Every year students face the challenge of writing those scholarship essays. If you are like most people, you struggle with your ideas, or crafting your essay. Consider reading these essays below to get some inspiration on how to write your own winning essay. Just click on the link the read the full college scholarship essay. We also have tips for finding scholarships from our readers.
Last updated on November 1, 2024 by College Financial Aid Advice.
Notre Dame
I would first like to tell you how excited I am to meet you and get to know you. I have been looking forward to the college experience for most of my life and you have a lot to do with what makes going away to college so endearing. I love meeting new people...
My name is Jacquelyn and I am a senior at Perth Amboy High School. As my senior year comes to an end I get excited for my future. I am excited to graduate, go to college and become independent. For years I had ...
Cheer - College Essay about Motivation
Cheer has impacted my life in many ways. I have met some of the most amazing people, learned responsibility, and most importantly discovered the significance of commitment. Participating on my high school’s varsity cheerleading squad…
A loud clash of thunder sounds BOOM BOOM!!! A woman screams, and then a baby sprouts from his mother’s womb shouting surprise!! That’s exactly my lifestyle; always happy and filled with surprises. Ever since…
I seize the run one stride at a time. My New Balance shoes are broken in and take what feels like a thousand hits a minute, as each foot greets the asphalt. My fingertips feel the…
My name is Sonni; I am a freshman at Montana State University - Northern. I just registered for the spring semester. My major is Education. I am from the Chippewa - Cree Rocky Boy Reservation here in Montana. I lived on…
I Never Went to School in my Pajamas!
Bright lights, loud bells, long hallways lined with blue lockers, though you couldn’t see them most of the time through the hordes of people scattering in different directions because they only had one minute left to get to class on time. This is a new world. As I make my way…
Faced with many obstacles at an early age, I didn’t anticipate making it to this point in my life. I am currently seventeen years old and a senior at Maynard Jackson High school in Atlanta Georgia. Growing up, I didn’t have many…
Dear Best Friend, Remember when you were in school, and they would teach you no drinking and driving? Remember how they would show you those videos of young teens getting killed in a car crash? Remember how you…
Most Important Thing I've Learned
The most important thing I have learned in life is to take advantage of every opportunity you come across in life, so you won’t regret your decisions. Life is too short for regrets and you might not…
Significant Accomplishment Essay
Drugs, alcohol, fornication, pregnancy, and dropping out of high school. I have witnessed these items, actions, and results of certain behavior ruthlessly seize hold of…
Lessons Learned – College Personal Essay
Since I was a little girl, I dreamed of attending Powers. I watched the football games, went to Camp of Champions, and longed to be a part of the roaring student section. I considered Powers more than just a ...
One Good Essay (Amber, Kansas)
College is one big competition in a sense. Just like in a competitive classroom setting, you have to set yourself apart from all the other students when writing an essay or applying for scholarships. If you take the time to just write ONE good essay, you can even reuse that essay in multiple scholarship contests, unless of course they have a more specific prompt for you to address. You are COMPETING for scholarships and grants just as if you were competing in a sport or any other activity. Let them know that you want this and that you have the power to succeed in the end.
Are Scholarships Bringing You Down? (Nyia, Michigan)
I've got a few tips for you high school
students on the verge of giving up on scholarships! First Tip: DONT give up! There’s a scholarship for everyone! Your job is to
find them and apply. Get the hang of going online and searching for
scholarships.
Second Tip: More EFFORT more SCHOLARSHIPS!
Scholarship searching means being patient and
understanding. Be motivated to apply for scholarships and hopeful that you will win! Many scholarships are a
given, if you apply to a college there is a great possibility that you could
receive a scholarship along with an acceptance letter. Colleges are in
competition: accepting applicants means receiving thousands of dollars in
tuition. Be persistent, scholarships will not search for you--you must search
for them!
Finding Scholarships (Kyle, Tallahassee)
My advice for finding these scholarships is to sit down for an hour a day and search the internet for scholarships. While an hour may not seem like very little time, an hour a day totals to seven hours per week, which is pretty substantial. The national scholarships are harder to get and require more work, but they have a significantly larger payout. I have seen some scholarships offering up to $100,000 to a single student.
How to Earn $5,000 Per Hour! (Corbin, Pennsylvania)
Yes, I’m sure you’re thinking that $5,000 per hour is impossible and too good to be true. Not so fast; I’m here to tell you exactly how I did it. My mother told me that there was a $50,000 scholarship contest on a website. All you had to do is explain in 250 words what you would do with a $50,000 scholarship. I’m here to tell you that it took me less than an hour to enter and while I didn’t win the grand prize of $50,000, I did win a second place prize of $5,000.
Time is Valuable (Chaski, Georgia)
Time is valuable, use every possible
opportunity to apply for scholarship and grants. You can search by gender, ethnicity,
church affiliation, or your college/university choice financial aid office to
name a few. Keep in contact with school counselors, teachers, they may be the
first to recommend or nominate a student. Ask friends and family members to be
mindful if they know of any scholarships during scholarship season, which is
open all year.
When applying stay on topic, keep to the length of
the scholarship. Reread, check grammar, spelling and write legibly or type.
There is plenty of room to get creative, be you, and to the point. When asked
to think outside that box do just that and get creative with it, it is that
difference that may win you that scholarship. Dare to be different.
FREE MONEY!! (Kaycee, Wisconsin)
From September to May, look for scholarships at least ONCE a week, if not every day. Don't just apply for the big money ones! Chances are, less people have applied for a $500 to $1000 scholarship, making your chances of winning even greater! Last year I hardly applied for any scholarships. I won one worth 5,000$. REMEMBER: You DO NOT have to pay back a scholarship. Its FREE money! My main point to this article is to never stop applying!
See more scholarship essay examples and college admission essay examples at the links below.
100 Examples of Good College Essays
College Essays about Motivation
Scholarships for 2025 - 2026 - It is never too early or too late to work on your scholarship searches. If you are part of the high school class of 2025, you should work on your scholarship and college search now. See our list of Scholarships for High School Seniors
FAFSA - The official 2024 - 2025 FAFSA is available now. The 2025 - 2026 FAFSA will be available on or before December 1. FAFSA.
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