How to Craft Your Essay for the MSD Strong Scholarship

Brainstorming Across the Four Buckets

To create a compelling narrative, organize your thoughts into four material buckets: background, achievements, the gap, and personality.

• Background: Consider your personal history and experiences that have shaped your educational aspirations. Reflect on key moments that influenced your decision to pursue higher education.
• Achievements: Identify significant accomplishments in your academic and extracurricular life. Use metrics and specific examples to illustrate your responsibilities and the outcomes of your efforts.
• The Gap: Acknowledge any challenges or gaps in your experiences that further study will help you address. Explain how the MSD Strong Scholarship will enable you to overcome these obstacles and fulfill your potential.
• Personality: Infuse your essay with humanizing details that reveal your values and character. Share anecdotes that showcase your uniqueness and passion for your field of study.

Creating an Outline

Once you have gathered your material, outline your essay. A typical structure might include:

1. Introduction: Start with a concrete moment or scene that illustrates your journey. Avoid generic statements.
2. Body Paragraphs: Dedicate each paragraph to one of the four buckets. Ensure a logical flow between paragraphs, with clear transitions that guide the reader through your narrative.
3. Conclusion: Reflect on how the scholarship will impact your future and your commitment to making a difference in your community.

Drafting Voice and Style

As you draft your essay, maintain an active voice and specific language. Avoid vague expressions and clichés. Instead of saying, “I have always been passionate about education,” you might say, “During my high school years, I tutored peers in mathematics, igniting my desire to pursue a degree in education.” This specificity will strengthen your narrative and engage the committee.

Revision and the “So What?” Factor

After completing your draft, take a step back and revise with a critical eye. Ask yourself, “So what?” for each major section of your essay. What insights have you gained? How do your experiences connect to your future goals? Ensure that every part of your essay contributes to a cohesive narrative that answers these questions.

Common Pitfalls to Avoid

Be mindful of common mistakes that can weaken your essay:

• Avoid starting with clichés or generic statements.
• Steer clear of vague language and unsupported claims about your passion or commitment.
• Do not invent facts or embellish experiences; authenticity is crucial.
• Ensure each paragraph focuses on a single idea and flows logically to the next.