1. HOW TO WRITE AN EFFECTIVE COLLEGE/SCHOLARSHIP ESSAY

2. TIP #1: USE AN ANECDOTE
AN ANECDOTE IS A BRIEF STORY THAT MAKES A POINT OR COMMUNICATES A MESSAGE -
ANECDOTES CAN BE HOOKS OR THE FOCUS OF YOUR ESSAY
Example
I will always remember the words: “we need more blood!” Doctors worked frantically to save my hand. They failed.

3. TIP #2: STOP TRYING SO HARD
OVERDOING IT CAN MAKE A BAD IMPRESSION
BE GENUINE
AND USE NATURAL LANGUAGE…

4. TIP #3: DITCH THE THESAURUS
DON’T TRY TO SOUND LIKE SHAKESPEARE; YOU’LL COME OFF SOUNDING PHONY
SWAP FALSE ATTEMPTS AT SOPHISTICATION FOR SELF-AWARENESS
DON’T USE “SHOW-OFF” WORDS

5. TIP #4: WRITE ABOUT WHAT MATTERS TO YOU
…NOT WHAT YOU THINK MATTERS TO THEM
A COLLEGE OR SCHOLARSHIP ESSAY’S PURPOSE IS TO SHOWCASE YOU
AGAIN, BE GENUINE, BUT…

6. TIP #5: BE POSITIVE
YOUR ESSAY SHOULD PROJECT THE BEST SIDES OF YOURSELF
YOU ARE WRITING TO SELL YOURSELF (REALISTICALLY)
Example
Doctors failed to save my hand, but that did not discourage me. I chased my dream to play tennis. I learned how and became the best player at Montwood.

7. TIP #6: FOLLOW THE INSTRUCTIONS
READ THE PROMPT CAREFULLY
A BEAUTIFUL ESSAY THAT DOESN’T FOLLOW THE PROMPT YOU WERE GIVEN WILL SHOW THEM THAT YOU DON’T KNOW HOW TO FOLLOW DIRECTIONS
PAY ATTENTION TO THE LENGTH GUIDELINES; IF THEY SAY A 500 WORD ESSAY, DON’T WRITE ONLY 200, BUT DON’T WRITE 700 EITHER
Prompt
Describe a circumstance, obstacle or conflict in your life and the skills and resources you used to resolve it. Did it change you? If so, how?

8. TIP #7: READ SUCCESS STORIES
LOOK CAREFULLY AT EXAMPLES OF OTHER COLLEGE ESSAYS
DON’T TRY TO COPY THEIR STYLE, BUT STUDY WHAT HAS WORKED FOR OTHERS

9. TIP #8: USE THE ESSAY TO TELL THEM WHAT THE APPLICATION CAN’T
DON’T JUST REPEAT FACTS ABOUT YOURSELF THAT WILL BE IN YOUR RESUMÉ OR ON THE APPLICATION
SHOW THEM WHO YOU ARE AND WHY YOU DESERVE THIS OPPORTUNITY

10. use your own scholarship to apply for or respond to the prompts below from the Texas common application:
Describe a setting in which you have collaborated or interacted with people whose experiences and/or beliefs differ from yours. Address your initial feelings, and how those feelings were or were not changed by this experience.
Describe a circumstance, obstacle or conflict in your life, and the skills and resources you used to resolve it. Did it change you? If so, how?
Considering your lifetime goals, discuss how your current and future academic and extra-curricular activities might help you achieve your goals.