Crafting Your Essay for the Lillian Gutterman Scholarship

Brainstorming Across the Four Buckets

To create a compelling narrative, gather material across four key areas:

• Background: Reflect on your personal history. Consider significant experiences that have shaped your educational journey. What challenges have you faced, and how have they influenced your goals?
• Achievements: Identify key accomplishments in your academic and extracurricular activities. Use specific metrics and outcomes to illustrate your impact, such as projects completed, leadership roles held, or community service initiatives.
• The Gap: Acknowledge any gaps in your experience or education that further study will help you address. Explain why this scholarship is essential for you to bridge that gap and achieve your goals.
• Personality: Humanize your essay with personal anecdotes that reveal your values and character. What motivates you? How do you envision your future contributions to society?

Outline Your Essay

Once you have gathered your material, outline your essay. A strong structure will help you maintain clarity and focus. Consider the following format:

1. Introduction: Start with a concrete moment or scene that draws the reader in. Avoid generic statements. Instead, present a specific experience that sets the stage for your story.
2. Body Paragraphs: Organize your paragraphs around the four buckets. Each paragraph should focus on one idea, using specific examples to support your claims. Show how your background and achievements connect to your aspirations and the scholarship's goals.
3. Conclusion: Reflect on your journey and articulate your commitment to making a positive impact. End with a strong statement that leaves a lasting impression.

Drafting Voice and Style

As you draft your essay, aim for an active voice and specific language. Engage the reader by illustrating your experiences with vivid details. Avoid clichés and vague expressions of passion; instead, demonstrate your enthusiasm through your actions and decisions. Each paragraph should flow logically to the next, guiding the reader through your narrative.

Revision and “So What?”

After drafting your essay, take a step back and revise. Ask yourself: What changed in me through these experiences? Why does it matter? Ensure that each section of your essay answers the “So what?” question. This reflection will deepen the impact of your narrative and clarify your motivations.

Common Pitfalls to Avoid

Be mindful of the following mistakes:

• Avoid starting with clichéd phrases or overly broad statements.
• Do not rely on vague claims about your passion; support your statements with concrete examples.
• Steer clear of passive voice; keep your writing active and engaging.
• Ensure all facts and experiences are truthful and verifiable.