How to Craft Your Essay for the John and Paula Pelissero Scholarship

Brainstorming Across the Four Buckets

To structure your thoughts effectively, consider the four material buckets: background, achievements, the gap, and personality.

• Background: Reflect on your upbringing, education, and experiences that have shaped your perspective. Consider significant moments that influenced your academic journey.
• Achievements: Identify key accomplishments in your academic and extracurricular life. Use metrics and specific examples to showcase your responsibility and the outcomes of your efforts.
• The Gap: Assess what you currently lack in terms of skills or knowledge that further study at Loyola University Chicago can fulfill. Clearly articulate how this scholarship will help bridge that gap.
• Personality: Share personal anecdotes that reveal your values, interests, and what makes you unique. This is your chance to humanize your application.

Outline Your Essay

Creating a structured outline will help you organize your thoughts logically. Start with an engaging introduction that presents a specific moment or insight, rather than a thesis statement. Follow this with sections dedicated to each of the four material buckets, ensuring that each paragraph focuses on a single idea. Conclude with a reflection on how receiving the scholarship will impact your future.

Drafting Voice and Style

As you draft your essay, maintain an active voice and specific language. Avoid vague statements and clichés. Instead of saying you are passionate about your field, illustrate this through concrete examples. For instance, describe a project you undertook that demonstrates your commitment and the skills you developed along the way.

Revision and “So What?”

After drafting, take a step back and revise with a critical eye. Each section should answer the question, “So what?” Reflect on how your experiences have changed you and why these changes matter in the context of your education and future goals. Ensure that your essay flows logically from one idea to the next, maintaining coherence throughout.

Common Pitfalls to Avoid

Be mindful of several common pitfalls in scholarship essays:

• Avoid generic openers and filler content. Start with a compelling scene or moment.
• Steer clear of empty superlatives. Instead of saying you are the best, provide evidence of your accomplishments.
• Do not use passive voice unnecessarily. Make your writing active and engaging.
• Finally, ensure that all details are truthful and verifiable. Do not invent experiences or accolades.