How to Write Your Essay for the Willis Holcombe Scholarship

Brainstorming Across the Four Buckets

Organize your thoughts into four key material buckets: Background, Achievements, The Gap, and Personality.

• Background: Consider your personal history, including challenges you’ve faced and how they have shaped your educational journey. Reflect on specific moments that have influenced your decision to pursue higher education.
• Achievements: Identify significant accomplishments in your academic and extracurricular activities. Use metrics and specific outcomes to illustrate your impact, such as projects completed, leadership roles, or community service hours.
• The Gap: Think about what you currently lack in terms of skills or knowledge and how attending Broward College will help you bridge that gap. Be honest and specific about your educational and career goals.
• Personality: Infuse your essay with humanizing details. Share your values, motivations, and the unique aspects of your character that set you apart from other applicants.

Outline Your Essay

Creating an outline will help you structure your essay logically. Start with an engaging introduction that opens with a concrete moment or scene from your life. Then, organize your main points based on the four buckets, ensuring that each paragraph focuses on one idea. Conclude with a strong closing that ties your experiences back to the scholarship’s objectives.

Drafting Voice and Style

As you draft your essay, maintain an active voice and be specific. Avoid vague statements and focus on concrete examples. Each section should reflect on what you learned from your experiences and why they matter. Answer the “So what?” question to emphasize your insights and commitment to making an impact.

Revision and “So What?”

After drafting, take a break before revising. Look for clarity, coherence, and engagement. Ensure each paragraph transitions smoothly to the next and that your main ideas are clearly articulated. Ask yourself if your essay answers the prompt effectively and if it reflects your genuine self.

Common Pitfalls to Avoid

Avoid clichés and empty statements that do not add value to your essay. Steer clear of passive voice and bureaucratic language. Ensure all facts about your experiences are accurate and verifiable. Lastly, resist the temptation to exaggerate; authenticity resonates more than inflated claims.