4 Steps to Writing a Winning Scholarship Essay
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Dreaming of studying abroad? A compelling scholarship essay can make all the difference. Our guide provides step-by-step instructions on how to showcase your unique qualities and achieve your academic goals. With our expert tips, you'll learn how to craft a persuasive narrative that highlights your achievements and makes a lasting impression on the selection committee.
Steps to Write a Winning Scholarship Essay
Let us look at the four steps to writing a winning scholarship essay:
Step 1 - Research:
The first step to writing a winning scholarship essay is to research the scholarship that you want to get. You must find out the history of the trust that is offering the scholarship. What are the main aspects that they are looking for in a successful candidate? Mostly, the trust/society looks for good academic scores/ background, effective leadership abilities, innovation, the ability to take initiatives, and a student who is an all-rounder. You must reflect on your life and select instances and qualities to discuss in the scholarship essay that will help you stand out from the rest. For instance, in your college/school if you established a club and increased its membership, then you can talk about your efforts and contributions to showcase your leadership and initiative. You may also do some research on the life stories of the winners in the past to understand the profiles eligible for the scholarship.
Step 2 - Ideate:
Having understood the expectations of the scholarship-offering organization/ body think about how you would want to depict your life’s story to suit their parameters. Another step to writing a winning scholarship essay would be to focus on the presentation of your facts/anecdotes/ information in a vivid manner. You must carefully plan your content to convince the reader. However, avoid the urge to gain sympathy when talking about your need for the scholarship. You must come across as a deserving candidate, not a needy one. Hence, you must discuss your achievements and victories, despite all odds. First, come up with an outline for the scholarship essay having an idea of the skills/topics/instances that you want to mention.
Predict your IELTS, TOEFL, and PTE in just 4 steps!
Step 3 - Write:
Organize your thoughts and structure your essay. The essay should have a clear introduction, body, and conclusion. Avoid grammatical mistakes and ensure clarity in the written matter. However, there is no need to use flowery language because it is your content/story that will be the deciding factor and not your word power. You must include all aspects of the question/ prompt/ guidelines. Also, adhere to the word limit, if specified.
Step 4 - Edit:
Moreover, do not underestimate the power of editing and proofreading. You must avoid spelling and grammatical errors by proofreading the essay two or three times. Make sure that the final copy is flawless.
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Four Steps to Writing a Winning Scholarship Essay - FAQs
Q. What are some of the steps to writing a winning scholarship essay?
A. There are a few simple steps to writing a winning scholarship essay. You must understand the prompt fully and then research on the expectations of the scholarship-offering trust/body. Your next step should be to recall instances from your life that align with the requirements. Going further, you must organize your thoughts and then give them a structure. Write the essay in a manner that there is a proper and strong introduction, body, and conclusion. Ensure that you have answered all parts of the prompt/ question, followed all the guidelines and word limit specified, and proofread the essay.
Q. Should I present myself as a distressed candidate in utter need of the scholarship?
A. While you may express your need for the scholarship, your goal should be to present yourself as the most deserving candidate. Rather than arousing sympathy, you should focus on winning the admiration and trust of the scholarship-offering organization.
Q. What are some of the qualities that I may highlight in the scholarship essay?
A. An important step to writing a winning scholarship essay is to make sure that you present yourself as someone with strong leadership skills, academic prowess, initiative, sincerity, focus, motivation, and critical thinking ability. You should mention your academic and other achievements too. If you have won scholarships in the past, you must talk about that.
Q. Is it important to learn about the scholarship-provider’s values?
A. Yes, it is a good idea to learn about and align with the values and goals of your scholarship-provider. You must also show how you may in the future contribute to the organization. This is an important step to writing a winning scholarship essay.
Q: How can I get admission in the University of Manchester?
The application process at the University of Manchester may vary depending on the course and level of study. However, here is the application process for UG and PG courses:
The Undergraduate Application Process:
Step 1: You can apply through the UCAS common application portal.
Step 2: Go to the website and select the course you are interested in.
Step 3: Ensure you meet the Entry requirements (Academic qualifications, English proficiency, etc.
Step 4: Once you decide on the course, submit documents such as SOP, Transcripts and personal statements.
Check out: tips to improve your SOP.
Step 5: You can track the application's progress through your given credentials by UCAS.
Step 6: Once the applicant submits the application to UCAS, it forwards to the University, and the admission teams carefully analyse the application document.
Step 7: The university will send you an offer letter once selected. Hence keep checking your UCAS portal for your application status.
The Postgraduate application process:
Step 1: Select the postgraduate course you are interested in from the University of Manchester.\
Step 2: Ensure you meet the entry requirements for the chosen program, as they vary depending on the course.
Step 3: Complete the online application by providing your personal information.
Step 4: Upload the required documents, such as Academic transcripts and proof of English language proficiency ( TOEFL/ IELTS). experience in your fields and references (depending on the course). You also may require Two LORs depending on the course.
To make your admission better, check out the following: How Admission Officers Evaluate your application.
Step 5: If your application is successful, you will receive an offer from the University of Manchester.
Q: Is university of West of Scotland good for international students?
The University of the West of Scotland has five modern and diverse campuses in United Kingdom. The University has welcomed more than 3,000 international students which are representing 1/3 of the globe. They also have 130 European partners who are actively in global study and exchange options through the Commonwealth universities programmes. The University also offers study abroad opportunities for UWS who are eligible for the same and also have more than 20 transnational education partners worldwide which helps them deliver UWS Bachelors and Masters Degrees around the world.
Q: What is University of Wales, Trinity Saint famous for?
University of Wales, Trinity Saint (UWTSD) was founded in 2010, is a public institution for higher education and research at multiple locations. It was set up under the 1828 royal charter of Lampeter, the institution was the result of the merger between Trinity University College and the University of Wales. The institution merged with the Swansea Metropolitan University in 2013.
- Top Ranked University: The UWTSD is not ranked by any major ranking body, however as per the university ranking given on the official website of the university, it is ranked among:
- #1st in Wales and UK Top 5 Film Production and Photography
- #1st in Wales and UK Top 5 Fashion and Textiles
- #1st in Wales and UK Top 20 Graphic Design
- #1st in Wales and UK Top 5 Education
- #1st in Wales and UK Top 20 Sports Science
- #1st in Wales and UK Top 20 Mechanical Engineering
- #1st in Wales for Fine Arts
- Variety of Courses: UWTSD offers more than 300 programs at various levels including undergraduate, postgraduate degrees as well as multiple online courses.
- Highly distinguished and learned faculties: the faculty at UWTSD is highly learned and distinguished which enables students to be the best in their field of study.
- High Placements: According to Graduate Outcome data 2019-2020 quoted by the UWTSD, more than 95% of its graduates were found to be employed within 15 Months of graduation. The average salary of a graduate is not explicitly released by UWTSD, however, as per some unofficial sources the average salary of the graduates of UWTSD is approximately INR 30-35L. with the highest salary being reported as high as INR 66.5L for jobs in Financial Services.
Q: What is Hult International Business School - UK famous for?
Hult International Business School, UK, is famous for its global perspective and multicultural environment. The school is known for its focus on practical education, offering undergraduate, postgraduate, and executive education programs across multiple campuses located in prominent cities around the world, including Boston, San Francisco, London, Dubai, Shanghai, and New York. It is also recognised for its diverse student body, with over 128 nationalities represented among its students. The school has received positive reviews for its competent faculty, practical approach to business education, and the opportunity for students to interact with a wide network of contacts
Q: What rank is Wolverhampton University in UK?
The University of Wolverhampton is one of the best universities in the United Kingdom. The university is consistently ranked among the best universities nationally and globally. For nearly 200 years, the University of Wolverhampton has been consistently providing a quality of education to students and producing highly skilled graduates. The national rankings of the University of Wolverhampton are given below:
| Ranking Body | Ranking |
|---|---|
| The Guardian University Guide 2024 | #101 |
| The Complete University Guide 2024 | #117 |
Q: Does the University of Essex require IELTS?
International students whose native language is not English must meet the University of Essex English language requirements to get admission. The university accepts IELTS scores as proof of English language proficiency. Mentioned below are the IELTS scores required for UG and PG admission at the university:
English Language Test | Score |
|---|---|
IELTS | Overall score of 5.5 to 8.0 with minimum of 5.5 to 7.5 in each section |
The university also accepts the score of other English language tests such as TOEFL and PTE for admission to undergraduate and graduate programs:
English Language Test | Score |
TOEFL iBT | Overall score of 72 to 114 |
PTE | Overall score of 59 to 84 with minimum of 59 to 80 in each section |
Also read: Required IELTS Score for UK Universities
Q: Why indian students choose to study at Hult International Business School - UK?
Indian students choose to study at Hult International Business School in the UK for several reasons, including its highly ranked programs, global outlook, and career support. Hult offers a range of full-time master’s degrees, immersive bachelor's programs, and MBA options that prepare students to excel in the global job market. The school is the largest and top-ranked global business school, providing students with an incomparable universal outlook. Additionally, Hult's focus on experiential learning, extensive career support, and the opportunity to study at multiple campuses around the world are attractive to Indian students seeking a global business education. Furthermore, the school's emphasis on innovation and meeting the needs of students and employers may also contribute to its appeal to Indian students
Q: How to prepare for UK 10th board exam 2025?
Those who are preparing for the UK Class 10 exam 2025 are recommended to follow the tips below.
- Know the exam pattern
- Make a proper time table as per the syllabus
- Solve previous year question papers
- Make short notes of important formulas and theorems
- Revise regularly
- Figure out weaker areas and learn them well
With proper planning and hard work, students can easily clear the UK 10th board exam.
Aishwarya is a professional Writer currently working as a Study Abroad Expert in the Editorial Team at Shiksha. She has over 5 years of experience and is skilled at creating Online Content with leveraged knowledge i... Read Full Bio
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