How to write a winning scholarship essay - Gen Tanabe, Kelly Tanabe 2018

Essays get better with each revision
Essay writing workshop

Kristin N. Javaras, Rhodes Scholar

“I highly recommend showing your essay to people who have won fellowships themselves or who have read successful fellowship application essays before (and the more people the better). I feel that the revision process was crucial for my essay: I went through about seven or eight drafts of my personal statement before I was satisfied!”

don’t just summarize. Since the reader has just finished the essay, there is no need for a restatement of the points that you made. It’s okay to wrap up your thoughts in one sentence, but try to add to the conclusion as a whole by making an extra point.

don’t be too quick to end. Too many students tack on a meaningless conclusion or even worse, don’t have one at all.

Have a decent conclusion that connects with the rest of the essay and that doesn’t consist of two words, “The End.”

As you look at the essay ask yourself: Will they think about what I have said after they have finished reading? If the answer is yes, then you have written a conclusion that you can be proud of.