All San Diego State University (SDSU) scholarships available through the Scholarship Search Web site require you to submit an essay online.

Scholarship committees review many applications and may use the essays to differentiate applicants. Because the large volume of applicants makes it impossible for the committees to interview each candidate, a coherent and interesting essay may be what distinguishes you from another candidate.

The following information is essential to writing a successful scholarship essay.

Consider the Topic

• If the essay is asking you to address what motivated you to select your major or your career goals, do not submit an essay you wrote for your English class simply because it fits the word limit requirement.
  
• Think of the essay as a scholarship interview. The major difference is that you do not have the opportunity to convince the committee in person to give you the scholarship; you must convince them with your essay.

Prepare your Facts

• Think about each question or topic and make an outline to fit.
• Make a list of your achievements/accomplishments (both academic and other), community involvement, leadership positions or other roles you have served in school or your community.
• Make a list of your personal characteristics including your strengths, weaknesses, and any obstacles you have overcome or are currently confronting.
• Determine key pieces of information you feel the committee should know about you and have concrete examples to demonstrate your points.

Writing the Essay

• The introduction: Begin with a strong introduction. You want your essay to stand out from all the others. Be sure your introduction captures the readers' attention and compels them to learn as much as they can about you in the following paragraphs.
• Be personal: Make sure the committee can assess what type of person you are and what motivates you.
• Be specific: Give examples. Do not simply tell the committee you are a leader; give an example of how you have demonstrated leadership.
• Turn negatives into positives: If you have an obvious weakness such as limited extracurricular activities, show the committee that you have been particularly involved with your family or within the classes you have taken, depending on your personal situation.
• Follow standard grammar and writing rules: Make sure your body paragraphs relate to your introduction and that your conclusion summarizes the points you have made in your essay.

Review your Essay

Proofread, proofread, and proofread!

• Have several people read your essay.
• Edit it for clarity, conciseness, grammar, and spelling.
• Did you address the essay topic?
• Does the essay convey who you are and why you should receive a scholarship beyond the fact that you need the money?
• Is the essay interesting? Does it come alive when you read it?
• Did you provide examples of your skills and abilities rather than broad statements and claims?
• Does the essay meet the word count requirement?

See sample essays.