How To Write Financial Need Scholarship Essays
Writing a financial need scholarship essay can be daunting, but following a few key tips can increase your chances of being selected for the scholarship. It’s important to remember that scholarship committees are looking for students who have demonstrated a strong commitment to achieving their goals, despite facing financial challenges.
Be honest and transparent:
When writing a financial need scholarship essay, it’s important to be honest, and transparent about your financial situation. Discuss your financial circumstances in detail, including any challenges you’ve faced and how the scholarship would help you achieve your goals. This includes discussing your family’s income, any unexpected expenses that have affected your family’s finances, and any other financial difficulties you may have faced.
Show how the scholarship will benefit you:
In addition to discussing your financial situation, it’s also important to show how it will benefit you. Explain how the scholarship will help you achieve your academic and career goals and how it will positively impact your life. This includes discussing how the scholarship will help you pay for tuition, books, and other related expenses and how it will allow you to focus on your studies without worrying about financial stress.
Highlight your achievements:
Scholarship committees want to see you as a motivated and accomplished student. Highlight your academic achievements, extracurricular activities, and work experience. This includes discussing your GPA, any awards or honors you have received, and any leadership positions you have held. Show them that you are a well-rounded individual dedicated to achieving your goals.
Be specific:
Instead of making general statements, be specific in your essay. Use concrete examples to illustrate your points and show the scholarship committee that you have thought through your plans and goals. This includes discussing specific classes or programs you are interested in and how the scholarship will help you pay for them.
Demonstrate a financial need:
Make sure to demonstrate a financial need throughout the essay. Provide evidence of your financial situation, such as tax returns or pay stubs, and explain how the scholarship will help you overcome your financial difficulties.
Proofread and edit:
Before submitting your essay, proofread and edit it for grammar and spelling errors. Have someone else read it over as well for a second opinion. This is important as it shows that you are taking the essay seriously and that you are a professional.
Follow instructions:
Make sure to follow the instructions for the essay and stick to the word limit. Also, make sure to submit the essay on time. Follow instructions to avoid rejecting your essay even if the content is strong.
Get creative:
Scholarship committee members have to read many scholarship essays, which can get monotonous. Try to make your essay stand out by getting creative with your language and format or by including something unique. This can include using a different format or including a personal story.
Example 1
A financial necessity declaration may be all that is required to qualify for certain scholarships. No limits or guidelines exist. Whatever you want to say is up to you. A financial need statement is brief—typically just a few paragraphs long. Depending on the exact word count, this will be between between 150 and 200 words. This should serve as your scholarship application’s cover letter, emphasising why you should be awarded funding. Avoid leading up to the main point. Put your idea through quickly and plainly.
Having completed high school, I am the first in my family to go to college. When they were in their teens, both of my parents decided to stop attending school. Due to their lack of formal education, they have always been forced to take low-paying jobs that leave them struggling to make ends meet. I got my first job, delivering newspapers, when I was 12 years old, and I’ve been working hard ever since to help my family out.
When I was a senior in high school in Mississippi, I took advantage of the HELP programme, which pays for students’ tuition and fees at certain universities in the state. My rent is paid for by a Federal Pell Grant as well. But I still need money for things like books, supplies, and occasional gas money to get to campus. As an engineering major, I have to pay a hefty penny for my education. I can’t do much work while I’m in school, and neither my parents nor I can contribute financially to my college education. This scholarship would be a huge assistance in avoiding the need for me to take out long-term, high-interest student debt.
Example 2
The financial necessity declaration is longer than this essay. It could be one of numerous multiple-choice questions that need answering. There are challenges in working with only 100 words. That barely allows for seven to ten phrases, depending on their length. Use as few words as necessary to convey your message effectively.
This is a brief essay, so any mistakes in grammar or spelling will stand out more. Before sending in your scholarship application, make sure your writing is error-free.
When I was 15, I got pregnant and had to drop out of high school. I had two more kids by the time I turned 20, and we all lived in a studio. There were times when I had to work all three of my jobs just to make ends meet. I went back to school when my oldest child started high school. At the age of 29, I completed my GED and started nursing school. While my financial situation has improved since earning my GED, I am still a single mother of three. If I can provide a secure future for my kids, I will go back to school to become a certified nurse. I value your time and attention.
Example 3
Compare and contrast the above scholarship essay prompt with this one. You can go into a lot more detail about your situation. Please describe your family situation, your income, and any other financial or personal constraints that may affect your ability to pay for college. Though, try not to cram too much information into the essay. That’s why it’s important for everything to read as one continuous piece of data. Pay close attention to editing, and be sure to provide readers with an accurate portrayal of your circumstance.
For those of you who don’t know me, my name is Brandon Noviello. I am now a sophomore working toward my BA in Sociology. As I do not have any other relatives that could help me financially, I am in need of scholarship money. After two years in foster care, I was able to leave and am currently attending college on my own dime.
A great mom who didn’t always have a wonderful life reared me. Even though she became pregnant as a result of a sexual attack, my mother was committed to raising a strong, intelligent man. She completed high school ahead of schedule, before I was even born. She spent the remainder of her life providing material and emotional care for me.
My mom’s side of the family abandoned her as soon as they found out she was expecting. Our circumstances were far from ideal, but I was never without what I needed. There was always a way for her to make sure I had food, clothes, and was able to attend classes. She fought depression for many years, but she ultimately lost, and I was placed in foster care until I turned 18.
However, I must admit that I had no real motivation to have a good time in foster care. The death of my mother was constantly on my thoughts, and I was filled with intense rage, regret, and helplessness. On the bright side, I did find a silver lining. My social worker was wonderful. Despite my resistance, Mom found me a home and supported me through high school. I just invited my social worker to my high school graduation.
She showed me the power of a single person’s actions to improve the world. In her long career, she has helped numerous youngsters like me. In order to aid kids in a similar position to mine, I looked into social work programmes. After I finish college, I hope to find a job in the foster care and adoption section of the Department of Human Services.
I need help financially so that I can pursue my goals. I’m currently working as a waiter to cover my basic living expenses (rent/mortgage, food, utilities), but it’s not enough to put me through university. My daytime activities consist of attending classes, while my evenings are spent working. Although the maximum Pell Grant I was awarded would pay most of my tuition, I still need financial support to meet other related costs.
In the wake of my mother’s death, I struggled academically throughout high school, but I’ve since flourished in college. My overall GPA is 3.25, and I have never received anything less than an A in any required course for my degree. As a result, I am determined to succeed in spite of my difficulties and I hope to inspire other young people to do the same. I hope that in my work with foster kids and teenagers, I can provide them with the same kind of encouragement that was given to me.