How to Write a Compelling Essay for the Rolf E. Funer Scholarship

Brainstorming Across the Four Buckets

Organize your thoughts by reflecting on four key areas: background, achievements, gap, and personality.

• Background: What experiences have shaped your academic journey? Consider family, cultural influences, and significant life events.
• Achievements: Identify your most notable accomplishments. Use metrics and specific outcomes to illustrate your impact, such as leadership roles, projects, or awards.
• The Gap: What do you lack that further study will help you address? Reflect on your academic and professional goals, and how this scholarship will bridge the gap.
• Personality: What unique traits do you possess? Share humanizing details that reveal your values and character, making you relatable to the committee.

Structuring Your Essay

Once you have gathered your material, outline your essay to ensure a logical flow. A recommended structure includes:

1. Introduction: Start with a vivid moment or scene that captures your motivation. Avoid generic statements and immediately engage the reader.
2. Body Paragraphs: Each paragraph should focus on one idea, linking back to the scholarship’s values. Use the STAR method to describe your achievements and experiences, ensuring you highlight your actions and their results.
3. Conclusion: Reflect on what you have learned and how it shapes your future. Clearly articulate your commitment to making an impact, tying back to your introduction.

Drafting Voice and Tone

Your writing should be active, specific, and reflective. Avoid clichés and vague expressions of passion. Instead, demonstrate your enthusiasm through concrete examples and detailed descriptions of your experiences. Ensure that your voice remains authentic and true to who you are.

Revision and “So What?”

After drafting, take a break before revising. When you revisit your essay, ask yourself, “So what?” for each section. Ensure that every paragraph answers this question, highlighting why your experiences matter and how they relate to the scholarship’s goals. Seek feedback from peers or mentors, and be open to constructive criticism.

Common Pitfalls to Avoid

Be mindful of the following pitfalls:

• Cliché Openers: Avoid starting with phrases like “From a young age.” Instead, engage the reader with a specific moment.
• Empty Superlatives: Steer clear of vague terms like “passion” without evidence. Show your enthusiasm through your actions and achievements.
• Passive Voice: Use active voice to convey your contributions clearly. For example, say “I led a project” instead of “A project was led by me.”