500 word essay why i want to attend college
Sign up or log in to manage your notifications. The college essay is a vital component of the application process. Many students have trouble with this assignment: determining what they should write about and figuring out how to tell their story in the words they have been given. And rightly they should, it's no easy task! One piece of advice I would share is don't expect the college essay to be something you can whip up in a few hours.
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Writing a scholarship essay can be very difficult — especially if you want to do it well. Your essay will need to wow the reader, and speak directly to the goals of that organization, as well as the objectives of that award. If done properly, you will very rarely be able to submit the same application to multiple awards — it is not a one-size-fits-all; most essays will need to be tweaked or completely altered to show the reader that you are deserving of the award above and beyond any of the other participant who also applied.
Misconception: No one actually reads your scholarship essay! Fact: Your essay is the key to your scholarship application. It is an opportunity to demonstrate to the selection committee that you are a well-rounded individual, that you are more than your GPA, that you are a strong writer, and it gives you a chance to talk about your experiences and qualifications in greater detail than what appears on your resume or transcripts.
Read on to find eight steps to help you write a better scholarship essay so that you can get the money you need to fund your international education. Many schools and other organizations that give out scholarships will give you a "prompt" or a question which the essay is supposed to address. Read the question or prompt carefully and try to "read between the lines.
They may also be interested in getting a sense for how promising a student you are based on the type of book you choose and what you have to say about it.
Instead of being given a prompt, you might be asked to write an essay on the topic of your choosing. Although challenging, this is also an opportunity to demonstrate your creativity. Finally, if anything about the directions aren't clear, don't be afraid to contact someone at the funding organization and ask for clarification. Regardless of the essay prompt, you will want to make sure to include the important and relevant information about your experiences and background that makes you an ideal candidate for the scholarship award.
To complete this step, it can be helpful to first research the organization to which you're applying and try to find their mission statement on their website.
Circle a few key words from the mission statement and make sure to include those buzzwords in your essay. Scholarship committees are not only looking for good students, they are often looking for a person that fits their organizational goals. You should gather your other application materials such as transcripts and resumes so you can review your qualifications as well as make note of what is missing in these materials that needs to be included in the essay.
For example, if you're applying for a general academic scholarship, you might want to talk about a specific class you took that really piqued your interest or inspired your current academic and career goals. The committee will see the list of the classes that you took on your transcript but they won't know how a particular class inspired you unless you tell them. The essay is the best place to do this. Your list of important points to make might also include:. The challenge now is to integrate those points that you want the committee to know with an essay that answers the prompt.
You can see our example scholarship essays to get a better idea of how to do this. Not everyone likes to make an outline before they begin writing, but in this case it can be very helpful. You can start with your list of important points to begin writing the outline. For many, telling a story is the easiest and most effective way to write a scholarship essay.
You can tell the story of how you found your favorite book, and how it has changed and inspired you. Start with large headings in your outline that describes the basic storyline. For example:. You will want to include one strong thesis statement that summarizes all the major points you will make in your essay. It is often easy to start writing with this simple statement. Your essay doesn't have to begin or end with the thesis statement, but it should appear somewhere in order to tie all the individual sections together.
For example, your thesis statement might be, "You will find that various experiences from both my academic career and my personal life align very well with your organization's mission: shaping community leaders who are working towards a more just and sustainable world.
When you've finished your essay, be sure to reflect back on your thesis statement and ask yourself, "Does this essay further explain and support my thesis statement? Now that you have a thesis statement, an outline, and a list of important points to include, you can begin to fill in the missing parts of your story.
The first sentence is particularly important: it should capture the attention of the reader, and motivate him or her to continue reading. We recommend starting your story by painting a vivid picture of an experience about which you will be talking in the essay. For example: "It is 6 am on a hot day in July, I've already showered and I'm eating breakfast. My classmates are all sleeping in and the sun has yet to awaken, but I'm ready to seize the day, as I couldn't imagine spending my summer any other way but interning at a local law firm that specializes in representing the poor.
I work a typical day during my summer vacation and nothing has made me happier. But I wouldn't be here if it weren't for one particularly savvy teacher and a little book she gave me to read outside of class. A good writer rewrites and revises his or her work many, many times. After getting a first draft on paper, take a day or two away from the essay and then come back to it with fresh eyes. Make appropriate edits for content, and pay attention to proper spelling and grammar.
If need be, you might want to write an entirely new draft and then integrate the best of both into a final draft. Writing a new draft can inspire you to think of new ideas or a better way to tell your story. Some other tips to think about as you rewrite and revise:.
Ideally, you could give your essay to a teacher or college admissions counselor who is familiar with scholarship essays and the college admission process. If such a person is not available, virtually anyone with good reading and writing skills can help make your essay better. When your editor is done reading and you've looked over his or her notes, be sure to ask the following questions:.
After having an editor or two or three look over your draft, it is time again to revise and rewrite. Once you feel satisfied with the draft, review it one more time and pay particular attention to structure, spelling, grammar, and whether you fulfilled all the required points dictated by the committee.
If you are over the required word count, you will need to make edits so that you are within the limit. If you are significantly under the word count, consider adding a supporting paragraph. Sign in to Your Account Done.
Sign in. Don't have an Account? Register Now! Tip: Always keep in mind that any scholarship essay question, no matter the topic, should demonstrate your interests, your background, and most importantly, highlight the experiences you've had that fit with the goals and mission of the funding organization. Looking for sample essays? Check out our Sample Essay section where you can see scholarship essays, admissions essays, and more!
For examples of excellent scholarship essays, view our sample scholarship essays. Essay Writing Center. Get the International Student Newsletter! I consent to the storage of my personal data so that International Student can deliver the monthly newsletter and other relevant emails to me.
One reason is to further my education. I hate feeling like I don't know something, I like being the person everyone comes to for information. Also, because I want to. Why Do Colleges Want You to Write a "Why Us" Essay? What do you like best about [this college]?; Why do you want to attend [this college]? Here are some words of wisdom from Calvin Wise, Director of Recruitment and.
Writing your college admissions essay can definitely be stressful. Between work and school, you may barely be able to stay awake , let alone worry about writing this essay. With so many other qualified candidates applying, this one little essay can often mean the difference between being accepted to the school of your dreams and never moving out of your parents' basement. But don't let that scare you away from trying! Think of your college admissions essay as an opportunity to stand out from other applicants and really make an impression.
Friends Forever? Everyone says that college will be the best four years of your life.
Many colleges like to know why you are interested in going to their school. What should a student touch on here?
Expert guidance for all your college essays
Students are encouraged to contact their instructors for additional information. Log in to Canvas. Below are some common scholarship essay questions. You can use these as a great starting point for a pesonal statement. Some of these essay questions are used in the Maricopa Scholarship Database. Keep in mind that all scholarship applications are different, so you may have to design your essay to meet those specific requirements.
Eight Steps Towards a Better Scholarship Essay
For example, if you want to get into Calhoun Honors College or be considered for the National Scholars Program, you'll need to write three word supplemental essays. This guide will help you develop strong Clemson application essay topics to share your unique strengths, interests, and values. Prompt 1: The Honors College values academic achievement, community engagement, and campus leadership. As a result, applicants typically exhibit excellent grade point averages in the most challenging coursework, high standardized test scores, multiple extracurricular activities, and academic awards. In this space, please tell us what - apart from these typical attributes - distinguishes you as a candidate to join the dynamic intellectual community of Honors College students. Please provide specific examples. Prompt 2: Describe and discuss the most significant learning experience you have had outside the classroom that altered your views on an important political, economic, social, or scientific issue. How will you apply the lesson s you learned to your academic and professional goals? What topic would you submit, and why do you want to learn about it?
Your college application essay needs to breathe life into your application.
College Essays. Did you think you were all done pouring out your blood, sweat, and tears in written form for your personal statement , only to be faced with the "why this college" supplemental essay? This question might seem simple but is in fact a crucial and potentially tricky part of many college applications. What exactly is the "why us" essay trying to understand about you?
Essay about Why I've Decided to Go to College
Writing a scholarship essay can be very difficult — especially if you want to do it well. Your essay will need to wow the reader, and speak directly to the goals of that organization, as well as the objectives of that award. If done properly, you will very rarely be able to submit the same application to multiple awards — it is not a one-size-fits-all; most essays will need to be tweaked or completely altered to show the reader that you are deserving of the award above and beyond any of the other participant who also applied. Misconception: No one actually reads your scholarship essay! Fact: Your essay is the key to your scholarship application. It is an opportunity to demonstrate to the selection committee that you are a well-rounded individual, that you are more than your GPA, that you are a strong writer, and it gives you a chance to talk about your experiences and qualifications in greater detail than what appears on your resume or transcripts. Read on to find eight steps to help you write a better scholarship essay so that you can get the money you need to fund your international education. Many schools and other organizations that give out scholarships will give you a "prompt" or a question which the essay is supposed to address. Read the question or prompt carefully and try to "read between the lines. They may also be interested in getting a sense for how promising a student you are based on the type of book you choose and what you have to say about it. Instead of being given a prompt, you might be asked to write an essay on the topic of your choosing. Although challenging, this is also an opportunity to demonstrate your creativity. Finally, if anything about the directions aren't clear, don't be afraid to contact someone at the funding organization and ask for clarification. Regardless of the essay prompt, you will want to make sure to include the important and relevant information about your experiences and background that makes you an ideal candidate for the scholarship award. To complete this step, it can be helpful to first research the organization to which you're applying and try to find their mission statement on their website.
How to Write a College Admissions Essay
During your scholarship applications, you may need to submit a word essay answering a specific question. The theme of the essay can range from personal achievements to political controversies. This means you can adjust your writing style to fit the message of the prompt. This guide will explain how to write a word scholarship essay. We will also provide an example for inspiration. The format of a word scholarship essay is similar to a shorter essay. Each paragraph is about words, and it consists of well-written sentences.
