How to Craft Your Essay for the Morton Sennett Memorial Scholarship

Brainstorming Across the Four Buckets

Organize your thoughts into four key areas: Background, Achievements, The Gap, and Personality.

• Background: Reflect on your life experiences that have shaped who you are. Consider family influences, educational experiences, and challenges you've faced.
• Achievements: List your significant accomplishments, focusing on quantifiable results. Include leadership roles, projects, or initiatives where you made a measurable impact.
• The Gap: Identify what you are currently lacking that further study will address. Be specific about how the scholarship will help bridge this gap.
• Personality: Think about what makes you unique. Include anecdotes or details that reveal your values, interests, and motivations.

Creating an Outline

Once you have gathered your material, create a structured outline. Start with a compelling introduction that draws the reader in with a specific moment or story. Follow with sections that address each of the four buckets, ensuring each paragraph has a clear focus. Conclude with a strong statement about your future goals and how the scholarship will help you achieve them.

Drafting Voice and Style

As you draft, aim for an active voice. Use specific examples and avoid vague statements. Each paragraph should center on one main idea, progressing logically to the next. Remember to include reflections on your experiences—what you learned and why it matters. This reflection will help answer the “So what?” question that the committee may have.

Revision and “So What?”

After completing your first draft, take a break before revising. Read your essay with fresh eyes, focusing on clarity and coherence. Ensure each section contributes to your overall narrative and reinforces your main message. Ask yourself if your reflections are clear and impactful. If not, refine them until they resonate with the reader.

Pitfalls to Avoid

Be mindful of common pitfalls. Avoid clichés and generic statements that do not add value to your essay. Steer clear of passive voice and bureaucratic language that can dilute your message. Lastly, do not fabricate experiences or achievements; authenticity is crucial in scholarship essays.