title for a scholarship essay

Scholarship Essay Writing

Scholarship Essay Format

Scholarship Essay Format - A Complete Guide

11 min read

Published on: Apr 6, 2023

Last updated on: Oct 26, 2024

What is a Scholarship Essay Format?

Every piece of writing needs to be structured to be effective. Similarly, the scholarship essay also requires a writer to present content in a systematized manner.

A scholarship essay format is a set of guidelines that the writer must follow in drafting a structured document. This format organizes the information and makes it understandable for the scholarship committee.

Writing an essay in a proper format can be beneficial for both the applicant and the committee member. Committee members read and review the essays of different students. However, a formatted piece helps them analyze each essay in a better way.

Students often underestimate the importance of correct formatting. Just as essential it is to draft good content for your essay, it is equally important to get the format right.

When writing a scholarship, go through the guidelines provided and understand them thoroughly. It is to make sure that the format used is what is required and preferred by the committee.

The following section will be talking about the elements involved in the formatting of the winning scholarship essay.

How to Format a Scholarship Essay

Wondering what format should I use for a scholarship essay?

Every scholarship application provides a set of instructions that clearly states the formatting details. However, If you are not provided with any specifications, use the proper way to format scholarship essays.

According to the basic design, the following requirements should be fulfilled to make the scholarship essay well written and structured.

The content should be double spaced
Use a simple and easy-to-read font style, such as Times New Roman font
Keep the font size between 10 to 12 pt.
Align your content leaving a one-inch margin on all sides of the page
Present your last name and page number on the left side of the paper.
Titles can also be given. This is something optional and depends on the writer’s preference.

Other requirements, such as the word count and indented paragraphs, are mentioned in the guidelines. The average word count of a scholarship essay is around 300 words. The jury finds more extended essays monotonous that can risk your chances of getting the scholarship.

Moreover, the essay should be outlined appropriately, as well. All the content present in your essay should be divided into three sections; introduction, body, and conclusion. It will allow the committee to understand your document better.

Here's an example table for an overview of the format for any scholarship essay prompts :

Again, this is just an example and your scholarship essay may require different formatting guidelines based on the prompt and the scholarship program.

How long Should a Scholarship Essay Be?

Some scholarships may require a very short essay, such as 250 words or less. Others may allow for a longer essay of 500-1000 words or more.

It is important to carefully read and follow the instructions to ensure that your essay meets their requirements.

If there is no specific word count requirement, it is still important to keep the essay concise and focused on the topic provided.

How to Write a Scholarship Essay

Outlining the essay is one of the most important steps that you should take before starting your writing. A scholarship essay outline helps organize thoughts and ensure that each paragraph presents an idea or point relevant to the essay topic.

How to Start a Scholarship Essay?

The introduction of your scholarship essay should be written in an interesting way. It should also be able to capture the attention of the reader at first glance. The introduction must convince your reader and establish an emotional connection with them.

You can start writing by introducing yourself, or you can start by introducing the topic of the essay. Introducing oneself is a great way to make a scholarship essay memorable, as it allows readers to connect with you on an emotional level.

How to Write Body Paragraphs for a Scholarship Essay?

The body of your essay should include all the arguments and points that support the essay topic. Each point should be discussed in a separate paragraph and presented with relevant examples, quotes, statistics, or facts.

The body must also state how each argument supports your opinion. This will make it easier for readers to understand your point of view.

Make sure to keep each body paragraph under 250 words. Writing longer paragraphs can make them monotonous and might lead the reader to lose interest.

How to Conclude a Scholarship Essay?

In the conclusion, you should restate the main points that you discussed in the essay. You should also emphasize how the scholarship can help you achieve your academic goals.

The conclusion must be written in a powerful way and leave an impact on the reader’s mind. You can also provide some advice, tips, or personal insight that will motivate readers to take action.

Scholarship Essay Format Examples

To understand the scholarship essay formatting better, go through some examples. Written samples will help you evaluate the writing process and the structure in a better way.

Here are some sample essays that might help to get you started

Below are some more scholarship essay samples and how they should be formatted.

Scholarship Essay Format Template

High School Scholarship Essay Example

Scholarship Essay Sample About Why I Deserve the Scholarship?

500 Words Scholarship Essay Examples

Scholarship Essay Format Heading

Tips for Scholarship Essay Format

Whether you are given the instructions to follow or not, it can be challenging to meet all the requirements. Even when formatting your essay, you will have to make choices to come up with the right option correctly.

To help you write the most structured scholarship application essay, the following are some tips from experts for you:

The first and foremost step is to read and understand the guidelines provided.
If not given, use the basic formatting where the font size is 10 to 12pt. And the word count is 300 to 350 words.
Understand the essay prompt carefully and stick to it.
If the instructions require you to write a one-page essay, avoid using double spacing.
Either use a blank line or a paragraph indent but never both.
To make the essay readable, use 1.5 or double spacing between the lines.
Your scholarship essay does not require you to add an essay question in the beginning so just provide answers.
Always proofread your essay, as it is extremely important to submit a perfect piece. Check for mistakes and errors and fix them before handing them over to the jury. Essay read again and again until you make it perfect.

Following these tips is essential to draft a high-quality and well-formatted essay. Whether you are a high school or a college student, you must know the basics to format all your essays.

Scholarship Essay Tips

The scholarship is an excellent opportunity to fulfill a dream of studying in a reputable institute. These scholarships require students to achieve their academic goals in the best possible way.

Impressing the committee with your writing skills is both important and challenging. However, if your essay does not portray the best of you, the chance of getting the aid might be a risk.

To avoid this situation, you can always get a professional’s help in your scholarship essay. CollegeEssay.org is a legit essay writing website that assists students in drafting their academic assignments. You can also give our AI writing tool a try to get quality essays!

Whether it is a simple college essay or a complicated essay, expert writers can help you by providing professional essay writing service.

Simply place your order with our scholarship essay writing service today.

Barbara P (Literature, Marketing)

Barbara is a highly educated and qualified author with a Ph.D. in public health from an Ivy League university. She has spent a significant amount of time working in the medical field, conducting a thorough study on a variety of health issues. Her work has been published in several major publications.

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Applying For Scholarships

Use This Scholarship Essay Format (w/example)

David Dec 24, 2018

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Winning a scholarship can be hard. There is a lot of competition, especially for the more prestigious awards. It is important that you do as much as you can to increase your chances of winning.

You may do this in many ways. Of course, if you apply to more scholarships, you increase your chances of winning. Getting awesome letters of recommendation is also key.

And then, there’s the dreaded scholarship essay that so many students have trouble with. As challenging as the essay is, it is critical to your application.

The fastest path to earning scholarships

Simplify and focus your application process with the one-stop platform for vetted scholarships.

Your resume may show off all your achievements. But your essay shows the scholarship committee who you are. This is the place for you to set yourself apart from other candidates.

No doubt, the content of your essay is very important. (Like having an engaging introduction and memorable conclusion ). However, the scholarship essay format is also important for making a good impression.

Often times, students invest so much of their time focusing on the content requirements of the essay, that they forget about the es say format.

Why the Essay Format is Important

Scholarship committees have many essays to review. Setting a general format for all students saves them time when reading essays. They will not make any exceptions.

The last thing you want to do is ruin your awesome essay with a lousy format. So, here are some tips on how you should format your essay to make it look professional. You want to come across as a serious contender and a top candidate for the scholarship.

How to Format Your Scholarship Essay

Most scholarship applications have the same format requirements for the scholarship essay. If you come across an application that doesn’t specify how to format your essay, the following format is a safe option for you to go with. Remember, if you ever have doubts, contact the scholarship committee for clarification.

Essay Format:

Double spaced
12 point Times New Roman font (Arial and Verdana is also okay). Don’t use any fancy script fonts, as beautiful as you may think they are.
1-1.5” margins (top, bottom, and side)
Indent every paragraph or insert a blank line in between each paragraph to set them apart
Insert your last name and page number (for longer essays) on the top left. You may also choose to sign your name at the end of your scholarship essay.
Titles are optional. But, a catchy title can make a difference and engage your reader. Think about it, the title is the first thing your reader sees.

Follow the word count guidelines as set by the scholarship committee. Scholarship judges usually don’t want to read an essay that is longer than ¾ to a page in length.

If your essay needs to be 300 words, it is okay if you don’t meet that exact number, such as 294 or 310. But, if you hand in a 450-word essay, they might not accept your application. It is best to get closest to the number as possible.

It can be tempting to write a long essay on all your accomplishments. But this isn’t what the scholarship committee wants to see . Quality is more important than quantity.

Of course, there are exceptions. Always make sure that you know what the word requirement is.

Brainstorm your thoughts beforehand, create an outline, and stick to it. This should help you keep to the maximum work number.

Body Paragraphs

Your essay should consist of three or more paragraphs. Each paragraph should have at least three sentences.

Include a thesis statement in your introduction paragraph. The thesis sentence explains what you will talk about during your essay. Remember, your introduction paragraph should reel in your reader.

Each body paragraph should f ocus on a different aspect that represents your thesis statement. Your concluding paragraph should revisit the theme and wrap up your main points.

Use logical transitions between your body paragraphs. These help to connect the different topics in your essay.

Other Tips:

If you need to print and mail in your essay, use high-quality paper and an envelope that will fit the paper without folding it.
If your instructions state not to staple your materials, follow the rule. You don’t want to be disqualified for something as silly as this after you’ve worked so hard.
Take time to revise your essay. Read your essay out loud and pass it along to a family member to revise it as well. Sometimes, it takes many times (and eyes) to find errors.

When reviewing your essay, make sure that it is easy to follow. Are you answering the essay prompt in a concise manner? Ask family members if they know what the essay prompt is from reading your essay.

Before starting to write your essay, get to know the organization awarding the scholarship. What is its mission? The information you include in your essay should match their expectations and goals.

Finally, make sure that your essay focuses on you and not somebody else, like a role model. If you are talking about a role model, explain how that person has impacted your life and your goals.

Some of the guidelines ma y seem unimportant. But, the scholarship committee pays attention to minute details. They usually provide guidelines as a way to see how well applicants can follow them. If they don’t provide instructions, follow the essay format we have listed for you above.

Clearly read all instructions of the scholarship application. Making trivial mistakes is a sure way to get your candidacy revoked. If there’s something you don’t understand, reach out to the scholarship committee. They are there to assist you and answer questions.

You may be tempted to apply only to scholarships that don’t require an essay. These scholarship applications are easier to fill out. But, for this reason, they receive a lot more applications.

Using a free scholarship matching service can help you find loads of scholarships in no time. Get the money you deserve by applying to scholarships you qualify for. Spend time working on those essays and you may be a lucky winner.

Scholarship Essay Examp le:

From Dad’s Shadow to My Own

Growing up, I always thought that I was going to take over my dad’s automobile shop. I had helped him in his store from a young age, handing him a screwdriver when he needed to turn a screw and a Coca-Cola when he was thirsty. He called me his mini-me and nothing made the smile on my face wider. I hid behind the shadow of my dad, a shy and awkward middle-schooler. I wanted to be just like him, that is, until I grew into Sam Foster and realized my own potential.

When I entered freshman ye

ar of high school, I looked for a way to get to know new people. I decided to join my school’s drama club. Never having acted before, it was a pretty random choice. Especially because I was so shy. But, not being the sporty type or the science type didn’t leave me with many other options.

We got our first assignment to perform a monologue in front of everyone. I was absolutely terrified. I practiced in front of the mirror in the bathroom for hours every night. I couldn’t imagine performing it in front of 20 other students in the club.

The time came to perform my monologue. I got up on stage, my entire body shaking. My director gave me the okay to start. What happened next was a miracle. I started reciting my lines and gained confidence that I’ve never felt before. I became my character and didn’t not ice the crowd in front of me.

On that day, I realized my calling in life. I was born to be an actor. Since freshman year, I have starred in every play at my school. I have taken acting classes in my high school, and outside acting classes. Next year, I am starting at the University of Michigan where I will major in drama.

Unfortunately, my parents haven’t been the most supportive of my career choice. They were expecting me to take over the family business and not pursue my own path. I will have to rely on taking out loans to fund my education.

I am planning to find a part-time job at school, but with all of the studying I will be doing and participation in school clubs and shows, my time to work will be limited. This scholarship will greatly assist me in pursuing my educational and career goals.

As proud as little Sam Foster w as in his dad’s automobile shop, the Sam Foster of today is even prouder. No longer is he too shy to stand on his own, but he thrives in the spotlight.

I am so excited to begin my bachelor’s degree in the fall. I know that I will gain invaluable skills. My education is so important to me and to my future.

Thank you for your time and consideration for this award,

Scholarship Essay

David Tabachnikov is the CEO of ScholarshipOwl. Formerly at Waze and Google, David is an experienced CTO/R&D manager with over 10 years of experience of leading tech teams. David fervently believes that students should have greater access to education, and is passionate about using technology to help them achieve that goal.

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