Financial Aid & Scholarship Department
Division of Student Affairs
Federal School Code: 001153

Scholarships

How To Approach Writing An Autobiographical Or Personal Essay

The intent of the autobiographical or personal essay is to allow the scholarship committee to know you better. It is not easy to stare at the blank page and know where to begin, what to include, what not to include. Before you begin, consider these three pointers.

  1. DO NOT start with your name, date, and place of birth and the names of your parents. Try to avoid repeating Information that can be found elsewhere on your application form or transcript.
  2. DO consider starting with a familiar saying that guides you, or a quotation that is particularly meaningful to you. This will help you focus yourself on what is important to you about you.
  3. DO talk about what is important to you and why your goals, past achievements, past failures and what you learned from them, activities that you are or were deeply involved in and committed to, and relationships that guided you in your development.

Start with an outline and then begin to write paragraphs about each point. Here is a sample outline.

I. Who are you?

    1. Personal Characteristics
      1. Strengths
      2. Weaknesses
      3. Obstacles Overcome or Currently Confronting
    2. Important Involvement/Activities
      1. What Are They
      2. Why Are They Important
      3. How Are You Involved
    3. Leadership
        1. Where Do You Show Your Leadership?
        2. At Home?
        3. At Work?
        4. In Organization?
        5. With Friends?

      II. Why should you be awarded this Scholarship?

      1. What do you have to offer the donor: are they making an investment in a successful, contributing member of society? Will you be a good example or role model to others in your community?
      2. How will you use the scholarship? Assume that all applicants need the money or they would not be applying. Rather than saying, "I need the scholarship because I need the money," tell the donor how it will be used. "I will use this scholarship to purchase the extra supplies needed especially for my major." "With this scholarship I will be able to move into campus housing and participate in campus housing and participate in campus activities and organizations." In addition to the needed funding provided by this scholarship, I hope that this recognition will also enhance my application for internships in my field of study."

      Here are four sample essays. You must have Adobe Acrobat Reader to read or print the essays.

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