How do I start writing a scholarship essay?

This page works for any scholarship, anywhere in the U.S. Local help at the end is for California.

Why is starting so hard?

Because a blank page asks you to be perfect. It does not have to be. Your first draft is for you, not the judges. Give yourself 20 minutes and permission to write badly. You will fix it later.

Step 1: What is the prompt really asking?

Most prompts ask two or three things at once. Break them apart.

Say the prompt is: "Tell us about a challenge you faced and how it shaped your goals." That is three parts:

1. What was the challenge?
2. What did you do about it?
3. How did it shape your goals?

Write each part as a heading on your page. Now you have an outline. Check the word limit too, and write it at the top.

Step 2: What should I write about?

Make a fast list. Do not judge it. Use the brainstorm sheet below. Write a few words in each box:

• a moment that made you want to go to college
• something hard you got through
• something you did well in school
• what you want to study and do after
• why you need the money
• how you help your family, church or community

Now look at your list and the prompt side by side. Circle the one or two moments that answer the prompt best. One clear story beats five small ones.

Step 3: How do I write the first draft?

Tell it like you would tell a friend. Then shape it.

1. Open in the moment. Start with a scene: where you were, what you saw, what you felt. Skip lines like "Ever since I was young."
2. Show what you did. Judges want to see action. What choices did you make? What did you learn?
3. Connect to your goals. Say what you plan to study and why. Be specific.
4. Close with the future. End with where you are headed and how this award helps.

Write it all at once. Do not stop to fix words. Then put it away for a day.

Step 4: How do I make it better?

• Read it out loud. Fix every sentence that makes you stumble.
• Cut what does not answer the prompt. Every paragraph should match one of your headings.
• Use your own words. Plain and true sounds stronger than fancy.
• Ask one person to read it. A teacher, counselor, pastor or mentor. Ask, "What is the one thing you remember?" If they cannot say, sharpen that part.
• Check the rules again. Word limit, file type, deadline.

What does a stronger opening look like?

Here is a made up example for the prompt "Tell us about a challenge you faced and how it shaped your goals."

Before: "Ever since I was young, I have always wanted to help people and go to college."

After: "At 13, I sat at a clinic front desk with my mother and translated the word 'diabetes' for her. I did not know the Spanish word yet. I looked it up on my phone while the nurse waited."

The second one puts the reader in a real moment. The rest of the essay can show what you did next and why you now want to study nursing.

How much time should I give it?

Plan backward from the deadline. A simple two week plan:

Can I use the same essay for more than one scholarship?

Yes. Immigrants Rising points out that most prompts are alike. Write one strong core essay about your story and goals. Then change the opening and the ending to fit each prompt. Never send an essay that names the wrong scholarship.

Do I have to write about my status?

No. Your immigration story is yours to share or keep. Many strong essays never mention status.

If you do share it, you choose how much. It can show what you have overcome. Before you write it, think about who will read the essay and whether that feels safe to you. Never say you have a status you do not have. MALDEF's scholarship guide warns that lying about your status, or giving a false Social Security number, is a federal offense.

Who can help?

These are free. Contact them to confirm hours, languages and openings. Being listed here is not a referral or a promise of service.

• Your English teacher or high school counselor: feedback on drafts and help with letters.
• Your college writing center or Dream Resource Center: one on one help with essays.
• Immigrants Rising: essay worksheets and scholarship lists for undocumented students. immigrantsrising.org

Your story matters. Put the first sentence down today.

Related questions

• How do I apply for scholarships without citizenship?
• What is the difference between a scholarship and a fellowship?
• Where to find scholarships that do not require citizenship