How to Write a Diversity Scholarship Essay

Diversity scholarships provide an excellent ground for competition among an exclusive group. A well-written essay will set your application above the rest.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Application information
• Application forms
• Any computer with a word processor

1. Get all the information, forms, and guidelines for the scholarship from the source. Most scholarships will have detailed information on a web site. Your college's scholarship office or high school guidance counselor or adviser may also have more information.

2. READ all the guidelines. Ignoring specific requests will not help you get the scholarship. Keep in mind their requests for essay length, page margins, spacing, font style and size, and any other technical details. These details are important, otherwise they would not have asked.

3. Before you start: If you need letters of recommendation from teachers, counselors, employers or others, make sure you ask as soon as possible and give them plenty of time to write you a nice letter. Your teachers have busy schedules that include writing letters for lots of their students. Ask them in e-mail or person, politely, and don't be bitter if they refuse the request. Just say "thank you" anyway and ask someone else.

4. Write your essay for your audience. People assigning scholarships want to know who you are and why they should help you. Be confident, positive and present the best of yourself. Be honest. Don't make yourself a pity case. Instead, talk about your plans for the future in academics or career and weave in a personal story about how your diversity has affected these decisions. If you have one, talk about a struggle and triumph over the diversity issue, but don't be cliche. If your essay has an assigned topic or requirements, find a creative way to approach them. Think about the first several ways in which most people would approach the topic, then either do something different or make your approach unique in style and voice. Use personal experiences, but remember the essay is academic and not a narrative account.

5. Edit your first draft. Did you really think you were finished already? Re-read the essay yourself and make sure it fits your audience. Remember that you are probably addressing someone who has at least one college degree and knows more than you know. Make sure the beginning of your essay grabs the reader's attention and gets to the point quickly. Each paragraph should logically follow the other to the end. The essay should have a conclusion that is NOT a repetition of the introduction. If you are at a loss for a good closing line, thanking the reader for their time and considering you for the scholarship is always a polite default. (Remember that you're talking to a real person, not just a blank wall.)

6. Edit again. Check for proper spelling and grammar. Too many mistakes will mean the judge automatically tosses your application in the trash bin. If you typed the draft, print the document and read it on paper. Ask a fellow student or teacher to help you proofread if you have time. Consult MLA or other academic style guides.

7. Make sure the essay does not surpass or fall under any word count or page limits. If the guidelines request no specific length, edit to one or two pages. Something short and to the point will capture the judges' attention quickly. Be concise, but don't delete important information. That person who helped you proofread can also help you shorten your speech. Keep in mind that the judges may be reading dozens or hundreds of essays, and they will appreciate not having to read more than two pages per applicant.

8. Type the final version in a word processor unless the guidelines requested a hand-written application. If you write, take your time to print clearly and carefully.

9. Use the spelling and grammar check one last time.

10. Adjust the pages to the requested styles. If no style was requested, set the margins to 1' and double-space the essay. Use Times New Roman 12-point font without extra styles.

11. If your essay is more than one page long, include a page number header in the upper right-hand corner. Follow any guideline requests for placing your name and contact information, cover sheet, and any other details.

12. Print the essay. Staple the pages if there are more than one.

13. Complete any other application information necessary for the guidelines. If you needed letters of recommendation, collect those. Make sure they are in sealed envelopes because you aren't supposed to read them. Either include them with the essay and application or address them separately, depending on what the guidelines request.

14. Put everything into an envelope. If you have several sheets or sealed letters of recommendation, use a big envelope. Not everyone actually expects it, and I have gotten scholarships by cramming paperwork in a tiny envelope, but if you want to make the effort or just have a lot of paper, use a large manila envelope that doesn't bend the essay or application.

15. Mail it before the deadline. That's very, very important.

16. If you had letters of recommendation written, write or print thank you notes and hand-deliver or mail them to your letter-writers. It's a formality you have to do if you ever want their help or recommendations again. You may also want to thank a teacher if they significantly helped you revise your essay.

Tips & Warnings

• Follow essay guidelines.
• Be clear and concise.
• Revise.
• Use personal examples, but don't TMI the judge.
• Send the application on time.
• Thank anyone who helped you or wrote you letters of recommendation.
• Don't misspell words or make grammatical errors.