humor in scholarship essays

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Tips and strategies for crafting an outstanding scholarship essay.

Scholarship essays are an essential part of many scholarship applications. They provide an opportunity for you to showcase your personality, goals, and achievements to scholarship committees. Crafting a winning scholarship essay requires time, effort, and attention to detail. In this comprehensive guide, we will provide you with tips and strategies to help you write a compelling and successful scholarship essay that sets you apart from the competition.

From understanding the prompt to drafting your essay and polishing the final draft, we will walk you through each step of the process. You will learn how to identify key themes, structure your essay effectively, and highlight your strengths and experiences in a way that resonates with the scholarship committee. Whether you are a high school student applying for a local scholarship or a college student seeking a national award, this guide will equip you with the tools you need to create a standout scholarship essay.

The Importance of Scholarships

Scholarships play a crucial role in helping students achieve their educational goals. They provide financial assistance to deserving individuals who may not have the means to fund their education on their own. This support can make a significant difference in a student’s ability to pursue higher education and achieve their dreams.

Furthermore, scholarships not only alleviate the financial burden on students and their families but also promote academic excellence. By incentivizing students to strive for academic success, scholarships encourage individuals to work hard, stay motivated, and excel in their studies. This can lead to a more educated and skilled workforce, benefiting society as a whole.

In addition, scholarships can open doors to opportunities that would otherwise be out of reach for many students. They can provide access to top-tier universities, prestigious programs, and valuable experiences that can shape a student’s future and career prospects. Scholarships empower individuals to reach their full potential and pursue their passions without the constraints of financial limitations.

Overall, scholarships are not only important for individuals seeking to further their education but also for society as a whole. By investing in scholarships, we invest in the future of education, innovation, and progress. Scholarship recipients have the opportunity to make a positive impact on their communities and the world, thanks to the support and opportunities provided by scholarships.

Why You Should Apply

Applying for scholarships is a smart and strategic move for students looking to further their education. Here are a few reasons why you should take the time to apply:

• Financial Support: Scholarships offer a valuable source of funding that can help offset the cost of tuition, books, and other educational expenses.
• Merit Recognition: Winning a scholarship is a testament to your hard work, dedication, and academic achievements. It can boost your confidence and open up new opportunities.
• Reduced Debt: By securing scholarships, you can reduce the need for student loans and graduate with less debt, giving you a stronger financial foundation after graduation.
• Networking Opportunities: Many scholarship programs provide networking opportunities with other scholars, mentors, and industry professionals, helping you build valuable connections for the future.
• Personal Growth: The process of applying for scholarships forces you to reflect on your goals, achievements, and aspirations, fostering personal growth and self-improvement.

Overall, applying for scholarships is a worthwhile investment in your education and future success. Don’t miss out on the chance to secure the financial support and recognition you deserve!

Benefits of Winning

Winning a scholarship can offer numerous benefits to students, both academically and personally. Some of the key benefits include:

• Financial Assistance: Scholarships provide financial support for tuition, books, and other educational expenses, reducing the financial burden on students and their families.
• Recognition and Prestige: Winning a scholarship can enhance a student’s academic resume and demonstrate their merit to future employers and academic institutions.
• Opportunities for Growth: Scholarships often come with additional opportunities such as internships, networking events, and mentorship programs, which can help students develop their skills and build connections in their field.
• Increased Confidence: Achieving a scholarship can boost a student’s confidence and motivation, encouraging them to aim higher in their academic and personal goals.
• Debt Reduction: By receiving a scholarship, students can decrease their reliance on student loans and minimize the amount of debt they accumulate during their education.

Overall, winning a scholarship can have a transformative impact on a student’s educational journey, opening doors to new opportunities and providing valuable support along the way.

Key Elements in Scholarship Essays

Scholarship essays are crucial for securing financial aid for your education. To craft a winning scholarship essay, you must include key elements that showcase your unique qualities and experiences. These elements include:

1. Personal Story: Share a personal story that highlights your values, goals, and aspirations. This will help the scholarship committee get to know you better.

2. Relevance: Make sure your essay is relevant to the scholarship you are applying for. Tailor your essay to fit the requirements and objectives of the scholarship program.

3. Clear Structure: Organize your essay with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and conclusion. Use transitions to connect your ideas smoothly.

4. Strong Thesis: Present a strong thesis statement that outlines the main point of your essay. This will guide your writing and keep your essay focused.

5. Unique Voice: Use your unique voice and perspective to stand out from other applicants. Avoid clichés and generic statements.

6. Proofreading: Proofread your essay carefully to eliminate errors in grammar, punctuation, and spelling. A polished essay shows your professionalism and attention to detail.

By incorporating these key elements into your scholarship essay, you can increase your chances of winning financial aid for your education.

Understanding the Prompt

One of the most crucial aspects of writing a winning scholarship essay is understanding the prompt. Take your time to carefully read and analyze the prompt provided by the scholarship committee. Pay attention to the key points and requirements outlined in the prompt, such as the essay topic, word limit, formatting guidelines, and any specific questions that need to be addressed.

Create a table or list to break down the prompt into manageable sections. Highlight the main themes or keywords that you should focus on in your essay. By understanding the prompt thoroughly, you can ensure that your essay directly addresses the criteria set by the scholarship committee and increases your chances of success.

Highlighting Your Achievements

When crafting a scholarship essay, it is crucial to highlight your achievements in a way that showcases your skills, talents, and accomplishments. Be sure to emphasize your academic achievements, extracurricular activities, community service involvement, leadership roles, and any awards or recognition you have received. Use specific examples and anecdotes to demonstrate the impact of your achievements and how they have shaped you as a person. By highlighting your achievements, you can effectively communicate your potential to the scholarship committee and increase your chances of receiving the scholarship.

Tips for Writing a Standout Essay

When it comes to crafting a winning scholarship essay, there are several key tips to keep in mind to ensure your essay stands out from the crowd:

Showing Your Unique Voice

When crafting a scholarship essay, it’s important to remember that you are the only person who can truly tell your story. Don’t be afraid to let your personality and voice shine through in your writing. This is your chance to stand out from the crowd and show the scholarship committee why you deserve to win.

Whether it’s through a unique storytelling style, a powerful personal anecdote, or a quirky sense of humor, find a way to make your essay memorable and engaging. Your essay should reflect who you are as a person, not just your accomplishments and achievements.

Use your own words and express your ideas in a way that is authentic and genuine. Your unique voice is what will make your essay memorable and resonate with the scholarship committee. Be yourself, and let your personality shine through in every word you write.

Structuring Your Essay Effectively

When it comes to crafting a winning scholarship essay, the structure is just as important as the content. Here are some tips on how to structure your essay effectively:

1. Introduction: Start your essay with a strong hook that grabs the reader’s attention. Introduce yourself and provide some background information about your achievements and goals.

2. Body paragraphs: Divide your essay into several paragraphs that each focus on a specific point or idea. Make sure to provide clear examples and evidence to support your arguments.

3. Conclusion: Summarize your main points and reiterate why you are the ideal candidate for the scholarship. End with a strong closing statement that leaves a lasting impression on the reader.

4. Editing: Before submitting your essay, make sure to proofread and edit it carefully. Check for grammar and spelling errors, as well as clarity and coherence in your writing.

By following these tips, you can structure your scholarship essay effectively and increase your chances of winning that coveted award!

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College essays that worked and how yours can too.

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CAMBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS - JULY 08: A view of Harvard Yard on the campus of Harvard University on ... [+] July 08, 2020 in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Harvard and Massachusetts Institute of Technology have sued the Trump administration for its decision to strip international college students of their visas if all of their courses are held online. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)

The college essay is a pivotal piece of the college application showcasing your individuality and differentiated outlook to admissions officers. What makes an essay truly shine? Let’s dive into the words behind three standout essays highlighted by university websites and a school newspaper's brand studio so you can get into the right mindset for crafting your own narrative.

Embracing Differences: Finding Strength In Uniqueness

Essay Excerpt: ‘Bra Shopping ’ (Harvard)

Featured by the Harvard Crimson Brand Studio , Orlee's essay recounts a student's humorous and insightful experience of bra shopping with her grandmother, weaving in her unique family dynamics and challenges at her prestigious school.

What Works:

• Humor and Honesty: The student's humor makes the essay enjoyable to read, while her honesty about her challenges adds depth.
• Self-Awareness: She demonstrates a strong sense of self-awareness, embracing her uniqueness rather than trying to fit in.
• Resilience: Her narrative highlights resilience and the ability to find strength in differences.

For Your Essay : To write an essay that embraces your uniqueness, start by identifying a quirky or challenging experience that reflects who a key insight into your experience. Think about how this experience has shaped your perspective and character. Use humor and honesty to bring your story to life, and focus on how you have embraced your differences to become stronger and more resilient.

Best High-Yield Savings Accounts Of 2024

Best 5% interest savings accounts of 2024, finding connections: humor and self-reflection.

Essay: ‘Brood X Cicadas ’ (Hamilton College)

As an example on Hamilton's admissions website, Nicholas writes about the cicadas swarming his hometown every 17 years and draws a parallel between their emergence and his own transition to college life. He uses humor and self-reflection to create a relatable and engaging narrative.

• Humor: Nicholas uses humor to make his essay entertaining and memorable. His witty comparisons between himself and cicadas add a unique twist.
• Self-Reflection: By comparing his life to the cicadas’, he reflects on his own growth and readiness for change.
• Relatability: His narrative about facing new experiences and challenges resonates with readers who have undergone similar transitions.

For Your Essay: To infuse humor and self-reflection into your essay, start by identifying an ordinary experience or object and think about how it relates to your life. Write down funny or insightful observations about this connection. Use humor to make your essay more engaging, but ensure it still conveys meaningful self-reflection. This balance can make your essay both entertaining and profound.

Persistence and Multicultural Identity: Life Lessons From Tortilla Making

Essay: ‘ Facing The Hot Griddle ’ (Johns Hopkins University)

In this essay published by Hopkins Insider, Rocio uses the process of making tortillas to explore her multicultural identity and the challenges she has faced. Her story beautifully weaves together her Guatemalan heritage and her experiences growing up in the United States.

• Metaphor and Symbolism: The process of making tortillas becomes a powerful metaphor for the student’s journey and struggles. The symbolism of the masa harina and water mixing parallels her blending of cultural identities.
• Personal Growth: The essay highlights her perseverance and adaptability, qualities that are crucial for success in college.
• Cultural Insight: She provides a rich, personal insight into her multicultural background, making her story unique and compelling.

For Your Essay: To write an essay that explores your identity through a metaphor, start by thinking about an activity or tradition that holds significant meaning for you. Consider how this activity relates to your life experiences and personal growth. Use detailed descriptions to bring the activity to life and draw connections between the process and your own journey. Reflect on the lessons you've learned and how they've shaped your identity.

A winning college essay isn’t simply about parading your best accomplishment or dramatizing your challenges. It’s not a contest for which student is the most original or entertaining. Rather, the essay is a chance for you to showcase your authenticity, passion, resilience, social awareness, and intellectual vitality . By sharing genuine stories and insights, you can create an essay that resonates with admissions committees and highlights your unique qualities.

For you to have the best possible essay, mindset is key. Here’s how to get into the zone:

• Reflect Deeply: Spend time thinking about your experiences, challenges, and passions. Journaling can help you uncover deep insights.
• Discuss and Share: Talking about your stories with friends, family, or mentors can provide new perspectives and emotional clarity.
• Immerse Yourself: Engage in activities that you are passionate about to reignite the feelings and memories associated with them.
• Draft Freely: Don’t worry about perfection on the first try. Write freely and honestly, then refine your narrative.

The secret to a standout college essay lies in its authenticity, depth, and emotional resonance. By learning from these successful examples and getting into the right mindset, you can craft an essay that not only stands out but also provides a meaningful insight into who you are. Remember, your essay is your story—make it a piece of writing that you will always be proud of.

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How to Write a Scholarship Essay

What’s covered:, why do scholarships require essays.

• Types of scholarship essays

How to write a good scholarship essay

What about scholarships that don’t require an essay.

For many, scholarships are a critical part of paying for your college education. That’s why you want to make sure your scholarship applications receive nearly as much of your care and attention as your college applications do. Essays are a huge component of this.

Many scholarships are competitive, drawing highly qualified applicants with excellent grades and test scores. Essays are a way of differentiating students, learning more about their interests, and determining to whom the organization should give the award.

Scholarships are also born out of organizational missions, and the committee wants to see how your values align with theirs. Essays help illuminate these values. 

Types of scholarship essays 

You’ll encounter several different types of scholarship essays during your search. These are some of the most common varieties you will find.

Career and education goals

Some scholarships target people with particular career ambitions and anticipated majors. This essay prompt is common for those types of awards, as well as more general ones. To approach your essay, you should be authentic, describing your true motivations and why this professional path appeals to you. Let your passion for the industry, sector, or discipline shine through.

Life experiences/qualities/group affinity

When a scholarship targets people of particular demographics, make sure you highlight your affinity with this group in your essay. Describe how these characteristics have contributed to and in some cases shaped your journey — and will continue to do so in your future.

Connection with the institution/organization

Your connection with the institution or organization offering the scholarship often plays a large role in determining winners — so much so that they may ask you to describe why that organization is important to you in your essay. It’s important to do your homework, considering why various aspects of the institution appeal to you and why you want a scholarship from them.

Past writing sample

You may not need to write a new essay at all. The organization could ask you to submit a past writing sample instead. If this is the case, choose a piece that shows your real personality and aligns with the message and mission of the organization offering the scholarship.

1. Understand your audience.

Scholarship committees want to see essays from students who share their organization’s values. Before you apply, you need to do some research to understand what those values are. Consider how your interests and experiences align with what the organization is looking for, and make them clear throughout your essay.

2. Show your personality.

You should also use your voice in your essay. Give the scholarship committee insight into who you are as a person — what drives you, what motivates you, and what interests you. This will allow them to understand you on a deeper level and see your words as genuine.

3. Use anecdotes and examples.

As with your college essays, you’ll bring your experiences to life by using plenty of anecdotes and examples. These will help ground your essay and make it more compelling for your audience.

You may encounter scholarships that don’t require essays. While the applications may be less time-consuming, for the most part, you will need to ensure that your GPA, test scores, and extracurriculars are strong because they will usually play a large role in assessing applicants.

While we’re on the subject of no-essay scholarships, we encourage you to enter CollegeVine’s weekly $500+ scholarship drawings . To get started, you just need to create a free account. Increase your chances of winning by referring friends, peer-reviewing essays, and more.

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• How to Write a Scholarship Essay | Template & Example

How to Write a Scholarship Essay | Template & Example

Published on October 11, 2021 by Kirsten Courault . Revised on May 31, 2023.

A good scholarship essay demonstrates the scholarship organization’s values while directly addressing the prompt. If you plan ahead , you can save time by writing one essay for multiple prompts with similar questions.

Table of contents

Apply for a wide variety of scholarships, make a scholarship tracker spreadsheet, tailor your essay to the organization and the prompt, write a focused and relevant personal story, scholarship essay example, other interesting articles, frequently asked questions about college application essays.

Scholarships are a type of student financial aid that don’t require repayment. They are awarded based on various factors, including academic merit, financial need, intended major, personal background, or activities and interests.

Like college applications, scholarship applications often require students to submit their grades, standardized test scores, letters of recommendation, and an essay.

A scholarship essay shares your values and qualities in the context of a specific question, such as “How does technology affect your daily life?” or “Who has had the greatest impact on your life?”

Be wary of scholarship scams

While some applications may not require an essay, be wary of scholarship scams that do the following:

• Guarantee you scholarship money for a fee
• Claim scholarship information is exclusive to their company
• Ask for your bank or credit card information to hold the scholarship

Some legitimate companies do charge for releasing comprehensive scholarship lists or creating a tailored list of scholarship opportunities based on your profile.

However, you can always discover scholarship opportunities for free through your school counselor, community network, or an online search.

Many students focus on well-known, large scholarship opportunities, which are usually very competitive. To maximize your chance of success, invest time in applying for a wide variety of scholarships: national and local, as well as big and small award amounts. There are also scholarships for international students .

In addition to charitable foundation and corporate scholarships, you should consider applying for institutional scholarships at your prospective universities, which can award money based on your application’s strength, your financial situation, and your demonstrated interest in the school.

Check with your guidance counselor, local organizations, community network, or prospective schools’ financial aid offices for scholarship opportunities. It’s a good idea to start applying as early as your junior year and continue throughout your senior year.

Choose the right scholarships for you

Choose scholarships with missions and essay topics that match your background, experiences, and interests. If the scholarship topic is meaningful to you, it will be easier for you to write an authentic and compelling essay.

Don’t shy away from applying for local scholarships with small dollar amounts. Even a few hundred dollars can help you pay for books.

Local scholarships may be more tailored to your community, background, and activities, so they’re likely more relevant to you. Fewer students apply for these scholarships, so you have less competition and a higher chance of success.

Some places to look for local scholarships include

• Civic organizations, such as the Rotary Club, Lions Club, etc.
• Your church, mosque, synagogue, or place of worship
• Community groups, such as the YMCA
• Ethnicity-based organizations
• Your local library or local small businesses
• Organizations related to your intended major
• Your city or town
• Your school district
• Unions, such as SEIU, the Teamsters, CWA, etc.
• Your employer or your parents’ employers
• Banks, credit unions, and local financial institutions

Prevent plagiarism. Run a free check.

While researching scholarship opportunities, create a scholarship tracker spreadsheet to keep track of the following:

• Scholarship amounts
• Required application materials

You can use our free Google Sheets template to track your scholarship applications.

Scholarship application tracker template

You can also include scholarship essay prompts in your college essay tracker sheet . By grouping or color-code overlapping essay prompts, you can plan to write a single essay for multiple scholarships. Sometimes, you can also reuse or adapt your main college essay .

Even if you’re adapting another essay, it’s important to make sure your essay directly addresses the prompt, stays within the word count limit , and demonstrates the organization’s values. The scholarship committee will be able to tell if you reuse an essay that doesn’t quite respond to the prompt, so be sure to tailor it to the questions asked.

Research each organization

Before writing, research the scholarship organization’s mission and reason for awarding the scholarship. Learning more about the organization can help you select an appropriate topic and relevant story.

While you should tailor your essay to the organization’s values, maintain your authentic voice. Never use false or exaggerated stories. If the organization’s values don’t align with yours or you can’t brainstorm a relevant story for the scholarship, continue searching for other scholarship opportunities to find a more appropriate one for you.

After researching the organization, identify a specific personal experience that embodies its values and exemplifies why you will be a successful student.

Choose a story with the following criteria:

• Responds to the prompt
• Demonstrates the organization’s values
• Includes an authentic story
• Focuses on you and your experience, not someone else’s

A good scholarship essay is not

• A resume of your achievements
• A lengthy opinion piece about the essay topic
• An essay featuring a negative tone that puts down others

If appropriate, you can briefly address how the scholarship money will help you achieve your educational goals. You should also end with a brief thank-you.

Take a look at the full essay example below. Hover over the underlined parts to read explanations of why they work.

Prompt: Describe how working for Chelsea’s Chicken restaurant has developed leadership skills that will help you succeed in college. Give specific examples of leadership characteristics that you have exhibited during your employment with us.

As a nervous 16-year-old, I walked into Chelsea’s Chicken for my first day of work determined to make enough money to put gas in my car and buy pizza on the weekends. My only previous job was mowing my neighbors’ lawns when they were on vacation, so I had no idea what to expect. I was a bit intimidated by my new responsibilities, especially handling money and helping disgruntled customers.

However, it didn’t take me long to learn my way around the cash register and successfully address customer complaints. One day, Roger, the store manager, asked me if I wanted to join Chelsea’s Chicken Leadership Training Initiative. He said he saw leadership potential in me because of my attitude with the customers and my enthusiasm for learning new job responsibilities. It surprised me because I had never thought of myself as a leader, but I quickly agreed, and Roger handed me a three-ring binder that was thicker than my math and science textbooks put together! He told me to take it home and read over it during the following week.

In that binder, I discovered that being a leader means taking the initiative, especially when the job is undesirable. One week later, I got to practice that idea when a little kid threw up in the bathroom and missed the toilet. It smelled terrible, but I stepped forward and told Roger that I would clean it up. My coworkers thought I was crazy, but I started to believe in my leadership potential.

That night as we closed the store, Roger pulled me aside in the parking lot and told me that he could tell that I had been studying the manual. He wanted to give me more responsibility, along with a dollar-per-hour pay raise. I was surprised because I had been working there for only a couple of months, but his encouragement helped me make a connection: good leadership helps other people, and it often is rewarded. I was determined to experience more of both.

Within a month, I was ready to take the Team Leader exam, which mattered because I would receive a promotion and a much bigger raise if I passed. But, when I got to work, two of the scheduled team members had called in sick. We were noticeably short-handed, and our customers weren’t happy about it.

I walked back to the lockers, put on my vest and hat, and took my place behind an open register. Customers immediately moved into my line to place their orders. Roger looked at me with surprise and asked, “Did you forget that you’re testing tonight?” I responded, “No, sir—but what’s the use of taking a leadership test if you aren’t going to lead in real life?” Roger smiled at me and nodded.

He stayed late that night after we closed so that I could leave early and still take the test. I noticed that Roger was always staying late, helping employees learn new skills. His example taught me that leaders take the initiative to develop other leaders. He gave me a clear picture of what shared leadership looks like, making room for others to grow and excel. When I asked him where he learned to do that, he said, “From the same leadership manual I gave you!”

Chelsea’s Chicken has offered me so much more than a paycheck. Because of Roger’s example, I have learned to take the initiative to care for my family and friends, such as being the first to do the dishes without my mom asking or volunteering to pick up my friend for our SAT prep course. Now, as I prepare to enter college, I have confidence in my leadership ability. I know I’m signing up for a challenging major—Biology, Pre-Med—yet I also know that Chelsea’s Chicken has helped me to develop the perseverance required to complete my studies successfully.

If you want to know more about academic writing , effective communication , or parts of speech , make sure to check out some of our other articles with explanations and examples.

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A scholarship essay requires you to demonstrate your values and qualities while answering the prompt’s specific question.

After researching the scholarship organization, identify a personal experience that embodies its values and exemplifies how you will be a successful student.

Invest time in applying for various scholarships , especially local ones with small dollar amounts, which are likely easier to win and more reflective of your background and interests. It will be easier for you to write an authentic and compelling essay if the scholarship topic is meaningful to you.

You can find scholarships through your school counselor, community network, or an internet search.

You can start applying for scholarships as early as your junior year. Continue applying throughout your senior year.

Yes, but make sure your essay directly addresses the prompt, respects the word count , and demonstrates the organization’s values.

If you plan ahead, you can save time by writing one scholarship essay for multiple prompts with similar questions. In a scholarship tracker spreadsheet, you can group or color-code overlapping essay prompts; then, write a single essay for multiple scholarships. Sometimes, you can even reuse or adapt your main college essay .

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Funny Personal Statements: How to Use Humor in Your College Application

James Eimers

June 16, 2017

The Art of Writing Funny Personal Statements: How to Use Humor in Your College Application

When 650 words or fewer play a critical role in determining where you’ll pursue your degree, it’s hard to think of admissions essays as anything other than serious business.

With such a small space to give admissions officers a glimpse into who you are and why you’d be a great addition to a given school, it’s always tempting to paint a professional, straight-laced picture of yourself; after all, what school wouldn’t want a mature student highly focused on academic success?

Indeed, for some students, this might be a completely reasonable approach to the Common App personal statement . However, as with many things in life, there is no one-size-fits-all strategy when it comes to admissions essays, and it’s important to take a step back and recall their purpose. Test scores, grades, and letters of recommendation all play an important and informative role in the application process, but none allow you to present yourself in your own words—that’s the beauty of the admissions essays.

There are as many approaches and possible answers to essay questions as there are applicants, including those with a keen sense of humor. Admissions readers count on this because, aside from assembling an incoming class that meets the academic profile of their schools, they hope to admit interesting students with diverse talents who will enrich the educational and life experience of those around them. As a result, even though it feels a bit untraditional, letting your personality—including your sense of humor—shine through your essays can be an excellent way to create a memorable application.

Although humor can go a long way to demonstrating an applicant’s creativity and personality, this doesn’t mean that the approach will work for everyone. It actually can be a common personal statement mistake to try and use humor. Funny personal statements can definitely pack a punch, but they're difficult to do well. When writing what I call a “humorous/offbeat” admissions essay, there are a few key concepts to keep in mind.

Remember that humor itself should never be the main point of the essay. It’s perfectly acceptable to make your reader smile or even laugh out loud, but only in the course of telling a story that reveals something important about yourself. In other words, ensure that you use humor only as a device to highlight or enhance the underlying substance or reflective nature of your essay. Funny personal statements are effective only in showing the personal qualities of the writer at the same time.

You should never force humor into your essays, even when attempting funny personal statements . It is an unfortunate truth of life that making others laugh does not come naturally to all of us, so the offbeat/humor essay might not be an option for everyone. Admissions essays should indicate who you really are; forced humor that falls flat will indeed leave a memorable impression, but for all the wrong reasons.

When writing funny personal statements , the peer-review process becomes even more important than it already is. Humor is subjective by nature, so before clicking “submit” on your applications, make sure that a wide variety of people in your life (friends, parents, and teachers) have read your essays. If all your readers think your essay is appropriate and lighthearted, you’ve likely composed an essay with humor that will land well with an admissions office. If not, it might be time to go back to the drawing board.

When done correctly, f unny personal statements can be extremely effective. One of the best essays I’ve ever read followed this formula: Rife with stories about fanciful white lies he had told others over the years, this student’s essay at first seemed risky. Why reveal to an admissions office the fact that you have, at times, stretched the truth?

However, the student soon made it clear that stretching the truth in his younger days was in fact an early manifestation of his larger desire to tell stories—he wanted to study creative writing and ultimately become an author. His past storytelling revealed much about his creative character and also the fact that, although he had done quite well in school, he didn’t take himself too seriously while doing so. Ultimately, the student was admitted to a number of top schools.

I’ll leave you with some final tips to review when thinking about using humor in your admissions essays:

• Stay away from potentially controversial topics—at best, you will demonstrate a lack of self-awareness, and at worst you might personally offend the admissions reader. Again, peer review your humor before submitting!
• The humor should be original. By writing funny personal statements , you are illustrating the fact that you are a creative student with a good sense of humor—recycling humor falls short here.
• You can use humor in many different types of essays, but remember that the humor should be added only after you already know what story you want to tell; humor alone should never be the substance of your essay.
• Subtle humor can often make a stronger impression than can loud, straightforward humor.

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​How to Write a Scholarship Essay (With Examples)

• 6-minute read
• 22nd August 2022

Writing a scholarship essay can seem like a daunting task. For many students , higher education isn’t possible without financial aid, and scholarships are especially valuable because the money awarded doesn’t have to be paid back.

Even though the stakes are high, there are a few manageable steps you can take to ensure you write a great essay to submit with your scholarship applications. We have a few top tips to help you get started, along with writing examples to demonstrate some key points. Check out our guide below to learn more.

A scholarship essay is a great opportunity to present yourself and your accomplishments in an impactful way. It is, therefore, essential to be aware of each scholarship deadline so you can allow sufficient time for the writing process, which typically includes the following:

·   Read the essay prompt and brainstorm ideas.

·   Create an outline covering the key points you want to address.

·   Write a draft and seek feedback from trusted teachers, family, or friends.

·   Make any necessary revisions and proofread before submitting your final draft.

Scholarship review committees will be able to tell if you rushed through your essay, so give yourself the best chance of winning an award by staying organized and on schedule!

Who and What?

Researching the scholarship provider and diligently reviewing the essay prompts can help you write an essay that makes you stand out as a top candidate.

1. Who are you writing to?

Learn more about the organization offering the scholarship and why the scholarship fund was created.

For instance, a scholarship may honor its organization’s founder, and the founder’s qualities (e.g., integrity, good citizenship, and leadership) might be the same values guiding the scholarship program as a way to continue the founder’s legacy.

If you identify with any of the same qualities, you can incorporate those keywords into your essay to demonstrate your shared values. Remember to remain authentic, though!

2. What are you writing about?

You must read the essay prompt carefully to identify precisely what you need to accomplish with your essay.

Some prompts ask about your career goals and how you plan to achieve them or your achievements and the challenges you overcame to reach them.

You’ll write about common topics across multiple scholarship applications – some may even be similar to your college admission essay – so you can repurpose your essays as long as you’re diligent about tailoring each one to its prompt.

Your application will likely require other items such as transcripts and test scores, but the essay is your chance to offer something entirely unique. Write about key experiences that highlight who you are and what you’ve accomplished, or you could mention something you’re passionate about.

Remember to follow any specific instructions regarding length and formatting, and be sure to answer all questions listed in the prompt. It can hurt your chances if you’re unable to show the committee that you’re detail-oriented and can follow directions.

Structuring Your Essay

Your essay should follow a standard format that includes a clear beginning, middle, and end. Typically, you should:

·   Establish your main idea in the introduction.

·   Include a separate body paragraph for each key point that supports your main idea.

·   Draw it all together and revisit your main idea in the conclusion.

Scholarship committees read thousands of essays each year. And often, there are hundreds of applicants for an award that can only go to a select few candidates. Writing a powerful introduction and conclusion gives you a chance to make a lasting impression.

1. Introduction

Write an introduction that hooks the reader and encourages them to stay engaged till the end of your essay. Don’t be afraid to add personal, tangible details and an anecdote .

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For example, if you’re writing about your career goals, demonstrate why you’ve chosen that career:

It was the biggest game of the season, and the stands were packed despite the bitter cold. My heart was beating louder than all of the cheers, and I was filled with the anticipation that one more run into the end zone would give us the championship. Everything went silent during that run when the tackle shattered both my leg and my dreams.

My world has always revolved around being an athlete – until one day it couldn’t. I spent many frustrating months rehabilitating, but I got through it because of my dedicated physical therapist, who helped me recover both physically and mentally after a devastating loss. And it was that profound experience that led me to pursue a career in the exercise sciences.

2. Conclusion

The conclusion is the last thing your reader will see, so it’s another opportunity for you to make your essay memorable.

Rather than summarizing with a general statement such as “this is why you should award me a scholarship,” perhaps explain what the financial assistance will help you achieve:

My parents never had the opportunity to go to college, and neither did their parents. I watched them work hard every day just to make ends meet, and I often questioned whether I could achieve anything more. Nevertheless, I spent four years working as hard as I saw my parents work, and I beat the odds by getting accepted to college. A scholarship could be invaluable for me, as it would allow me to attend and be successful without having to worry about finances.

Persuasive Writing

While you don’t want your scholarship essay to be overly informal, you’re certainly allowed to add some creativity and personal details to help persuade your readers.

One of the best ways to do so is by writing with the modes of persuasion ; that is, ethos, pathos, and logos.

Demonstrate your credibility. Use your real-life experiences and interesting details to establish, for example, how you’ve contributed to your community:

I saw how much bullying was impacting so many students at my school, so I founded my high school’s first anti-bullying club and organized campaigns to bring attention to the harm that people can cause one another.

Evoke an emotional response. The “show, don’t tell ” writing technique, which involves using descriptive words when discussing actions and emotions, can be especially useful here:

During one of our first awareness assemblies, the theater was completely silent as I read aloud anonymous stories from students about the scars bullying had left on their lives. Tears were stinging in my eyes as I described the struggles my classmates were facing, but I persevered to give a voice to those who didn’t have one.

Convey your point with reason and facts. Use statistics to demonstrate what you’ve accomplished:

In the first year alone, our club improved students’ feelings of safety and acceptance at our school by 53%.

Proofreading and Editing

Don’t forget the importance of proofreading your essay, as spelling and grammar mistakes can leave a bad impression on your reader. Our expert editors can help ensure your writing is clear, concise, and error-free. Give yourself a better chance at impressing scholarship committees by submitting a free trial document today!

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Home / Blog / Colleges / Humor and the College Application Essay

Humor and the College Application Essay

Very rare is the teenager who is devoid of personality yet college essays often sound like they’ve been written by someone wearing an obnoxiously over-starched tuxedo while facing a firing squad. Your essay should reveal something about your personality and character to give your reader a good sense of who you are and to differentiate yourself from other applicants. Humor, even in small amounts, can do just that.

“Ellen” exhibited a love of and commitment to dance. There was no doubt that this would be the topic for her essay.  She’d been taking dance lessons for over 12 years, multiple nights per week, and couldn’t get enough of it.  Her most embarrassing moment, however, also had to do with dance, as she tripped on her way into a formal ball at a local military high school.

The coincidence was perfect!  Starting the essay with a dramatic and self-effacing description of her inauspicious entrance into a formal school military ball was a real attention grabber and a fantastic transition to her impressive commitment to dance.  Schools learn that she’s not afraid to make a commitment, that she works hard, that perhaps she’ll bring her dance talent to their campus, AND that she has a wonderful sense of humor that allows her to laugh…even at herself!

The person reading your essay is often reading hundreds of them, and while you may not have done something that no other person in that applicant pool has done, you can present it in such a way that makes it memorable.

Another applicant, for example, had an extensive commitment to community service and started her essay by indicating that she wanted to work at Walmart.  She hooked her reader with this rather odd proclamation for a college-bound student, but then went on to explain that Walmart has a foundation that donates significant money to charitable causes, and that was exactly the kind of work the student wanted to be doing some day.

Sometimes the humor can be short and subtle, but it adds a really nice flavor to your essay.  One young man babysits for a significantly impaired 13 year old who is almost entirely non-verbal but still manages to get his point across.  In the essay, the writer indicates that he speaks three languages, English, Spanish, and “David”.

When you include humor in your essay , you can go on to share your accomplishments without sounding arrogant, and, in fact, you will have made your point in a very memorable way.

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Incorporating Humor into Your Essays

By Jeremy Dann

While business school essays should never attempt to reach “Borat levels of comedy, MBA aspirants should look for opportunities to add some humor into their applications.  As we’ve discussed before, MBA applications are not judged by machines, but by people who have to read a couple dozen of these things each day.  Applications that incorporate a bit of well-placed humor are more entertaining and memorable for admissions readers.

If you believe that your sense of humor is one of the defining characteristics of your “Brand You,” this trait is best captured by demonstrating it rather than talking about it.  A dry essay that lists sense of humor as a personal quality won’t ring true.

The first rule when incorporating humor into b-school essays is “Less is More.”  You don’t have room and readers don’t have the patience for bits with long set-ups.  We’re not talking about jokes here; rather, the best kind of humor to incorporate falls more within the categories of the wry observation, the fond remembrance or the honest portrayal of a confusing situation.  Discussing the quirks of interesting and much loved characters who have impacted our lives can also make for an engaging essay.

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Sat / act prep online guides and tips, complete list: weird scholarships you can win (updated).

Financial Aid

You may have thought that scholarships were only for those who had great grades or were top athletes. Well, think again! There are a lot of organizations willing to give you some college cash in recognition of your interesting habits, unusual attributes, or willingness to do something a little bit quirky!

Here's a complete collection of the best weird, unusual scholarships we could find. The good news is they're often a lot easier to apply to than other scholarships.

Why Do These Weird Scholarships Exist?

These scholarships mostly come from three main sources:

Special Interest Groups and Clubs

These organizations are very passionate about certain topics—like asparagus or Star Trek—and they love to see students who share those passions. By offering these crazy scholarships, they're encouraging students to actively stay involved in these areas of interest.

People Who Want to Help People Just Like Them

You'll notice a number of unique scholarships based on last name or physical features. These tend to be from people or groups who feel they are special for some reason, and want to share the wealth with others who are lucky enough to have the same trait.

Quirky Companies Out for a Laugh

Some of the most unusual scholarships are from companies that are just looking to have a good time, and they want to share the love with students who get their sense of humor and are willing to do something a little daring.

So even if you didn't think you were the scholarship-winning type of student, remember that there are scholarship opportunities out there for almost anyone, including...

Scholarships for People With Interesting Physical Attributes

The Scholarship for Redheads

This scholarship is awarded to a natural red-head who is a junior or senior in high school with a GPA of 2.5+. You have to submit two photos to prove the authenticity of your gingery locks, and also create a creative piece—can be an essay, picture, or video, that tells what it means to you to be a red head.

The deadline is in early April, and the prize is a one-time award of $500.

The Tall Club Scholarship

The Tall Club Scholarship is awarded to exceptionally tall high school seniors. If you are female and over 5'10", or male and over 6'2", this scholarship could be for you! Apply through your local Tall Club (there are 53 branches nationwide). You'll have to provide transcripts and test scores, letters of recommendation, details about extracurricular activities and awards, a photo and an essay. Awards vary by chapter but are up to $1,000. The deadline is March 1.

The Left-Handed Scholarship

If you're left-handed, you're in luck! The Frederick and Mary F. Beckley Scholarship from Juniata College in Huntingdon, Pennsylvania is for you. The college selects a left-handed student with a top academic record to receive the award which ranges from $1,000-$1,500. Grades and financial circumstance are also taken into consideration.

Scholarships for People Who Have Prepared for the End of the World (or Want to Save the World)

Zombie apocalypse scholarship.

If you've spent time thinking over how you would fare if the world were overrun by the walking dead, then the Zombie Apocalypse Scholarship is for you! Students aged 14 and older can apply by writing a 250 word essay about what would happen if their school were overrun by zombies.

The deadline is October 31, and the award is $2,000.

Superpower Scholarship

The Superpower Scholarship awards $2,500 to a student who, in 250 words or less, best answers the question, "Which superhero or villain would you want to change places with for a day and why?" You have to be 14 years of age or older to apply. The deadline is March 31st.

Scholarships for People Who…Sound Like a Duck

Chick and sophie major duck calling contest.

High school seniors are eligible to compete for this scholarship in Stuttgart, Arkansas every fall. The student best able to woo ducks will be awarded $2,000. There are also prizes for second place ($1,000), third place ($750), and fourth place ($500). The deadline is December 31, 2022

Scholarships for People Who Love Sweets, or Want to Be Sweets

American Association of Candy Technologists John Kitt Memorial Scholarship

College sophomores, juniors, and seniors who love candy so much that they want to study it should apply for this scholarship. You'll need to be majoring in food, chemistry, or biological sciences with a GPA of 3.0 or higher and have shown an interest in candy technology through a project or research.

One student will win a scholarship of $5,000, paid in two installments. The deadline has yet to be announced for 2023-2024, but will likely be in April 2023. 

Flavor of the Month Scholarship

The Flavor of the Month Scholarship is open to students aged 14+ who write a 250-word essay that answers the question, "If you were an ice cream flavor, which would you be and why?"

The prize is $1,500 and the deadline is July 31st.

Scholarships for People Who REALLY Love Star Trek

Starfleet Scholarship Program

Trekkies are in luck when looking for college funding. The Starfleet Scholarship Program awards up to $1,000 scholarships to students (senior year of high school or above) who have been Starfleet members for at least a year prior to applying. Applications are open January 1st to June 30th of each year.

Scholarships for People Who Have a Lucky Last Name

John Gatling Grant Program

This scholarship at North Carolina State University awards $10,000 to in-state students and $15,000 to out-of-state students who are lucky enough to be born with the last name "Gatling" or "Gatlin". You need to be able to show proof that you were born with the name, and the application is turned it at the same time you apply for financial aid. The next application deadline is February 15th.

Charles Downer Scholarship Fund

This scholarship gives students attending Harvard and who have the last name "Downer" a chance to get some money. Preference is given to students who are descendants of Joseph or Robert Downer of Wiltshire, England or descendants of Harvard graduates of the class of 1889. Award amount and submission date varies.

Leavenworth Scholarship

The Leavenworth Scholarship at Hamilton College in New York is for—you guessed it—students with the last name "Leavenworth." The award amount isn't specified, and applications are accepted through the school.

Zolp Scholarship

Catholic students attending Loyola University Chicago with the last name Zolp are in for a treat—they are eligible to win money if they file their birth certificate along with their applications. Award amount varies depending on availability of funds and the number of applicants. The deadline is March 1st.

Scholarships for People Who Have a Sense of Humor About Fashion

Stuck at Prom

The Stuck at Prom contest rewards students who create entire prom outfits from Duck Tape, and then wear them to a school-organized prom. Applicants must submit photos of their handiwork—which is usually quite impressive! One student in each category, dress or tux, gets a full scholarship for themselves, plus one individual grand prize winner gets a bonus. Every year there are 21 winners. Keep in mind that this contest is not open to students in Maryland, Quebec, Vermont, or Colorado. First place is $10,000 and 8 runners up get $500. The individual bonus is $500. The contest period typically ends in June.

Scholarships for People Who Are Lazy and Sober

The deppen scholarship and the voris auten scholarship.

Do you stay away from drugs and alcohol? Do you also stay away from physical activity? If so, Bucknell University in Pennsylvania offers two endowed scholarships to students who fit that description and have also lived in Mount Carmel, PA for ten years and attended a Mount Carmel public high school. This scholarship is awarded by the scholarship committee after you've been admitted to Bucknell University.

Scholarships for People Who Love to Write Essays

Ayn rand scholarships.

If you want to get some practice writing essays on really long books, never fear! Short essays (of around 1,000 words on Ayn Rand's really long books can make you eligible to win some serious cash. Different topics are available depending on grade level, and awards vary. This year, the fund expects to give out over 230 prizes totaling $70,000. The deadline for this scholarship is April 28, 2022. 

Scholarships for People Who Hate to Write Essays

No Essay Scholarship

The No Essay Scholarship claims to be the easiest scholarship out there—no tedious essay writing here! College students (or prospective college students) simply need to enter their details online for a chance to win $2,000. A new winner is chosen every month, and you can re-apply as much as you like!

Scholarships for People Who Are Gay Pilots

National Gay Pilots Association

The National Gay Pilots Association gives LGBT students and allies who are interested in professional aviation a chance to help cover some college costs. Students should be at least 18 years old, have a private pilot license, have accomplishments in aviation, and have contributed to the LGBT community. Students must also be an NGPA member at the time of application. Scholarship amounts vary, and there are multiple submission windows throughout the year. 

Scholarships for People Who Are Passionate About Specific Kinds of Food

Vegetarian resource group.

Students who are committed to promoting a peaceful world through a vegetarian lifestyle can win up to $10,000 for school from the Vegetarian Resource Group. You'll have to write an essay about your experience being vegetarian and promoting it within your community, and at least three letters of recommendation. One award of $10,000 will be given, as well as two $5,000 prizes. The deadline is February 20, 2023.

Beef Industry Scholarship

On the opposite end of the spectrum, the Beef Industry Scholarship awards ten $1,500 scholarships every year to high school seniors or undergrads who are pursuing careers in the beef industry. You'll have to have demonstrated a commitment to the beef industry, write an essay about solving a problem in the beef industry, and have two letters of recommendation from professionals in the beef industry. And if your love affair with beef is long-lasting, you can re-apply every year!

Asparagus Club Scholarship

The National Grocers Association awards this scholarship to college juniors and seniors who are pursuing careers in the grocery industry. Scholarships are $2,000 per semester and can be renewed for up to four semesters if a 2.5+ GPA is maintained. Five scholarships are awarded per year.

Scholarships for People Who Like to Make Others Laugh

Make Me Laugh Scholarship

This scholarship for you budding comedians out there. Students over the age of 14 can apply for a $1,500 scholarship by telling a funny or embarrassing story (real or made up) in 250 words or less that makes the judges laugh out loud. Deadline is August 31st. 

Scholarships for People Who Love Golf But Don't Play It

Western golf association evans scholars foundation.

If you are dedicated to the art of being a golf caddie, you are in luck. The Western Golf Association Evans Scholars Foundation gives out hundreds of full-ride scholarships to students who can show a record of successful and regular caddying throughout high school (spanning at least two years). You should also have strong academics and a good ACT score, and be able to demonstrate financial need. The scholarships are available at 18 colleges across the country that have scholarship houses—winners are expected to be active members in the house. Applications are due October 15th.

Scholarships for People Just Love Applying for Scholarships

Scholarship for aggressive scholarship applicants.

Debt.com sponsors this scholarship. The main idea? They want to award students who have shown persistence and courage in applying for all the free college money that is out there. All you have to do is apply for loads of scholarships (past winners have applied for over 30 each—and don't worry, you don't have to win them!) and send copies of the submission receipts, along with a letter saying a bit about yourself, your goals, and how you felt doing all those applications. You can win $500. The best part? They choose a new winner every 2 months, so you have a lot of chances to try for this one!

What's Next?

If you want to apply to some great scholarships not listed above, check out our guides to the National Merit Scholarship , McDonald's Scholarship , and Tylenol Scholarship .

Did you know that sometimes getting a scholarship is as easy as applying to your school of choice? Check out this list of schools that automatically offer scholarships based on grades and test scores .

Need a letter of recommendation for a scholarship? Here's how to get one .

Mary Ann holds a BA in Classics and Russian from the University of Notre Dame, and an MA from University College London. She has years of tutoring experience and is also passionate about travel and learning languages.

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The 5 best scholarships for college students.

Key takeaways

Using multiple search engines can help you find a wide variety of scholarship opportunities

Stay organized as you apply to avoid missed deadlines or incomplete submissions

Browse social media websites and popular hashtags to find options not listed on scholarship search engines

With student loan debt continuing to affect borrowers for years, even decades, after graduation, it’s more important than ever for college students to lower their tuition bill. Scholarships, or college aid that never has to be repaid, are one way to reduce education-related costs. They offer students the chance to showcase unique skills, backgrounds and perspectives to earn money for college.

Scholarships aren’t limited to high school seniors; there are plenty of scholarships for current college students. The best scholarships to apply for are ones that you qualify for and win. To get an idea of what scholarships are out there, here are some great options to consider — and some tips on how to find the perfect scholarship for you.

Where to find undergraduate scholarships worth applying for

One of the best ways to find college scholarships is to utilize scholarship search engines that compile scholarship opportunities for undergraduate students. These include:

CollegeScholarships.org

College Board

Going Merry

ScholarshipOwl

Scholarships.com

On these sites, you can usually filter scholarships by the deadline, grade level, amount awarded and more. Most sites let you create a profile to receive email alerts when a new scholarship matching your parameters pops up.

But don’t limit your search to just these sites. Look for specific scholarships on Google using keywords that apply to you. For example, if you’re studying journalism, search for “journalism scholarship” to find relevant opportunities.

You can also follow scholarship hashtags like #scholarship, #scholarships, #scholarshipopportunities and #collegescholarship on Instagram and X (formerly known as Twitter). When you click on a post with one of these hashtags, scroll down to find other relevant hashtags and follow those too.

5 scholarships for current college students worth applying for

There are hundreds of college scholarships out there, and the best way to find ones you qualify for is to use a search engine. However, these five scholarships are a good place to start.

1. U.S. Bank Student Scholarship Program

The U.S. Bank Scholarship Program is a unique way for current students to gain financial literacy while entering to win scholarships. Instead of submitting an essay, college students download an app and complete free lessons on personal finance topics. The scholarship award increases as students complete more modules. For example, students who complete 25+ modules will be entered to win up to $2,500, while students who complete 150+ modules will be entered to win up to $20,000.

Applicants are required to register on the U.S. Bank scholarship site and then follow instructions to download the U.S. Bank version of the Zogo app, where they complete the learning modules. As you complete modules, you’ll be entered to win different scholarship amounts.

Amount: $2,500-$20,000 Application deadline: June 30 and October 30, 2024 Apply here: https://www.usbank.com/about-us-bank/community/student-scholarship.html

2. Cat Zingano Overcoming Loss Scholarship

Cat Zingano is an MMA fighter passionate about helping students fight through hardships in daily life and after tragedies. The Cat Zingano Overcoming Loss Scholarship is specifically offered to students who have experienced a loss in their families. The winner is selected based on a 200- to 800-word essay on the topic “How has the loss of a close family member or loved one caused you to focus on what matters most in your life and what you want to ‘fight’ to achieve?”

Amount: $10,000 Application deadline: July 20, 2024 Apply here: https://bold.org/scholarships/cat-zingano-scholarship/

3. Employment BOOST College Scholarship

Employment BOOST College Scholarships are awarded quarterly to high school students accepted to college and current college students. Employment BOOST offers two awards: one scholarship for students in any major (including those undecided) and one for students majoring in business or STEM.

Applicants must submit a letter of reference and a 500- to 1,000-word essay. The topic of the essay is either a response to an Allen Ginsberg poem or a description of how technology will change the applicant’s way of life in 15 years — the essay topic depends on the applicant’s major. Students must also have a GPA of at least 3.6 to qualify.

Amount: $1,000 Application deadline: Applications are accepted on a rolling basis Apply here: https://employmentboost.com/scholarship

4. Sallie Mae Scholarship

The Sallie Mae scholarship is an easy way for current college students to potentially win tuition money as Sallie Mae’s goal is to help students successfully navigate financing college. As a current college student, the only requirement is that you are enrolled in an accredited college or university in the U.S.

The award is given monthly. Applicants will need to submit the short entry form on Sallie Mae ‘s website. If a submission is received after the current deadline, it will be considered for the next one.

Amount: $2,000 Application deadline: Awarded on a monthly basis Apply here: https://www.salliemae.com/scholarships/2k-scholarship/

5. Clubs of America Scholarship Program

The Clubs of America Scholarship Program was created to help current college students achieve their career aspirations. Any current college student of an accredited U.S. college or university with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher is eligible. Applicants have to write an essay of at least 600 words detailing their career aspirations and how their current studies will help. Students have the option of submitting a YouTube video as well.

Amount: $1,000 Application deadline: August 31, 2024 Apply here: https://www.greatclubs.com/scholarship/

Bankrate insight

While scholarships are a great way to pay for your education, having a budget is also important for your financial health. Check out our college student budget calculator to help you plan out the year.

Applying for multiple scholarships can get confusing, especially when juggling different requirements and due dates. The key is to stay organized and create a system for managing scholarships.

Many scholarships have similar requirements, so keep digital copies of important documents, like your most recent transcript, a reference letter and a list of your extracurricular activities. To stay organized, use a spreadsheet to track deadlines and set calendar reminders a week before the application is due. Keeping all this information in one place will make it easier to apply for more awards. The more scholarships you apply for, the easier it will be to find the money for school and help reduce the amount of federal or private student loans you take out, so try to apply for as many as you qualify for.

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California College Promise Grant: What It Is and How to Apply

Cece Gilmore is a Content Writer at Scholarships360. Cece earned her undergraduate degree in Journalism and Mass Communications from Arizona State University. While at ASU, she was the education editor as well as a published staff reporter at Downtown Devil. Cece was also the co-host of her own radio show on Blaze Radio ASU.

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Maria Geiger is Director of Content at Scholarships360. She is a former online educational technology instructor and adjunct writing instructor. In addition to education reform, Maria’s interests include viewpoint diversity, blended/flipped learning, digital communication, and integrating media/web tools into the curriculum to better facilitate student engagement. Maria earned both a B.A. and an M.A. in English Literature from Monmouth University, an M. Ed. in Education from Monmouth University, and a Virtual Online Teaching Certificate (VOLT) from the University of Pennsylvania.

California can be an expensive state for students in terms of cost of living and tuition. However, if you are a California resident you could be eligible for the California College Promise Grant that allows you to attend community college in California for free! Keep reading to learn more about the California College Promise Grant! 

What is the California College Promise Grant? 

The California College Promise Grant allows eligible California residents to have community college enrollment fees waived including tuition. However, you will still have to pay for textbooks and the cost of fees such as parking fees and health fees. 

Also see: Top California scholarships

Who is eligible for the California College Promise Grant? 

In order to be eligible for the California College Promise Grant you will need to meet the following criteria: 

• Lived in California for at least one year as a resident or AB 540 eligible student
• Demonstrate financial need on the FAFSA
• Meet academic standards by maintaining a GPA of 2.0 or higher and completing more than 50% of your coursework 

What schools qualify for the California College Promise Grant? 

Most California community colleges ! Be sure to double check with your community college’s particular rules for enrollment in order to ensure they offer the program and that you qualify for the California College Promise Grant.

Related: Top reasons to attend a community college

How do I apply for the California College Promise Grant?

In order to apply for the California College Promise Grant you must complete the following steps: 

• Submit the FAFSA or CADAA
• Submit your community college application at CCCApply.org

It is important to note that the application opens during the summer semester of each academic year and must be completed every year. 

The application itself is quite simple (especially in comparison to the FAFSA application!). It is a two-page application in which you provide information about yourself and your parents if you are a dependent student . 

What about the remaining fees I need to pay? 

The California College Promise Grant only covers tuition and certain fees. Therefore, you may be wondering about how to pay for the other expenses such as books or room and board . Luckily, a lot of community colleges in the California area offer their own promise grants in addition which can cover those types of expenses. For example, some colleges will offer book vouchers, counseling services and priority class registration in addition to free tuition. 

The application process for the school-specific promise grants varies based on the specific school. Therefore, be sure to research schools you are interested in to find out eligibility criteria as well as how to enroll in these programs. 

Also see: Which states offer tuition-free community college?

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Frequently asked questions about the California College Promise Grant

Do i have to pay back the california college promise grant, do i only need to apply once, how long can i receive the california college promise grant.

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Your chance of acceptance, your chancing factors, extracurriculars, can i include humor in my college essay.

I have a funny story that I think would make a great college essay, but I'm not sure if humor is appropriate for this type of writing. Do you guys think it's okay to include humor in a college essay or should I stick to a more serious tone? Thanks for any advice!

Hi! Including humor in your college essay can be a great idea if done effectively. Colleges are interested in your personality and using humor can highlight aspects of your character that would make you a good fit for their campus community. Just be sure to strike a balance between humor and showcasing your other qualities, such as intellect and personal growth.

You might want to consider getting some feedback from friends, family, or a counselor to make sure the humor is appropriate and doesn't overshadow the main message of your essay. Keep in mind, admissions officers are reading thousands of essays, so if yours stands out in a positive way, it could work in your favor.

For more guidance on writing your college essay, I recommend this CollegeVine blog post: How to Write the Common App Essays 2023-2024 Good luck with your essay!

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U. S. Complete Scholarship Essay

Calling all high school seniors or current college students.

July 1, 2024

Source: Jameson Crandall Job Title: USCSDA Secretary/Treasurer Phone: (804) 577-3788 Email: [email protected]

Click here for details.

Published: 2024-06-28

Bridging Learning Value Gaps in a New Project Economy

Guided reading questions as a scaffolding technique in a flipped graduate metabolism class, technology-focused multitasking self-efficacy and performance: whether you think you can or think you can't, you can't, professors call it cheating, students call it teamwork evolving norms of academic integrity in the transformative era of online education, changing attitudes towards research through a course-based undergraduate research experience, deconstructing the testing mode effect: analyzing the difference between writing and no writing on the test, determining the essential characteristics for effective college teaching, facilitating the research writing process with generative artificial intelligence.

At this presidential debate, we all lost

The first matchup of the 2024 election made for some of the most brutal television in political history.

History was made last night. The kind of history that may unseat the Sept. 26, 1960, Nixon-Kennedy presidential debate as the default anecdote about how a TV moment transformed American politics. A night that began with cautious optimism from the president’s campaign ended with panicked calls from multiple quarters for the Democrats to somehow, in the weeks before the convention, find a new nominee.

That President Biden had a terrible night does not mean former president Donald Trump performed well. The evening was not gladiatorial.

The candidates squabbled about golf. (Trump accused Biden of lying about his handicap, then suggested they not “act like children.”) Asked how he would make child care more affordable, Trump replied that he fired the general who overheard him calling dead veterans “suckers and losers” (that would be Gen. John F. Kelly, his own former chief of staff) and faulted Biden for not firing anyone. Besides “I didn’t have sex with a porn star, number one,” other memorable bon mots include, “We had H2O. We had the best numbers ever” (Trump) and “We’ve — by the way, we brought an awful a lot of people — the whole idea of computer chips” (Biden).

The distinction between the candidates is evident even in that microcosm: One spewed lies and boasted about nonsense with a level of confidence that impresses partly because it’s so unearned. And the other kept interrupting himself while feebly making half-remembered policy points.

Both candidates are record-breakingly old, historically unpopular and highly improbable winners of past presidential elections. As the incumbent, President Biden needed to defend his record and demonstrate to those concerned about his age that he could govern for four more years. Donald Trump needed to reassure undecided voters that he was not going to reject the results of yet another election, dissolve NATO, or sign a federal abortion ban.

Both failed. But the difference in response stems from the fact that Trump’s defects are, given how much voters know about him, priced in. Biden’s are not.

There are several reasons for that (including incumbency, which always poses an electoral challenge). The main one, though, is that the president’s approach to public exposure has almost perfectly opposed his opponent’s. So much so that I argued, at the beginning of 2020 , that Biden would float to victory — in a contested Democratic primary — on the strength of his ability to fade. To not react. Whereas Trump craved the spotlight, held rallies and spent every waking hour in high dudgeon, often on Twitter, Biden avoided appearances and interviews. He didn’t really attack his fellow Democratic candidates, and their attacks on him likewise didn’t land.

Some speculated at the time that his campaign was shielding him (the few interviews he did give were a little odd ). But whatever his reasons, Biden’s approach offered an exhausted electorate something they craved at the time: permission to tune out. That helped him get elected. Whether it helped his presidency is a more complicated question; Biden’s unwillingness and inability to court attention has, for example, made it difficult for him to sell the public on his achievements.

The point is, voters haven’t seen the president a whole lot. They didn’t want to watch him, and he didn’t much want to be watched. Last night’s debate was therefore, among other things, his reintroduction to a significant percentage of the public.

It went extraordinarily badly.

Biden needed to project energy but spoke in a hoarse near-whisper. He needed to show focus but lost his train of thought. A much-cited moment early in the debate, when he meandered through an answer that began with a discussion of taxes and ended with the phrase “we beat Medicare,” not seeming to know what he meant himself, was agonizing to watch. Many of his attacks were feeble — more “whiner” than “felon.” This being TV, where style trumps substance, Biden’s slack-jawed, vacant expression during much of the debate shocked viewers almost as much as his subpar performance.

But the substance wasn’t great, either. The president garbled several accounts of his own very notable policy achievements. His answer on abortion was strange. And rather than rhetorically outmaneuver Trump — or offer his own narrative, or characterize his opponent as a threat to democracy — he frequently fell into the trap of accepting his framing. For example, rather than point out that women are being prosecuted for miscarriages and dying because Roe v. Wade was overturned, or that children are being forced to give birth, he replied (to Trump’s absurd claim, with regard to overturning the decision, that “every legal scholar wanted it that way”) that for 51 years, “constitutional scholarship said it was the right way to go.”

That was the point Biden chose to challenge while several bigger lies went unchecked.

Now, tangling with Donald Trump is no easy task. Not because he’s a good debater (as the skill has been traditionally understood), but because he’s habituated the world to his rhetorical strategy, which goes well beyond “lying” and amounts to a kind of verbal DDoS attack. Being unconcerned with the truth, he resorts often to kettle logic, throwing out multiple versions of a position so listeners can choose the one they prefer. (For those unfamiliar, kettle logic refers to a story about a guy who borrowed a neighbor’s kettle and returned it broken. The borrower’s defense was that the kettle was already broken when he borrowed it, that it was undamaged when he returned it, and that, moreover, he never borrowed it at all.)

That shouldn’t work. But Trump has proved not only that it does, but that effectively countering the strategy in real time is really, really hard.

The Style section

It barely registered last night, for example, that Trump blamed Nancy Pelosi for the events of Jan. 6 , 2021 . That’s bananas, but it happened. He claimed she took responsibility and he boasted, beside, that he could feel that “they” were coming to the Capitol and would be sufficiently numerous that he offered either the mayor or Pelosi (it’s not clear) 10,000 troops to deal with them. Here’s part of that spiel:

“And the mayor of — in writing, by the way, the mayor, in writing turned it down, the mayor of D.C., they turned it down. I offered 10,000 because I could see — I had virtually nothing to do. They asked me to go make a speech. I could see what was happening. Everybody was saying they’re going to be there on January 6th. They’re going to be there. And I said: ‘You know what, that’s a lot of people coming, you could feel it. You could feel it too.’ And you could feel it. And I said, ‘They ought to have some National Guard or whatever.’ And I offered it to her. And she now admits that she turned it down. And it was the same day. She was — I don’t know, you can’t be very happy with her [Pelosi’s] daughter because it made her into a liar. She said, I take full responsibility for January 6th.”

Having faulted Pelosi for foolishly rejecting his prescient offer of military aid to deal with the rioters (there is, of course, no record of any such offer), he attacked Joe Biden for destroying their lives:

“What they’ve done to some people that are so innocent, you ought to be ashamed of yourself, what you have done, how you’ve destroyed the lives of so many people.” At another point, he suggested that the rioters were “ushered in by the police.”

It wouldn’t be easy to pithily point out, in the minute allotted, how those three accounts don’t square. (Do you start with the Pelosi? The troops offer?) And it wouldn’t matter if you did; Trump would have already moved on, since he doesn’t much care about what he says and knows it’s not true.

Effectively countering that technique probably requires some combination of quick thinking, verbal dexterity, brilliant stagecraft and (to avoid accusations of pedantry) humor. Plus total mastery of your own narrative — and an ability to pivot back to it quickly, so the public hears whatever it is you want to actually say. It’s not a fair ask, but Biden more or less managed it in 2020.

This time, he didn’t. And the American people got some of the most brutal television in political history. Brutal to listen to, brutal to watch. A dispiriting spectacle comprising two different strains of unfitness. That one poses a far greater threat than the other is not a comfort.

There’s no real hope that either candidate can unify the country. But on that funereally silent debate stage, with no audience, no fact-checking and scant moderation from CNN’s Jake Tapper and Dana Bash, their joint appearance made a far more frightening case for the risks facing the country than either managed to make alone.

Election 2024

Follow live updates from the 2024 campaign trail a day after President Biden and Donald Trump faced off in the first presidential debate of 2024. Here are takeaways and fact checks from the debate .

Who is running: President Biden and Donald Trump secured their parties’ nominations for the presidency . Here’s how we ended up with a Trump-Biden rematch .

Key dates and events: Voters in all states and U.S. territories have been choosing their party’s nominee for president ahead of the summer conventions. Here are key dates and events on the 2024 election calendar .

Abortion and the election: Voters in about a dozen states could decide the fate of abortion rights with constitutional amendments on the ballot in a pivotal election year. Biden supports legal access to abortion , and he has encouraged Congress to pass a law that would codify abortion rights nationwide. After months of mixed signals about his position, Trump said the issue should be left to states . Here’s how Biden’s and Trump’s abortion stances have shifted over the years.