The intent of the autobiographical or personal essay is to allow the scholarship committee to know you better.
Here are some tips on how to approach writing a scholarship personal statement:
- Typed, hand written statements are NOT acceptable
- Grammatically correct, neat and clean
- Written according to the guidelines of the scholarship.
Example: If the application requires that you write a two-page statement, only write two pages and no more!
- Hooking the reader with a distinctive opening to your statement. Be UNIQUE
- Written honestly about you/written from the heart. Be proud of who you are and be POSITIVE
- You need to answer three questions about yourself in your personal statement
Who you are
- Personal & family background
- Parents
- Siblings
- Motivation to go to college
- First generation college bound
Where you are going
- What are your educational and career goals?
- Why do you want a college education?
- What do you want to do after you graduate?
- What kind of career do you want?
What are you going to get
- Academic success-ex. Academic honors
- Personal interests-extracurricular activities, clubs , sports, positions held
- Employment
- Volunteer & Community Service at home and work
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