Victor EkongThe personal statement is arguably the most important component of many scholarship applications. Often, it’s your opportunity to present the strongest possible argument for why you ought to receive a scholarship. Personal statements give the applicant the best sense of who you are as a person, what makes you stand out from the competition, demonstrate your writing skills, and offer proof of your academic and artistic accomplishments.
You should approach your personal statement as you would an in-person interview. A well-written statement gives the data gathered in other sections of your application more focus, depth, and significance. It’s also a chance for you to discuss how elements outside of your educational setting have helped or hindered your capacity to take advantage of the academic and intellectual opportunities that are readily available.
How To Write A Personal Statement For A Scholarship
Before you start filling out your scholarship application, you should spend some time thinking about how to write a scholarship personal statement that expresses who you are and why you deserve to receive a scholarship.
Your personal statement should be a minimum of 200 words. To get you started, consider the following:
1. What are your strongest personality traits that make you an ideal candidate for a scholarship?
2. Does any attribute, quality, or skill distinguish you from everyone else?
3. What are your major accomplishments, and why do you consider them accomplishments?
4. What was the most difficult time in your life, and why? How did you overcome it?
5. What have you done outside of the school that demonstrates the qualities of an ideal candidate?
6. What are your most important extracurricular or community activities? What made you join
these activities?
7. Why did you choose your area of study?
8. What are your career aspirations?
9. What are your dreams for the future?
10. How will the scholarship help you achieve your personal goals?
11. What has compelled you to attend LaGuardia Community College?
Although there isn’t a single right way to write a personal statement, the following advice is generally relevant:
Get a head start on your personal statement
Allow enough time to reflect on your subjects and carefully read the reasoning behind each question.
Make it plain. Maintain focus. Maintain organisation
Make sure the structure of your personal statement makes sense. Consider the possibility that someone who isn’t familiar with you will hear it. Seeking feedback from educators, friends, and family members can provide you with a variety of viewpoints on the impact your personal statement has on readers. Steer clear of lengthy, drawn-out essay responses to maintain reader interest and demonstrate your writing’s thoughtfulness.
Be Personal
The only way to give the readers an idea of who you are is to give them a brief overview of your persona. It is a Personal Statement, after all. This is your opportunity to tell the reader what you think they should know about you so they can decide wisely.
When using humour and clichés, use caution
Something that you find humorous or sardonically ironic may not seem that way to someone unfamiliar with you. Keep in mind that your statement is a chance for you to present a full picture of who you are. Don’t let platitudes represent you.
Think Carefully
Because a personal statement recounts difficult events, it is ineffective. Robust personal statements should demonstrate that the author has thought back on and taken lessons from their prior successes and experiences. The writer should ideally be able to demonstrate a progression towards a distinct viewpoint of how they see the world and where they plan to go in the future.
A strong personal statement conveys your unique qualities and demonstrates how you have grown and used them in response to opportunities and challenges.
Give it a genuine feel
Instead of writing what you think the readers want to hear, a personal statement should highlight who you are and what matters to you. Keep in mind that people who are reading your application will also be reading a lot of other applications, so they will be able to determine quickly whether or not what you are writing is sincere and real.
It’s important to remember that some programmes require finalists to attend interviews, where it will be simple to identify applicants who haven’t been sincere in their statements.
Give precise examples to support your points
Writing your statement in an overly general or ambiguous manner will not make it stand out. Though personal statements abound, only a small handful exemplify initiative through specific instances of proven motivation and leadership. However, instances are merely one component of the puzzle. It is also necessary to demonstrate how you have given meaning to your experiences and developed as a result of them.
Show that you have a clear idea of who you are, where you want to go, and how you plan to use your experiences and education to get there. Even though some events have lifetime or even long-term effects, it is usually preferable to concentrate on recent events because they provide more insight into who you are right now.
Last but not least, allow ample time for modifications
Before being submitted, personal statements should undergo multiple revisions. Read your work aloud to others, then make revisions to improve the style and content clarity. Remember the rules of proper punctuation and grammar, and don’t forget to spell-check. Utilising campus resources (a professor, teaching assistant, advisor, Student Academic Success Centre, classmates, or friends) is also advised to obtain helpful advice on how to enhance your statement.
Make sure you send your statements to the Prestigious Scholarship Advisor for editing and advice on rewrites if you are applying for prestigious scholarships.
Structure of a Personal Statement
To help you stand out from the other applicants, your statement should be well-structured and written. A picture of you as a person, a student, and a possible scholarship recipient should be included in the statement. This is your chance to tell your story. The following ideas will help you divide your statement into four short paragraphs:
Paragraph 1: Introduction
A captivating introduction will draw the reader in.
- Tell us about yourself, your origins, and your family history.
- Describe any unique family or personal circumstances that have an impact on your need for financial support.
Paragraph 2: Body
- Explain why are you the best candidate for the scholarship. What have you done so far? This is where you begin to support your case.
- Why did you choose to attend LaGuardia? What is your major? How did you choose your major?
- What are your positive qualities, accomplishments, work experience, internships, volunteer work, leadership experience, extracurricular activities, personal problems you have overcome,
etc.?
Paragraph 3
- Connect your goals with the opportunities receiving the scholarship will provide. What are your plans?
- Be specific about your plans for pursuing your goals. Where do you plan to transfer? What is the highest degree that you plan to achieve? i.e. Associate, Bachelors, Masters, Ph.D.
- What are your career goals? How do you plan to use your education to achieve your career goals? Explain the importance of your major in today’s society.
Paragraph 4: Conclusion
This is your last chance to impress and persuade the reader. What impact would the scholarship have on your education and your future? Recap why you are a good candidate to receive the scholarship.
Conclusion
It takes more than just listing your accomplishments to create an engaging personal statement for a scholarship; you also need to paint a vivid picture of who you are. Reiterate at the end of your statement your dedication, enthusiasm, and readiness to change the world. Stress how appreciative you are of the chance and how committed you are to using it for both personal development and wider impact.
In closing, convey your hopes, objectives, and how this scholarship will act as a springboard for your future pursuits in a firm yet humble manner. Recall that this is your last opportunity to make a lasting impression, demonstrate your commitment to success, and make a positive impact on the world. We hope that these tips will motivate you and assist you in organising. The finest tool available to you for showcasing your unique talents to them is your personal statement.
FAQs
- What should a personal statement for a scholarship include?
- This question addresses the essential elements and content that should be incorporated into a scholarship personal statement. An Introduction, Body and Conclusion.
- How long should a scholarship personal statement be?
- Many applicants wonder about the ideal length or word count required for a compelling scholarship personal statement. Your statement should be a minimum of 200 words.
- What are some tips for making my scholarship personal statement stand out?
- This question aims to gather insights on strategies or techniques that can help an applicant’s personal statement shine among competitors.
Amarachi Agwu
Scholars Admin
