Why I Deserve This Scholarship Essay | Outlines and Examples

Are you applying to a scholarship program at your dream university? Here are some scholarship essay outlines and examples to help you stand out from the rest!

Crafting a compelling essay for your scholarship application is more than just a task; it's an opportunity to showcase your dedication, aspirations, and unique perspective. The weight of this essay cannot be understated – from its formatting to its grammar and content, every detail could sway the decision between acceptance and rejection. It's crucial to express both your academic achievements and your future career plans with clarity and confidence.

For many, distilling their aspirations and achievements into a concise and persuasive essay can be daunting. If you ever feel lost or overwhelmed, consider turning to resources that can assist, such as online writing tools known to help streamline the process. They can be invaluable in guiding you, organizing your thoughts, and ensuring that your essay stands out in a sea of applications.

General tips on how to write a proper scholarship essay:

A scholarship essay should be clear and concise, it should also be unique to your own experiences to emphasize your unique qualities as a candidate for the scholarship. Here are some of our tips:

• Emphasize your individual skills and promote your personal strengths by highlighting your achievements and projects. This will show the scholarship committee that you are worth investing in.

• Be yourself and talk about your long-term goals and how you believe you can achieve them. You can also talk about your hobbies, goals, and interests outside of school, as this will further highlight your personality and give them an idea of who you are as a person.

• Talk about the life experiences that have influenced you and why you want to study at this particular university/field of study. Make sure to relate your experiences to the scholarship you are applying for and how they will help you achieve your dreams.

• Avoid using general statements like “I want to achieve my academic goals” or “I am passionate about this field.” General statements like this are overused and will not stand out to the scholarship committee. Make sure to state your specific goals and ambitions and use the essay to demonstrate why you should be awarded the scholarship.

• Explain your personal characteristics that make you a deserving candidate for the scholarship. What makes you different from your other fellow students? What unique skills and talents do you have?

• Write a short and concise overall summary of what you want to say in your essay of around 4-5 paragraphs. Make sure not to write too much content as this will only confuse the scholarship committee and make sure to write in a professional tone.

• Make sure to give sufficient supporting details about your experiences by providing examples to support your ideas. Talk about your life past experiences like accomplishments, grades, and extracurricular activities that have helped shape who you are today.

• Proofread and make proper adjustments. Make sure that you are taking breaks when creating your essay scholarship draft throughout the writing process to avoid burnout and ensure a high-quality final product. You can also ask a friend or a teacher to read your essay and scan through errors that you might have overlooked during the writing process.

• Make sure to submit the scholarship essay before the deadline! After properly proofreading, make sure that the essay is submitted in a punctual manner to prevent disqualification due to late submissions.

Scholarship Essay Examples

Now that you are fully equipped with the guidelines and the tips mentioned above, we can now show you a couple of examples of how to write a scholarship essay for your dream university or field of interest.

Scholarship Essay Example #1

"Dear Scholarship Committee,

Two years ago, I learned that over 100,000 ocean animals die every year from plastic. Two years ago, I became committed to reducing the amount of plastic I use. Two years ago I became a minimalist.

I am the kind of person that once exposed to a fact, I am unable to turn a blind eye to it. When I understood the crux of consumerism and the impact that it was having on our earth, I knew that I had to do something about it.

I started small. I bought a stainless steel water bottle and started using reusable grocery bags. I stopped purchasing food items wrapped in plastic. I started making my own soap and deodorant. I started shopping in second-hand stores.

But, I knew that my initiatives weren’t enough. Sure, they were something. But I knew that I had to involve more people in my undertaking. So, naturally, I took to social media.

I began to share my zero-waste project with family and friends. I started to see a lot of support coming in. People were interested. How was I making my dish soap, they wanted to know. Where were the best second-hand shops? There was a response.

So, I started a Facebook page called “Clean Your Act” and began to share environmental problems that were happening around the world. I also shared my tips on reducing your waste.

I decided to start an environmental awareness group at my high school, during my junior year. I recruited an environmental science teacher to help me. Every week, I share with participants how-tos like starting a compost. We also have discussions on environmental issues plaguing our planet.

Next year, I will be starting my bachelor’s degree at the environmental science school of the University of Virginia. With the rising costs of college, it will be difficult for me to pay for the expenses on my own.

For this reason, I am applying to the Environmental Studies Scholarship Program. I have dreams of pursuing this field and by obtaining a degree in it, I know that I will get the necessary tools to grow my passion into something big.

I am going to work very hard in the program and learn all that I can. I am hoping to bring my “Clean Your Act” group to campus and get other students involved in the movement.

I am committed to saving our environment, one animal and tree at a time. I may not be able to save all 100,000 animals, but I can definitely save some of them. I don’t need to move mountains to save the world. But, if I can make others appreciate the mountains and our world, then they’ll want to learn how to treat it better."

This scholarship application works well because the writer is talking about relevant things related to the field he/she is applying for. The writer also talks about themselves and the learnings they have obtained through their experience thus far and how they plan on using their skills and their future education to help the world.

Another great thing about this scholarship essay is that the writer talks about their achievements and projects, which would make them stand out to the scholarship committee.

Scholarship Essay Example #2

"To Whom It May Concern:

My name is [Name] and I am a third-year student at Oklahoma State University. I am currently pursuing a five-year Bachelor of Architecture Degree. My plan is to follow up with a one-year master’s degree after I graduate.

In high school, I worked extensively with my local Habitat for Humanity branch to help build homes for low-income families. I learned about the construction process from the ground up, and I discovered the importance of function in architectural design. The homes we built during my four years as a volunteer were never extravagant. They served their purpose and became a beacon of hope for their owners.

My education has been focused on this mindset: function over form, stability over showmanship. I have enrolled in several classes that crossover to the Architectural Engineering major. My goal is to have a comprehensive view of how design meets structure. I have worked on three extra-credit residential design projects under the supervision of my architecture professors (Dr X and Dr Y). This helped speed up my research and education.

My goal is to become an architect to create accessible, affordable housing opportunities in underprivileged communities. Living in a college town, I have seen countless rental properties available. Yet there are few homes for sale that are affordable enough for college students and first-time buyers. This is the case in many towns throughout America, especially areas with a low standard of living. I want to create neighbourhoods that include affordable starter homes. This would enable low and middle-class families to build equity, avoid excessive debt, and create financial stability for their futures.

This summer, I will intern with LMNOP Architects. Upon completion of my master’s degree, I hope to continue there as I further develop my skills. After working under acclaimed residential architects Suzan Craft and Peter Wood, I would like to open my own architectural firm focused on developing inexpensive, high-quality housing. I also would like to work with Habitat for Humanity again, this time as an architect instead of a general labourer. I believe firmly in their mission to build “a world where everyone has a decent place to live.” I appreciate your consideration. With your help, I can continue my schooling in architecture and design to bring accessible homes to those in need.

Sincerely,

[Name]"

This is another scholarship essay that clearly and concisely states the purposes of the program sought by the applicant. Additionally, they state details about the goals they want to attain in the near future if they get accepted by their desired school of choice. Again, clear aims are established as to why they desire to continue their education and how they plan to use the knowledge they gain through this new program.

Scholarship Essay Example #3

"Winston Churchill once said, “Success consists of going from failure to failure without loss of enthusiasm.” And while I never define my obstacles as ‘failures,’ I mark my success by my repeated perseverance through adversity. I have faced several challenges over the years, from dyslexia to homelessness; yet I continued to earn exemplary grades and graduate at the top of my class. I deserve this scholarship because I have the strength and determination to achieve my goals, no matter what hurdles I have to overcome.

I was not born a gifted student. Testing and assignments were always difficult for me, whether I studied or not. In second grade, my parents had me tested for learning disabilities. The psychologist said that I had a hyperactivity disorder and prescribed medication to suppress my energy. After two years of abiding by that treatment, I was re-evaluated and diagnosed with dyslexia. This helped me get the treatment I needed, and I finally made progress in school.

Shortly after I learned how to study with dyslexia, my father lost his job. He was the sole breadwinner for the household, and I was soon on the street with my mother and two younger siblings. I got a job in newspaper delivery, one of the few fields that will hire a 12-year-old. My father found odd jobs to bring money to the family, and together we were eventually able to pay for a two-bedroom apartment to live in. I was valedictorian that school year, and I maintained a perfect attendance record. Like my father, I knew I had to do whatever was necessary to succeed and thrive.

In high school, I developed an interest in psychology. I noticed patterns in behaviours, both in myself and in the people around me. I asked my child therapist, the one who officially diagnosed me with dyslexia if I could work at his clinic over the summers. He allowed me to intern at his counselling centre during my junior and senior years, and I gained valuable insight into the business side of psychology.

I am now entering the second year of my psychology degree. I plan to complete my bachelor’s degree and earn a Doctorate in Neuropsychology in the years that follow. My focus is on psychological testing, specifically for children with autism or learning disabilities. I spent years struggling in school because of a preventable misdiagnosis. I want to ensure that other children do not face the same struggles in the future.

Why do I deserve this scholarship? Because I have the passion and determination to become a trusted member of the psychological community. With my education, I can help children get the treatment they need at an early age, giving them the best chance at finding their own success. You’re not just helping me get through college. You’re improving the quality of life for countless families to come. I appreciate your consideration, and I look forward to building a lasting relationship with your organization."

This is yet another fantastic essay because the writer used a quote, a personal story, and the experiences that made them want to become a psychologist to help others overcome their struggles and live a better life. The quote they used was powerful and shows why the writer deserves the scholarship because they are determined to make their dreams come true despite the obstacles they face and want to do what others cannot in order to help others have a bright future. 

To sum it all up:

Writing a scholarship essay letter on why you deserve the scholarship is quite daunting and you really have to stand out from the rest in order to get accepted. So you need to really think about what makes you special and stand out from everyone else and give a clear reason as to why you should be getting the scholarship that you are asking for.

Jenni.ai is an AI writing assistant that can help you create a flawless scholarship college essay prompt that will greatly increase your chances of getting accepted to your dream university. So what are you waiting for? Get the help you need by signing up here today!