Writing Essays & Proposals

There is no easy formula to follow when writing a “personal statement” essay, and while we encourage you to read past essays from successful scholars (you can find these on the web and our office has some samples), you should not try to copy the style and format of someone else’s writing.  The personal essay should make a statement about you – your academic life, personal goals and beliefs, and plans for the future – in a way that will attract your reader(s) and make them want to give you an endorsement (at the university level) or an interview.  In short, you want to write an essay that will put your application in the “short stack.”       

So, how do you begin?

Brainstorm. If the essay has a specific question you must answer, start there. If you are given no more instruction than “personal essay” of a certain length, think about why you want this scholarship, or the experience that will accompany it.  What makes you special? Why are you a good candidate for this scholarship? 
-In particular, you might think of a particular achievement or contribution you have made, perhaps to your specific field, perhaps to the community or society at large.  You could also think of some experience that has shaped your life, a pivotal moment or specific issue that is important to you. Or perhaps recall how you have solved problems/handled situations with which you have been faced.

Be specific.  Avoid speaking in the abstract or over generalizing.  But at the same time, don’t write an essay overly mired in details.  For those scholarships that involve interviews, you want to give your interviewers the opportunity to question you further about specifics in your essay. 

Pay attention to structure.  Your essay should be organized so that the readers can follow your ideas logically.  Maintain a theme throughout the essay.  Consider drafting an outline of the essay to help you maintain the focus of your ideas throughout.  An outline will also help make sure you give enough space to the different aspects of your life.  You don’t want to write ad nauseam about one part of your life and risk short changing another, equally important, part.

Proofread.  While this might be obvious, we cannot stress enough the importance of an error-free essay.  You should expect your essay to go through many versions before the final draft is ready for the application.  In addition to checking grammar and revising structure, you will want to ensure that your essay avoids a lot of technical or specialized vocabulary.  You want to sound intelligent to someone from your field, but you don’t want to alienate or confuse someone from outside your field.
-Enlist readers to help you with the editing process.  You want the essay to be your own, of course, but asking professors or advisors (probably the same people who will write recommendations for you) to read essays for clarity of ideas, interest level, and flow will help you ensure that your essay is both a good piece of writing and an accurate expression of you and your ideas.

Proposals

Some of the scholarships will want you to incorporate a proposal for a program of study or research project as part of the personal statement, and some ask for this to be a separate piece of writing.  Even if a separate essay, the proposal should connect thematically with your personal life and goals as expressed in the personal statement.

You should

-research your plan/proposal.  You will want to consult professors in your field.  You may also wish to contact previous scholars who have studied in the same location or past winners of your scholarship.

-devise a concrete plan.  You may want (or need) to include a timeline and/or a budget that discusses how you can complete your research with the time/funds allotted by the scholarship.  Make contact with local experts/facilities/college faculty about your proposal.  The scholarship selection committee may want to know why you need to travel across the world for your specific studies, as well as what, if any, institutional assistance you will have in your location.

-prove your qualifications.  Tell your readers how you are qualified to conduct the research you are proposing.

-convey the importance of your research, as well as its practicality.  Show the selection committee that your plan is feasible and how it will contribute to the specific scholarship organization’s goals.

Lastly, you should always

-Be honest.  Don’t let your interviewers catch you exaggerating your accomplishments.  If they do, you will definitely cost yourself the award.
-Be yourself.  Don’t try to be overly clever in the essay.  Most likely, you’ll only annoy the readers.  Remember:  substance over style.

Works Consulted:

“Application Advice to Applicants.”  The Office of Distinguished Scholarships University of North Carolina Chapel Hill.  Available Online: http://www.distinguishedscholarships.unc.edu/advice/process.html

“A Guide to Developing a Strong Application.”  The Overseas Resource Center Stanford University.  Available Online:  http://www.stanford.edu/dept/icenter/orc/scholarships/RM_2_Guide.pdf