Writing Your Scholarship Essay
Things to remember:
• Avoid using second person, “you.” Stick to first-person, using “I” statements.
• Be concise. Scholarship readers read SO MANY essays, so it’s best to cut out the fluff.
o As long as students are answering the questions, it isn’t always necessary to use all 1500
words.
• Use transitions to make the story flow.
• A stream of consciousness is a great place to start, but a scholarship essay should read like an
essay with structure.
CSU Scholarship Application
Goals Statement: What are your long-term career goals? What motivated you to choose these specific
goals? Why is your course of study at Colorado State University the most appropriate to help you
achieve your goals? What impact do you hope to have on the world in your career? (Limit response to
1500 words.)
Introduction:
What do you want to do with your life and what do you want your impact to be on the world and in
your career? (AKA, what are your long-term career goals). Tell us who you are and why you’re here,
and let the details follow.
Body Paragraph(s) (life experience):
Describe your life experiences that make you - you. Some examples: mental health, physical health,
moving a lot, home life, various other transitions, joining the Military, having to work full time to
provide for your family, being a parent, deciding to come back to school, changing your major, etc.
These can be challenges or obstacles, or the experience you talk about can also be a moment of
realization, a paradigm/worldview shift if you will.
• Describe strengths that were developed from these life experience(s).
•
What did you learn from these challenges or obstacles?
•
What did you take away from these experiences?
Body Paragraph(s) (relate to career/professional life – what motivated you to choose your specific
goals):
How have your life experiences influenced the impact you wish to have on the world?
• How do your life experiences (challenges and strengths) relate to what you want to do?
•
Did you decide on a major because of these challenges or strengths?
•
How will these challenges and strengths help you achieve your goals?
Created by Adult Learner & Veteran Services Program Coordinator, Brianna Ridenour 2023
Colorado State University
Conclusion:
Restate your career goals, emphasize why your course of study at CSU is the most appropriate to help
you achieve your goals.
_______________________________________________________________________
Okay, you have your first draft… Now what?
Read it through once. What are your initial thoughts? Write them down. Then read it through again
and ask yourself the following questions:
As you’re reading the essay for the second+ time, ask yourself the following questions and then
consider the answers: (Also consider doing this with another person!)
1. Do you answer each question in the scholarship prompt?
• If yes, awesome. Go to the next question.
• If not, what questions did you miss? How can you answer them?
2. Is your essay clear, concise, and easy to follow – is there structure?
• If yes, awesome. Go to the next question.
• If not easy to follow, how can you add structure? What are ways to add transitions to
help your writing flow from idea to idea.
• If not clear, find a common theme that occurs throughout your story and use that to tie
your essay together.
• If not concise, what is most important? – weed out the fluff.
3. Is your essay edited and ready for submission?
• If yes, sweet! Great job and don’t forget to hit the submit button on the CSUSA.
• If not, consider using Grammarly or sending your essay to CSU’s Writing Center to have
them look over it.
ALVS Peer Advisors have also been trained to support you as you go through your scholarship writing process!
Reach out to them if you need a proofreader!
André E.
andre.eberspacher@colostate.edu
Pronouns: He/They
Major: Chemistry and Philosophy
ALVS Identities: Adult Learner
Jessica (Jessie) R.
jessica.ro[email protected]u
Pronouns: She/Her(s)
Major: Political Science & Sociology | College of Liberal Arts
ALVS Identities: Adult Learner
John P.
john.porter@colostate.edu
Pronouns: He/Him
Major: Restoration Ecology with a minor in Sociology
ALVS Identities: Adult Learner, Student Veteran
Kevin M.
kevin.melchior@colostate.edu
Pronouns: He/Him
Major: Undeclared, looking at Mechanical Engineering or Political Science
ALVS Identities: Adult Learner, Student Veteran
Melissa G.
melissa.veronic[email protected]
Pronouns: She/Her/Ella
Major: Nutrition with a concentration in Dietetics
ALVS Identities: Adult Learner | Peer Advisor for both ALVS and El Centro.
