How to start a scholarship essay: Tips and examples.
Winning a scholarship starts with crafting a compelling essay. By understanding the key elements of a compelling opening, you can create an essay that leaves a lasting impression on scholarship committees.
A strong introduction can set your essay apart, capturing the reader’s attention from the start. In this guide, we'll explore how to start off a scholarship essay, including what your introduction should include, ways to grab the reader’s attention, and common mistakes to avoid.
What is a scholarship essay?
A scholarship essay is a written personal statement submitted as part of a scholarship application. It provides an opportunity for applicants to showcase their achievements, goals, and unique experiences to convince the scholarship committee why they deserve financial assistance.
These essays are typically required for academic, athletic, or need-based scholarships and allow students to highlight their strengths, aspirations, and how the scholarship aligns with their future plans.
How to start a scholarship essay.
When approaching how to start a scholarship essay about yourself, the introduction serves as your first impression, requiring you to hook the reader from the start. A strong introduction should immediately capture attention, establish relevance, and set the stage for the rest of your essay. If you need help with knowing how to begin a scholarship essay, your opening paragraph should:
- Introduce yourself in a compelling way
- Establish your connection to the scholarship’s purpose
- Provide a thesis statement that outlines your reasoning for being a strong candidate
For more insight into structuring a compelling thesis statement, check out this guide on how to write a strong thesis statement | how to write a strong thesis statement.
What is the best first sentence for a scholarship essay?
Your first sentence should immediately engage the reader. A generic opening won’t leave a lasting impression. Here are a few effective ways to start a scholarship essay:
- A compelling question like, “What would you do if you had the power to change one thing in your community?”
- A surprising fact or statistic that states, “Did you know that nearly 60% of first-generation college students struggle with financial aid literacy?”
- A personal anecdote such as, “The moment I stepped into the community center, I knew my passion for education had a purpose.”
Ultimately, the first sentence should make the reader want to continue reading. If you are also looking for assistance in creating a college essay that wows admissions officers, consider reading our college essay writing guide.
How do you start a personal essay for a scholarship?
If the prompt asks you to write about yourself, the introduction should highlight who you are and why your story matters. Open with an engaging hook like a question, anecdote, or statement. From there, introduce your background and how it relates to the scholarship’s mission. Then, preview your main argument to state why you are the best candidate.
An example of how to start a scholarship essay about yourself could read:
“Growing up in a single-parent household, I witnessed firsthand the sacrifices required to pursue an education. My mother, who worked two jobs to keep food on the table, instilled in me the belief that knowledge is the key to breaking cycles of hardship. Now, as I pursue my degree in social work, I am committed to giving back to underprivileged communities, just as others once helped me.”
This introduction is personal, engaging, and directly connected to a purpose.
What is a good hook for a scholarship essay?
Here are some ideas as to what a compelling hook could entail:
- Share a defining moment that relates to your goals
- Start with a bold claim that sparks curiosity
- Use an inspirational quote that connects its significance to your journey
Using the right hook ensures your essay stands out from the stack.
A weak vs. strong hook.
- Weak: I want to go to college to become a doctor.
- Strong: The first time I set foot in a hospital as a volunteer, I realized that medicine was not just a job — it was my calling.
- Weak: I want to study environmental science because I care about the planet.
- Strong: Standing in knee-deep floodwater outside my childhood home, I realized climate change wasn’t just a distant threat but a personal one.
- Weak: Ever since I was a kid, I’ve loved to read.
- Strong: At age six, I built a library in my bedroom, carefully organizing my books and writing my own stories. I didn’t realize then that storytelling would one day shape my future.
- Weak: I have always wanted to become a teacher.
- Strong: The first time I saw a student’s face light up with understanding, I knew I had found my purpose in teaching.
Mistakes to avoid in your introduction.
- Ignoring the prompt. Ensure your introduction directly answers the essay question.
- Being too generic. Avoid starting with overused phrases like, “Since I was a child” or “I’ve always wanted to.”
- Starting with a cliché quote. If you use a quote, add a personal connection.
- Overloading details. Keep the introduction concise while saving the depth for the body paragraph.
Final tips and tools for your scholarship essay.
Before submitting your essay, take a moment to refine and format it properly.
- Proofread and revise. Carefully review your essay for clarity, grammar, and flow. Consider reading it aloud or having someone else provide feedback.
- Make last-minute edits. If you need to tweak your essay before submitting it, you can convert your PDF back to an editable format for quick changes.
- Format for submission. If the scholarship requires a PDF, the Adobe Acrobat Word to PDF tool ensures your document retains its formatting.
A great scholarship essay introduction makes a powerful first impression. By crafting a compelling hook, clearly introducing your story, and avoiding common pitfalls, you can increase your chances of securing that scholarship.
Now that you know how to start a scholarship essay, it’s time to put these strategies into action. Soon enough, you’ll be on your way to writing a conclusion for an essay.
Discover how Acrobat can make it easier than ever to write and submit your next scholarship essay.
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