Writing to a Target Audience
Monday, January 30, 2023 by Catherine Gilliland | Scholarship Essays
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What does your student know about their target audience when they are writing scholarship essays? Writers must always keep their readers in mind when designing their written work. Doing so will attract the attention of their target audience–the scholarship committee–and boost the likelihood that their essay will be noticed.
Did you know that a scholarship committee:
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Potentially reads hundreds of essay entries (Yours must be particularly memorable.)
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Is seeking one candidate who stands out (For the right reasons!)
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Desires to easily become knowledgeable about you (Share an experience that reveals your inner greatness.)
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Looks for a clearly understood story free from typos and other mistakes (Demonstrate your writing ability.)
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Already is acquainted with your academic achievements (Leave those details out.)
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Wants to hear how their scholarship will benefit YOU (They want a return on their investment.)
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May not read your entire essay (Make every word count.)
For more details regarding how to write award-winning scholarship essays, consider securing my self-paced, affordable, online course for your student. I am also available to work one on one with students as they navigate this exciting, but often challenging process.
Topics of Writing Scholarship EssaysOnline Course include:
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Getting your Past Together (compiling past experiences for future essays)
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Searching High and Low (for scholarship opportunities)
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Keeping Your Act Together (organization)
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Yikes, I Have to Write the Essay (strategies for writing essays)
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Managing Word Count
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The Power of Gratitude (effective follow-up)
Check out my blogs on these topics for more free information!
Understanding the Scholarship Essay
When to Apply for Scholarships
Know Your Scholarship Committee
Know Your Scholarship Committee
Saturday, October 22, 2022 by Catherine Gilliland | Scholarship Essays
Does your student know the audience for whom they write when constructing a scholarship application essay?
Scholarship committees seek specific evidence of who the student is on a deeper level. Judges ask, "Will this candidate provide an excellent return on the financial investment of our organization?" Clearly, all essay and application content is evaluated so that an estimation can be created of a candidate's success at their chosen institution and in life. In other words, those evaluating these essays look for confirmation of personal development, highlighted accomplishments, and evidence of the applicant's moral principle, integrity, ambition, and exemplary standards.
Students must present themselves so they stand out as unique in all the appropriate ways. Judges remember students who capture their attention! Highlight self by intentionally selecting topics and achievements to share that are uncommon. Choose to highlight lessons learned and skills developed that are less obvious and require more thought. Pick impacts that are noteworthy. The applications shared from personal experiences to other parts of one's life should demonstrate a depth of insight that causes the judges to take note.
As the student writes, they must remember the committees are looking for examples rather than direct statements! Students must draw their audience into their personal story, keeping them captivated by reflecting who they truly are. The accomplishments, projects, awards, and volunteerism that makes the student most proud of themself can be used as a strong base for expressing a written picture of their life. Alternatively, a student may choose to use the story of how they overcame hardship as the foundation for their text. To the foundation of the story, encourage your student to weave in evidence of intentional personal growth, their aspirations, how their own character and soft skills stand out from others, substantiation of their optimistic attitude, and examples of personal initiatives taken.
Students writing academic essays have honed that art for years by the time they are ready to graduate from high school. The type of writing required by scholarship committees is much less practiced, therefore students submitting these high stakes written pieces often benefit from specific instruction, personal guidance, and instructional feedback from a writing coach over a period of time. Begin the process early, even as early as midway through their high school years.
When to Apply for Scholarships
Tuesday, October 18, 2022 by Catherine Gilliland | Scholarship Essays
When should your student begin applying for scholarships?
One of the best kept secrets is that even in the 9th or 10th grade, students can apply for some scholarships and enter academic contests for others!
Tip: Consider incorporating challenging contests and competitions that compliment your student's interests and aptitudes into your family's education vision!
Check out the links below:
https://www.amazonfutureengineer.com/scholarships
https://www.amazonfutureengineer.com/scholarships
https://blog.collegevine.com/11-academic-competitions-to-boost-your-high-school-profile/
https://donotpay.com/learn/scholarships-for-8th-grade/
https://scholarships360.org/scholarships/top-scholarships-for-high-school-freshman/
https://www.cappex.com/scholarships/high-school-freshmen
https://www.weareteachers.com/student-contests-competitions/
Understanding the Scholarship Essay
Monday, October 17, 2022 by Catherine Gilliland | Scholarship Essays
Is your student prepared to write scholarship essays?
Students in high school should already be familiar with the construction of a formal academic composition. Award-winning scholarship application essays, however, are not the same as a typical composition submitted for a grade in school. Knowing the similarities and differences will enable a student to construct essays worthy of receiving the awards they seek.
True, there are likenesses in typical academic writing and scholarship application essays. Both must demonstrate that you follow directions, clearly organize content, and pay attention to all the details. All types of writing must also identify and write to a specific audience, be structured appropriately, include appropriate style, proper mechanics, thorough editing, and careful revision
When planning and constructing an essay to submit with a scholarship application, keep in mind that although the composition is structured, the requirement to follow a precise five-paragraph format is usually non-existent. Even the thesis is "unofficial", instead, being implied by the content of the text. This essay is about the student, their personal experiences, uniqueness, and aspirations. It reveals, often in story form, how these traits have shaped their lives and influenced the lives of those around them. Carefully crafted into the text, the student must demonstrate they will provide an excellent return to the investment of the scholarship organization along with value and success to the institution to which they are applying. Since the essay is very personal, its vibe will be a little less formal, and it will include first person pronouns, a definite "no-no" in more formal academic essays.
Students writing academic essays have honed that art for years by the time they are ready to graduate from high school. The type of writing required by scholarship committees is much less practiced, therefore students submitting these high stakes written pieces often benefit from specific instruction, personal guidance, and instructional feedback from a writing coach over a period of time. Begin the process early, even as early as midway through their high school years.
