Writing the Personal Essay
for College Applications and Scholarships
When it is time to complete a college transfer application, or when it
is time to compete for money, it is critical to develop a well written
personal essay that will make you stand out from all other
candidates. Consider that your application may be only one of
hundreds that the reviewer reads. How can you get the reviewer’s
attention? How can you shine?
Develop your essay to put the spotlight on you!
First, give yourself plenty of time before the submission deadline to develop the essay.
Then, read the directions carefully. Has a specific question been asked? If so, be sure to
concentrate on answering that particular question. As you consider the question, think
critically about what the specific university or scholarship organization is looking for in a
student.
Next, pay close attention to the essay’s length requirement. If you are asked to write a one
page essay with 500 words, then stay as close to those guidelines as possible. You may have
the material for a great two page essay, but the reviewer has time to read only one.
It is likely that the application includes other sections where you will indicate grade point
average, awards, clubs and volunteer involvements. Therefore, unless specifically
instructed to include that information, try to avoid repeating it in the personal essay.
Use the essay, instead, to highlight an aspect of your personality that might be sought-after
in the university or scholarship program that you are soliciting. Focus on developing a
unified essay that thoughtfully expresses a unique personal quality, characteristic, or
experience that reveals how you have become the person that you are today. Use a
personal story to reveal your finest attribute. Use the anecdote to depict how the
experience changed your thinking, your response to others, your passion for a particular
issue, or your broader view of people and the world.
Seemingly insignificant moments in life can illuminate your most authentic self for others
to see. The best examples come from a brief moment, an unlikely encounter, or an unusual
experience. Settle on one good example that can establish the dominant characteristic
theme that will take center stage in your essay. Use the example to make good connections
between your admirable quality, the purpose you hope to achieve, what the school is
looking for in a prospective student, and the impact that you feel you will make in the
future. Be sure to include why you are attracted to their program of study or distinctive
scholarship. It shows that you have done your research regarding what they have to offer if
you are selected.
Use the worksheet below to brainstorm and to outline the essay in a five paragraph essay format. It should
include an interesting introduction, three supporting body paragraphs, and a thoughtful conclusion. Be sure
to include the name of the scholarship somewhere in the essay. Consult a thesaurus to find similar words and
phrases that will create unity with variety within the essay. Include words like “opportunity, possibilities,
innovator, and creativity.” They’ll be effective in any scholarship essay. Remember to proofread carefully;
spell check won’t find every error. If the essay has spilled over to page two, see if changing the margins or
font size slightly will move the contents onto a single page. Be careful, however, not to break any of the
guidelines. Finally, check the word count.
Establish your purpose:
Isolate a quality or characteristic that will be the essay’s dominant theme:
Brainstorm a story that will paint a picture of this characteristic:
Use a thesaurus to find similar unifying words for the quality and tone of the event:
Introduction:
Thesis/Central Idea:
Body Paragraph 1: Topic Sentence includes the main idea of the paragraph
Supporting details:
Body Paragraph 2: Topic Sentence includes the main idea of the paragraph
Supporting details:
Body Paragraph 3: Topic Sentence includes the main idea of the paragraph
Supporting details:
Conclusion:
BCCC Tutoring Center Feb.2011