From Mapping-Your-Future.org

1. Start looking for scholarships EARLY! The more time you dedicate to your search, the more options you will have. Then, apply for EVERY scholarship for which you are eligible. 
2. Deadlines, deadlines, deadlines! Pay close attention to due dates. 
3. Follow directions. Provide everything that is requested, but no more than is required. 
4. List all activities and honors. Highlight those that are relevant to the scholarship in your essays. 
5. Neatness counts. Type your application. 
6. Make a photocopy of the application before you begin. If you make a mistake, you can start fresh with a clean copy. Also make a copy of the completed application, so you can resend it if the original is lost. 
7. Ask for help if you need it. If you have problems with the application, don't hesitate to call the funding organization. 
8. Write an essay (see below) that makes a strong impression. Tell a story, use personal examples and be specific. 
9. Choose references who know you well and give them ample time to write the letter of recommendation. 
10. Give it a final "once-over." Ask a friend, teacher or parent to proofread it.

Tips For Success
Mark Kantrowitz, Bridges.com

"The best tip I can give is to start searching for scholarships and learning about financial aid as soon as possible. The sooner you start, the better off you'll be."

Scholarships are another potentially lucrative source of financial aid. After doing your research and finding the perfect scholarships for you, the next step is catching the judges' attention. Kelly Tanabe is the author of eight books on college planning and co-founder of a college planning website.

"You have to remember that scholarship judges sometimes have as little as 60 seconds to look at an application," says Tanabe.

"One of the most important things that you can do is make them stop when they get to your application. You can do this by writing a powerful scholarship essay. Simply put, the best scholarship essays demonstrate to the judges why you deserve to win.

"If you are applying for a scholarship based on public service, don't waste your space writing about your athletic achievements or your travels. Focus on how you have volunteered and how you have served your school or community. Think about what the purpose of the award is, why the organization is giving away the scholarship, and then show the judges how you fit that purpose."

Tanabe also suggest simplifying the process when you are applying for multiple scholarships. "There are literally thousands and thousands of scholarships available, and your challenge is not going to be finding scholarships, but making the time to apply to all of the scholarships that you find. Applying for scholarships could become a full-time job.

"To keep applying under control, you need to recycle your essays. Figure out how you can use one essay that you've written to apply to a number of scholarships. Can you change the introduction or conclusion? Can you include different examples to illustrate your point? As you do this, though, be careful that you are still answering the question posed."

One of the biggest differences between a scholarship essay and any other essay, Tanabe says, is that more than anything else, you are trying to market your strengths and how they fit with what the scholarship organization is looking for.

"Put yourself in the shoes of the judges. What qualities will they want to see in your essay? If you are applying for an award for students who are both academically and athletically talented, think about how you can show both of those strengths."

"The bottom line is that the scholarship judges want to learn about you and why they should give their money to you."

Write a Great Essay

Whether you're working on an essay for college admission or a scholarship application, or just want to improve your writing skills, the tips below can be a big help.

• Read the directions carefully. Make sure you understand the application or assignment completely.
• Spend some time brainstorming. Think of topics that highlight your strengths, creativity, struggles you've overcome, or an issue you're passionate about.
• Have a plan. Outline some notes for yourself including the message you want your essay to get across.
• Brainstorm for ideas! List all your attributes/dreams and barriers that you might have overcome or are addressing now.
• Write a rough draft. It doesn't have to be perfect or even good, but it's the best place to start.
• Write a better draft. Include anything you missed and remove anything that doesn't help make your point.
• Don't be afraid to start over. If the topic isn't working or it's just not going in the right direction, feel free to start from scratch.
• Ask for help. Your high school English teacher, a friend who consistently writes 'A' papers, or a tutor can all be great sources of help.
• Use spell check and proofread carefully. Whatever you do, don't submit an essay with a grammatical error or typo. Double and triple check your work, and ask someone you trust to review it with fresh eyes.
• Save your essay. You may be able to rework it and use it for other scholarships or admissions applications.
• Be careful. Don't write an essay that's generic; it needs to describe you and give the reader a chance to KNOW you personally. Your goal is to stand out from the rest of the applicants by reflecting on experiences and providing your unique perspective.
• Is your essay tailored toward the mission of the institution/business you're applying to? This will determine if you're an ideal candidate.
• Give examples. Be specific. You don't need to repeat what's already on your resume.
• Long words and obscure vocabulary aren't necessary, as they may come across as fake and showy. Big words do NOT make a good essay. Advanced vocabulary is fine only if it comes naturally to you.

Writing Personal Statements

Essays INTRODUCTION If your qualifications make you a borderline student at a school that makes a point of considering subjective factors in its admission decisions, then your personal statement could make a difference between acceptance and rejection. Writing requirements vary widely. Since personal statements/essays can reveal your character more clearly than other application materials, they may provide evidence that you bring something to the distinctive to the field: unusual ability, background traits, experience, or a unique way of looking at the world. You won’t be admitted to a top school unless you distinguish yourself. Even at a school where your personal statement may not be read closely and can’t help you much, it can hurt.

WHAT TO WRITE

Before writing anything, stop and consider what a reader might be looking for; the general directions or other parts of the application may give you some indication. A number of things may be evaluated, including:

o Expectations with regard to the program and career opportunities

o Writing ability

o Major area of interest

o Educational background

o Immediate and long-term goals

o Reasons for pursuing a degree in a particular field and at a particular institution

o Maturity

o Personal uniqueness - what you would add to the diversity of the entering class

Some schools require specific essays, while others provide no direction at all. There are both advantages and disadvantages to vagueness. Since no specific topic is required, one can write about whatever will do the most good. The drawback of not having a precise topic is that you’ll have to choose your own topic. This choice will probably be difficult to make. Here are a few things to keep in mind:

Write about Yourself. Schools want to know about you, your talents and evidence that you will succeed academically and professionally. Usually this would include some personal history, but, unless an institution specifically requests autobiographical information, you do not have to supply any. Even if you write an autobiographical piece, it does not have to be arranged chronologically.

Be Specific. Write about events and activities. Often the best essay topic is a description of some incident or activity which led you to your field of study.

Tell a Story. Stories can keep attention of a tired reader.

Emphasize Your Uniqueness. An essay about a problem you solved or an obstacle you overcame is always appropriate. You could also find an interesting way to write about a feature of your personality or what you have learned about yourself and/or your field.

Be assertive but not boastful by highlighting your positives in a context that goes beyond just yourself.

Don’t Choose a Topic that Makes You Seem Immature or of Questionable Character.

Avoid Talking about in the Abstract. This can sound like a personal ad or make you seem distant.

Avoid Negatives. A positive, attractive personality is hard to exhibit while dwelling on negatives. Focus on positives. Talk about what you learned, not why your grades were low. Keep the reader’s attention on what is attractive about you and avoid reminding him or her that you are not the perfect candidate.

Avoid Clichés. “I want to help people.” “The human body fascinates me.” “This career would be rewarding and challenging.” Ultimately, an essay or personal statement for an application should be a clear, succinct statement showing that you have a definite sense of what you want to do and enthusiasm for the field of study you have chosen. Your essay should reflect the clarity, focus, and depth of your thinking.

HOW TO WRITE You’ve done this before.  It is no different than writing anything else, except that it may count more. Writing a clear and persuasive essay takes time. You’ll need to organize and write several drafts, have the essay read a critiqued by others, and polish the grammar and rhetoric. The chief reason application essays are unpersuasive is that insufficient time is taken with them. When beginning to write, set down all the information as fully as possible, even if there’s repetition. You may outline the points you want to cover and then expand on them, or you can simply put your ideas down on paper as they come to you. Making an outline will likely lead to an organized essay, whereas writing spontaneously may yield a more inspired piece of writing. Don’t worry if the initial drafts are too long, the information will be pared down and refined. Now you are ready to organize the essay.
CATCH THE ATTENTION OF A BORED AND EXHAUSTED ADMISSIONS OFFICIAL BY WRITING A FORCEFUL FIRST SENTENCE. Then, use one of two main approaches for organizing an essay. Begin with specific details and progress to a general conclusion, or state some general first, and then describe the pieces of evidence that support it. Some essays fall more naturally into a deductive, or conclusion first, mode of organization, while others are more effective if told inductively, or detail first. Regardless of what and how you write, always have others critique it. Don’t be surprised, however, if you get differing opinions on the content. In the end, only you can decide on the best way to present yourself.

TIPS

Before attempting to write the first sentence, construct an outline of your main ideas and themes.

If a specific question is asked make sure to address it. There is no need to list your honors, awards, and activities if these were specified elsewhere. However, feel free to highlight things like these in the context of your essay.

Your essay has to be unified and include nothing unnecessary. Prune away anything that is repetitious.

Without required specificity, the best advice for writing a personal statement is to draft and polish one carefully, and then use essentially the same creation for all schools. Ask people to read your essays. Lots of people. Some of them should be strangers. Friends know your stories and can guess what you are trying to say even if you haven’t written it clearly.

Ask your readers to paraphrase the main point. Also ask if anything was confusing or unclear.

Type your essay unless a school specifically requests that it be handwritten.

Grammar, punctuation, word usage, proper paragraphing, and other writing techniques all count.

Make sure your name appears on each page of your essay. Number the pages and use paper clips rather than staples. Your final application should reflect an attention to detail and thoroughness.

REFERENCES
Lermack, P. (1997). How to get into the right law school. Lincolnwood, IL: VGM Career Horizons.
Peterson’s graduate and professional programs: An overview. (1996). Princeton, NJ: Peterson’s Guides.
Many thanks to Juniata College, Office of Career Services, Huntingdon, PA