How to Write an Essay & Resume for College Scholarships

Attaining a scholarship is very important for some students persuing education---and the essay and resume can make all the difference. The main difference between a college scholarship resume and a standard resume is that it should contain references to your educational background, awards, academic involvement and achievements. Including these facets will let the scholarship committee know you are unique. According to Go College, the resume should list major accomplishments rather than each and every job. The essay should discuss why you need the scholarship, while also highlighting who you are and what makes you special.

Things You'll Need

  • Computer
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Instructions

  1. The Resume

    • 1
      Highlight your awards.

      Make a clear list of all achievements and accomplishments that you want to mention in your resume. These can include awards, certificates, club leadership roles, internships, high grades, student-voted positions. Think about what you want to list in your resume, complete with the dates that you earned awards or participated in roles.

    • 2
      Create a clear resume.

      Start the resume by writing your name and contact information on top of the resume. This should be centered and bold so that it stands out. Next, create an "Objective" section underneath the contact section stating that you would like to earn a scholarship and why. The objective should be written in a clear, short sentence.

    • 3
      Include information about education.

      List all applicable educational information next. Title this section "Education." It should be placed below the objective. List the college that you attend, along with your degree and program of study. Below that, list your current grade point average and expected date of graduation.

    • 4
      Provide leadership role information.

      Create an "Accomplishments" section beneath the "education" section. List, in order of most recent to least recent, all accomplishments and achievements. If you include an important student job, club membership or role, list the dates and a few of your duties. If you list awards you've won, provide the date you won them. You can bullet-point this section so that each accomplishment is separated clearly.

    The Essay

    • 5
      Brainstorm before writing.

      Think about what you'd like to write about in your essay. The essay should contain a personal look at why you need the scholarship and why you're the perfect candidate, based on your background. Remember to adhere to any requirements set by the scholarship committee. If the essay is on a certain topic, remember to keep your essay to that exact topic. Research the scholarship committee before writing so you know what they expect. Tailor your voice to the committee's needs. If it is a creative company, be a little more creative. If the scholarship provider is a business corporation, be more formal.

    • 6
      Discuss your experience personally.

      Start the essay by introducing yourself if the essay is open-ended. Describe something memorable about yourself and open the essay with a unique statement. For instance, if you're applying for a medical school scholarship, a good opener could be, "When I first volunteered for a children's cancer hospital in high school, I knew I wanted to become a doctor." Discuss why you need the scholarship, and what makes you a good candidate (financial need, merit, experience). Do not rehash your resume, but pick one point on which to elaborate. Highlight what you have researched about the scholarship committee and discuss why you respect them. Be clear and separate each different thought with a new paragraph.

    • 7
      Make sure your essay is clear and structured.

      Research the topic of the essay before you write it, if a topic has been provided. For instance, if the essay assigned is about your goals, brainstorm about them before writing. Then, open your essay with a statement about your goals and expand on them. Be clear and separate each different thought with a new paragraph.

    • 8
      Edit your work carefully.

      Edit your work carefully by proofreading it for correct grammar, spelling and sentence structure.

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