How to Craft Your Essay for the Arthur Harper Scholarship

Brainstorming Across the Four Buckets

Gather your thoughts by exploring four key areas:

• Background: Consider your personal history, including family influences, cultural background, and significant life events that have shaped your educational aspirations.
• Achievements: List your academic accomplishments, extracurricular activities, and any leadership roles. Use specific metrics where possible, such as GPA, awards, or projects you led.
• The Gap: Identify what you currently lack that this scholarship would help you overcome. This could include financial barriers, access to resources, or opportunities for further study.
• Personality: Think about what makes you unique. Reflect on your values, interests, and any personal stories that illustrate your character and determination.

Creating an Outline

Structure your essay logically. A suggested outline might include:

1. Introduction: Start with a vivid, in-scene moment that captures your journey or aspirations.
2. Background: Detail your personal history and how it has shaped your educational goals.
3. Achievements: Highlight key accomplishments, using numbers and specific examples to demonstrate impact.
4. The Gap: Discuss what this scholarship would enable you to achieve and the barriers it would help you overcome.
5. Personality: Share anecdotes that reveal your character, values, and commitment to your goals.
6. Conclusion: Reflect on your journey and express your commitment to making a positive impact in your community or field.

Drafting Voice and Tone

As you draft your essay, maintain an active voice. Avoid clichés and vague statements. Instead, focus on specific experiences and insights that demonstrate your qualifications. Each paragraph should convey a single idea, leading to a natural progression of thoughts.

Revision and “So What?”

After drafting, revise your essay critically. Ask yourself, “So what?” for each section. What have you learned from your experiences? How do they prepare you to succeed? Ensure that your reflections are clear and meaningful, demonstrating your growth and future potential.

Common Pitfalls to Avoid

Be mindful of these common mistakes:

• Avoid starting with generic statements or clichés.
• Do not exaggerate or fabricate details about your experiences.
• Steer clear of passive voice; always attribute actions to yourself.
• Ensure every paragraph serves a purpose and contributes to your overall narrative.