Difference between revisions of "Write a Letter Asking for Scholarship Money"
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#*Once you’ve thought about it, write out a practice version first, then go and fill your final answer in. | #*Once you’ve thought about it, write out a practice version first, then go and fill your final answer in. | ||
===Gathering Information=== | ===Gathering Information=== | ||
| − | #Prepare once, use repeatedly. You will need the same basic information for every single letter you write, regardless of the recipient. That means a job well done now creates a faster and less intensive process later on. <ref>http://www.usnews.com/education/blogs/the-scholarship-coach/2013/01/31/4-ways-to-make-your-scholarship-essay-stand-out</ref> | + | #Prepare once, use repeatedly. You will need the same basic information for every single letter you write, regardless of the recipient. That means a job well done now creates a faster and less intensive process later on. <ref name="rf1">http://www.usnews.com/education/blogs/the-scholarship-coach/2013/01/31/4-ways-to-make-your-scholarship-essay-stand-out</ref> |
#*When you write your second letter, third letter, and so on, you will use the 5 paragraph essay structure for each and simply highlight different information to more accurately fit each recipient. | #*When you write your second letter, third letter, and so on, you will use the 5 paragraph essay structure for each and simply highlight different information to more accurately fit each recipient. | ||
#Write your academic and career goals. Rewrite them until you can state them in one sentence. Now you have a clear, concise plan for your future as well as an important reason for applying for your scholarships. | #Write your academic and career goals. Rewrite them until you can state them in one sentence. Now you have a clear, concise plan for your future as well as an important reason for applying for your scholarships. | ||
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#*Fees | #*Fees | ||
===Writing an Outline=== | ===Writing an Outline=== | ||
| − | #Organize your paragraphs. Use the standard five paragraph essay format. This format will structure your letter in a clear, concise, and compelling manner. It consists of an introductory paragraph, three main body paragraphs, and a conclusion. <ref>http://www.englishdiscourse.org/5.paragraph.essay.format.html</ref> | + | #Organize your paragraphs. Use the standard five paragraph essay format. This format will structure your letter in a clear, concise, and compelling manner. It consists of an introductory paragraph, three main body paragraphs, and a conclusion. <ref name="rf2">http://www.englishdiscourse.org/5.paragraph.essay.format.html</ref> |
| − | #Outline your introduction. Your introduction should focus on your immediate educational and career goals. This sentence is already written in your preparation stage so you should be able to place it right into this part of your outline. You will briefly discuss how your particular interests within your chosen field of study developed and state why you want to continue your education.<ref>http://www.mba360.com/writing-scholarship-essays.html</ref> | + | #Outline your introduction. Your introduction should focus on your immediate educational and career goals. This sentence is already written in your preparation stage so you should be able to place it right into this part of your outline. You will briefly discuss how your particular interests within your chosen field of study developed and state why you want to continue your education.<ref name="rf3">http://www.mba360.com/writing-scholarship-essays.html</ref> |
| − | #*Remember that these bullet points are for your reference so you can see just how much you’ve accomplished thus far. When you write, it’ll be up to you to turn this list into a compelling "story".<ref>http://www.usnews.com/education/blogs/the-scholarship-coach/2010/12/16/skip-these-6-scholarship-essay-errors</ref> | + | #*Remember that these bullet points are for your reference so you can see just how much you’ve accomplished thus far. When you write, it’ll be up to you to turn this list into a compelling "story".<ref name="rf4">http://www.usnews.com/education/blogs/the-scholarship-coach/2010/12/16/skip-these-6-scholarship-essay-errors</ref> |
#Create bullets for paragraph two. In this paragraph you will focus on your strengths and leadership skills including academic achievements, extracurricular activities, community and/or volunteer, and awards. Again, you have these listed. Now put them in a bulleted list here. | #Create bullets for paragraph two. In this paragraph you will focus on your strengths and leadership skills including academic achievements, extracurricular activities, community and/or volunteer, and awards. Again, you have these listed. Now put them in a bulleted list here. | ||
#*Were you class president? Did you write a story that won a competition? Did you write for the school newspaper? Were you captain of the Lacrosse team? Did you volunteer in a political campaign or at the food bank? Do you hold down a job with management responsibilities? Do you work with kids? Have you been nominated for academic awards? | #*Were you class president? Did you write a story that won a competition? Did you write for the school newspaper? Were you captain of the Lacrosse team? Did you volunteer in a political campaign or at the food bank? Do you hold down a job with management responsibilities? Do you work with kids? Have you been nominated for academic awards? | ||
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#*This an expansion of your introductory paragraph regarding your academic and career goals. Now you provide greater detail that illuminates just how strong your knowledge and passion are and how you could you change your life and the lives of others with this scholarship. | #*This an expansion of your introductory paragraph regarding your academic and career goals. Now you provide greater detail that illuminates just how strong your knowledge and passion are and how you could you change your life and the lives of others with this scholarship. | ||
#*You’ve already shown them who you are, "now show them who you will become and how that will benefit them". | #*You’ve already shown them who you are, "now show them who you will become and how that will benefit them". | ||
| − | #Outline your conclusion. Reiterate within this closing paragraph your interests in applying for the scholarship. Then explain what you – and by extension they – will gain from you having received this particular award. Remember, they want to award successful candidates. Their success going forward is contingent on choosing candidates who successfully complete their education and move on to productive careers. Be sure you let them know this is exactly your plan.<ref | + | #Outline your conclusion. Reiterate within this closing paragraph your interests in applying for the scholarship. Then explain what you – and by extension they – will gain from you having received this particular award. Remember, they want to award successful candidates. Their success going forward is contingent on choosing candidates who successfully complete their education and move on to productive careers. Be sure you let them know this is exactly your plan.<ref name="rf3" /> |
#*Be careful not to use redundant words or phrases from earlier paragraphs. | #*Be careful not to use redundant words or phrases from earlier paragraphs. | ||
#*Think of this paragraph as one in which you are paraphrasing an article, paragraph, or even a book: summarize but do it in a different way. Make it new, unique, and fresh. As they say, “Take it to the next level.” | #*Think of this paragraph as one in which you are paraphrasing an article, paragraph, or even a book: summarize but do it in a different way. Make it new, unique, and fresh. As they say, “Take it to the next level.” | ||
===Writing Your Letter=== | ===Writing Your Letter=== | ||
| − | #Determine your audience. Do a little research on the organization's website before you write your individualized letter. See if you can find their goals or mission statement. Often, these will influence their decisions when awarding scholarship money. Keep your audience in mind as you develop the letter. If you are creating a letter to the National Engineer’s Association, for example, what you highlight will be different than your letter to the NAACP. <ref>https://www.owens.edu/writing/scholarship.html</ref> | + | #Determine your audience. Do a little research on the organization's website before you write your individualized letter. See if you can find their goals or mission statement. Often, these will influence their decisions when awarding scholarship money. Keep your audience in mind as you develop the letter. If you are creating a letter to the National Engineer’s Association, for example, what you highlight will be different than your letter to the NAACP. <ref name="rf5">https://www.owens.edu/writing/scholarship.html</ref> |
#Flesh out each paragraph. You have all the information you need already organized and ready to go. Create strong, dynamic and clear sentences that capture the essence of each paragraph concisely. | #Flesh out each paragraph. You have all the information you need already organized and ready to go. Create strong, dynamic and clear sentences that capture the essence of each paragraph concisely. | ||
| − | #*Use active voice. Passive voice puts you, the "do"er, last: "Being elected as class president was a highlight of my high school career." Instead, phrase this actively, focusing on what you accomplished: "As class president, I focused on developing a peer anti-bullying group."<ref>http://grammar.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/passive.htm</ref> | + | #*Use active voice. Passive voice puts you, the "do"er, last: "Being elected as class president was a highlight of my high school career." Instead, phrase this actively, focusing on what you accomplished: "As class president, I focused on developing a peer anti-bullying group."<ref name="rf6">http://grammar.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/passive.htm</ref> |
| − | #*Use expressive action verbs. Instead of saying "I volunteered at Habitat for Humanity," use action verbs that say exactly what you did: "I coordinated volunteers from my high school and helped construct houses for Habitat for Humanity."<ref>http://career.opcd.wfu.edu/files/2011/05/Action-Verbs-for-Resumes.pdf</ref> | + | #*Use expressive action verbs. Instead of saying "I volunteered at Habitat for Humanity," use action verbs that say exactly what you did: "I coordinated volunteers from my high school and helped construct houses for Habitat for Humanity."<ref name="rf7">http://career.opcd.wfu.edu/files/2011/05/Action-Verbs-for-Resumes.pdf</ref> |
#Avoid the “introduction is a summary” pitfall. Your first paragraph is not a summary. You want to grab their attention from the get-go with your introduction and a summary won’t get the job done. Approach it like you’re telling the beginning of a story to your friends so they'll "need" to know what happens next. | #Avoid the “introduction is a summary” pitfall. Your first paragraph is not a summary. You want to grab their attention from the get-go with your introduction and a summary won’t get the job done. Approach it like you’re telling the beginning of a story to your friends so they'll "need" to know what happens next. | ||
| − | #*Remember the art of the Hollywood thriller: what comes next? If you telegraph where your introduction is going (e.g., by summarizing what follows) you will capture their interest and make them want to read to find out “what happens next.”<ref | + | #*Remember the art of the Hollywood thriller: what comes next? If you telegraph where your introduction is going (e.g., by summarizing what follows) you will capture their interest and make them want to read to find out “what happens next.”<ref name="rf3" /> |
#*A descriptive short anecdote is often very effective. For example, you could start off telling about the time you held your mom's hand as she screamed in the hospital room. You could describe how you felt as your baby sibling came into the world. Then follow it up with your goal statement: "This experience made me realize that I am called to serve rural communities as an OB/GYN." | #*A descriptive short anecdote is often very effective. For example, you could start off telling about the time you held your mom's hand as she screamed in the hospital room. You could describe how you felt as your baby sibling came into the world. Then follow it up with your goal statement: "This experience made me realize that I am called to serve rural communities as an OB/GYN." | ||
#Build on your introduction’s mystery. Make sure your second paragraph keeps the mystery and suspense going. Who are you? Where have you been? What have you done? What sets you apart? What is so unique about your story? At the risk of answering a rhetorical question, "you" are what makes your story unique. | #Build on your introduction’s mystery. Make sure your second paragraph keeps the mystery and suspense going. Who are you? Where have you been? What have you done? What sets you apart? What is so unique about your story? At the risk of answering a rhetorical question, "you" are what makes your story unique. | ||
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#Use strong transitions between paragraphs. Avoid dry, momentum-killing transitions like, “First,” “Second,” “In addition,” “In conclusion,” etc. Make each paragraph flow naturally into the next like it would in a conversation. The most compelling writing is the writing that makes the reader want to read the next line rather than reading a by-wrote list of why they should be reading. | #Use strong transitions between paragraphs. Avoid dry, momentum-killing transitions like, “First,” “Second,” “In addition,” “In conclusion,” etc. Make each paragraph flow naturally into the next like it would in a conversation. The most compelling writing is the writing that makes the reader want to read the next line rather than reading a by-wrote list of why they should be reading. | ||
#*A natural flow in a story never uses these types of clunky transitions and your letter is a story. Look at it that way and transitions become much easier. | #*A natural flow in a story never uses these types of clunky transitions and your letter is a story. Look at it that way and transitions become much easier. | ||
| − | #Keep each paragraph short and to the point. Remember, you only have two pages maximum. That means each paragraph can’t be much more than one-third of a page. Be pointed, be brief, and be strong.<ref>http://www.financialaidtips.org/scholarships.htm</ref> | + | #Keep each paragraph short and to the point. Remember, you only have two pages maximum. That means each paragraph can’t be much more than one-third of a page. Be pointed, be brief, and be strong.<ref name="rf8">http://www.financialaidtips.org/scholarships.htm</ref> |
#Format your letter. Use a 12-point font type, double-spaced so that it is easy to read. Use professional quality stationery paper if you plan on mailing the letter using the postal service. | #Format your letter. Use a 12-point font type, double-spaced so that it is easy to read. Use professional quality stationery paper if you plan on mailing the letter using the postal service. | ||
#*If the organization has given you specific requirements for the letter. ''follow them precisely.'' It would be a shame if your essay is DQ'ed straight out of the gate for being too long or in the wrong font. | #*If the organization has given you specific requirements for the letter. ''follow them precisely.'' It would be a shame if your essay is DQ'ed straight out of the gate for being too long or in the wrong font. | ||
