How to Craft Your Essay for the Collum-Mallonee LGBT Scholarship

Brainstorming Across the Four Buckets

To create a well-rounded essay, gather material from the following four buckets:

• Background: Reflect on your personal journey. What experiences shaped your identity and motivated you to pursue higher education? Consider challenges you've faced and how they have influenced your aspirations.
• Achievements: Identify key accomplishments that showcase your leadership, initiative, and impact. Use specific metrics where possible, such as community service hours, leadership roles, or projects that had measurable outcomes.
• The Gap: Think critically about what you lack in your current educational journey. How will this scholarship help you bridge that gap? Be specific about the skills or resources you need to achieve your goals.
• Personality: Share details that humanize you. What values guide you? What are your passions outside of academics? Use anecdotes to illustrate your character and make your essay memorable.

Outlining Your Essay

Structure your essay logically. A strong outline might include:

1. Introduction: Start with a compelling moment or anecdote that captures your reader’s attention.
2. Body Paragraphs: Each paragraph should focus on one of the four buckets. Use the STAR method to detail specific situations, tasks, actions, and results related to your experiences and achievements.
3. Conclusion: Reflect on how the scholarship will impact your future. Reinforce your commitment to contributing positively to your community and the values of Delta Sigma Pi.

Drafting Voice and Style

As you draft, maintain an active voice and clear, concise language. Avoid clichés and vague expressions of passion. Instead, focus on specific details that illustrate your journey and motivations. Each sentence should contribute to your overall narrative and reinforce your qualifications for the scholarship.

Revision & “So What?”

After drafting, take a break before revising. When you return to your essay, read it critically. Ask yourself, “So what?” for each section. Does it convey your message effectively? Are your experiences tied back to the scholarship's values? Ensure that your reflections are insightful and that your essay flows logically from one idea to the next.

Common Pitfalls to Avoid

Be aware of these common mistakes:

• Avoid starting with clichés or generic statements.
• Do not exaggerate your achievements or fabricate experiences.
• Steer clear of passive voice; always attribute actions to yourself.
• Ensure your essay remains focused on your narrative and does not stray into unrelated topics.