How to Craft Your Essay for the Bernhard Scher Award

Brainstorming Across the Four Buckets

To structure your thoughts effectively, consider the four material buckets:

• Background: Reflect on your personal history, including family, education, and significant experiences that have shaped you. What challenges have you faced, and how have they influenced your path?
• Achievements: Identify key accomplishments in your academic, extracurricular, or professional life. Highlight metrics or outcomes that demonstrate your impact, such as leadership roles, community service, or academic honors.
• The Gap: Articulate what you currently lack in your education and how the Bernhard Scher Award will help bridge that gap. Be specific about the skills or experiences you hope to gain through further study.
• Personality: Infuse your essay with humanizing details that reveal your values and motivations. Consider anecdotes that showcase your character and commitment to your goals.

Creating an Outline

Once you have gathered your thoughts, organize them into a coherent outline. Begin with an engaging opener that draws the reader in, perhaps by starting with a specific moment that encapsulates your journey. Follow with sections dedicated to each of the four buckets, ensuring each paragraph has a clear focus and flows logically to the next.

Drafting Voice and Style

As you draft, maintain an active voice. Use specific examples and details to support your claims, avoiding vague statements. Each paragraph should center around one main idea, with transitions that guide the reader through your narrative. Remember to reflect on your experiences—what did you learn, and why does it matter?

Revision and the “So What?” Factor

After completing your first draft, take a break before revising. Look for areas where you can enhance clarity and impact. Ask yourself, “So what?” for each section: does it convey a significant insight or lesson? Ensure that your essay not only tells your story but also connects your experiences to your future goals and the scholarship’s purpose.

Common Pitfalls to Avoid

Steer clear of clichés and generic statements. Avoid starting with phrases like “From a young age” or “I have always been passionate about.” Instead, focus on specific moments that illustrate your journey. Additionally, ensure that your essay is free from invented facts or exaggerated claims—authenticity is key in making a genuine connection with the committee.