How to Craft Your Essay for the Charlie Burkart Scholarship

Brainstorming Across the Four Buckets

To create a compelling essay, gather material across four key areas:

• Background: Reflect on your journey to pursuing a career in golf or sports management. What experiences influenced your decision to attend the PGA of America - Iowa Section?
• Achievements: Identify significant accomplishments in your academic and extracurricular activities. Use metrics to quantify your impact, such as leadership roles, community service hours, or relevant projects.
• The Gap: Consider what skills or knowledge you currently lack that further education will help you acquire. Be specific about how the scholarship will bridge this gap.
• Personality: Infuse your essay with personal anecdotes that reveal your values and character. What drives you? What challenges have you overcome?

Outline Your Essay

Creating an outline will help structure your thoughts logically. Consider the following format:

1. Introduction: Start with a concrete moment or scene that draws the reader in. Avoid generic statements.
2. Background: Provide context about your journey and motivations.
3. Achievements: Highlight key accomplishments and their significance.
4. The Gap: Discuss what you hope to gain from further study and how it relates to your future goals.
5. Personality: Share personal stories that showcase your character and values.
6. Conclusion: Reflect on how receiving this scholarship will impact your educational journey and future contributions to the field.

Drafting Voice and Style

As you draft your essay, maintain an active voice and ensure clarity in your writing. Avoid bureaucratic language and focus on concrete details. Each paragraph should support a single idea, and transitions should guide the reader through your narrative. Remember to reflect on what changed in you through each experience you describe, answering the “So what?” question.

Revision and “So What?”

After drafting, take time to revise your essay. Look for areas where you can enhance clarity and specificity. Ensure that each section contributes to a coherent narrative. Ask yourself how each experience has shaped your aspirations and why that matters in the context of this scholarship.

Common Pitfalls to Avoid

Be mindful of the following pitfalls:

• Avoid clichés and vague statements that do not provide insight into your character.
• Do not use passive voice when an active subject exists; this weakens your narrative.
• Ensure all facts are accurate and verifiable; do not invent experiences or achievements.
• Steer clear of generic openings; instead, engage the reader with a specific moment.