How to Write a Winning Scholarship Essay : 30 Essays That Won over $3 Million in Scholarships

by Unknown

• ISBN13: 9781617600074
• ISBN10: 1617600075
• Edition: 4th
• Format: Trade Paper
• Copyright: 2012-07-01
• Publisher: Supercollege, Llc

Summary

Examining the two basic components of scholarship competition -- essays and interviews -- this vital guidebook offers practical advice and real-life examples to guide students through the entire application process. A roundtable panel of judges and applicants supply inside information regarding the winning qualities sought after by award-giving organisations, and tips for finding scholarships by using books, the internet, personal connections, and sources in the community are provided. With insight into the judges' criteria for a successful application, 30 previously awarded scholarship essays are thoroughly analysed, from choice of topic to writing style. Revealing unique strategies for preparation and overcoming nervousness, this definitive resource also includes sample interview questions and answers.

Author Biography

Gen Tanabe and Kelly Tanabe are the authors of 1001 Ways to Pay for College, Accepted! 50 Successful Business School Admission Essays, Accepted! 50 Successful College Admission Essays, Adult Students, Get Free Cash for College, Get into Any College, How to Write a Winning Scholarship Essay, and Sallie Mae How to Pay for College. They live in Belmont, California.

Table of Contents

The Secret to Winning a Scholarship	p. 13
You are 60 seconds away from the trash bin	p. 14
The scholarship strategies you'll learn	p. 15
Why we know so much about scholarships	p. 17
Not just looking for straight A students	p. 17
Where to Find Great Scholarships	p. 19
Exploring scholarship goldmines	p. 20
Ambassadors wanted	p. 22
Work experience & financial aid	p. 25
Which scholarship is right for you?	p. 26
When & where to find scholarships	p. 26
Make learning their mission your mission	p. 27
Making the match	p. 28
Judges' Roundtable: Inside the Selection Process	p. 31
Meet the scholarship judges	p. 32
What is the purpose of your award?	p. 32
Who typically judges the scholarship competition?	p. 35
How does your scholarship selection process work?	p. 36
What qualities do you look for when selecting the winner?	p. 38
What sets the winner apart from the runner-up?	p. 40
What advice do you have for future applicants?	p. 41
Participating judges & experts	p. 43
Essay Writing Workshop	p. 45
Why the essay is critical to winning	p. 46
The making of a powerful essay	p. 46
Focus on solutions	p. 47
Four common features of all winning essays	p. 49
Hard to believe but true essay mistakes	p. 50
How to find the perfect topic	p. 54
Putting words on paper	p. 54
Go beyond the superficial	p. 55
Use examples & illustrate	p. 58
The importance of editors	p. 59
Recycle & reuse	p. 60
How to write a great introduction or conclusion	p. 60
Essays get better with each revision	p. 61
Stay motivated	p. 62
30 Winning Scholarship Essays	p. 63
The money-winning essays	p. 64
Experiences & challenges	p. 64
A scholarship support network	p. 69
Essays about family	p. 75
The intangible benefits of applying	p. 79
Essay advice from the winners	p. 81
National or international issues	p. 87
The importance of getting editors	p. 96
Community service & volunteerism	p. 99
Career plans or field of study	p. 106
Essays about leadership	p. 115
Academic accomplishments	p. 117
Seeking genuineness	p. 120
Essays about athletics	p. 125
Artistic talents	p. 127
12 Essays That Bombed	p. 129
Learning from failure	p. 130
Where's the point?	p. 130
The attempted tearjerker	p. 132
Miss America essay	p. 133
The life-changing voyage	p. 135
Convoluted vocabulary	p. 136
Behold! My statistics	p. 137
The most influential person in the world	p. 139
Creativity overload	p. 141
Be true	p. 141
The future me	p. 142
My life as seen on TV	p. 144
Excuses, excuses, excuses	p. 146
Complex problem, simple solution	p. 147
Judges' Roundtable: The Scholarship Essay	p. 151
Meet the scholarship judges	p. 152
How important is the essay to winning a scholarship?	p. 152
What qualities make an essay powerful?	p. 153
What common mistakes do students make on the essay?	p. 155
Participating judges & experts	p. 157
Winning Interview Strategies	p. 159
Face-to-face with the interview	p. 160
Friendly & hostile interviews	p. 160
How to ace the interview	p. 161
Transform an interrogation into a conversation	p. 161
Advice from a Rhodes Scholar	p. 163
You are not the center of the universe	p. 164
The group interview	p. 165
Dress & act the part	p. 166
What it's like to be an interviewer	p. 167
How to make practice into perfect	p. 168
The long-distance interview	p. 169
The hostile interview	p. 170
The disaster interview	p. 172
Post-interview	p. 173
Make sure you make your point	p. 173
Real Interview Questions & Answers	p. 175
Giving the right answers	p. 176
Achievements & leadership questions	p. 176
Tip #1 from a scholarship winner	p. 179
Personal questions	p. 179
Misinterpreting the judges	p. 181
Why you deserve to win questions	p. 184
Education & college questions	p. 186
Tip #2 from a scholarship winner	p. 187
Academic questions	p. 189
Tip #3 from a scholarship winner	p. 191
Your career & future questions	p. 194
Tip #4 from a scholarship winner	p. 195
Activity questions	p. 198
Opinion questions	p. 200
Tip #5 from a scholarship winner	p. 201
Judges' Roundtable: The Interview	p. 203
Meet the scholarship judges	p. 204
How important is the interview in determining who wins?	p. 204
What are some typical questions that you ask?	p. 205
What are qualities of a good interview?	p. 205
What common mistakes do students make in interviews?	p. 206
How should students prepare for interviews?	p. 207
Poor ways to begin an interview	p. 208
Participating judges & experts	p. 209
Final Thoughts	p. 211
A personal ending	p. 212
Special request	p. 213
Scholarship Directory	p. 215
A directory of 125 scholarships including information on how to apply.
Index	p. 251
About the Authors	p. 256
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