Effective Scholarship Essay Workshop Flashcards

1
Q

Good __________, everyone!

A

As _________________ stated, my name is Ben Reitz. I’m the College Prep Zone Coordinator for the RRCC Learning Commons and Tutoring department.

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1
Q

One of my roles here on campus is to visit…

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…various student groups and share student success strategies and workshops.

________ has asked me to come and share a newer workshop offering in that series, this one on writing an effective scholarship essay.

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2
Q

We are going to get into that in a moment, but first…

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…I always like to preface these sessions with the comment that I prefer them to be casual and conversational - please feel free to speak up as you think of questions or things to contribute….

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3
Q

This workshop really includes two sections in its overall agenda…

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…first, we’ll cover some basic principles for maximizing the effectiveness of your scholarship essays in a larger group discussion.

Then, we’ll break into smaller groups and go into an exercise that will allow us to put some of those principles into practice by looking at/analyzing some sample essays together.

Without further ado, let’s crack in!

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4
Q

Slide: Why Apply for Scholarships?

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Critical for creating a successful scholarship essay (or really a successful essay of any kind) is getting into the right headspace for doing impactful writing.

I used to work as a writing center tutor for many years, and in my experience, one of the best ways to help students get into the right mentality for scholarship essay writing was to get them to contemplate their own motivations for applying for the scholarship in the first place.

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5
Q

So why should you apply for scholarships, even though they are competitive and though the application process requires so much of your time/attention?

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[allow responses/affirm]

All excellent reasons to apply! It’s great to see that you are all already thinking about the many benefits going beyond the chance of paying less for a college education.

The list of good reasons for applying continues…

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6
Q

First off, your story deserves to be read, and no one can tell it better than you can!

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It’s critical to recall that these are not just essays we write to check boxes in the application process…these are expressions of our lived experience, which we deserve to have an avenue for that expression…and others deserve to hear our insights gained from our lived experience as well…

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6
Q

And of course there is the most obvious (though no less legitimate) motive that scholarship awards will reduce our future college-related debt…

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As an average, students who prioritize scholarships save about 14,000/yr at four-year universities (according to the Education Data Initiative).

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7
Q

Additionally, the odds of winning the scholarship award may be better than we might be tempted to think…

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submitting many applications will improve your chances of winning SOMETHING (significantly so). Ultimately, about 1/8 students will win at least one scholarship (and not every college student applies), so the probability of winning if you apply is generally greater than 1 in 8.

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7
Q

A third possible motivation (and certainly a benefit) is that honing these skills will prepare you for future writing-based applications.

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Advocating for and promoting yourself in writing will not end with the scholarship application process.

Whether it is resumes, job applications, cover letters, or applications for graduate school, the skills emphasized in this workshop will continue to pay dividends throughout your life.

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7
Q

Finally, it can be motivating just to realize and remember that you are not alone in this process!

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Whether it’s the RRCC Writing Center, or Leah with the STEM Leadership Academy, or Ellie with COSI or any other resource, we are devoted to helping you succeed in school and to helping you do so at a reasonable cost!

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8
Q

So again, plenty of reasons for applying and continuing to apply exist…

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…some of which relate to the benefit of winning a scholarship itself, and others of which derive from how you grow and who you work with in the process.

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8
Q

Slide: Getting into a Positive Mindset

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So much of effective writing goes beyond inhabiting a motivating and productive mindset but also taking on a positive mindset.

Some things to help you maintain positivity even in scholarship essay writing (which some can find really daunting) would include…

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9
Q

Recognizing first and foremost that YOU ARE NOT AN IMPOSTER! Your skills and accomplishments are yours to own.

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Who in here knows or has read about imposter syndrome? What do people mean by that phrase? [allow responses]

Right! It’s a feeling that our success and responsibilities were entrusted to us by mistake, and that if people only knew us “for real”, they would never have put their faith in our abilities and experience.

But ultimately, our success in life depends on our actions and decisions as much as on any other factor…so we are free to own those accomplishments and we don’t need to be “perfect experts” to be worthy of recognition.

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10
Q

Seeing that your experiences of adversity are legitimate and that stories about them have the power to inspire.

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We live in a society that sometimes downplays and dismisses the lived experience of people who have suffered or been victimized.

However, it is precisely because we are not alone in our struggles that sharing about them can be relatable and inspirational. No matter what challenges you have faced, your essay’s reader’s sense of empathy will allow your story to resonate in ways you as the author can’t even begin to predict.

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11
Q

Keeping the stakes in perspective.

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Not to be the bearer of bad news here, but in all likelihood, you will have to apply to more than one (or even more than several) scholarships before you see any award money…and that’s okay.

There will be many opportunities and the most you will have lost if you don’t win is the time spent on improving a very valuable skill - promoting yourself in writing.

From that perspective, every scholarship application is a low-stakes endeavor, at least enough to maintain a positive outlook while you write.

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12
Q

Trying to see the essay as an exciting opportunity to engage your audience with a compelling story…

A

Later, we will see examples of successful scholarship essays, and you will notice that crafting a compelling narrative from your specific life experience is a key component for success on these essays in 202_.

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13
Q

Not sweating the nitty-gritty details at first.

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It can feel overwhelming (and quite negative) if you are trying to create a perfect essay down to the details from the first moment you start the writing process.

But in the WC, we always would remind students that it’s called the writing process for a good reason!

In the early drafting phases, it’s most important to get your ideas and your story onto the page - you can afford to focus on just that goal to start…so long as you have scheduled enough time later on for polishing and editing.

But at least in the beginning of the process…don’t sweat the small stuff! That too can help you feel less overwhelmed and inhabit that positive headspace going in…

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14
Q

Slide: Plan your Approach

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Speaking of scheduling time and doing appropriate planning, it can pay (in this case, literally PAY) to maximize the effectiveness of a draft by planning your process in advance. Tips for doing that would include:

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15
Q

Mark the submission deadline on your personal calendar; and start the process long before (weeks before) the essay is due.

A

Don’t let the submission deadline date creep up on you!

Effective writing takes time (especially if it is not going to become overwhelming).

So give yourself the gift of time from the moment you decide to apply.

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16
Q

Schedule as much time for prewriting and for proofreading/editing as for creating the actual draft itself

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It can be tempting to rush right into drafting, overlooking prewriting and polishing, but these phases are at least as important as the main drafting phase, and are never overlooked by effective essayists…

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17
Q

Commit to creating an outline; schedule time specifically for outlining

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Creating a coherent essay with a logical flow of ideas is EXTREMELY hard to do WHILE drafting…

Instead of assuming that you will do that flawlessly, take some time to organize the events in your narrative and consider how you will present them and transition between them in advance.

Consider outlining with the “Foolscap” method: take a single sheet of notebook paper and fill it with all the main points of your story - repeat the process until those points are in the order that makes the most sense for presenting them - from the standpoint of engaging the reader and sharing your narrative…

This technique will ensure that you are keeping the essay concise (given the restricted size of the notebook paper) and well-organized.

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18
Q

Take note of word count restrictions; keep them in mind as part of your writing plan…

A

I say “keep them in mind” because it’s okay if your initial draft is too long/short for the word count, but ultimately, it is important to bring the final essay in line with the word count given… some application algorithms reject applications solely on this basis…

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19
Q

Determine if an earlier, successful essay can be adapted for this prompt to save time.

A

When it comes to scholarship essays, not only is it ALWAYS OKAY to steal from yourself; it’s sometimes vital for protecting your time/energy - especially if you plan to submit LOTS of applications…which we would, of course recommend.

So maybe that narrative paper from English class last year could be perfectly adapted to reflect this scholarship essay prompt. You would be wise to put it to the new use.

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20
Q

Slide: Choose a Powerful Story

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Again, by far the most effective scholarship essays today are those centered on the applicant’s own life experience in a way that powerfully speaks to the writing prompt. But what do we mean by “powerfully” in that statement?

Well, key components of a powerful story include:

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21
Q

Making sure that you are comfortable sharing and INTERESTED IN the narrative…

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Don’t just choose something you think the COMMITTEE will want to hear about. Consider how the story you choose is important to you and how it makes you feel.

Choose a story you feel strongly about sharing…Remember: If you are bored, the reader is too…

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22
Q

Make sure the story is relevant to the writing prompt, if one is given.

A

If the prompt asks you to describe what your ideal career path is, don’t talk about that time you learned the true value of friendship. Instead, you’d want to share the events that gave birth to your dreams/ideals, informing your vision of the perfect career.

A pretty common-sense point there, but worth remembering all the same.

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23
Q

Choose a story that will set you apart and highlight your own unique experiences.

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Emphasis here on UNIQUE! A good rule of thumb is to assume that the scholarship committee will read hundreds of these essays at least. You want yours to stick out of the crowd.

Try to avoid common topics like teachers who inspired you once, the happiest and/or worst moments of your life, unless a prompt asks for that specifically or it’s somehow relevant to the prompt…

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24
Q

Pick an event in your life that helped develop your passion and life goals.

A

A story about that time you found 200 dollars buried in the sand at the beach may be a compelling and great narrative for a different paper, but maybe keep that one in your back pocket for creative writing class or for a social media post…

The committee wants to see how dedicated you will be to your academic and career pathway…don’t be afraid to let your passions shine through in your writing,

But don’t simply state that you have passions. Your story should illustrate your passions so that you aren’t explicitly having to state what they are.

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25
Q

If possible, choose a story that shows off your skills/accomplishments

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It’s okay and even smart to work in your experience with robotics projects or programming or other highly-valued skills in the field you want to study, but be careful not to make the whole essay a dry running list of your skills…

Instead, show how the skills weave into and inform your passions and how they have impacted your growth and your story…

26
Q

Share your challenges and adversities, but focus on how you overcame them.

A

Like I mentioned before, your adversities and struggles are legitimate - but the committee will want to see that you were able to cope with them and grow from them. That will help show that you are a good investment for the scholarship money…go beyond “I have struggled when” to “I have prevailed by”

27
Q

Slide: Things to Keep in Mind While Writing

A

Once you have put yourself in the positive mindset for writing, developed a plan and chosen a powerful story, then and only then will you want to start the writing/drafting process…

But even while drafting, there are some generally good tips to keep in mind:

28
Q

Use Time-order phrases rather than listing words to transition between sections

A

“At that time,” or “It was then that I realized that,”, as opposed to “The first thing, another thing, a third thing…” etc.

That will keep the writing grounded in narrative story-telling, rather than a coldly logical list…of course it can be tricky, as sometimes the prompt seems to call for listing…still, resist the urge and go for the narrative:

Example Prompt: Describe what makes a successful engineer:

Response: Here’s my personal story about how I discovered what it takes to be a successful engineer in my view.

29
Q

Embed Relevant references to your identity throughout

A

Let’s say the scholarship is specifically for women or minoritized students and you want to share your experience of race/gender within the story…that’s great! But be sure to “pepper” references to your identity and your experience of it THROUGHOUT the story, don’t just take a few paragraphs all at once to awkwardly state that you have the identity specific to this scholarship.

In general, try not to refer to the scholarship itself in the essay.

30
Q

Get everything out on the page to start - worry about length later on

A

This goes hand-in-hand with the point about word count. length is good to keep in mind, but shouldn’t drive the process in its earliest phases…

31
Q

Use YOUR voice - but do so professionally.

A

The committee will not want to read a robotic Chat-GPT-like narrative, even if it is grammatically flawless.

They want to hear your perspective and your tone in the writing, but it’s generally good to avoid any language that could be viewed as crude or unprofessional, especially if it isn’t necessary to tell the story effectively.

Sometimes, certain dialogue in your stories will call for crude language - that’s okay, because its true to the powerful story you want to tell. But just try to make sure it is relevant to the narrative. If not, leave out the swear words or unhelpful slang like the word “like” as a filler or place-holder word

32
Q

Share your achievements, but acknowledge others who helped you to succeed.

A

Again, your achievements are yours to own, but its never flattering when a writer takes the position that they had no guidance or support…it’s best to display an attitude of gratitude, as cliche as that sounds (I know…)

A worthy applicant will ultimately be a grateful one, in the minds of the committee. But again, don’t say “I’m grateful…” outright, but let your tone be one of acknowledging those who’ve helped you succeed over time.

33
Q

Share your struggles and how overcoming them inspired your passions.

A

Again, it’s about establishing that golden triangle connecting 1) your struggles/experiences, 2) your goals and vision for the future, and 3) your passions…the most effective scholarship essays thoughtfully merge those elements

34
Q

Share financial hardships, where relevant, throughout the story…

A

Much like the point about identity, some scholarships will be provided expressly for those with financial hardships…so it is important to show where your experience qualifies you in that regard.

But again, do so in a way that serves the story you are telling and peppers references to financial struggle throughout, not just shoe-horning that material into one isolated spot in the essay.

Are there any other good things to be keeping in mind while you are writing?

[allow responses, affirm]

35
Q

Slide: Use Creative Writing Techniques

A

As we’ve been discussing, the most effective/successful scholarship essays today are almost all narratives sharing the applicant’s life experience…

And narrative writing is just one genre of creating writing, so it can be very helpful to use creative writing techniques in making your scholarship essay as powerful as possible.

Good creative writing tips to keep in mind would include:

36
Q

Working to paint a vivid picture of events; describe the impact on your senses [read examples]

A

Arousing the imagery of the event in the mind of the reader actually helps to make them relate to your story more directly, as they can “experience” it themselves

37
Q

Use figurative language where appropriate, like similes and metaphors [read examples]

A

This enhances the relatability of the story as well, as you are literally “relating” two separate things by comparing them, poetically

38
Q

Include bits of dialogue…

A

This also helps inject the reader into the story by allowing them to “hear” what was discussed or asked in exact terms, using the voices of the story’s “characters” (you and those in your life)

39
Q

Use active voice instead of passive voice…

A

Anyone want to define the difference between these two voices for us?

Right! Active voice puts the actor or “subject”, as it’s known, at the front of the sentence or clause, before the verb (action) they are doing…passive presents the verb or action first often fails to specifically define an actor/subject…

Passive voice really tends to weaken the overall tone of the piece and can even give the impression that you are being less-than-direct or less-than-honest with the reader (think about politicians’ “mistakes were made…”)

40
Q

Slide: Balance Logic and Emotion

A

I mentioned before about how tempting it can be to take a strictly logical approach to the essay; we might think that staying detached and logical in tone will make the essay read as more “academic” and “professional”, but…

Engaging writing depends on emotional appeals, not just logical ones…Remember: if you would be bored writing the essay to be so formal and academic, the committee with be bored reading it. Related points to the goal of injecting emotions in the story include:

41
Q

“Showing” rather than “Telling”

A

This means giving the reader opportunities to infer conclusions from the events you describe instead of always stating outright what happened in explicit terms.

This could be the difference between “The encounter I had with my advisor made me feel discouraged…” (telling) and “The advisor’s words were like sharp pins in the balloon of my ambitions” (showing).

42
Q

If comfortable, share your emotional struggles…

A

It really helps the committee to connect with your experience if you describe how material/financial/social struggles impacted you on an emotional level…it takes bravery to be vulnerable in telling your own story, but it is very effective at drawing the reader in and impactfully involving them in the narrative

43
Q

Logically explain how you tackled challenges; describe the emotional impact of success

A

It can be very effective to give a “one-two” punch of logically explaining your solutions to problems in life (which shows critical thinking skills) and following up with a description of your emotional reward once you succeeded shows how you are driven and motivated when you perform well

44
Q

Allude to the positive emotional effects (emotional and practical) that winning would have on you…without referring to the scholarship directly…

A

Your life will change and impact you emotionally in a positive way if you are propelled on your chosen career or interest-path and that can be worth stating in the essay…it’s a way of saying “This scholarship will impact me in a positive emotional way” without explicitly saying that.

45
Q

Describe your internal gratitude for others who’ve helped you to achieve

A

Again, the attitude of gratitude is extremely important for successful scholarship essays; even though you aren’t explicitly saying “I will thank the committee if it awards me,” keeping a grateful tone will heavily imply that you will express your thankfulness for the award after it is granted.

46
Q

Slide: Dos and Don’ts

A

Everything we’ve mentioned up to this point about what to consider WHILE writing has concerned how we can keep readers on the committee engaged with our story…

Let’s take a look at some other helpful dos and don’ts to keep in mind DURING the writing process…

47
Q

DO: Begin with a compelling “hook”; DON’T: Begin with “my name is…”

A

So many students make this mistake. Remember that your name is already on the application form - they know your name; what they don’t know is your story, so avoid fluff like this that only eats up your word count but doesn’t engage the reader.

When we say “hook”, we mean a starting point for the story that invests the reader from the very beginning. Example: “Had you told me that I would interested in botany as a teenager, I would have laughed. I may have even asked “What’s that?”” (immediately grounds the narrative in a compelling allusion to how the narrative has transformed over time, without giving too much away immediately).

48
Q

Do: Express Confidence in Tone; DON’T: Use a boastful/arrogant tone…

A

This is the flip-side of the coin from writing under the influence of imposter syndrome…if your achievements are relevant, then simply describing the facts of them will make an impression, with no need to bolster that impression by focusing too heavily on your accomplishments or making comparisons…(“I was the only one in my class who…”) or casting aspersions on others with skills/expertise (“My teachers often have to be corrected by me…”)

49
Q

Do: Share lessons from your personal experience; DON’T: Share quotes from others…

A

We already discussed the importance of making your essay stand out with unique stories and style; this is one of the least unique things students can put into their essays…everyone does it, but the committee wants to know what YOU have to say, not Nelson Mandela or Benjamin Franklin…

50
Q

DO: Focus on your narrative/How it highlights your qualifications; DON’T spend time explaining issues in your application

A

Trying to account for other parts of the application that you think might work against you in your essay really only draws attention to those issues, while drawing down the space you have to engage the reader with a powerful story

51
Q

DO: Write with the Committee’s Priorities in Mind; DON’T: Address the committee directly or beg for the award

A

In general, it’s best to avoid “2nd person voice” (you/your/yours pronouns) as there is no reason to address the committee directly in the essay…it may come across as a distraction from your compelling narrative or worse, as trying to manipulate the committees decision

52
Q

DO: Describe your beliefs and identity, if relevant for the story/prompt/scholarship; DON’T: Use your essay as an opportunity to go on an editorial/political/religious rant

A

We all have strong political and ideological opinions, but the time and the place for expressing them is not a scholarship essay…remember: Think narrative, rather than argumentative, essay…

53
Q

DO: End with a grateful and/or hopeful tone/tie back into the prompt; DON’T: End with “Thank you” or “In Conclusion”

A

Yet again, this is a mistake I have seen from HUNDREDS of students; you will not stand out as unique if you conclude the essay with such a simplistic or all-too-common phrase.

Does anyone else have key dos/don’ts that come to mind or that you’ve hear about when you are in the process of writing scholarship essays? [allow/affirm responses]

54
Q

Slide: Edit and Revise

A

Let’s move into a brief discussion of things you can do after you are finished with the first draft and you are moving into the revision/editing phase.

Good rules of thumb include:

55
Q

Using Spelling/grammar checkers, but also review for grammar and spelling issues yourself…

A

This technology is very sophisticated and helpful, but it isn’t perfect or infallible.

AVOID ChatGPT! it may be able to create an interesting essay, but it can’t capture the essence of your personal experience/narrative, nor can it evoke your unique voice…which is a HUGE must in scholarship essays

56
Q

Read the essay aloud; do you hear/see any issues?

A

This is a good rule of thumb for any essay you write; whatever kind of learner or studier you are (visual, auditory or kinesthetic), you will be more likely to catch issues if you review the draft using multiple senses at once…

57
Q

Put yourself in the shoes of the scholarship committee…

A

We are going to do an exercise in just a few minutes where you will have the opportunity to do just that…inhabit the role of a scholarship committee member…

Things to consider while you are the doing that exercise and later when you are revising your OWN work from that perspective include:

[read all items]

58
Q

Slide: Throughout the Process - Use Outside Resources

A

At Red Rocks, there is ABSOLUTELY no reason you need to “go it alone” with scholarship applications/essays

59
Q

On the issue of finding scholarships to apply for - there are many listed at this link through the RRCC website

A

These are consistently updated; Leah can also, I’m sure, connect you with many many more!

60
Q

Ask for constructive feedback from those whom you trust

A

It can be especially helpful if you can get feedback from someone who’s familiar with scholarship application processes or has won scholarships that required an essay submission before…They have the experience to know what to help you watch out for or to include…

61
Q

Visit the RRCC Writing Center, located in the library, next to the Comm lab

A

They work with dozens of students on scholarship essays each semester and their expertise can be helpful, whether you are in the writing process at any phase or hoping to get some guidance on writing strategically to maximize your chance of winning.

62
Q

Consider referring to these examples of scholarship essays[link]

A

I will be sending this presentation in PDF format to Leah, who I’m sure would be happy to share it with you, so that you can access any references/links; you can click on this link for some fantastic examples of truly GREAT award-winning scholarship essays…

63
Q

Slide: After you submit, don’t get discouraged

A

Success with the whole application will usually come down to a lot more than just the quality of your essay. A host of factors play into the decisions of committees with the essay often being a tie-breaker where all else is equal between applicants…

64
Q

Stiff competition, lack of qualification, and even inaccurate contact info…

A

…have all been known to spur the rejection of applications. Notice that none of those reasons amounts to a personal statement about you;

try to view any rejections as a chance to reflect on why you weren’t chosen and to grow from that experience for future applications

65
Q

The big theme in scholarship applications is…

A

DON’T GIVE UP! Every scholarship essay you draft will further develop your skill in telling your own unique story; that is valuable practice toward receiving a future award and honing your skill at promoting yourself in writing.

66
Q

Cast a wide net!

A

Your chances of winning SOMETHING will improve with each new submission

There are tools for easing the burden of applying to a LOT of scholarships, like creating a “master-essay” that shares a story about how you developed your passions in general, but is easily adapted to various more specific prompts

67
Q

Also, if you do end up being successful, it is still a great opportunity for reflection and growth!

A

Consider: what about the successful essay seemed to work best? Consider using that successful essay as your master narrative to be adapted in future application submissions…

68
Q
A