How to Write Your Essay for the Diabetes, Incorporated Scholarship

Brainstorming Across the Four Buckets

To create a well-rounded essay, consider the following four material buckets:

• Background: Reflect on your personal history, including your experiences with diabetes if applicable. What challenges have you faced, and how have they shaped your character?
• Achievements: List your academic and extracurricular accomplishments. Focus on specific metrics, such as GPA, leadership roles, or community service hours, and how these demonstrate your commitment to your education.
• The Gap: Identify what you currently lack in your education or experience and explain why further study is essential. How will this scholarship fill that gap?
• Personality: Include humanizing details that showcase your values, interests, and motivations. What makes you unique, and how do your personal experiences inform your goals?

Creating an Outline

Once you have gathered your thoughts, create an outline to organize your essay. A strong structure may include:

1. Introduction: Start with a vivid scene or moment that encapsulates your journey or a significant experience related to diabetes.
2. Body Paragraphs: Dedicate each paragraph to one of the four buckets. Use the STAR method to describe specific situations, tasks, actions, and results related to your experiences.
3. Conclusion: Reflect on what you have learned and how you plan to use the scholarship to make a positive impact in your community or field.

Drafting Voice and Style

As you draft your essay, maintain an active voice and ensure clarity in your writing. Avoid clichés and vague statements. Instead of saying you are passionate about a topic, provide concrete examples of how you have engaged with that topic. Aim for specificity in your anecdotes, using numbers and timeframes to ground your narrative.

Revision and “So What?”

After drafting, take a step back and review your essay. Ask yourself, “So what?” for each major point. Ensure that every section reflects not only what you have done but also why it matters. Seek feedback from trusted peers or mentors who can provide constructive criticism. Focus on clarity, coherence, and emotional impact.

Common Pitfalls to Avoid

Be mindful of these common mistakes:

• Avoid starting with generic statements or clichés. Instead, begin with a unique moment or insight.
• Steer clear of vague language. Be specific about your achievements and experiences.
• Don’t neglect the revision process. Your first draft is rarely your best draft; take the time to refine and polish your essay.