How to Craft Your Essay for the Jinhee Wilde Endowed Scholarship

Brainstorming Across the Four Buckets

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

• Background: Reflect on your personal history. Consider experiences that have shaped your values, aspirations, and commitment to your community.
• Achievements: Identify significant accomplishments, whether academic, extracurricular, or community-oriented. Quantify these achievements when possible—use metrics or specific outcomes to illustrate your impact.
• The Gap: Assess what you currently lack in terms of skills, knowledge, or resources. Explain how further study at Loyola University Chicago will bridge this gap and enhance your ability to contribute meaningfully.
• Personality: Infuse your essay with personal details that reveal your character and values. Share anecdotes that highlight your resilience, leadership, or commitment to service.

Outlining Your Essay

Organize your thoughts into a clear outline. Start with a strong opening that draws the reader in. Each section of your essay should align with the four buckets, ensuring a logical flow:

1. Introduction: Begin with a vivid moment or scene that encapsulates your journey or aspirations.
2. Body Paragraphs: Dedicate paragraphs to each of the four buckets, ensuring each paragraph focuses on a single idea. Use transitions to maintain coherence between sections.
3. Conclusion: Reflect on your journey and articulate your future goals, emphasizing the scholarship's role in your academic and professional development.

Drafting Voice and Style

As you draft, aim for clarity and specificity. Use active voice and concrete language to convey your ideas. Avoid clichés and vague expressions. Instead of stating your passion, demonstrate it through your experiences and aspirations. Remember to answer the “So what?” question—reflect on why your experiences matter and how they connect to your future.

Revision and “So What?”

After drafting, take a break before revising. This distance will help you view your essay with fresh eyes. Focus on clarity, coherence, and impact. Ensure each paragraph contributes to your overall narrative and reinforces your case for why you deserve the scholarship. Ask yourself if each section answers the “So what?” question—why does your story matter to the committee?

Common Pitfalls to Avoid

Be mindful of these common mistakes:

• Avoid generic statements and clichés that do not add value to your narrative.
• Do not fabricate experiences or achievements; authenticity is crucial.
• Steer clear of passive voice; use active constructions to engage your reader.
• Ensure your essay follows a clear structure and logical flow; disorganized essays can confuse the reader.