Guide to Writing a Scholarship Essay that Stands Out: With Examples 2023

A well-written Statement of Purpose is an essential component of any application. Your Statement of Purpose tells the admissions committee who you are, what you want to study in graduate school, and why you want to study it. It also reveals your aptitude and motivation for graduate study in your area of specialization, as well as your background and aspirations for the future.

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A well-written personal statement can make or break your admissions chances, even if you have excellent grades and other credentials. However, many applicants make the mistake of not giving themselves enough credit in their personal statements. Here are some guidelines to help you give it your best shot. For more information on crafting a scholarship-worthy academic resume, check out How to Write a Scholarship-Winning Academic Resume.

How to make your Scholarship Statement of Purpose stick out from the crowd.

The vast majority of “purpose statements” or “letters of intent” work just fine. If you don’t already have a financed project and a supervisor set up, or if everything else about your application is perfect and remarkable, you should put a lot of time and attention into writing this letter. It’s your sole chance to present yourself as more than just the sum of your grades and test scores.

There is no better venue for displaying your individuality, drive, maturity, passion, excitement, dedication, commitment, etc. In an application that is in any way “marginal” or that has no specific faculty backing or defending it, the value of this letter and its personal features is increased. Therefore, your correspondence ought to be noticeable on its own. Most reviewers won’t go out of their way to accept you because of work considerations, which is unfortunate (but possibly understandable).

If there is anything unclear about your “data,” you can clarify it in your statement of purpose. Elaborate on the most important and interesting parts of your background that aren’t covered elsewhere in your application so that evaluators can get a better grasp of your’record.’

In the same manner, you may try to keep reviewers from misinterpreting or oversimplifying your work by being honest about any little defects and letting them know how you are (or will be) resolving them. Be astute and make an effort to show yourself well, but don’t ever stretch the truth or engage in excessive self-promotion. The line between talking too much and saying too little is thin, so be careful.

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What is the difference between Personal Statement and Statement of Purpose?

As you craft your personal statement, keep in mind that undergraduate programs are looking for candidates who will contribute to the diversity and vitality of the campus community.

The “mind” you have developed into and the scientist you intend to become are both shown in the Statement of Purpose. In your new role as a scientist, it’s appropriate to focus on how you plan to contribute to the field rather than discussing your personal life.

What is the difference between SOP for Doctoral and Master’s Programs?

Doctoral programs require a unique statement of purpose, not to be confused with those of master’s degree programs. It is not true that a master’s degree program is less rigorous than a doctoral degree program; rather, they are simply unique. You should not assume that the requirements for a doctoral program’s statement of purpose are more stringent than those for a master’s program’s statement of purpose. However, the expectations are unmistakably unique.

An excellent statement of purpose for a master’s program in the social sciences, for instance, may or may not specify a research topic the applicant plans to focus on during their studies. It is acceptable to be uncertain about these matters when applying to a master’s program with a broad concentration. Uncertainty regarding them, however, would be a major detriment in a doctorate admissions essay.

Because doctoral-level study tends to focus on a narrower range of topics, it’s reasonable to assume that applicants will demonstrate a similar level of focus and accuracy when describing their academic goals. Any statement of purpose, even for a master’s degree, would benefit from showing that the applicant is familiar with the educational research currently being conducted at the university.

To be competitive for a PhD program, however, you must demonstrate that your research interests align with those of the faculty members teaching in the program you wish to join. Doctoral applicants would be wise to take this step, since failing to do so would put them at a competitive disadvantage relative to their peers who do attend to these issues.

Tips on Writing an Impressive Statement of Purpose for Scholarship:

(1)  Do your Homework:

1. Browse through the websites of the schools/departments/programs of interest to you. Obtain brochures and booklets and read through them carefully. Highlight the aspects of the programs that appeal to you.
2. Read up on the research interests and projects of the faculty in the schools/departments/programs. Read publications from a faculty of interest.
3. Browse through recent articles from the research field of interest and try to get a general understanding of how the field developed and what are its current problems and challenges.

(2)  Reflect and Brainstorm (on paper):

1. Reflect on your intellectual development.
   • What and when were the major moments in your life that have led you to your current research interest(s) and school/department/program?
   • What or who influenced your decision or interest (i.e. role models)? What quality about them appealed to you?
   • What personal characteristics (for example, integrity, compassion, and/or persistence) do you possess that would improve your prospects for success in the field or profession? Is there a way to demonstrate or document that you have these characteristics?
2. What skills (for example, leadership, communicative, analytical) do you possess?
3. Why did you choose your research topic(s)/field/school?
4. Why did you choose your undergraduate major?
5. What are your career goals?
   • Where do you see yourself in 10 years?
   • What do you hope to accomplish?
   • What drives you? What motivates you?

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(3)  Outline your Statement of Purpose:

1. From the results of Stage II, determine a central theme/topic that stands out or dominates your reflections and brainstorm.
2. Using bullet points and brief comments/statements, organize your reflections and brainstorm ideas that strengthen the central theme/topic of your statement of purpose.
   • Concentrate on your life experiences and give specific examples.
   • Put down only those things that excite you
   • Do not make things up!
3. Your outline should cover these areas and, preferably, in this order:
   • What aspects of the school/department/program appeals to you?
   • What are your research interest(s)?
   • How did you become interested in your current research topic/area?
   • How did you prepare or are preparing to address the issues in this research area/topic (i.e. research experiences, courses, etc.)?
   • What are your future goals for graduate school (i.e. Ph.D.)?
   • What are your career goals (i.e. professorship)?
   • What characteristics of the school/department/program can help you accomplish your goals?
   • What positive aspects do you bring to the school/department/program?

(4)  Write Draft of Statement of Purpose:

When writing your statement of purpose:

1. Be Yourself. Be mindful that you are seeking a program that is a good match for you. Do not disguise who you are or second-guess what the committee is looking for. Always use positive language when referring to yourself. What the admissions committee will read between the lines: self-motivation, competence, potential as a graduate student.
2. Write a Strong Opening and closing paragraph. You want to stand out from the multitude of other applicants. Write an opening that grabs the reader’s attention.
3. Use transition words, sentences and paragraphs. Your statement must read smoothly.
4. Frame the points you wish to make in a positive light. You do not want to reveal weaknesses in your personality.
5. Describe an important experience that is relevant to the program of interest. It is usually good to place this portion of the essay towards the opening. This experience may have contributed to the person that you are today. Make a point to note that in your writing.
6. Demonstrate everything by example; don’t say directly that you’re a persistent person, show it.
7. Be Specific, Concise, Honest and Unique.
8. Describe why you are a good match for their program. Tell the committee about your skills and interest in that particular program. Be specific and thoughtful.
9. Talk about your goals. Explain how a graduate degree will help you accomplish those goals.
10. Explain any shortcomings in your background. (i.e. You had a poor GPA during your freshman year in college. Put a positive spin on this explanation and illuminate how your GPA has improved as you matured.)
11. Thank the admissions committee for their time at the end of your statement of purpose.
12. Unless the specific program says otherwise, be concise; an ideal essay should say everything it needs to with brevity. Approximately 500 to 1000 well-selected words (1-2 single space pages in 12 point font) is better than more words with less clarity and poor organization.

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(5)  Do not Stress:

If you find that you are still having difficulties completing your statement of purpose, do not stress. Take a few days and put this task aside. You’ll find that other things will get your mind and creativity going, giving you ideas and material for your paper.

A statement of purpose requires time and thoughtfulness. You want to sell yourself to the committee, and in order to do that, you need to put your best foot forward. Be honest. Most importantly, be yourself. Keep working on the statement of purpose, even after you have already sent it to school(s) with earlier deadlines.

(6)  Ask for Critique, Revise and Edit:

1. When you are finished with your draft statement of purpose, read it out loud to yourself and make corrections.
2. Ask friends, colleagues and professors to read your edited draft. Taking their comments into consideration, revise and edit your draft.

Things to Avoid When Writing a Statement of Purpose for Scholarship:

1. Errors, misspellings, poor English.
2. Submit a handwritten essay (unless requested).
3. “Talk down” to your audience. Your audience does not need to have basic terminology defined for them. Be mindful that they are already experts in the program that you are applying for.
4. Be too personal in your essay. Do not focus on deep personal problems or excuses for past performances or experiences.
5. Be repetitive or too general in your statements.
6. Criticize other school programs.
7. Use uncommon words that look like they came from a thesaurus.
8. Write an autobiography. You want to give the committee a sense of who you are but they do not want to hear about your entire life story. Be specific and mindful of your personal details.
9. Submit untruthful or irrelevant information in your essay.
10. You do not want to copy and submit another student’s letter of intent.
11. Be overly informal.

How to organize Statement of Purpose for Scholarship?

1. A “hook” that demonstrates your passion for the field
2. Segue to your background in the field
3. Description of your academic background in the field
   • Specific classes you have taken, given by name
   • Specific professors you have had, especially if well-known in that field
4. Extracurricular activities in the field
5. Publications or other professional accomplishments in the field (perhaps conference presentations or public readings)
6. Explanations about problems in background (if needed)
7. Explanation of why you have chosen the specific grad school
   • Mention one or two professors in that school and what you know of and appreciate about their work.
   • Specific features of the grad program which attract you.

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Now Start Writing Your Statement of Purpose for Scholarship:

Now it’s your turn to start writing your impressive statement of purpose by following the tips and strategies explained above. If you follow all the steps and strategies, you will definitely ace the admission process and be studying at the university of your dreams, just like me and my friends. Do you have any advice or strategies that helped you gain admission? Please let us know in the comment section to help others. Happy Writing!

Examples

The doctoral program will allow me to learn more about higher education and prepare me for an opportunity as a senior college administrator. I’ve had many learning and life-enriching chances to work with different administrations to make a difference in the field. Because of the nature of this program, I believe it will allow me to continue to be a catalyst, not only in higher education but also in my community.

Furthermore, by engaging in pre-college activities, this program will help me gain a better understanding of first-generation African American college students’ expectations and knowledge about college before they enroll in their respective universities.

My professional goals are to learn as much as I can about higher education so I can get a better idea of what’s going on in the field right now and how I can help the profession reach its ultimate goals. I want to be a dean of students, vice president for student services, or vice president for student affairs, as well as a faculty member, one day. My previous and current experiences, I believe, have greatly qualified me to serve as a senior administrator.

As a graduate student at American Justice University (AJU), I studied and worked in a variety of roles in an urban setting, including graduate assistant, supervisor, advisor, and practitioner. AJU, which is located in Detroit, pushed me to think critically and provided me with the opportunity to work with skills from a variety of cultures, lives, beliefs, and backgrounds.

College student development, higher education law, finance, and administration classes, as well as my study abroad experience in England, Scotland, and Ireland, helped me have a better understanding of the field and how colleges and universities work. These experiences allowed me to broaden my understanding of higher education and put theory into practice.

I believe that as an active member of various groups that work to improve the lives of others, I have not only been a catalyst for change, but have also inspired a “sense of hope” in many students. I currently serve as an advisor for the Gamma Club (GC) in Detroit, Michigan, a youth auxiliary of Beta Beta Beta Sorority, Inc.

This youth auxiliary was founded in 1970 to help young girls aged 8 to 18 by giving them the opportunity to work with college and professional women on a regular basis, introduce them to sorority national programs and services, and prepare them for academic and career success. Many of the young ladies in this program are raised by single parents/guardians (mostly women); as a result, my colleagues and I work incredibly hard to ensure that these students are provided the skills they need to succeed and are impacted by positive female role models.

In addition, I serve on the MLK Weekend Celebration in Detroit, Michigan, as a committee member. The committee held an essay contest last year to encourage high school students to think critically and demonstrate their creative writing abilities. With many college students finding access to higher education increasingly difficult and stressful, I collaborated with university officials at NASPA University in Denver, Colorado, to establish a scholarship (the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Scholarship) for the first, second, and third place winners of the essay competition. The university agreed to fund this project in order to help students offset their expenses during their first semester of college.

In my current position as a Residence Hall Director at NASPA University, I work to educate the college community about the importance of diversity, multiculturalism, and inclusion in our society. Monitoring minority students’ academic and vocational progress, as well as preparing them for graduate or professional schools through the Graduate Recruitment Program (GRP), are all part of my responsibilities. As a GRP advisor, I think I’ve helped these students become more independent through seminars, conferences, and other activities that make them want to go to college.

I think that my experiences have really helped me get ready for the EdD program at NASPA University. I’m hopeful that this program will help me learn more about higher education and get ready to help my current and future coworkers become industry catalysts.