. Apply here .

10. Ryan T. Herich Memorial Scholarship: $5,000

Deadline to apply:  April 15, 2024

Who’s eligible: High school students or college undergraduates who are studying or plan to study political science, cultural anthropology, geography or history

This scholarship was set up in the memory of Ryan T. Herich, who was interested in how history, culture and politics affect our world today. To apply, incorporate these themes in a 400- to 600-word essay about how you intend to make a difference in the world. Three winners (who will each receive $5,000) will be announced on May 15, 2024. Apply here .

Scholarships That Award Between $1,000 and $3,000

11. all about education scholarship: $3,000.

Deadline to apply:  April 30, 2024

Who’s eligible:  U.S. residents ages 14 and up

This scholarship is through Unigo, a college scholarship directory and search site. To apply, you have to sign up for a free account. Then submit an essay of 250 words or less responding to the question: “How will a $3,000 scholarship for education make a difference in your life?” Apply here .

12. There’s Space For Everyone Scholarship: $3,000

Who’s eligible: High school seniors, undergraduates and graduates enrolled in school

Extra Space Storage is in the business of offering self-storage facilities, but they also offer an annual college scholarship. To apply, fill out the online application form, which includes an essay on the following topic: “How have you exhibited a commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, or social justice through work, service, or other extra-curricular activities, and how will your education help you continue this commitment during college and beyond?”

The company will give out eight $3,000 scholarships. Five will go to any student attending or planning to attend a college or university in the U.S., and three are reserved for employees or immediate family members of Extra Space Storage. The winners will be announced on June 21, 2024. Apply here .

13. American College Foundation Visionary Scholarship: $2,500

Who’s eligible: High school students

This is a bi-annual award in which five recipients win each time — with a total of 10 scholarships awarded each year. Awards range from $1,000 to $2,500 each. To apply, submit a completed application along with your most recent high school transcript and a 500-word essay on “Why College is Important to Me.”

The site posts photos of past winners along with their essays, so you can see what impresses the judges. The winners are announced on July 12, 2024, and the awards are distributed on July 31, 2024. Apply here .

14. Creativity Leads to Success Scholarship: $2,500

Deadline to apply:  June 15, 2024

Who’s eligible: Students who are 18 years or older and attending college or grad school by fall 2024

The Dixie Belle paint company awards $5,000 in scholarship money every year. The first-prize winner will receive $2,500, while two runners-up will receive $1,250 each.

To apply, fill out their online application and submit an essay of no more than 500 words that answers the question: “How has creativity helped you in problem solving?” If you’re a finalist, you will be notified on or about Aug. 15, 2024. Apply here .

15. Rover Scholarship: $2,500

Deadline to apply:  May 1, 2024

Who’s eligible: High school seniors and college undergraduates

Rover.com is a pet-sitter marketplace that offers a $2,500 scholarship towards higher education. To apply, you must have a 3.0 GPA. Fill out their online form and submit an essay of 400-500 words on the following topic: “How did growing up with a pet in your life (could be a friend’s or family member’s) impact the person you are today?”

The winner will be notified by May 31, 2024. Apply here .

16. Goodwall #ScholarshipNow Challenge: $2,500

Who’s eligible: High school, college and graduate students and those planning to enroll within 12 months

This scholarship is funded by Goodwall, a skills-based social network that prepares young people for careers. To enter this scholarship contest, download the Goodwall app and create a profile. Submit a short video (between 30 seconds and three minutes long) in which you describe how this scholarship can help you reach your educational and professional goals. Make sure to add the hashtag #ScholarshipNow. Apply here .

17. RonranGlee Literary Scholarship: $2,000

Deadline to apply:  April 22, 2024

Who’s eligible: High school seniors and college undergraduate students

If you have a knack for close reading, this is the scholarship for you. The people at the RonranGlee Literary Scholarship want to see how well you can interpret the underlying meaning in texts. To apply, choose a paragraph (preferably from an ancient literature or philosophy book) and write a short essay that is between 600 and 2,000 words, explaining what’s being conveyed between the lines.

Five winners will be announced on May 22, 2024. Apply here.

18. CollegeVine No Essay Contest: $2,000

Deadline to apply:  June 30, 2024

Who’s eligible: Current high school students and college applicants

CollegeVine is a website that provides college admissions guidance. To take part in this scholarship sweepstakes, you will need to sign up for a CollegeVine account and complete your profile. A random drawing determines the winner. If it’s you, you’ll be notified with an email. Apply here .

19. Sallie Mae Scholarship Sweepstakes: $2,000

Deadline to apply: The last day of every month (the current deadline is April 30)

Who’s eligible: High school juniors, seniors and college undergraduates (and parents can apply, too)

Sallie Mae has a search database with lots of scholarship options. But this particular sweepstakes is the easiest: Fill out a form to enter, and a winner is chosen at random every month. There’s no essay and no GPA requirement — just a form that takes less than two minutes to fill out! Apply here .

20. Ayn Rand Scholarship: ‘Anthem’ Essay Contest: $2,000

Who’s eligible:  8th, 9th, 10th, 11th and 12th grade students

To participate, you’ll submit an essay that’s between 600 and 1,200 words, double-spaced. For the topic, you can choose from among three prompt questions related to Ayn Rand’s novella “Anthem.”

This is significantly easier than the Ayn Rand Institute’s other two essay contests since this novella is only about 100 pages long. The top prize is $2,000, and other finalists will receive between $500 and $1,000.  Apply here .

21. Too Cool To Pay For School Sweepstakes: $1,000

Deadline to apply: Quarterly on the last day of March, June, September and December

Who’s eligible: High school juniors, seniors and college undergrads

This sweepstakes is run through Access Scholarships, an online scholarship search engine. Applying for this one couldn’t be simpler — all you need to do is fill out the online form.  Follow them on Instagram , and they’ll enter you twice. A random drawing determines the winner. You’ll get an email from them if you win. Apply here .

22. Gen & Kelly Tanabe Scholarship: $1,000

Deadline to apply:  July 31, 2024

Who’s eligible: High school seniors, undergraduate and graduate students

The scholarship is funded by Gen and Kelly Tanabe, the authors of “ The Ultimate Scholarship Book 2024: Billions of Dollars in Scholarships, Grants and Prizes .” Entrants submit a 250-word personal statement about why you deserve to win this scholarship or about your academic or career goals. You can also write about any topic of your choice. Apply here .

23. ScholarshipOwl No Essay Scholarship: $1,000

Deadline to apply: The last business day of each month (next deadline is April 29, 2024)

Who’s eligible: High school and college students who will be enrolled in school within three months of the award

ScholarshipOwl is an online scholarship matching service. Each month, they hold a random drawing for this $1,000 scholarship, and four students win every time. To participate, sign up for a free account and fill out their online application form, which doesn’t require an essay. The next draw date is May 11.  Apply here .

24. Blaze Your Own Trail Scholarship: $1,000

This scholarship contest is funded by Trail Heads, a company that makes headbands, gloves, hats and other accessories for outdoor sports. To enter, you’ll need to write a 600-800 word essay about a challenge you faced. Describe how you overcame this obstacle and how it affected you going forward. Also, you have to submit your latest transcript with your GPA.

The winner will be announced on the Trail Heads website on Aug. 6, 2024. Apply here .

25. American Heart Challenge Scholarship: $1,000

Who’s eligible: High school juniors or seniors

This scholarship is for juniors and seniors who have shown leadership skills at their school’s American Heart Challenge program, which aims to educate young people about healthy lifestyle habits while raising money to help end heart disease and stroke. To apply,  fill out a short online application and upload a letter of recommendation from a teacher. Apply here .

About the Author

Jennifer has written features and essays for over a dozen magazines, including American Baby, Cosmo, Cosmo Girl, Fit Pregnancy, Good Housekeeping, Health, Marie Claire, Parents, Parenting, Redbook, Self, Teen People, TV Guide, and YM. More.

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