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3 Simple Steps to write an Essay on “Why I deserve a Scholarship”
Our world has greatly advanced in knowledge and knowledge, they say, is power. On account of that, the pursuit of academic degrees has become one of the most desired and attempted ventures in the world. People across different socio-cultural backgrounds from different parts of the world quest for the acquisition of qualitative and effective education that would position them to attain their full potentials and become all they can be to their world. However, millions with such noble desires and quests are faced with a daunting challenge — finance.
Quality education, wherever it is offered, is very expensive; and poverty has been identified as one of the main reasons why very gifted young students, especially those from developing countries in Africa and Asia, are unable to access quality education. It is for such people that we have put together this well-researched article. The good news is that all hope is not lost because different kinds of scholarships are readily available at different times of the year to meet the need of visionary students with incredible academic goals but lack the finances to sponsor themselves through school.
Different multinational and international organizations are offering tuition-free sponsorship schemes for both local and international students. Government of nations around the world are awarding scholarships to help these students and give their academic dreams and aspirations a chance to come true. Do you want to acquire an Undergraduate degree, Masters or PhD? Are you looking for Loans, Research grants and Fellowships? There are many tuition-free opportunities available for you.
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Having said all these, you need to come to terms with the fact that millions of people around the world are privy to this information and are striving to access these scholarships opportunities. The implication of this is that the scholarship opportunities are highly competitive and you must be able to convince the members of the scholarship boards, through your essay, that you are the one who deserves to be offered the scholarship.
So it is very important that you have a firm grip on the steps and technicalities involved in writing an essay on “Why I Deserve a Scholarship.” as that can give you an advantage over your competitors. Having your progress and overall success in mind, we have carefully delineated the steps and technicalities involved in writing an essay on “Why I Deserve a Scholarship.” We also tried our hands on the General Tips for Writing Scholarship Essays.
Why is Access to a Scholarship Important?
Scholarship packages come in variety of sizes, and terms and conditions. There are many reasons why a student needs to pursue their academic career under scholarships.
Considering the fact that there are more people in the world who belong to the middle and low income earners than those who are rich, scholarships offer a much-needed opportunity for many people to get decent a education. It is true that without the help of an external source of finances, many students would need to work several jobs for several hours a week in order to pay for their books, lodging and general upkeep which will impact negatively on their productivity as students.
Types of Scholarships
Regardless of the individual, organization or government offering the scholarship, scholarships can come in either of the following two forms:
- Fully-Funded Scholarships: the financial value and benefits cover the students’ entire expenses for the stipulated period. These include tuition fee, feeding, accommodation, books and other required academic resources.
- Partially-Funded Scholarships: the financial value and benefits do not cover the students’ entire expenses for the stipulated period. It may only fund or take care of a part of the students expenses as stipulated in the terms and conditions of the scholarship.
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Steps to Writing a Winning Essay on “Why I deserve a Scholarship”
In this section, we will be taking you through the steps to writing a winning essay on why you deserve a scholarship. You have to understand that the essence of this essay is to tell the members of the selection committee that you are the best and most deserving of the award. It is to tell them what makes you outstanding when compared to other applicants and you do that by revealing your unique talents, highlighting your achievements and letting them see how selecting you for the scholarship can add value to the your chosen institution or college.
Now let’s get down to the steps.
1. Provide a thesis statement
This is as important as it is powerful. Your thesis should strongly outline your main argument by highlighting the reasons and qualities that stand you out as the most deserving of all the candidates. While doing this, keep your target audience (which is the scholarship selection committee or board) in mind as you try to understand what they need from you and give it to them explicitly. The scholarship selection board are in the look out for applicants who meet a set of unique criteria. Do your best to bring your personality to life through your essay and convince the selection committee to choose you.
2. Mention your Previous Achievements
The goal of writing a scholarship essay is to convince the selection committee on why you are the best choice for the award. On account of that, highlighting your talents, skills, personality strengths and previous achievements would go a long way to prove this point. Ensure that you explain how your your previous accomplishments are relevant to the scholarship. Be careful not to do this in a way that portrays you as arrogant. Don’t overpraise or blow your own whistle unnecessarily. Lastly, mention your future goals and aspirations and explain how your previous achievements may be stepping stones to accomplishing your future goals, not forgetting to say how you intend to use the scholarship if it’s awarded to you.
3. Explain what Makes you Unique
As you would expect, the scholarship selection committee goes through thousands of essays for the same scholarship within the period of application. As human beings, going through similar essays might become a boring task for them. So you must creatively think about how you can attract their attention. What are the things that make you unique and outstanding? If you are not sure about this, talk to your family and close pals to find out.
Scholarship providers are in search for people who have an optimistic outlook on life. Avoid sharing any sad, depressing or demoralizing stories about your past. Rather, focus on showing them how you have overcome challenges in life and the invaluable lessons you have learnt in the process. Try to sound enthusiastic and inspirational from the beginning to the end of your essay.
4. Be Mindful of Structure and Language
Every well-written essay follows a standard structure and order: a strong introduction, supporting explanations and an appropriate conclusion. You must follow this structure religiously. Your introduction is as important as your conclusion. Make each paragraph of your essay relevant to both your introductory paragraph and the entire presentation. Write clearly, concisely and explicitly as you endeavor to maintain a logical flow from one thought to the other.
Remember to make a draft of your essay first and review it repeatedly before coming up with the copy you are to forward to the scholarship board. Correct grammatical errors, spelling errors, inappropriate words, typos, and punctuation errors as these can jeopardize your chances of being selected. You can subscribe to the services of a competent person or a professional if you are not confident in this area. Conclude your essay by summarizing your most vital points in the most captivating and compelling way.
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3 Sample Copies of Essays on “Why I deserve a Scholarship”
Below are some examples (templates) of essays on “Why I deserve a Scholarship”. Go through them and be guided.
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