For any student, getting a scholarship can be one of their top priorities. It may open doors and a career in academia that you previously thought were unreachable. But getting there isn't always simple. Writing a scholarship essay is just one of many stages required to receive a scholarship.

These differ greatly from your traditional English class essays. For instance, they are all about you. You have to discuss your academic journey, dreams, goals, challenges, and ambitions and sell yourself to the scholarship officers. No wonder so many kids find it so difficult. To help smooth things, why not check out some tips to ace your essays?

1      Ace your scholarship essays with these tips

Your scholarship essay could use the following tips, tricks, and techniques. Be sure to stay organized and track scholarship deadlines accordingly. You don’t want to miss an illustrious scholarship. You’ve got to manage your time well and be consistent, and if you do all that, you will do just fine.

1.1         Scholarship essay prompts – They guide your essay

The essay will typically include prompts and a specific topic that you must write about. It could be as simple as “Tell us about yourself” to something more focused like “Detail an event that changed your life.” These prompts should be carefully understood, and you should write your entire outline according to the phrase or prompt given.

1.2         Identify key themes

From the prompt or statement, you can identify a key theme that will help you focus your essay. For instance, if the prompt wants you to write about a time you helped your community and demonstrated responsible leadership, then the key themes would be “leadership” and “community impact.” Write in the context of the themes to ace the essay.

1.3         Write a good opening line

It is essential to write a good and engaging opening line that can grab the audience from the get-go. How about writing a quote or a statement that links to the prompt or the intended course you are applying for? Just don’t make the mistake of making it too cliché, or too cheesy. They’ve seen all that before and you won’t stand out if you do the same.

1.4         Be honest about who you are and what you do

It goes without saying, but you have to be honest and authentic about yourself in your scholarship essay. Don’t worry about being vulnerable, either. It is important that your personality and self shine through your essay and allow the scholarship officers to know who you are as a person. Be authentic and avoid exaggerations.

1.5         Brainstorm unique and uncommon ideas

Let’s face it. Institutions handle hundreds if not thousands of scholarship applications each intake, if not way more. This is a lot, and by the end, all the scholarship essays usually blend together. If you want a decent chance at getting the scholarship you want, try something different by writing an essay containing uncommon and interesting details.

1.6         State your needs

In your essay, you will need to detail your needs, particularly why you need a scholarship. One should not overlook this in any way. You must be honest about your needs and identity. Talk about your financial situation and show how this scholarship will support your needs and objectives.

1.7         Does your essay meet the criteria?

Once you’re done, you need to go through your essay to see if it is up to the mark. Reread it aloud and evaluate it based on the prompt. Ask yourself if you addressed it properly and if there are certain points you missed. If you have, go back and change that. Remember: Measure twice, cut once. The same principle applies here in essays.

1.8         Avoid repetition

Another thing that you should keep an eye out for is repetition. If you already discussed one thing at one point in your scholarship essay, there is no need to go over it again further below. Addition, repetition is harmful to the overall readability of the essay. Make sure you are addressing a point well in the beginning so you don’t need to revisit it.

1.9         How about some varied vocabulary?

In your essays, you must compose a variety of phrases and employ a wide range of language. Repeating the same phrase structures over and over again is pointless since it displays a lack of knowledge. Additionally, writing the same kind of stuff won't significantly improve your essay above the others, so it's essential to give essays your best effort.

1.10    Work with an essay coach

Lastly, one thing you can do to significantly boost your chances is to enroll in an essay coaching class. Step by Step College Essay Prep, founded by professional essay coach Stacey Lichter, helps kids get into their dream schools and attain scholarships. She can help you ace your scholarship essay and open the door to opportunities.