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10 Ways to Win a Scholarship Essay Contest

Having judged the MyBookBuyer.com Textbooks for a Year Scholarship Essay Contest and read every submission, I know there's difference between an essay that doesn't have a chance at winning, and one that's a contender. I put together this list of tips you can use to give yourself the best chance of winning a scholarship essay contest. You'll notice that a lot of them have to do with planning before you write (writing doesn't even start until #6!) Whatever you do, don't just take quick look at the prompt, fire off a few hundred words off the top of your head and submit it. Many scholarships are already very competitive, and they are only going to get tougher as the cost of education continues to go up. If you're going to spend the time to enter one of these contests, write an essay that will give you a legitimate chance of winning. Let's start at the beginning:

1. Read the Rules – Carefully

Are there eligibility requirements? If you're an undergrad engineering major don't waste your time submitting an essay to a contest that's only open to students pursuing a master's in theology. Does the essay have a minimum or maximum word count? Are there other required elements? Do you need to cite a source or reference a book? Don't automatically disqualify yourself by not following the rules of the contest.

2. Read the Prompt

Again, this may seem like common sense, but you might be surprised how many people submit 750 words on "Why I need a scholarship" in response to the prompt "What book has most influenced you?" Read the prompt, re-read it, and then read it again. Make sure you understand exactly what it is they are really asking. Does the topic have more than one part? Is it asking you to present logical argument, support an opinion, or recount an experience? Not addressing the prompt fully and correctly is another quick way to take yourself out of the running, no matter how great your writing is.

3. Consider your Audience

One important key to writing a great essay is knowing who you are writing for. Find out as much as you can about the organization that's offering the scholarship. What are they all about? The "Second Amendment to the Constitution Essay Content" sponsored by the NRA Civil Rights Defense Fund is going to require a significantly different perspective than the " National Peace Essay Contest "offered by the United States Institute of Peace.

4. Brainstorm

Think about what you already know about the topic. Then stop, and think about what else you know. Everyone is an expert in something. Whether it has to do with your major, a hobby or interest, a job, or some other experience you've had, think about what it is you know better than anyone else. How can you relate that to the topic? If you can enhance your essay by using an example about bug collecting or being on a championship little league team, do it. You write the best about what you know the best.

5. Outline

Plan what you are going to write before you write it. Organize your thoughts into a logical outline. Make sure your essay has a coherent theme, or supports your central thesis, depending on the kind of essay you’re writing. Don't just plan out your major points, think about how you're going to get from one point to the next. Transitions are key. A disjointed essay without a good flow is not an award-winning essay.

6. Write

Once you've done all the prep, it's time to write. Carve out some time where you won't have any distractions, and just start writing. Hopefully, all the thought you've put into your preparation should pay off, making the essay much easier to write. If inspiration strikes in the middle of writing, don't be afraid to deviate from your outline, but make sure you have a good reason to do so. Remember, the outline is a useful tool, but it's only a tool. The goal is to write the best essay you possibly can.

7. Proofread

Most scholarship essay contests explicitly state that spelling and grammar are part of the judging criteria, but even if they don't glaring proofreading errors are a quick way to end up in the "no" pile. Use your word processor's spelling and grammar checkers – but don't rely on them. Make sure you read through your essay carefully to make sure you didn't accidentally use "their" when you meant "there" or "it's" instead of "its." Don't forget proper capitalization and punctuation.

8. Have someone else read your essay

Sometimes people have "blind spots" when it comes to their own writing. Someone else may be able to catch things you never would. Don't just ask them to look for errors, tell them to feel free to tell you if something is unclear or could be explained better. After all, if it doesn't make sense to them, it might not make sense to the judges.

9. Step away, then Revise

Have you ever noticed that your writing always sounds the best right after you've written it? This is in part because you still remember exactly what you meant and what you were thinking when you wrote each word. To revise you need to be able to see your essay the way the people who will be judging it will see it, and to do that, you need some distance from it. Put your essay aside for at least a day, then come back to it with fresh eyes and start to revise. Don't forget to proofread your revisions.

10. Beat the deadline

Obviously you should have your essay submitted before the deadline. But if possible, try and have your essay in even earlier. The vast majority of submissions come in just before the deadline. If your essay arrives well before the pack, a judge may give it more individual attention, whether consciously or unconsciously.