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The Dell Scholarship

David Oct 12, 2020

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The Dell Scholarship awards money for college to low-income students with grit, ambition, and determination. Read on to find out more about the scholarship and how to apply.

What Is the Dell Scholarship?

The Dell Scholarship helps students from underrepresented backgrounds afford college and fulfill their academic dreams. The Dell Scholarship considers the obstacles that low-income students face in their school and home lives. That’s why the scholarship committee prioritizes ambition and determination over GPA.

The Dell Scholarship awards students for who they are, not what their academic records show. A student with drive and future goals sometimes says much more about a student than a perfect GPA. 

How Much Is the Dell Scholarship?

The Dell Scholarship awards $20,000 scholarships, plus a laptop and textbook credits. 300 deserving students receive the scholarship every year. The scholarship is not renewable.

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Recipients may use the award towards tuition, fees, books, and room and board. In some situations, students may use the money for internships and study abroad.

As a Dell scholarship winner, you’ll receive much more than money. You’ll become part of a support network of other students, peer mentors, and Dell Scholars staff. You’ll receive resources for stress management, debt management, and childcare. Throughout college, you’ll receive ongoing support to help you succeed.

What Are the Dell Scholarship Requirements?

To qualify for the Dell Scholarship, you must meet the following requirements:

• Be a U.S citizen.
• Show financial need and qualify to receive a Pell Grant in your first year of college.
• Take part in an approved college readiness program as a junior and senior in high school.
• Show a desire and ability to overcome barriers and achieve your goals.
• Be on track to graduate from an accredited high school.
• Have a minimum 2.4 GPA.
• Be entering a bachelor’s degree program in the fall after high school.

Scholarship winners tend to be students who have overcome obstacles. They show a willingness to succeed and plans for future goals. They also show motivation in difficult coursework.

How to Apply for the Dell Scholarship?

To apply for the Dell Scholarship, you must complete a Dell Scholars application online. The online application will ask you questions about the following:

• Basic personal information
• Basic information about your parents
• Information about your high school transcript
• Information about your GPA and test scores
• Top 3 college choices and intended major
• Short essay questions

The short essay questions will cover a variety of topics. Examples include discussing the challenges you expect to face transitioning to college. Another example includes writing about your home and work responsibilities.

After submitting the initial application, you will wait to hear if you are a semi-finalist. As a semi-finalist, you’ll have to submit official documents. These include high school transcripts, a student aid report from the FAFSA, and an online recommendation.

When Is the Dell Scholarship Deadline?

The Dell Scholarship timeline is as follows:

• October 1- The Dell Scholarship opens.
• December 1- The Dell Scholarship closes. 
• December 10- Semifinalists announced.
• January 29- Semifinalists’ materials due.
• May 6- Dell Scholarship winners announced.

Tips for Winning the Dell Scholarship

Now let’s get to the super important stuff- how to actually win the scholarship. Here are some tips to get you started on the path to success:

• Show your grit and ambition in the short essay questions. Remember, your character matters a lot more than your test scores and GPA! Describe the challenges you have overcome in the past and your determination to succeed.
• Read the essay questions over several times. Make sure you pay attention to all parts of the questions and answer them completely.
• Proofread your application before submitting it! Make sure that there are no spelling mistakes.
• Choose a good person to recommend you . Select somebody who knows you well! This person should know about your academic history and your personal life. If you can, choose a teacher or somebody who works in your school.

Final Thought

The Dell Scholarship awards low-income students with money for college. It also provides students with an excellent support system to help them succeed in college. On the application be sure to impress the committee with your determination and motivation to succeed despite challenging obstacles standing in your way. This is more important than a GPA, though you do need at least a 2.4 GPA to apply. 

Overall, the Dell scholarship is an excellent opportunity students should definitely take advantage of. 

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David Tabachnikov is the CEO of ScholarshipOwl. Formerly at Waze and Google, David is an experienced CTO/R&D manager with over 10 years of experience of leading tech teams. David fervently believes that students should have greater access to education, and is passionate about using technology to help them achieve that goal.

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How to Apply for the Dell Scholars Program Scholarship

There are a lot of factors you should consider while deciding what colleges to apply to: location, size, major, campus feel, and more. But one of the ones you might not think of—or might not want to think of—is finances. Paying for college can be daunting, especially if your dream school comes with a high sticker price. One of the ways to bridge the gap between what you can afford and a school’s cost—after you factor in financial and merit aid—is to look for outside scholarships.

The Dell Scholars program is one such program you can apply for. Designed to be a college completion program, the program describes itself as offering “support services that go beyond a scholarship check.” The award comes with financial support of $20,000, a laptop, and textbook credits, in addition to resources like counseling, financial aid coaching, and more.  

Applying for the Dell Scholars Program Scholarship

The Dell Scholars Program is aimed at low-income, highly motivated students whose numbers (grades and test scores) might not indicate their true potential. If that sounds like you, keep reading to learn how to apply!

To be eligible for the Dell Scholars program, you must have completed an approved college readiness program in grades 11 and 12 and plan to enroll at an accredited bachelor’s program the fall directly after high school graduation. You must also demonstrate financial need, be eligible to receive a Federal Pell Grant , and have at least a 2.4 GPA.

In addition to your transcript, test scores, and personal information, you should be prepared to answer a number of short answer questions. You should expect to answer questions about your academic interests and goals, challenges you have faced, and about your home and financial status.

If you are selected as a semifinalist, you will need to submit your FAFSA information and to procure a recommender with access to your academic record.  

The application deadline is December 1. Semifinalist materials are due January 29.

Application Sample Questions

Please tell us what reasons you considered in selecting these schools as your top choices.

Elaborate on the factors you considered such as academic fit and financial affordability.

Describe the most significant challenges you may face transitioning to and while in college and what steps you may take to address those challenges.

What do you want to use your education to achieve? What are your goals after you graduate from college?

Please provide more detail about your home, work and/or volunteer responsibilities and how it has impacted your ability to manage your school work.

Describe how your family history and relationships have shaped who you are today.

Describe some of the hardest things you experienced while growing up? How did you overcome those challenges? What did you learn from those experiences?

The application does not officially open until October 1, but you can view a sample application on the Dell Scholars website .

Tips for Applying

The Dell Scholars Program describes what they’re looking for in applicants as their own “G.P.A.”: grit (overcoming challenges in your life), potential (participating in a college readiness program), and ambition (wanting to obtain a college degree).

With this in mind, you can start to build out a resumé to show how you have grit, potential, and ambition. But rather than saying how you embody these traits, aim to demonstrate them throughout your short answer responses. We’ll go through each one by one to talk about what these mean and how you can put together your best application for the Dell Scholars Program/

One of the most unique things about this scholarship is that it looks to truly value the things you do that you might not be able to include on your standard college applications. If you have major responsibilities within your family that don’t fit within a standard extracurricular entry, this is the place to really talk about it. For instance, if you provide hours of childcare for siblings each week while your parents work, or you have a job and your wages go directly to supporting your family, that is grit .

Because participating in a approved college readiness program is a requirement to be eligible for the Dell Scholars Program, you should think about how you have uniquely demonstrated your potential both within your readiness program and outside of it. One way to do this is to take on a rigorous course load at your high school. Taking advantage of challenging coursework offered at the high school level will show that you will take similar advantage of academic opportunities in college.

The third attribute the Dell Scholars Program is looking for in applicants is ambition . The first part of this is wanting to obtain a college degree, which–congratulations!–you demonstrate by applying for this scholarship at all. But to stand out, you will want to reflect on why you want to attend college. This answer can be career-driven (you have a passion for a particular field), history-driven (no one else in your family has a college degree), or whatever reasoning is most personal and true to you .

Now that you understand the three separate elements of what they’re looking for in Dell Scholars, you can start to think about how different parts of your profile demonstrate one, two, or even all three of these traits and use them to create a cohesive application.

Remember, the application is before many regular decision deadlines, so plan ahead to make sure you have time to complete all your applications.Pace yourself, set early deadlines for yourself to get feedback from others, and proofread one last time before sending it off.

Curious about your chances of acceptance to your dream school? Our free chancing engine takes into account your GPA, test scores, extracurriculars, and other data to predict your odds of acceptance at over 500 colleges across the U.S. We’ll also let you know how you stack up against other applicants and how you can improve your profile. Sign up for your free CollegeVine account today to get started!

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Dell Scholars Program

About the scholarship.

The Dell Scholars Program, an initiative of the Michael & Susan Dell Foundation, recognizes students who have overcome significant obstacles to pursue their education. Applicants will be reviewed for financial needs and the drive to succeed despite personal obstacles, displaying the qualities of grit, potential, and ambition. Graduating high school seniors who have participated in an approved college readiness program are welcome to apply.

• Essay Required : No
• Need-Based : Yes
• Merit-Based : No
• Minimum 2.40 GPA
• Resident of the U.S.
• High school senior
• Seeking a bachelor's degree
• Fulltime student
• Participate in an approved college readiness program in grades 11 and 12
• Overcame adversity
• Demonstrate financial need (Pell grant eligible)
• Country : US

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Rethinking Admissions and Scholarship Selection for Equity in Higher Ed

This is anything but a typical college application season. High schools across the country adjusted grading policies amid school closures and virtual learning, while safety precautions shut down standardized testing locations. Many students were left with incomplete grades and a series of cancelled test dates. In response, some colleges and scholarship providers are no longer factoring standardized test scores and GPAs into admissions or selection decisions, at least for this year.

Students won’t be reduced to a few numbers on an application — and I hope that’s a change that is here to stay. Without broader context, standard application metrics can put many deserving students at a disadvantage and exacerbate inequities in our higher education system. Consider the student who has a part-time job or spends time caring for siblings while his peers are hitting the books and going to tutoring. It’s no surprise that students from low-income backgrounds don’t have as compelling “numbers” when compared to their more affluent peers.

As higher education professionals and scholarship providers, our decisions impact an individual student’s ability to enroll in and pay for college — and when inequities are built into the process, entire communities are left behind. That’s why it is so critical for us to get this right.

Read on to learn how the Dell Scholars program approaches a holistic application review, along with ideas we’ve found helpful for other scholarship providers and admissions offices that are looking to adapt their practices.

GPA: Grit, Potential, and Ambition

At the Dell Scholars program, our selection process has always been designed to prioritize students who are better than their numbers indicate. The program’s ideal candidate demonstrates the drive to succeed despite personal obstacles, and we seek a unique “GPA” of grit, potential, and ambition in our candidates:

• GRIT by overcoming personal challenges in their lives
• POTENTIAL by participating in college readiness programs and seeking out academic rigor
• AMBITION by preparing themselves and planning for their dream of graduating with a college degree

Grit is the stick-to-it attitude that helps a student stay focused and work hard until they succeed. And it’s in no short supply among applicants to the Dell Scholars program, which awards 500 scholarships each year to students who are Pell-eligible and often the first in their family to attend college. Many have overcome tremendous adversity along their journey to college. They are self-motivated and bending over backwards to prioritize their education, even while balancing a part-time job, struggling with housing insecurity, or caring for a disabled parent, to share just a few scholar stories.

Grit isn’t a quality that is readily apparent on a transcript, or a list of extracurriculars — but it’s one that should be prized in prospective college students and prioritized in their evaluation. Ask about responsibilities at home and work, and value them equally alongside extracurricular activities.

Now, let’s turn to an applicant’s high school transcript. Are your selection processes encouraging students to play it safe and safeguard their grade point average (GPA), or to challenge themselves academically? At the Dell Scholars program, we select for evidence of hard work, and our ideal candidate has pushed themselves by taking rigorous college-level courses such as AP, IB, and dual credit/enrollment, even if they didn’t make high grades in those courses.

Our program’s minimum GPA requirement is a 2.4. Never in our history have we collected standardized test scores, and a perfect academic transcript is just not our priority. But by prioritizing grit, potential, and ambition in our scholarship selection, we have built a network of scholars that is graduating at a rate of 80%, twice the national average compared to their peers — and going on to do incredible things in the world. Deprioritizing some of their traditional metrics wasn’t our doing them a favor; rather, it helped us identify the strengths that truly set these students apart. Skip the standardized test scores and perfect GPAs and look at the rigor of a student’s courses.

Aspiring college students have a lot on their plates. On top of academics, family responsibilities, and extracurricular activities, college and scholarship applications can be labor-intensive and require a significant time commitment. At the Dell Scholars program, we strive to keep our application brief and targeted — our goal is to understand each applicant, not to weed out deserving candidates through hours of data entry. Additionally, our application is on the Scholar Snapp data standard so that students can save time applying for other scholarships. In just a few clicks, they can import or export completed data fields to a College Board Scholarship Search account to re-use their information from one application to another. Keep applications and essay questions short and targeted. Minimize barriers for potential applicants.

A college education can unlock economic opportunity and a path to prosperity for generations to come — and it all starts with an admissions application.

Not every student has the opportunity to attend an affluent, well-resourced high school, much less access to private tutoring or SAT prep courses. But every student has the capacity to work hard, be tenacious, and aspire to a brighter future. And every student deserves an equitable college admissions and selection process that recognizes the value they bring to the table. It’s time that we stop undervaluing the potential of so many deserving students through biases and assumptions that are built into our selection models.

Just as we continue to evaluate and adapt our selection process each year, we encourage our colleagues in higher education to do the same. Together, we can work towards and achieve greater equity in our admissions and selection processes, so that high-potential students aren’t left behind.

Dell Scholarship FAQs Tailored Specifically for U.S. Students

Table of Contents

Provided by the Michael & Susan Dell Foundation, the Dell Scholars Initiative is a college scholarship and so much more. The Dell Scholars Program was created in 2004, and is a scholarship and college completion system that allows students from underserved neighborhoods to fulfill their academic dreams. Discover the most detailed information targeted for college students looking for a financial aid, helping you to prepare for and win a Dell Scholarship today!

What is Dell Scholars?

Dell Scholars is a scholarship program that fosters and motivates students on their path to a college degree. The Michael & Susan Dell Foundation has sponsored 5,000 students since the system launched in 2004, including more than 2,000 college graduates.

How can scholarships funds be used?

The scholarship is planned to be adjustable in such a manner that students can use scholarship funds for the various expenses accrued through their university career. In addition to covering tuition, fees and full participation expense for undergraduate studies, scholarship awards may be used for graduate school, redemption of loans, study abroad, and internship grant.

You will be receiving individualized support programs as a Dell Scholar, along with the requisite tools personalized to you. You’ll also be part of a comprehensive support network composed of other students, peer coaches, and staff at Dell Scholars. You’re also granted tremendous versatility as to what you should use the reward money for.

Specifically, the Dell Scholars Program offers:

• A $20,000 scholarship
• Individually tailored, multidimensional assistance to the challenges of personal, financial and emotional life that may discourage students from completing college
• A laptop with 4-year warranty
• Chegg credits ($500 annually for four years) to be used for textbook purchases and rentals and/or textbook solutions (via Chegg Study)
• A Scholars Resource Network that connects students and their families with resources to deal with stress, debt, managing child care, and life circumstance

The Dell Scholars Program seeks to give continuous and continuing encouragement to students from the day they receive the scholarship to the day they graduate, making it one of the most life-changing opportunities for studying out there.

How many people win Dell Scholarship?

To date more than 4,800 students have been supported by the Dell Scholars Program.

How do I apply for Dell Scholarship?

To be eligible for the Dell Scholars program, you must have completed an approved college readiness program in grades 11 and 12 and plan to enroll at an accredited bachelor’s program the fall directly after high school graduation. You must also demonstrate financial need, be eligible to receive a Federal Pell Grant , and have at least a 2.4 GPA.

You should be able to answer a variety of short answer questions in addition to your transcript, test scores and personal information. You should plan to address questions about your personal interests and ambitions, your difficulties and your home and financial situation.

When you are selected as a semifinalist, you may need to apply your FAFSA documents and have access to your college background to receive a recommender.

To apply for a scholarship from Dell Scholars, the first step is completing the online application. See key application dates here: http://dsp2.staging.wpengine.com/scholarship/ .

When all applications are submitted, they will be reviewed and a selection of semifinalists will be chosen. Semifinalists are asked to request an up-to-date copy of their high school diploma, a comprehensive Student Assistance Evaluation (SAR) from their FAFSA and a recommendation online. Once the semifinalist information has been submitted, an independent selection committee must review all the information. View a sample application here: https://apply.dellscholars.org/Application/Print .

How do you win the Dell Scholarship?

1. Review the sample application thoroughly

You can find a sample Dell Scholars application on their website which you can check before it is actually time to fill in. The more acquainted you are with this, the more you will be able to fill it out in a timely and precise manner.

Reviewing the sample application in advance will help you decide what material you do need to gather and help you become acquainted with the essay prompts (more on that in a moment).

2. Possess the Dell “GPA”

The Dell Scholars Program requires a minimum GPA of 2.4, but in students it is searching for something much deeper. They think talent is expressed in more than just numbers, and have developed their own special “GPA.”

To be a strong candidate, you should demonstrate the following “GPA”:

• Grit by overcoming personal challenges in your life related to your family, school, or community
• Potential by participating in a college readiness programs and seeking out academic rigor
• Ambition by dreaming of obtaining a college degree

Such characteristics form the foundation of all the program. If you prove you have those qualities, you’re going to have a much better chance of winning.

3. Nail the short essays

As for other applications for scholarships, this one asks you to submit some short essays on scholarships. These essays take consideration and commitment, but they’re a great way to show off your “GPA” (girt, potential, and ambition). The better the essays, the more likely you are going to stand out.

There are 6 short essay prompts to respond, each with a 1200-1800 character-limit. That’s an average of about 250 characters, or around a written, double spaced paged word.

It that sound like a lot of writing but not every single article is very long. Remember, bear in mind that all numbers of characters are maximums, so you can write fewer if you wish. What it means is you’ll need to get to the point fast and keep focused on answering the issue.

4. Know your federal and state aid eligibility

The application from Dell Scholars will ask about your qualifications for the following government funding services. Getting the details ready to go would help:

• Food Stamps/EBT or other food assistance program
• Free or Reduced Cost Lunch Program (example: National School Lunch Program (NSLP))
• Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) or other utility assistance programs
• Reduced Housing/Housing Assistance (example: HUD Section 8)
• Social Security Death or Disability (not standard retirement)
• Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC)
• State or Federal Health Insurance (example: MediCal, CHIP)
• Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
• Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF)
• The Medicaid joint federal and state program

If you don’t know offhand whether you’re qualifying for any of these services, the first move is to speak with your parents or guardians, who may have a better idea.

5. Choose your personal recommendation wisely

You’ll just need to provide contact information from your recommender for the first step of the application process. They will be contacted if you proceed, for a formal recommendation. Choosing the right person is important, because from a different perspective, they will provide insights regarding you.

Our top advice when selecting a recommender is to pick a person who knows you well. This person should appeal to both your academic ability and your personality. A teacher or advisor to the school is also a smart choice. Your recommender must be at least 21 years of age, and can not be associated with you. We also recommend you select someone with outstanding written and interpersonal communication skills who would do a decent job as a candidate to express your strengths.

Finally, be sure to ask your recommender in advance if they are able to support you in this way, because they won’t be disappointed if the Dell Scholars Program reaches them out! It’s a great decision to give them your resume, or a list of your achievements and abilities.

Is the Dell Scholarship renewable?

No, it is not.

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Scholarship Essay Writing

Scholarship Essay Prompts

Scholarship Essay Prompts 2024 For Students

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In the scholarship application process, essays give students a great opportunity to showcase their abilities and strengths. 

A well-written scholarship essay can be the most effective part of the whole application process. So, it is important to put much time and careful attention into its preparation. 

Take a look at this guide, find some easy scholarship writing prompts for different universities, and learn how to address them. 

• 1. Our Selection of College Scholarship Prompts
• 2. Common College Scholarship Essay Prompts
• 3. The Gates Scholarship Essay Prompts 
• 4. Robertson Scholarship Essay Prompts
• 5. Bryan Cameron Scholarship Essay Prompts
• 6. Jackie Robinson Scholarship Essay Prompts
• 7. Dell Scholarship Essay Prompts
• 8. APIA Scholarship Essay Prompts
• 9. Flinn Scholarship Essay Prompts
• 10. Vanderbilt Scholarship Essay Prompts
• 11. How to Address Scholarship Essay Prompts? 
• 12. Sample Scholarship Essay Prompts 

Our Selection of College Scholarship Prompts

We've compiled a range of essay prompts commonly used by the following scholarship programs:

• The Gates Scholarship Essay Prompts

Vanderbilt Scholarship Essay Prompts

Robertson scholarship essay prompts.

• Bryan Cameron Scholarship Essay Prompts 
• Jackie Robinson Scholarship Essay Prompts 

Dell Scholarship Essay Prompts

• Apia Scholarship Essay Prompts

Flinn Scholarship Essay Prompts

Select any prompt and write your scholarship essay or personal statement . Show the admission committee why you deserve financial aid. Make sure you follow the proper scholarship essay format .

Common College Scholarship Essay Prompts

Here are some common scholarship essay topics and popular essay questions used by colleges, to improve your scholarship chances.

• How will this scholarship benefit you?
• How have you made a positive impact in your community?
• Share some information about yourself.
• Describe a time when you failed and what you learned from that experience.
• What are your academic or professional aspirations?
• How have sports influenced your life?
• Why do you deserve this scholarship?
• Talk about a moment when your belief or idea was challenged.
• What makes you unique? (Consider your background, identity, interests, or talents)
• Why are you interested in studying/pursuing [X]?

The Gates Scholarship Essay Prompts 

• Describe the subjects in which you have excelled. What do you believe are the reasons for your success in these areas?
• Identify the subjects you have found challenging. What factors contributed to these difficulties, and how have you addressed them to prevent future issues? In which areas have you seen the most improvement, and what challenges remain?
• Provide a brief description of a time when you or others faced unfair treatment or were denied an opportunity you believed you deserved. Why do you think this occurred, and how did you respond? Did your response lead to any improvements in the situation?
• Outline your short-term and long-term goals. Are some of these goals connected, and which ones are your top priorities?
• Reflect on a leadership experience you have had in any aspect of your life, such as school, work, sports, family, church, or community. What led you to take on this leadership role, and how has this experience shaped your goals?
• Discuss your participation in and contributions to a community near your home, school, or elsewhere. Choose an experience that is different from the one mentioned in the previous question, even if it also involved leadership. What did you achieve, and how has this experience influenced your goals?
• Apart from school classes, in what areas have you gained knowledge or skills? How did you acquire them?
• Is there anything else you would like to share that might help us in evaluating your nomination, such as personal traits or challenges you have overcome?
• Describe a significant leadership experience you've had. What challenges did you face, and how did you overcome them?
• Discuss a community service project you initiated or were deeply involved in. What impact did it have on your community and on you personally?
• Share an instance where you used innovative thinking to solve a problem. What was the outcome?
• Reflect on a time when you experienced significant personal growth. What triggered this change, and how has it shaped who you are today?
• Describe an experience that broadened your global perspective. How has this influenced your views and actions?
• Discuss a subject or academic pursuit you are passionate about. How have you explored this interest, and what do you hope to achieve in this field?
• Describe an ethical dilemma you faced. How did you resolve it, and what did you learn from the experience?
• What are your long-term goals, and how do you plan to achieve them? How will the Robertson Scholarship help you in this journey?
• How have you contributed to promoting diversity and inclusion in your school or community? Why is this important to you?
• Share a story of a setback or failure you experienced. How did you recover from it, and what did you learn?

Bryan Cameron Scholarship Essay Prompts

• Reflect on a time when you took a stand for social justice or equity. What motivated you, and what impact did you make?
• Describe your involvement in environmental conservation efforts. How do you envision addressing environmental challenges in the future?
• Discuss an interdisciplinary project or initiative you undertook that bridged different fields of study or interests. What did you learn from this experience?
• Cultural Immersion: Share an experience where you immersed yourself in a different culture or community. How did this experience broaden your perspective?
• Describe a project or idea where you applied technology to address a pressing issue or improve lives. What inspired this innovation?
• Reflect on a mentorship experience that significantly impacted your personal or academic growth. How did this relationship shape your goals?
• Discuss a problem you encountered and the creative solution you devised to solve it. What was the outcome?
• Describe a situation where you had to navigate ethical dilemmas as a leader. How did you uphold your values while making difficult decisions?
• Share your involvement in a civic engagement initiative or political campaign. What motivated you to participate, and what change did you hope to achieve?
• Reflect on a significant challenge or obstacle you faced and how you persevered despite it. What did you learn about yourself in the process?

Jackie Robinson Scholarship Essay Prompts

• Describe a time when you brought together people from different backgrounds to achieve a common goal.
• Reflect on how you've worked to improve education in your community.
• Share an experience where you helped young age people overcome challenges or reach their goals.
• Talk about a project you started to address a social issue.
• Describe a time when you communicated well across different cultures or languages.
• Discuss your efforts to promote fairness and inclusion.
• Share a story that shows your sportsmanship and good character.
• Describe how you've encouraged diversity in science, technology, engineering, and math fields.
• Reflect on how you've been involved in protecting voting rights or encouraging people to get involved in their communities.
• Talk about what you've done to support equality between genders.
• Describe a personal or family financial challenge you've faced and how it has affected your educational journey. How has it shaped your determination to succeed?
• Imagine the most significant challenges you may face transitioning to and while in college. Explain specific strategies you'll use to overcome them, highlighting your resilience.
• Explain your commitment to pursuing a college degree and how it aligns with the Dell Scholars Program's mission of empowering underserved students.
• Discuss your academic achievements and future career path. How will a Dell Scholarship help you bridge the gap between your goals and financial limitations?
• Share a time when you demonstrated resourcefulness and overcame obstacles with limited resources. How did this experience prepare you for the challenges of college?
• Describe a situation where you identified a need in your community and took initiative to address it. How did you make a positive impact?
• Reflect on the impact of a mentor or role model on your academic and personal experience. How has their guidance shaped your goals?
• Imagine you receive a Dell Scholarship. Explain how you would utilize the program's resources and support network to maximize your potential.
• Beyond academics, what kind of impact do you strive to make on the world after college? How does your chosen field of study contribute to your goals?
• The Dell Scholars Program emphasizes giving back. Describe how you envision yourself contributing to your community or a cause you care about after graduation.

APIA Scholarship Essay Prompts

• Leadership Experience: Describe a time when you assumed a leadership role. How did you feel leading, and what qualities do you believe define a good leader? Reflect on your leadership experience and identify areas for improvement in your leadership skills.
• Cultural Identity Impact: Reflect on how being Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and/or Pacific Islander has shaped your life. How does this aspect of your identity intersect with other aspects of who you are? Discuss how your unique identity contributes to your personal narrative.
• Defining Success: Define success in your own terms and outline your goals for the future. What are your passions, dreams, and aspirations? Don't worry if you haven't fully mapped out your path yet; focus on articulating your vision for success.
• Community Significance: Explore the concept of community and its importance to you. Who comprises your community, and how have they impacted your journey? Reflect on the support you have received from your community and the ways in which you have reciprocated that support. Write authentically about the people who have played pivotal roles in your life.
• Share a meaningful leadership experience and its impact on your community.
• Explain your commitment to service and civic engagement and how it aligns with the mission of the Flinn Scholarship.
• Discuss a project or initiative you've undertaken that exemplifies your passion for creating social change.
• Describe a time when you've worked with diverse teams to address a complex issue.
• Reflect on a book, research paper, or intellectual pursuit that has influenced your academic interests.
• Explain your long-term career goals and how the Flinn Scholarship will enable you to achieve them.
• Discuss a challenge you've encountered while pursuing your academic or extracurricular interests and how you've overcome it.
• Share a global issue that concerns you and the role you envision in addressing it.
• Explain how you've demonstrated a commitment to ethical leadership.
• Reflect on a time when you contributed to a significant positive change in your community.
• Bronson Ingram's Legacy of Innovation: Share your thoughts on the best way to innovate. How do you use this approach in your own work? How can it help create more opportunities at the crossroads of business and impactful philanthropy?
• Serving the Common Good: What does it mean for people and businesses to "serve the common good"? How do these ideas influence your career goals?
• Scalable Civic/Community Service Project: Describe a community service project you've been involved in that could benefit from being expanded. How would you go about scaling it?
• For applicants to the School of Engineering, Peabody College of Education and Human Development, and Blair School of Music: Why are you interested in your chosen academic program? Discuss your related experiences, goals, and interests. Please keep your response to 500 words.
• For applicants to the College of Arts and Science: How will you take advantage of the diverse courses and experiences at the College of Arts and Science? How will a liberal arts education fit into your academic journey or passions? Please keep your response to 500 words.
• Chart of Community Building Activities: List activities that show your commitment to bridging gaps among different groups in your high school community. For each activity, include:
• Responsibilities
• Years Involved
• Hours Spent
• Chancellor’s Scholarship Values: Describe how one activity from your list above has deepened your understanding of leadership, scholarship, diversity, or citizenship. Please keep your response to 500 words.
• Curb Leadership Scholarship: Tell a story using seven items that show how you've combined creativity, entrepreneurship, and leadership to make a positive impact. You may include links or images. Please limit your response to 2,500 words.
• Fred Russell-Grantland Rice Scholarship: How will you use your time at Vanderbilt to develop your career in sports journalism? Include up to ten samples of your published work.

How to Address Scholarship Essay Prompts? 

The way to address your scholarship essay prompt will determine how successful your application is. 

Every scholarship essay question should be approached differently. Below, you can find some common scholarship essay prompts, examples, and guidelines on how to approach them. 

Where Do You See Yourself in 5 Years? 

To answer this question, you need to show that you have a plan for your future that corresponds to your degree program. 

The scholarship committee will make sure that their money is going to a deserving candidate. So, you need to create an answer that shows your realistic goals and how they can be achieved through education.

Let's look at the example below to get an idea about answering this question;

Why this Answer Stands Out: The answer to the question is well-structured and concise. It tells a compelling story that includes a clear vision, connects to education, and shows passion and commitment. These are all important parts of a good scholarship essay.  

What Is Your Biggest Weakness? 

Remember, there are thousands of students applying for the scholarship program. So make sure your answers set you above the other candidates. 

To address this question, you need to turn your weaknesses into great opportunities. Starting with a problem and then coming up with a solution will show that you are forward-thinking and that quality is worth rewarding. 

Let’s look at the example below; 

Why this Answer Stands Out: The response strikes a balance between acknowledging a genuine weakness and demonstrating self-awareness and a proactive approach to personal growth. 

It also leaves room for further discussion if the interviewer wants to explore how the candidate manages this weakness in a professional context.

What Is Your Greatest Personal Achievement? 

To answer this question, you can choose any achievement in your life. You just need to make sure that you can relate it to your education. 

The example below can help you get an idea of how to answer this;

Why this Answer Stands Out: This answer does a great job of relating personal achievement to their academic journey. It also shows that the person understands themselves and how this achievement connects to their future goals.

What Are Your Contributions to Your Community? 

This is a very common scholarship essay question in which you need to describe your experience in community service. Share your experience and the work you have participated in. 

In this prompt, you need to address what you have learned by participating in community service and how you plan to contribute to your community in the future. 

Here is how you can answer this;

Why this Answer Stands Out: The answer shows the applicant's dedication to community service, their participation in various activities, and their goal of setting a good example. 

It's an informative description of their community contributions, making it a strong choice for a scholarship essay.

What Makes You Unique? 

Everyone has a traitor, an attribute that makes them different and unique. It could be their habit or interest. 

Provide as much detail as possible to answer this prompt in the best way possible. 

Sample Scholarship Essay Prompts 

Unique Scholarship Essay Questions

Do not forget to check the scholarship essay examples blog to learn how to respond to each prompt in the best way from sample essays.

Wrapping it Up, It is not easy to predict every scholarship essay question. Nevertheless, knowing some of the important ones can give you an advantage in applications. 

Still, if you don’t know where to start or are looking for expert help, get one-on-one help from the best essay writers at MyPerfectWords.com.  

Our scholarship essay writing service is all you need to stand out from other applicants and win the scholarship. 

Just say head over to our website and place your order to get paper writing help instantly!

Frequently Asked Questions

What not to include in your scholarship essay.

Here are nine things you should avoid in your scholarship essay. 

• Inspirational quotes
• Overly general phrases and platitudes
• Cliche stories or themes
• “Text speak”
• “Hot takes” of the day
• Emojis, photos, and funky fonts
• Extreme declarations
• Put-downs of other applicants

What is a good hook for a scholarship essay?

A good hook for a scholarship essay could be a compelling personal anecdote or a thought-provoking question. For example:

"Standing on the stage, heart pounding, I realized that leading my school's robotics team had taught me more about resilience and teamwork than any classroom ever could."

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Cathy has been been working as an author on our platform for over five years now. She has a Masters degree in mass communication and is well-versed in the art of writing. Cathy is a professional who takes her work seriously and is widely appreciated by clients for her excellent writing skills.

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The Scholarships360 Research Team reviews all scholarships individually and strives to exclude any scholarship where any of the below applies:

• The scholarship requires a fee to apply
• The scholarship provider’s privacy policy allows for the misuse of student data
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• Student are required to sign up for a site or service to apply*
• The scholarship seems primarily used for lead generation** or idea harvesting purposes***
• The scholarship website has many grammatical errors and/or advertisements
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• There is no evidence the scholarship was previously awarded
• The scholarship has not been awarded in the past 12 months
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If you believe a scholarship has been published in error, please reach out to [email protected] and we’ll take a look!

* There are certain exceptions to this, for example if the sponsoring organization is a major corporation or nonprofit with its own scholarship application system. ** Lead generation scholarships will require students to sign up for an app or website and require minimal (if any) application requirements. ***Idea harvesting scholarships will require students to submit blog posts or other materials that companies may use for marketing purposes.

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Dell Scholars Program

Offered by Michael & Susan Dell Foundation

500 awards worth

Grade level.

High School Senior

Expected deadline: This scholarship might not currently be accepting applications. Most scholarship programs only accept applications a few months ahead of their annual deadline. We’ve estimated this deadline based on last year’s deadline in order to help you plan out your scholarship applications.

December 2024

Scholarship Overview

Are you a college-bound high school senior looking for financial assistance to pay off your postsecondary education? If so, consider applying for the Dell Scholars Program! The program is open to incoming college students who are eligible for the Pell Grant and participated in a college readiness program in grades 11 and 12. The Dell Scholars Program was created by the Michael & Susan Dell Foundation in 1999 to provide support for students from low-income backgrounds pursuing a degree. Each year, 500 students are selected to become Dell Scholars and receive $20,000 to pay for their college expenses. In addition to the scholarship, Dell Scholars receive other benefits like a laptop, Chegg credits for textbooks, access to teletherapy, and more. If you come from a low-income background and need some help paying for your education, we encourage you to apply!

Bear in mind that this scholarship runs from October 1st to December 1st annually.

Eligibility information

This scholarship is open to students who participated in a college readiness program in grades 11 and 12 and will be eligible to receive a Federal Pell Grant in their first year of college. Applicants must also meet the below eligibility requirements.

Application information

To apply for this scholarship, students must submit an online application and the below application materials.

Academic transcript

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Dell Scholars Program

Dell Scholars demonstrate a unique set of characteristics in their quest for a college education: Drive. Tenacity. Ambition. They are students who are motivated and dream big, who know the journey to reach their goals won’t be easy but have the commitment and determination to continue working every day.

Every year, the Dell Scholars program selects 500 students nationwide, offering comprehensive support and a scholarship to each recipient. Our support is designed to help each Dell Scholar build their ideal pathway to graduation and beyond.

SCHOLARSHIP CRITERIA

• Participate in a program-approved college readiness program in grades 11 and 12. View list of approved CRPs online.
• Be on track to graduate from an accredited high school in the current academic year
• Demonstrate a need for financial assistance
• Be eligible to receive a Federal Pell Grant in the first year of college
• Plan to enroll full-time at an accredited higher education institution in the pursuit of a bachelor's degree in the fall directly following high school graduation
• Earn a minimum of a 2.4 GP

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The Scholarship System

Paying for college begins here

10 Common Scholarship Essay Questions and How to Answer Them

Scholarships & Financial Aid

Updated on June 19th, 2024

When your student applies for scholarships, writing the essay often feels like the most challenging part. Luckily, it doesn’t have to be. By learning about common scholarship essay questions and how to answer them, your student can be prepared for most of the topics they’ll need to address.

While it’s true that different scholarships may use unique questions, many of them touch on the same ideas. That’s why exploring common scholarship essay prompts is such a smart move. Your student will have a chance to brainstorm answers in advance, making it easier to complete the applications when the time arises.

Knowing how to answer common scholarship essay questions is only part of the battle. You also have to track down great scholarships to pay for college. If you and your student want to learn more about exciting scholarship opportunities,  sign up for our free college scholarship webinar ! Just head to http://thescholarshipsystem.com/freewebinar and reserve your spot today .

If your student wants to get ahead of the curve and write winning scholarship essays , here’s a look at ten common scholarship essay questions and how to tackle them.

• 1.1 1. Tell Us About Yourself
• 1.2 2. How Will This Scholarship Make a Difference for You?
• 1.3 3. Can You Tell Us About a Time You Failed? What Did You Learn from That Experience?
• 1.4 4. Tell Us About a Contribution You’ve Made to Your Community
• 1.5 5. What Are Your Academic (or Professional) Goals?
• 1.6 6. Tell Us About a Time Where You Stepped Up as a Leader
• 1.7 7. Who Has Been Your Biggest Influence (or Inspiration)?
• 1.8 8. Why Do You Want to Go to College?
• 1.9 9. How Are You Planning on Financing Your College Education?
• 1.10 10. Why Do You Deserve This Scholarship?
• 2 Using Common Scholarship Essay Questions to Prepare

1. Tell Us About Yourself

This is possibly one of the trickiest college scholarship essays to write, not because it’s complicated, but because it’s so broad. Students have a lot of freedom with this prompt, so it’s easy to become overwhelmed about how to proceed.

Typically, students shouldn’t just give an overview of their life stories. Instead, they need to provide the committee with insights about their passions and drives, events that shaped their perspective, and relevant successes or academic achievements.

It’s also wise to be a bit future-focused, discussing not just where they’ve been but where they hope to go. Students can touch on valuable personality traits along the way, too, as that helps the reader gauge who they are as a person.

2. How Will This Scholarship Make a Difference for You?

Generally, students have a few options for addressing this question. First, they could showcase how the scholarship money helps them overcome a relevant financial hardship. This can include being able to afford tuition, get needed equipment or supplies, or access a program at a college that may otherwise be out of reach.

Second, they could concentrate on how the scholarship will help them achieve their academic or professional goals. For example, your student might want to discuss how the award would allow them to pursue their preferred field.

Students should focus on how the scholarship eliminates roadblocks, though the exact type of obstacle can vary. Additionally, they should discuss what they’ll be able to achieve if they receive the award, both in the short- and long-term.

3. Can You Tell Us About a Time You Failed? What Did You Learn from That Experience?

For many students, even figuring out how to start a scholarship essay introduction for this topic is hard, let alone writing the whole thing. It’s difficult discussing a failure with others, so many students hold back if they are given this prompt.

However, honesty is the best policy. Additionally, even when talking about a failure, it’s possible to keep the essay positive.

Students should start by outlining the scenario and giving an overview of how the failure occurred. The misstep can be academic, personal, or professional, as long as it’s clear that something went wrong along the way.

After the overview, it’s all about a quick pivot. Students should explain the lessons they learned and what they would do differently if faced with a similar situation again. That helps them demonstrate their self-awareness and personal growth, along with their ability to persevere.

4. Tell Us About a Contribution You’ve Made to Your Community

This scholarship essay prompt is incredibly common for volunteering scholarships or awards focused on service. Students need to share insights about their community service-oriented activities, as well as the positive impact created by their participation.

Additionally, it’s smart for students to spend some time explaining how the experience impacted them. They may also want to touch on any plans they have to continue to remain active in their community, as that can help them stand out. They may also want to touch on any plans they have to continue to remain active in their academic community, as that can help them stand out.

5. What Are Your Academic (or Professional) Goals?

With this common scholarship essay question, students need to clearly outline what they want to achieve, either academically or professionally, depending on exactly what they are asked. Usually, it’s best to start off with the basics. Students should explain what they want to study, such as pursuing a bachelor’s degree, or the career path they hope to have.

However, they shouldn’t stop there. It’s also wise to dig a bit deeper, diving into precisely what motivated them to head in this direction. Some students do this by sharing their epiphany moment, while others talk about how it’s the culmination of a life-long passion. As long as it paints a great picture, any approach is potentially a winner.

6. Tell Us About a Time Where You Stepped Up as a Leader

Leadership is a hot topic for college scholarship essays. Many committees ask questions like this one to see what applicants bring to the table. Usually, your student needs to provide a clear example of when they took on a leadership role.

There are a lot of options for approaching this. Heading up a school project counts, as well as captaining a sports team. Coordinating volunteer efforts may work, along with a wide variety of work-related activities.

Again, exactly what your student chooses is less important than how they describe it. It’s all about sharing a story, ensuring the reader can get a good gauge on what happened and how your student’s involvement helped them achieve success.

7. Who Has Been Your Biggest Influence (or Inspiration)?

Many scholarship essay questions want students to talk about their heroes. While it may seem odd to ask students to discuss someone other than themselves, it’s actually a great way to learn more about an applicant’s passions.

As they describe why the person influenced or inspired them, they incidentally talk about how they are motivated, their priorities, and their values. It also allows the reader to learn more about what shaped your student’s goals and aspirations, which can be quite enlightening.

Ideally, students want to be story-oriented. While they can certainly discuss the person’s traits and background, the focus should largely be on moments that inspired or influenced their way of thinking and helped them define success. That makes the essay more meaningful.

8. Why Do You Want to Go to College?

For some students, this question is surprisingly tough. Many students saw college as a must from a relatively young age, essentially viewing it as anything as optional. However, students do have choices about how they move forward after high school .

Scholarship committees want to know that heading to college isn’t an afterthought or something a student is doing solely because they were pressured in that direction. Ideally, students should discuss personal motivations or goals that made college the right choice for them. That way, their passion can shine through. Additionally, students can discuss how being part of a specific scholarship program aligns with their academic and career goals.

9. How Are You Planning on Financing Your College Education?

If a scholarship is focused on financial need, your student may face questions about how they intend to fund their education. This can be a difficult topic, particularly for students who may not be able to afford school without outside support, such as scholarships or grants. It’s hard to talk about financial hardship, but this question makes it necessary.

Students should actually start their essay by giving the committee insight into their situation, particularly regarding personal or household circumstances that make affording college difficult. After the overview, students should outline all of their efforts to secure enough funding. That can include everything from applying to scholarships , exploring work-study, getting a part-time job, or anything else.

Often, scholarship committees appreciate it when students are taking every chance to find ways to pay for college. It lets them know that the student is passionate enough to go the extra mile and demonstrates that they aren’t afraid of challenges if it means achieving their goals. So, students should touch on everything they are doing to make their college dream possible.

10. Why Do You Deserve This Scholarship?

Writing an essay about why they deserve a scholarship can be hard for any student. However, it’s a topic they need to be ready to discuss. This is a common question for undergraduate students applying for scholarships.

Previously, The Scholarship System took a deep dive into how to write an essay on “Why I deserve this scholarship,” making that a great resource for any student who wants to prepare. As an overview, it’s about showcasing their perspective without coming across as arrogant and discussing achievements (academic or otherwise) that highlight why they are a standout applicant.

Using Common Scholarship Essay Questions to Prepare

Simply knowing what the common scholarship essay prompts are usually isn’t enough. Instead, students should take extra steps to prepare to write their essays.

First, it’s wise to spend a little time brainstorming about the topics. That way, students can develop several ideas that they may want to explore and see if one approach resonates more than another.

Second, checking out some scholarship essay examples that won money is an excellent idea. This helps students learn more about what scholarship committees connect with, as well as more about how to tackle certain topics.

Finally, it’s wise to learn more about essay writing techniques. Along with reviewing how to write scholarship essays , it doesn’t hurt to research college personal statements , as those can be very similar to scholarship (and college application) essays. Similarly, checking out scholarship essay formats is a smart move. It will help your student figure out how to start a scholarship essay introduction, how to end a scholarship essay, and everything in between.

By doing that additional research, they’ll have as much information as possible. And, in the end, that could increase the odds that their essay will be a winner.

Related Videos:

• 7 College Scholarship Essay Ideas to Win More Funding
• How to Reuse Scholarship Essays & Win Over and Over

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March 9, 2021 at 6:35 am

Thanks for sharing this nice piece of information i personally believe scholarships are very improtant for every student

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Popular posts, how to write winning scholarship essays, how to write an amazing scholarship resume, 75 easy ways to save money in college.

Top 10 scholarship essay prompts and how to answer them (with infographic)

Checking each scholarship application’s questions and essays can be time-consuming. But what if you could find out what the most common essay topics were – and then reuse those same scholarship essays across multiple applications?

Well, Going Merry can help you do just that. We took a random sample of about 700 scholarship applications on our scholarship platform and categorized the prompts for any essays requiring 250 or more words. Finally, we ran the numbers to find out what the top 10 most common scholarship essay prompts are. 

These 10 topics represented a whopping 90% of all scholarship essay prompts. So that means if you had these 10 essays ready to go, you could apply to the vast majority of scholarships with very little additional work, especially when you use Going Merry’s auto-filled application forms .  

Here’s our list of the Top 10 Most Common Scholarship Essay Prompts.

• Here’s an excerpt of the winning scholarship essay from John Flowers Jr.:

2. How have you contributed to your community?

3. tell us about yourself., 4. tell us about a time you failed and what you learned from it., 5. what are your academic and/or career goals, 6. what impact has sports had on your life.

• And here’s a winning essay on this scholarship topic from Jesús Adrian Arroyo-Ramirez:

Here’s an example of a winning scholarship essay from Gabby DeMott in which a student developed a new understanding of herself and others.

Here’s a winning going merry scholarship essay from daniel gill on what makes him unique (hint: he brings puppetry and education together with expressive arts):, 10. why do you want to study/pursue [x], download the top 10 scholarship essay prompts, more resources related to writing for college, ready to start writing some of these top scholarship essay prompts.

1. How will this scholarship help you?

You should answer this scholarship essay prompt by explaining how the award money will help you in at least one of the following ways: financially , professionally, and/or academically. 

Financially, you can share family hardships or goals on how you plan to use the money to help pay for portions of college – for textbooks, tuition, a laptop, or other school supplies. 

Professionally, the scholarship might help you pursue a degree in a field you’re interested in. If you’re a first-generation student, you can highlight that this would help you pursue both academic and career dreams as the first in your family.

For example, John Flowers Jr., a Going Merry scholarship winner , described in his scholarship essay that the award would help him be able to pay for his books. 

“Winning this scholarship will make a difference to me because it will allow me to cover college financial issues that may hold me back from reaching my career. Being less stressed about worrying about college fees will allow me to focus more of my attention in class to earn the credits, and not worry about how I’m going to pay for the class.”

Here’s an excerpt of the winning scholarship essay from John Flowers Jr. :

My parents were never given a shot at having an education beyond high school. They were never given a shot to show their full potential and make a difference in the world  […] Being young and seeing my parents struggle is hard for me. It’s challenging seeing the people you love go through a hard time and you can’t do anything about it. […] But then I realized I can do something about it. I can get good grades in school. I can take college level courses throughout high school. I can attend a 4-year university and earn my bachelor’s degree in Business Entrepreneurship. That was my thought process as a Freshman.  Now being a Senior I turned those “I cans” into “I did.” I DID get good grades all through school. I DID take college level courses. I will be walking straight out of high school with 17 college credit hours.  […] I DID get into a 4-year university; and 4 years from now I want to be able to say I DID earn my bachelor’s degree in Business Entrepreneurship. Nothing would make me happier than to be able to take care of my parents the way they have been taking care of my all my life; and nothing would make me better as a person than to be able to say I did this. […] Winning this scholarship will make a difference to me because it will allow me to cover college financial issues that may hold me back from reaching my career. Being less stressed about worrying about college fees will allow me to focus more of my attention in class to earn the credits, and not worry about how I’m going to pay for the class. Even book fees will add up over time due to how many different classes there are. Being able to use this scholarship to pay for books that are required for a certain class will be a big help, especially for a student who has lots of classes that have to be taken.

This is a common essay prompt for community service scholarships . In this essay, describe your experience in community service, explain how you’ve given back, or share volunteer opportunities you’ve participated in. For example, if you’ve organized a community donation box and taken the donations to a nonprofit organization, share how you got involved in that and how it helped the community. 

Two more things to mention–even when they’re not explicitly asked: 

• How have you learned or grown due to your community service? Scholarship committees want to know how this work has contributed to your character. 
• How do you plan to continue to support your community in the future? Bonus points if your college plans (which they’d be partially funding!) help you further contribute. Sometimes this is easy because your intended career path is service-oriented (for example, if you want to be a nurse, doctor, teacher, or social worker), but other times you may wish to give back on the side (for instance, by doing pro-bono work if you want to be a lawyer). 

You have a lot of creative freedom with this scholarship prompt! But don’t get too crazy. Generally, this kind of “open-ended” prompt is a bit of a trick. In the end, the scholarship committee still wants to know: 

• What motivates you to do (study or pursue a career in) what you plan to do? Remember, they’re funding your future, so they want to know about your plans and why you’re passionate about them. 
• What kind of (good) characteristics do you have? They’re ultimately choosing people to invest in, so they want you to be a good person. Characteristics you might want to show are empathy, service, leadership, perseverance, or determination. 
• What kind of successes have you had in the past? This is your chance to brag about what you’ve accomplished so far. 

This essay topic is quite similar to writing a college personal statement , except that with this one, you want to more explicitly tie things back to your future plans.

Scholarship providers understand that no student is perfect, and they want to know how you learned from a failure – this can be an academic, professional, or personal failure. Break down how you failed, why you failed, and how it made you better. You can also reveal something you learned from that failure, such as what you would do differently in the future, so you don’t run into that situation again, or how that moment changed your life and how you picked yourself up. This is a moment to show how you can learn and persevere. 

If the essay is very short (say, 100-300 words), be clear and concise. Explain what you want to study, and then what kind of career you want to lead afterwards. Be sure to save room for 1-2 sentences explaining why you’re motivated to pursue that path. 

If you have a longer essay (for example, 500-1000 words), take the time to describe what inspired you to pursue certain academic and/or career goals. For example: One of your parents has always owned his or her own business and now you’re inspired to be an entrepreneur, to pursue a degree in business. Describe that moment of realization when you decided that would be your career goal. Maybe a conversation with that parent sparked inspiration to pursue that, or maybe it was simply watching them work as you grew up. Looking to the future, how do you plan to pursue that career goal? How will the scholarship award help you pursue it? Tell a story; paint a picture. Get creative with it!

Check out these blog posts for additional information on writing an essay about your academic goals and/or career goals .

This essay prompt is generally for scholarships supporting student-athletes.

So if you played sports throughout high school, share how it’s affected your life, You can reflect on experiences with teammates (if it’s a team sport), what you learned (or gained) from practices or meets/competitions, any injuries you had to overcome, how you balanced athletics and academics, how it affected your schedule (early-morning wake-ups, anyone?), and time with your coach(es) or sports mentors. 

You’ll also want to look forwards and not just backwards. How will you take your sports experiences with you, into college and beyond? Maybe there’s a direct connection: being on a team inspired you to one day pursue a career in sports and eventually coach. Or the effects can be more indirect: You’ve learned time management skills that will help you in college, or you’ve learned teamwork skills that will help you when you begin working.

7. Why do you deserve this scholarship?

Scholarship providers are basically asking, “Why should it be you?” with this scholarship essay prompt. Paint a picture of why you’re the most deserving student for this scholarship award. 

You’ll want to establish at least these two things:

• You’ve proven yourself as high-achieving (in the past). Discuss accomplishments you’re proud of or any accolades (honors, awards, or simply verbal compliments) you’ve received. 
• You’re driven to succeed (in the future). Show that you’ve got clear future plans and the gusto to make them happen. 

In addition to that, a strong essay will show at least one of these additional traits: 

• You’re passionate. If you’ve got a good story to explain your motivation for your studies or future career plans, now’s the time to tell that tale. Here’s the moment to wow the scholarship committee with why you care more than anyone else, and why. 
• You’re unique. Scholarship committees love finding someone who’s just different and stands out from the rest. If you’ve had an unusual upbringing or an uncommon interest, lean into that. (For instance, scholarship winner Daniel Gill wrote about his passion for using puppetry to help autistic children — now that’s cool and unique!)
• You’ve got a particular financial need . For need-based scholarships, this essay question may in part be asking you why your financial need is greater than other applicants’.

Want more tips? We have a whole separate post dedicated to answering this scholarship essay prompt.

And here’s a winning essay on this scholarship topic from Jesús Adrian Arroyo-Ramirez :

I always knew I was different than my friends in some way. Growing up, I struggled to speak English while everyone else had little to no problems. I needed extra help in school while my friends coasted by with ease. My friends would hop on planes and travel all around the world while I had to stay at home. At the age of 13 all of my friends started driving while I still couldn’t. I built up the courage and asked my mother why I did not have access to the simple liberties everyone else did. My name Is Jesús Adrian Arroyo-Ramirez, and I was illegally brought to this country when I was just six years old. At the time I had no clue that I was breaking any laws, and I did not realize the fact that my life was going to change forever. Growing up with a different citizenship situation than my peers was and still is the biggest challenge I have to face in my life. Looking back there is not a single thing that I would change. Knowing that I had to work harder than everyone else led me to be the person that I am today. I took that fire inside of me, pushed myself, graduated first in my class with a cumulative 4.0 GPA, became a Kansas Scholar, and graduated High School with a semester’s worth of college credit. In November of 2016, everything began to look up for me. I received a work permit and a social security card all thanks to the DACA program. I was finally able to get my license, get a job, and most importantly attend college. I plan to continue my success in the classroom and do everything to the best of my ability as I know that under my current circumstances it can all be ripped away from me at any moment. Growing up with my situation has taught me to not take advantage of a single opportunity. There has been continued support around me past and current and I know there are people out there rooting for my success. I will strive to be the first generation in my family to graduate from an American University and I will set a stepping stone for my future family so they will not have to struggle as I did. My citizenship is not a setback, it is a mere obstacle that I will always learn to work around if it means giving my future children a better life, just like my mother did for me.

8. Tell us about a time when you had a belief or idea challenged.

Have you studied abroad? Visited a foreign country on a family trip? Had a thought-provoking discussion with a teacher, religious leader, or friend? Think about an experience or a moment that challenged – or even changed – one of your beliefs or ideas. Explain what your original understanding of the idea was, when that idea was challenged, and how you felt about it afterward. Scholarship providers are interested in seeing reflection and growth, so expanding on every detail, including where you were, who you were with, and what you were feeling, can help tell your story in your essay.

There were only a few minutes to go and our eyes were glued to screen. On the edge of our seats, clutching whoever happened to be next to us, we watched as the referee blew his whistle and the German players took their free kick. The ball was hit with precision and skill; it flew up over the Swedish players, past their goalie, and was caught safely in the back of the opposing team’s net. We all jumped up and screamed, a mixture of German and English, of excitement and relief, of pride and anticipation. We stood, enraptured, for the last several minutes of the game as Germany kept its 2-1 lead over Sweden. The horde of us, Germans and Americans alike, hugged and cheered and made our way out onto the balcony, where we chanted “Deutschland! Deutschland! Deutschland!” for the whole village, the whole country, the whole world to hear. Never have I felt so accepted while being an outsider, so proud of a country that isn’t even mine, so part of something I didn’t really belong to. My German friends didn’t care that we were from different countries; they didn’t care that we would only be staying for three weeks. They accepted us into their homes and their daily lives, their traditions and their celebrations. In watching that World Cup game, it didn’t matter that we were from different places; we were all cheering for the same team. The acceptance I felt in Germany extended beyond that living room. I came to the country on a three week exchange with ten other students from my school. We each stayed with host families and attended the Wildermuth Gymnasium, which was surprisingly accommodating to a gaggle of loud American teenagers. The teachers were friendly and welcoming, the students treated us like ordinary peers, and even the people I interacted with in public were understanding. Before coming to Germany I feared judgment based on my level of the language (which is nowhere near as good as the German students’ English) and American politics. It was intimidating to be in a country with limited knowledge of the language and the customs, even though everyone was welcoming. People did ask myself and the other students about the US’s political climate, but no one blamed us for it. They recognized that we were outsiders, that the place we came from had flaws, and they accepted us anyway. Since that trip, I’ve found myself trying to provide that acceptance to people in my own country. For example, I work at a canoe livery and we receive a lot of visitors with limited English. Some of my coworkers will avoid such customers because they don’t want to take the time to explain things, to exercise patience with someone who may not understand them. If people had done this to me in Germany, my time there would have been much less enjoyable; in fact, I would have been offended. So now when someone walks up to me at the livery and asks a question in English that isn’t perfect, I smile and welcome them. I take my time to make sure they understand, that they can have a good time, and that they feel accepted. It’s a small action, but I know firsthand that it can make a big impact, at my place of work and in the world.

9. How are you unique? (Discuss your background, identity, interest, or talent) 

Everyone has a trait, a quirk, an activity that makes them unique, whether it’s sports, their upbringing, their hobbies, or interests. Go into as much detail as you feel comfortable to answer this scholarship essay prompt.

Share a story about your family culture, how you were raised, moments that shaped you into being who you are today. If sports is your thing, for example, share how playing sports at a young age taught you about teamwork, working with a coach, discipline and structure. If you couldn’t play sports due to an injury or a disability, explain how you felt when you learned that you had to find other ways to thrive and how it affected your actions.

Sometimes we think that a topic has been written about so many times that it doesn’t matter, but what makes you unique – your story, your history – is your story to tell.

As an Expressive Arts specialist, I use puppet play and the arts (with three to five-year-olds) to teach sharing, identifying and working with feelings, making friends, mindfulness, and asking for what you need in peaceful ways. Additionally, I perform developmentally appropriate puppet shows in classrooms about fairness, valuing difference (including differences in gender expression and skin tone), and peaceful conflict resolution. By teaching diversity, equity, and inclusion through puppetry, I feel that I am making a difference. In this work, I have noticed an unexplained phenomenon. Educational puppetry is particularly effective in helping children with ASD develop social and communication skills. One girl with ASD in my school refused to follow the daily routine until a parrot puppet helped guide her through the transitions. Through puppet play, a boy with impulse control challenges learned to manage his feelings and stop hitting other children. One boy with Autism showed remarkable progress with puppet play. Now in Kindergarten, his ability to communicate and make friends makes his academic success possible. Teachers value this work; it reinforces the social and emotional teaching they practice daily. One teacher told me, “What you do with puppets and our kids is amazing. You need to share this work beyond our preschool.” Application Questions and Answers My goal is to support young children with Autism in public school settings develop the social-emotional skills they need for academic and personal success. I aim to accomplish this by creating and implementing evidence-based strategies that use puppets as intervention tools. A Masters and Credential in ECSE, and the Autism Spectrum Graduate Certificate program I will complete, are essential to broadening my impact. The program will provide me with the theoretical foundation, the student teaching experiences, the credentials, and the academic community required to work with children and families in public school settings. For example, as part of the ECSE Program Masters and Credential Roadmap, I am taking the Seminar in Educational Research course. I am learning how to conduct scholarly research, a fundamental skill in creating innovative approaches that work. I am eager to apply the knowledge and skills I learn at SFSU toward helping more children open doors to connection. Additionally, I am learning leadership skills by volunteering for SFSU’s Early Childhood Special Education Conference. Most conference attendees are undergraduate students, interested in working with young children at-risk and with disabilities. As Co-Chair of the Presenter Committee, I am recruiting dynamic and engaging speakers who will lead workshops. I am eager to apply all of the knowledge and skills I learn at SFSU toward helping more children open doors to connection. I am at a critical juncture in my path. Helping children who experience social disconnection integrate into their classrooms, is my passion. This scholarship will help me work toward a world where every child has access to education and all children know they belong.

Reflect on what inspires you to want to pursue a certain field of study. If you’re interested in studying psychology and pursuing a career as a psychologist, for example, explain how you enjoy understanding how and why people make certain decisions, how you became fascinated by the science behind it.

Another example: Let’s say you’re interested in pursuing a career in communications. This might seem like a broader category, but you can highlight your love for writing, your ability to pick up on details in and out of school, and presenting this in a way that makes sense to the people around you. Just be careful not to get stuck in broad generalities. For this essay prompt in particular, many applicants will often have the same basic answer as you. So you’ll want to use specific anecdotes to make your essay stand out. 

Check out these blog posts to continue researching how to answer scholarship essay prompts:

• How to write an essay about yourself
• Writing about your career goals 
• How to write the best personal statement
• Write a winning scholarship essay about your academic goals
• Scholarship essay format and structure

Now that you have a better understanding of how to answer these scholarship essay prompts, it’s time to put your knowledge in motion with your scholarship applications. Sign up for a free Going Merry profile where you can upload your scholarship essays. You’ll enter your information once – such as your expected graduation year, what you plan to study in college, and your location – and then we’ll match you with thousands of scholarships. You can even sort scholarships by competitiveness, location, amount, and deadline!

• Recent Posts

• Scholarships for Students in Pennsylvania for 2024 - November 11, 2020
• Counselor Starter Guide: How to Use Going Merry’s Scholarship Platform - September 9, 2020
• How to write a financial need statement for your scholarship application (with examples!) - August 13, 2020

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The 16 Most Popular Scholarship Essay and Application Questions

by Gabrielle McCormick | Nov 17, 2018 | Applying for Scholarships , Finding Scholarships , Scholarship Essays | 0 comments

Believe it or not, scholarship committees generally ask the same types of questions and have similar applications.

That’s right! The scholarships you find are going to fit into specific themes which you must be able to identify in order to save your family time, frustration, stress, and most importantly – money.

The 16 themes below are designed for you to use as a reference until you can spot them on your own. Also, make sure you check out our Scholarship Fast Track videos , specifically the Application Accelerators Module , that outlines these scholarship essay themes and questions even more!

The Top 16 Scholarship Essay Themes

• Committee Composition
• Competition
• Contribution
• Credentials

I’ve provided a definition as well as common scholarship question examples for each theme.

[info-box type=”success”] Real Talk: These questions are not made-up and, in fact, come from actual scholarship applications that are open to students at all levels. I hope that they serve you well in preparing for your upcoming applications. [/info-box]

Common Scholarship Questions and Essay Prompts

Scholarship essay theme: career.

The career theme is pretty self-explanatory. The committee wants to know any and everything relating to you or your student’s career goals.

Common Scholarship Questions:

• What do you want to do after you graduate from college?
• Why did you select this career?
• How will you change the field/industry?
• Where do you see yourself 10 years from now?

Scholarship Essay Theme: Catch-All

This is a student’s life summary or autobiography which usually includes information about the past, present, and future. Some committees refer to it as a personal statement or brief bio. (Warning: Not all personal statements will be looking for a life summary. Make sure you read the application carefully.)

• Please write a short autobiography including information about your family, work experience, community involvement, hobbies, spare time activities, and what you hope to do in the future.
• Please include a short summary or personal statement describing your accomplishments and goals.
• List any honors and awards you’ve received.
• List your extra-curricular activities.

Scholarship Essay Theme: Challenges

Everyone loves a good underdog story. An essay theme that focuses on Challenges asks the student to identify a time when they were down or faced conflict. The committee wants to hear how instead of giving up, you rose to the occasion or at least learned what was necessary to achieve success.

• Write a short essay that describes areas in your life where you demonstrated leadership and overcame obstacles either through your school, social, or family life.
• What’s the most difficult challenge you’ve ever faced? How did you handle it?

Scholarship Essay Theme: Champion

Why you? Out of all the available applicants, why should you or your student earn the scholarship?

• Why do you need this scholarship?
• Please list any additional comments you believe would be helpful in the committee’s decision.
• In 100 words or less, tell why you would like to receive the XYZ scholarship.

Scholarship Essay Theme: Change

This is one I’m starting to see more and more of in the scholarship world. Committees are interested in the opinions, thoughts, and ideas of applicants. With topics like legislation, population control, and the environment, committees want to see analytical and critical thinking skills.

• What do you think we should do about gun control in this country?
• How would you handle texting and driving?
• Create an innovative solution to reduce waste.

Scholarship Essay Theme: Character

As Defined by Merriam-Webster , “Character is the way someone thinks, feels, and behaves .” Essentially, it’s what makes you who you are.

• Describe a time in your life that has shaped who you are as a person.
• This is what I believe in…
• How do you define success?
• What traits do you possess that will enhance your education or future career?

Scholarship Essay Theme: Classroom

Academics, teaching methods, assignments, and anything that pertains to student learning fall under this category.

• How has technology impacted student learning?
• If you could design a college curriculum, what would it be?
• Do you believe that standardized testing has helped or hindered student learning?

Scholarship Essay Theme: College

This is one of the most common scholarship essay themes. The premise: Why do you want to go to college?

You’ll often see this theme attached to others as an additional question or a required component of the application.

• Why do you want to go to college?
• What do you expect to gain from earning a college degree?
• What are your educational goals?

Is this helping you? Are you beginning to see how this can save you a lot of time? If so, let me know in the comments below, Tweet Me @ScholarshipTalk, or just share the following message and I’ll know you see the benefits of organizing your scholarships based on themes. ?

[clickToTweet tweet=”Organizing my scholarships based on the 16 core essay themes has saved me time! #OwnYourDegree” quote=”Organizing my scholarships based on the 16 core essay themes has saved me time!”]

Scholarship Essay Theme: Committee Composition

I’m sure you’ve seen some of the eccentric scholarships out there that challenge you to write about your favorite ice cream, talk about using their product, or design a logo for their company. These scholarships tend to be unique or inspired by the sponsoring organization.

• Create a greeting card and be featured in our upcoming holiday card collection.
• Design a mascot for our company.
• Write an essay about how lights and fixtures could impact your mood.
• Develop an innovative video to end smoking.

Scholarship Essay Theme: Community

This is also a popular scholarship theme. Instead of looking at a student’s GPA, test scores, or major, the community essay theme focuses on community service, community initiatives, and community improvement.

• Describe a meaningful volunteer experience?
• Make thank-you cards for military service members.
• Share a project you developed to change your community.

Scholarship Essay Theme: Competition

A common theme for athletes, band members, dancers, or those involved in groups/organizations is the Competition scholarship essay. It highlights participation and its associated benefits.

• What does it mean to be a good student on the field, in the classroom, and in the community?
• Define what it means to be a good teammate?
• Describe a moment of sportsmanship.

Scholarship Essay Theme: Contribution

Again, this is another scholarship essay theme that you may see added to another scholarship question or application. The committee wants to know about you or your student’s contribution to society at various levels.

• How will you make a difference in our world?
• How have you made a difference in your community?
• What do you think our country should do to foster unity?

Scholarship Essay Theme: Control

Control , i.e. leadership, oftentimes stands alone as a scholarship theme because of the many questions that can be asked. From being a leader to follower and everything in between, the committee is seeking answers regarding group interaction, the organization of people, or participation within a group setting.

• What does leadership mean to you?
• Explain a family, social or school situation, in which your leadership made the difference. What was accomplished?

Scholarship Essay Theme: Creative

I’m starting to see a rise in Creativ e scholarship essays as well. You may notice some similarities with the Committee Composition theme because these scholarships are usually committee-driven and created.

The committee will provide a question, but give you freedom in depicting or representing the theme or category they’ve selected.

• Write a short story of 2,000 words or less.
• Create a video of 2-minutes or less to encourage young people to stop texting and driving.
• Submit a photograph depicting the word “family”.

Scholarship Essay Theme: Credentials

As defined by Merriam-Webster , “Credentials are a qualification, achievement, personal quality, or aspect of a person’s background, typically when used to indicate that they are suitable for something.”

These scholarships will require specific credentials to apply or may use the credential within application questions.

• To apply for this scholarship, you must be a female student majoring in a male-dominated industry. Please tell us why you selected this career?
• Applicants must be a member of the LGBTQI community. Describe a volunteering activity you conducted for your community.
• Students must be a dependent of an active military member or veteran. Why do you need this scholarship?
• Students applying for this scholarship must be undergraduate students entering their first semester. What study habits do you think are imperative to freshmen student success?

Scholarship Essay Theme: Culture

Cultures can be comprised of many different components. From college communities to hometown traditions, the Culture theme is based on the defining characteristics of a student’s environment.

• Tell the committee why you decided to attend college out-of-state?
• What does your university’s tradition and pride represent?
• Submit a piece of artwork that captures your town.

[info-box type=”alert”]Do you want a downloadable version of these themes and questions for your notes? Click here for a FREE copy . [/info-box]

Save a Ton of Time by Using These Themes

Scholarship applications may have one or several themes present. Focus on identifying your possible scholarship themes.

Labeling scholarships by themes and working on them at the same time allows the student to divide and conquer. If your family can get good at identifying themes, you’ll immediately save hours of time on applications .

As I start to see new themes emerge, I’ll be sure to add them to the list. For now, this should keep you pretty busy as you continue to find and apply for scholarships.

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A subreddit dedicated to asking questions and sharing resources about college application essays in all their many forms. Discussion about common app, UC essays, supplemental, scholarships, extracurricular sections, and more are welcome. Always remember the human!

can someone help me w/ 2 of the the dell scholarship essays

i just need someone to look over it and maybe even edit a bit of it if possible

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