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dell scholarship essay prompts

How to Apply for the Dell Scholars Program Scholarship

dell scholarship essay prompts

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 scholarship essay prompts

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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A 101 guide to dell scholarship: exploring the application process and eligibility criteria to maximize your chances for success – march 2024.

dell scholarship

Finding a scholarship such as the Dell Scholarship and applying for it is a tedious process, especially if you are already going through the process of joining a college in the upcoming semester. While many students miss out on scholarships due to a lack of information, there is still a treasure yet to be discovered.

So, if you are a first-gen student or simply a shining student who wants to prove themselves in their field of interest, then this scholarship is for you.

Check out: Burger King Scholarship: A Comprehensive Guide

With this scholarship, you will not have to worry about the financial aspect of your studies and can focus on what truly matters: your education.

Dell Scholarship Program

What Is The Dell Scholarship Program?

The Dell Scholarship Program was established by the Michael and Susan Dell Foundation. It is a holistic support system designed for deserving students to succeed in their education without worrying about finances. The main aim of the Dell Scholarship is to provide highly motivated students a safety net using which they can pursue higher education regardless of their challenges.

The Dell Scholarship Program goes beyond just waiving tuition fees. It offers personal and crucial resources such as laptops, textbook credits, financial assistance, and access to a network that gives deserving students support to address their mental and emotional problems, which are possible barriers to their success.

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Dell Scholarship Eligibility Requirements

To meet the Dell Scholarship eligibility standards, an ideal candidate needs to have the following boxes ticked in their profile:

  • Graduated from an accredited high school in this academic year.
  • Finished high school with a minimum GPA of 2.4.
  • Demonstrated a need for financial aid.
  • Participated in an approved college readiness program in grades 11 and 12.
  • Eligible to receive a federal Pell Grant in the first year of college.

Learn more on:  Finding And Applying For Scholarships: What You Need To Know Before Starting Your Research

Besides the basic criteria, it is crucial that, before applying for the Dell Scholarship program, you plan on pursuing a bachelor’s degree as a full-time student. Plus, you must apply directly after you graduate from high school.

The ideal student applying for the Dell Scholarship should not have any gap between finishing high school and applying for the scholarship. The candidate should also give their priority to their studies.

Dell scholarship application process

What Is the Dell Scholarship Application Process?

The Dell Scholarship Program is designed to give every student an equal opportunity to succeed in their lives. The application process is designed in a way that the evaluation of a candidate is not only based on their GPA. Rather, they are given equal opportunity to prove their worth in front of the board committee through essays and recommendations.

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Online Application

To begin with the application, you must submit all your personal and educational information to their portal by adding educational documents, essays, and your current financial condition. You can check how many applicants pursue this scholarship by checking this resource .

Applicants are required to submit their essays, which will show their personality to the board committee. Here, you are required to talk about your life experiences that matter to show and moments where you demonstrated determination, resilience, and discipline toward achieving a goal.

At Scholarace, we have writers who can help with completing your application and assisting you with your essay process.

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Recommendations

Candidates are required to submit recommendations from individuals who can attest to their ambitions and character. You can get recommendation letters from your high school teachers, counselors, and coaches.

Financial Information

Applicants are also needed to submit their financial information to the committee. Your documents will play a major role in assigning the scholarships to students who truly deserve it.

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Finalists will be invited for an interview in the final round before selecting the 500 candidates from the pool of applicants for the selection process.

When Is the Dell Scholarship Deadline?

Every year, Dell Scholarships are open from October 1 until December 1. During this short period, students are required to complete their application process, including providing essays and all financial documents.

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Be sure to complete all the requirements, as proper documents can help you stand out in a pool of applicants. At Scholarace, we have writers who can assist you in the whole process and provide essays to ensure you finalize the documents before the deadline.

Dell scholarship success tips

Shortlisting The Applicants

On December 10, all the applicants who will move forward for the next round will be announced. All the semifinalists will be required to submit their material by January 27 for consideration. Finally, on March 18 of each year, Dell Scholarships will be announced, selecting 500 candidates who will become a part of this support system.

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What Is the Dell Scholarship Amount Allotted To Students?

Finalists will receive a scholarship of $20,000 each year for four years of their bachelor’s program. Apart from this, they will get the following non-monetary benefits:

  • Personalized support for students who are unable to complete their college due to academic, financial, and emotional challenges.
  • A laptop with a 4-year warranty for their studies.
  •  $500 worth of Chegg credits each year for four years for textbook rentals and solutions.
  • Scholars Resource Network to assist students and their families.

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Dell Scholarship Success Tips For Essays

Like any other scholarship application, essays are a potent way to stand out among competing candidates. If written effectively, they can open doors of opportunity for you. Thus, you must demonstrate your grit, potential, and ambitions in your essays.

In the Dell Scholarship application, you will be required to write six brief essays, each with a character limit of 1,200-1,800 characters. While this may seem daunting, each essay prompt roughly equates to about 250 words.

Let’s explore what each essay prompt entails in the Dell Scholars program.

Read more on:  https://www.dellscholars.org/students/

Choosing Your Major And Future Plans

Prompt: What inspired you to choose this major and study the degree you are planning to enroll in? How do you plan to use that degree to fulfill your goals after college graduation?

In this prompt, you must create a vivid picture of why you are choosing a specific major and what your end goal with this degree is. Once you have identified a degree path, dive deeper into the specifics.

Highlight any specific event or experience that emotionally connects with your choice of major. Then, clearly articulate how your chosen degree aligns with your long-term goals and how you would utilize your degree post-graduation.

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Consider how you want to impact your field and community globally.

Dell scholarship opportunity

Considering A 2-Year College

Prompt: Please tell us the reasons you are considering a 2-year college as one of your top three college choices.

Start the essay by highlighting the practical benefits of choosing a 2-year college, such as proximity, affordability, and access to your desired program. Then, discuss the specific opportunities that a 2-year college would offer, including community involvement, specialized courses, and smaller class sizes.

Also, discuss how this choice can strategically fit with your future goals, such as transferring to a specific institute or pursuing a career where the 2-year college would create invaluable opportunities for employment.

Selecting Top School Choices

Prompt: Please tell us what reasons you considered in selecting each of these schools as your top choices. Elaborate on the factors you considered, such as academic fit and financial affordability.

For this prompt, choose three schools, each with unique characteristics that align with your personal and academic goals. This could relate to specific courses, the school’s culture, faculty members, or extracurricular opportunities.

Explain how each factor resonates with you, not only on an academic level but also on a personal level. Your goal is to demonstrate that you have thoroughly researched the institution before adding it to your priority list.

Overcoming Transition Challenges

Prompt: Describe the most significant challenges you may face transitioning to and while in college and what steps you may take to address those challenges. As appropriate, include skills/strategies you learned in your College Readiness Program that have prepared you to be successful in college.

First, identify potential challenges such as time management, academic rigor, or adapting to a new environment. Then, proceed with concrete solutions that highlight how you are prepared to overcome them, supported by your life experiences.

The key here is to show a proactive approach to planning and resilience.

Managing Responsibilities

Prompt: Please provide more detail about either your home, work, or volunteer responsibilities (whichever you spend the most time doing) and how you ensure it doesn’t prevent you from completing your schoolwork.

Here, you must provide brief descriptions of your significant daily responsibilities and share your strategy for balancing them with your schoolwork. The prompt aims to assess your ability to manage multiple responsibilities in real life.

Dell scholarship deadline

Navigating Financial Hardships

Prompt: Describe the financial hardships you have had to overcome in your life thus far (including housing, living, or family circumstances) and how you plan to manage any ongoing financial responsibilities while in college.

(Note: If you write about child abuse or neglect, the Dell Scholars program may be required to report the information to the appropriate child protective services agency.)

When addressing your financial situation, be honest yet optimistic. Share an example of a financial hardship you experienced and how you dealt with it. Discuss your plan for managing finances in the future, such as part-time work, budgeting, and seeking resources.

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In Conclusion

The Dell Scholarship is a perfect opportunity for high school students to continue their education without any gaps. It is designed to assist students with more than just financial means.

If you will be graduating in the upcoming year, you can check the Dell scholarship.

Applying for the Dell Scholarship this year? Contact us today and let our experts guide you every step of the way. Secure the scholarship of your dreams through our tailored guidance.

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THE DELL SCHOLARS PROGRAM

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Scholarship Essay Writing

Scholarship Essay Prompts

Cathy A.

Practical Scholarship Essay Prompts For Students in 2023

19 min read

Scholarship Essay Prompts

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Scholarship Essay – A Complete Guide With Examples

Scholarship Essay Format - Samples & Writing Tips

12 Winning Scholarship Essay Examples for Aspiring Students

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, as it may affect your future plans. So, it is important to put much time and careful attention into its preparation. 

Essays are often required for scholarship programs. However, not all scholarship essays have similar prompts or questions to answer. 

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

Arrow Down

  • 1. Common College Scholarship Essay Prompts
  • 2. Top 16 Scholarship Essay Themes
  • 3. How to Address Scholarship Essay Prompts?
  • 4. Gates Scholarship Essay Prompts
  • 5. Robertson Scholarship Essay Prompts
  • 6. Vanderbilt Scholarship Essay Prompts 
  • 7. Bryan Cameron Scholarship Essay Prompts
  • 8. Dell Scholarship Essay Prompts 
  • 9. Park Scholarship Essay Prompts 
  • 10. Flinn Scholarship Essay Prompts
  • 11. Scholarship Essay Prompts High School
  • 12. Scholarship Essay Prompts College
  • 13. List of Unique Scholarship Essay Prompts 2023

Common College Scholarship Essay Prompts

Writing a scholarship essay can vary with the subject, but most of them are all about recounting a personal experience. Most of the scholarship programs ask students to write an essay.  

So, it is better to have four to five pre-written essays before beginning to apply for a scholarship. This will help you complete the application process fast and will allow you to prepare and apply for more scholarships. 

Here are some common scholarship essay prompts and popular essay questions used by colleges to improve your scholarship chances. Don’t forget to follow the proper scholarship essay format when you are answering these questions.

  • How did you become a dedicated student? What experiences have persuaded you to continue your education?
  • How did you become a school policymaker, and what changes did you make in your classroom?
  • Does your skill, attribute, or quality differentiate you from everyone else? How did you develop that attribute?
  • How has your favorite book or movie influenced your life in a good way?
  • How did you come out at the most crucial time of your life? And how did your perspective on life change after that difficulty?
  • What would you most like doing right now, and where would you most like after five years? 
  • Have you tried so hard for something and succeeded? What factors contributed to your success?
  • What is your strongest personality trait?
  • How do your family and friends characterize you? And how would they write about you in your scholarship essay?
  • Have you ever participated in any activity outside your classroom that demonstrates your qualities?
  • What are your extracurricular activities, and what made you participate in these activities? Why do you continue contributing to them? 

Top 16 Scholarship Essay Themes

Scholarship essays are your opportunity to stand out from the crowd and secure financial aid for your education. While there are countless scholarships available, certain essay themes tend to be common. 

Here are the top 16 scholarship essay themes and how you can answer them:

Overcoming Adversity 

Share your personal experiences dealing with challenges such as family hardships, personal setbacks, or financial difficulties. 

Explain not only what these challenges were but how you navigated them, demonstrating resilience, problem-solving skills, and a strong determination to overcome obstacles.

Educational Goals

This theme is an opportunity to provide a clear vision of your academic aspirations. Describe your chosen field of study and the specific academic and career goals you wish to achieve. 

Elaborate on how receiving the scholarship will aid in realizing these goals, making it easier for the selection committee to see the direct impact of their support.

Community Involvement

When discussing your involvement in the community, share the nature and extent of your volunteer work. 

Explain the organizations or causes you've supported, and provide examples of how you've made a difference in your community. Highlight not just what you did but how these experiences have influenced your personal growth.

Cultural Diversity

Delve into your cultural background. Describe the traditions, values, or experiences that are unique to your cultural heritage. 

Discuss how this background has shaped your beliefs and perspective on the world, as well as your ability to connect with people from different cultures.

Leadership Experiences

Detail your leadership roles, whether as a captain of a sports team, president of a club, or coordinator of a community project. 

Share your accomplishments and how these experiences have taught you valuable leadership skills such as communication, teamwork, and decision-making.

Passion for a Cause

If you're passionate about a particular cause, such as environmental sustainability or social justice, explain the roots of this passion and your involvement in related activities or organizations. 

Show how you've actively contributed to the cause and outline your vision for creating positive change.

Career Aspirations

This theme is an opportunity to map out your career path. Describe your intended profession and the positive impact you aim to have within that field. 

Explain how the scholarship will enable you to pursue your career goals, whether through specific educational opportunities or financial support.

Academic Achievements

Highlight your academic successes, such as top grades, research projects, or significant awards. 

Explain the significance of these achievements and how they reflect your commitment to academic excellence and your potential to excel in your chosen field of study.

Innovation and Creativity

If you've been involved in innovative projects, inventions, or creative works, this theme allows you to showcase these endeavors. 

Describe the ideas behind these projects and how they demonstrate your creative thinking and problem-solving abilities.

Extracurricular Activities

Discuss your involvement in extracurricular activities, whether it's participation in sports, clubs, or student organizations. 

Explain how these activities have enriched your life, imparted important skills, and contributed to your personal growth and development.

Role Models

Introduce the individuals who have been your role models, mentors, or sources of inspiration. 

Share their stories and qualities that have impacted your life and influenced your values, ambitions, and aspirations.

Personal Values

Elaborate on your core values, such as honesty, integrity, or social responsibility. Explain how these values have guided your choices in education, work, and community involvement. 

Show how they've influenced your decision-making and actions.

Travel Experiences

Describe your travel experiences, the places you've visited, and the cultural encounters you've had. 

Discuss how these experiences have broadened your horizons, changed your perspective on the world, and influenced your future goals or career choices.

Family Background

Share insights into your family's background, discussing your family's history, values, and any significant challenges they've faced. 

Explain how your family's experiences have impacted your life, values, and ambitions, emphasizing the influence of your family's background on your personal and educational journey.

Global Awareness

Express your awareness of global issues such as poverty, climate change, or human rights. 

Discuss how you stay informed about these issues and your desire to contribute to positive change on a global scale, whether through advocacy, research, or direct involvement.

Adaptability and Growth

Reflect on moments when you've had to adapt to new challenges, whether it was moving to a new city, facing personal setbacks, or encountering unexpected obstacles. 

Describe how these experiences have shaped your ability to adapt, learn, and grow, as well as how they've prepared you for future endeavors.

How to Address Scholarship Essay Prompts?

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

Every scholarship essay question should be approached differently. Below, you can find some 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 popular scholarship essay prompt, you need to turn your weaknesses into great opportunities. 

You can achieve this by selecting 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 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 scholarship 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 trait or, 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. 

Here is how you can answer this prompt:

Why this Answer Stands Out: This response is compelling because it provides a clear vision for the future. It shows that the candidate not only identifies their uniqueness but also understands how to apply it, making it a standout response.

Gates Scholarship Essay Prompts

The Gates Scholarship is a highly prestigious program that offers full financial support to low-income students with high academic and leadership potential. 

Their essay topics seek to understand your commitment to making a difference in your community and how you plan to utilize your education to achieve this.

  • Describe a significant challenge you've faced due to your economic circumstances and how you've overcome it.
  • Share a story that illustrates your dedication to community service and its impact on those you've helped.
  • Reflect on a personal experience where you demonstrated leadership and how it contributed to your growth.
  • Discuss a time when you actively advocated for positive change or justice in your community.
  • Explain how your academic achievements align with your long-term career goals and the impact you hope to make.
  • Share a book, film, or artwork that has influenced your values and perspectives.
  • Describe your involvement in a STEM-related project or initiative and its significance.
  • Discuss an instance when you've had to adapt and grow in response to a challenging situation.
  • Explain how you've contributed to fostering diversity and inclusion in your school or community.
  • Reflect on an ethical dilemma you've encountered and how you resolved it.

Robertson Scholarship Essay Prompts

The Robertson Scholars Leadership Program is a unique opportunity that provides full funding for students to attend both Duke University and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. 

The essay prompts for the Robertson Scholarship often focus on your leadership experiences, passion for creating social change, and how you plan to contribute to the community.

  • Share a leadership experience that has had a significant impact on your community and how it has shaped your values.
  • Describe a project or initiative that exemplifies your passion for social entrepreneurship and innovation.
  • Explain your vision for promoting collaboration and teamwork in a diverse setting.
  • Discuss a challenge you've encountered while pursuing your academic or extracurricular interests and how you've overcome it.
  • Reflect on a book, research paper, or intellectual pursuit that has influenced your academic interests and goals.
  • Describe your commitment to addressing global issues and your role in creating a positive impact.
  • Share a project or initiative you've led that contributed to meaningful change in your community.
  • Discuss how your academic achievements reflect your commitment to excellence.
  • Explain your long-term career goals and how you plan to make a difference.
  • Reflect on a time when you actively promoted inclusivity and diversity in your community.

Vanderbilt Scholarship Essay Prompts 

Vanderbilt University offers a range of scholarships to recognize and support outstanding students.

The essay prompts for these scholarships typically seek to understand your academic and extracurricular achievements and how you envision your college experience at Vanderbilt.

  • Share a leadership experience that has had a significant impact on your community and how it has shaped your character.
  • Describe a specific academic or extracurricular achievement that reflects your commitment to excellence.
  • Explain your passion for a specific field of study and how it aligns with Vanderbilt University's offerings.
  • Discuss your vision for fostering inclusivity and diversity on your college campus and the role you plan to play.
  • Reflect on a book, piece of art, or cultural experience that has influenced your perspective.
  • Share a time when you demonstrated resilience and adaptability in the face of adversity.
  • Describe your involvement in community service and its impact on your understanding of social responsibility.
  • Explain your long-term career goals and how Vanderbilt University's scholarship will help you achieve them.
  • Share a project or initiative you've led that has contributed to positive change in your community.
  • Discuss how you plan to make a positive impact on the Vanderbilt campus and the broader community.

Bryan Cameron Scholarship Essay Prompts

The Bryan Cameron Impact Scholarship is a unique opportunity for students who are deeply committed to civic engagement, leadership, and social responsibility. 

The essay prompts for this scholarship program often ask applicants to reflect on their efforts to make a positive impact in their communities, leadership experiences, and long-term goals related to social change.

  • Describe a social or environmental issue you're passionate about and the actions you've taken to address it.
  • Share a significant leadership role you've held and the impact you've had on your community.
  • Explain your commitment to civic engagement and its alignment with the Bryan Cameron Foundation's mission.
  • Discuss a moment when you've demonstrated resilience and resourcefulness in overcoming adversity.
  • Reflect on a book, article, or piece of art that has influenced your values and aspirations.
  • Describe your vision for a socially responsible business or organization you'd like to create.
  • Explain how you've promoted inclusivity and diversity in your school or community.
  • Discuss how your academic and extracurricular interests align with the Bryan Cameron Foundation's goals.
  • Share a project or initiative you've led that has contributed to a significant positive change in your community.
  • Explain your long-term goals for social impact and how the Bryan Cameron Impact Scholarship will help you achieve them.

Dell Scholarship Essay Prompts 

The Dell Scholars Program is designed to support students from underserved backgrounds in completing a college degree. 

The essay prompts for this program often focus on the applicant's personal or family financial challenges, commitment to education, and how they've demonstrated resilience and resourcefulness.

  • Describe a personal or family financial challenge you've faced and how it has affected your educational journey.
  • Explain your commitment to pursuing a college degree and how it aligns with the Dell Scholars Program's mission.
  • Share a time when you demonstrated resilience and resourcefulness in overcoming obstacles.
  • Discuss the impact of mentorship on your academic and personal development.
  • Describe your long-term career goals and how a college degree will support them.
  • Explain how you've contributed to your community and its positive change.
  • Discuss your academic achievements and their reflection of your commitment to excellence.
  • Share a project or initiative you've undertaken to address a pressing community issue.
  • Explain how the Dell Scholars Program can help you achieve your educational dreams and make a positive impact in your community.

Park Scholarship Essay Prompts 

The Park Scholarships program at North Carolina State University aims to support students with exceptional leadership and service qualities. 

The essay prompts for this program often center around leadership experiences, academic accomplishments, commitment to diversity, and contributions to the community.

  • Share a meaningful community service experience and its impact on your leadership skills.
  • Describe a specific academic or extracurricular accomplishment that demonstrates your commitment to excellence.
  • Explain your passion for a particular field of study and how it aligns with the Park Scholars Program's goals.
  • Discuss your vision for fostering inclusivity and diversity on your college campus.
  • Reflect on a book, work of art, or cultural experience that has influenced your perspective.
  • Share a personal challenge you've overcome and how it has contributed to your personal growth.
  • Discuss your involvement in community service and its impact on your understanding of social responsibility.
  • Explain your long-term career goals and how the Park Scholarship can support your journey.
  • Share a project or initiative you've led that has contributed to a positive change in your community.
  • Discuss your vision for your college experience at North Carolina State University and how you plan to contribute to campus life and the broader community.

Flinn Scholarship Essay Prompts

The Flinn Scholarship is a merit-based scholarship program in Arizona that focuses on identifying exceptional students with a strong commitment to service, leadership, and academic excellence. 

The essay prompts for this scholarship program often center around leadership experiences, civic engagement, and the applicant's vision for addressing complex social issues.

  • 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.
  • 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.

Scholarship Essay Prompts High School

High school students are in the early stages of their academic and personal journey. Scholarships are a great way to support their education, and many organizations are eager to invest in your potential. 

  • How do you plan to continue promoting these values in college and beyond?
  • What lessons have you learned from this experience, and how will they shape your future?
  • How has this experience influenced your values and aspirations for furthering your education and making a positive impact on society?
  • How do you plan to use your STEM knowledge to address real-world challenges?
  • How do you envision contributing to a greener future during your college years and beyond?
  • How will you continue to lead and inspire others in college?
  • How will your growth continue in your college journey?
  • How do you plan to incorporate your artistic interests into your future?
  • How have financial challenges shaped your determination to pursue higher education?
  • Explain your long-term career goals and how you plan to make a positive impact in your community and beyond.

Scholarship Essay Prompts College

For college students, the academic and personal landscape has evolved, presenting both challenges and opportunities. Scholarships continue to be a valuable resource to support your ongoing education and personal growth. 

  • How have you excelled in your field of study, and what academic goals do you aspire to achieve in the future?
  • Explain how this project contributes to your academic and career objectives.
  • How do these experiences align with your career goals and innovative aspirations?
  • How do you plan to apply this global perspective in your academic and professional endeavors?
  • How have you inspired and guided others, and what's your vision for continued leadership?
  • How do you plan to promote well-being in your community and beyond?
  • How did you work to address systemic issues during your college journey and outline your future goals for creating positive change?
  • How will you continue to advocate for environmental causes in your academic and professional life?
  • How have these experiences influenced your career path?
  • How do you plan to apply your interdisciplinary skills to make a difference in your chosen field?

List of Unique Scholarship Essay Prompts 2023

Besides the most general topics, scholarship applications may also ask questions regarding your achievements, background, field of study, and future goals. 

Here are a few more topics that you can choose to show the scholarship committee who you are and why you deserve this scholarship. 

  • Describe a person whom you admire the most.
  • What are your short and long-term goals?
  • Choose a book that has affected you deeply.
  • Why are you the best fit to get this financial aid? 
  • What inspires you?
  • What leadership qualities do you have?
  • Describe a solution to a current social issue of your choice.
  • Why do you need a scholarship?

It is best to look at some scholarship essay examples and learn how to respond to each prompt in the best way.

By now, you must have gotten an idea about scholarship essay prompts and how to answer them in your essay. 

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 " write my essay for me online " and get instant help!

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Scholarship Essay Writing

Scholarship Essay Prompts

Barbara P

Most Popular Scholarship Essay Prompts & Questions

12 min read

Published on: May 16, 2023

Last updated on: Jan 30, 2024

Scholarship Essay Prompts

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Are you dreaming of a scholarship that could help you achieve your academic goals? The good news is that you're not alone, and we're here to make the process a little less intimidating. 

Don't know where to start?  No worries! We've got you covered with this guide on how to tackle the most common scholarship essay prompts. By the end, you'll be able to confidently share your unique story, stand out from the crowd, and win the scholarship of your dreams.

So, let's dive into the world of scholarship essays and show the judges why you deserve that financial support!

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Popular Colleges Scholarship Prompts We Cover

In this article, we provide you with the best and most commonly used essay prompts for the following colleges.

  • College scholarship essay prompts
  • Robertson scholarship essay prompts
  • Park scholarship essay prompts
  • Vanderbilt scholarship essay prompts
  • Easy scholarship essay prompts
  • UCLA alumni scholarship essay prompts
  • Gilman scholarship essay prompts 
  • Johnson scholarship essay prompts

Feel free to choose any and start writing your scholarship essay or personal statement and show the admission committee why you indeed deserve the financial aid. Make sure to follow the proper  scholarship essay format  when you are answering these questions.

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Current Scholarship Essay Prompts- 2024

  • Discuss a current global issue and explain how you would propose a solution to address it.
  • Describe a personal experience that influenced your decision to pursue a particular field of study.
  • How have you overcome a significant challenge in your life, and how has it impacted your personal growth?
  • Share a time when you demonstrated leadership and the impact it had on those around you.
  • Discuss the importance of diversity and inclusion in today's society and how you have contributed to promoting these values.
  • Describe your career aspirations and how you plan to achieve them.
  • Discuss a book, movie, or other piece of media that has had a significant impact on your life and explain why.
  • Share a time when you had to work with someone with a different perspective or background, and how you navigated those differences.
  • Discuss a community service project you have participated in and the impact it had on the community.
  • Explain the importance of financial literacy and how you plan to manage your finances in the future.

List of Best College Scholarship Essay Prompts

Here are the most common scholarship essay question examples that you can find on most college applications in the US.

  • Tell us about yourself.
  • How will this scholarship help you?
  • Where do you see yourself ten years from now?
  • How will you make a difference in our world?
  • Describe a volunteer experience?
  • Why do you need this scholarship?
  • Describe a challenge you have overcome.
  • Who do you admire the most?
  • Why do you deserve this scholarship?
  • Briefly describe your short- and long-term goals.
  • What are your academic and future goals?
  • Tell us about a time when you had failed in something.
  • What makes you unique?
  • Does any quality or attribute distinguish you from others?
  • What are your most important extracurricular activities?
  • What is your biggest strength and weakness?
  • What are your greatest accomplishments?
  • What are your strongest personality traits?
  • How has your education contributed to who you are today?
  • What is your most prominent achievement, and how does it relate to your field of study?

Additional Scholarship Essay Prompts

  • Describe a time when you had to step out of your comfort zone and take a risk. What did you learn from the experience?
  • How have your experiences with diversity and inclusivity shaped your perspective and goals?
  • What motivates you to pursue your academic and career goals, and how do you stay focused on them?
  • Describe a moment when you faced adversity and how you overcame it.
  • How have your family, cultural background, or community influenced your values and beliefs?
  • Discuss a book, movie, or event that has impacted your life and explain why.
  • What is the most significant challenge facing your generation, and what solutions would you propose to address it?
  • Describe a time when you collaborated with others to achieve a common goal. What did you learn from the experience?
  • What impact do you hope to make in your chosen field or industry, and how will this scholarship help you achieve that goal?

Describe a mentor or role model who has inspired you and explain why.

General Scholarship Essay Topics

Here are some more random scholarship essay topics that you can choose from

  • A person who has a major influence on your life
  • Things you have done outside of the classroom that has demonstrated your skills
  • Have you struggled for something and succeeded?
  • What leadership qualities do you have?
  • Why do you want to be a ___?
  • How do you define leadership?
  • Describe the importance of a good teammate?
  • What do you expect to gain from a college degree?
  • What does success means to you?
  • A book that has affected you deeply

The 16 Most Popular Scholarship Questions

We have compiled a list of the 16 most popular scholarship questions and how to effectively address them. Let’s take a look!

1. Career How will this scholarship help you achieve your career goals?

When addressing this prompt, discuss your future career aspirations and how the scholarship will support your academic and professional pursuits. Highlight any relevant experiences, skills, or certifications that will contribute to your success.

2. Catch-All Why do you deserve this scholarship?

This prompt allows you to discuss your overall qualifications and achievements that make you a strong candidate for the scholarship. Discuss your academic achievements, extracurricular activities, community service, and future goals.

3. Challenges Discuss a personal or academic challenge you have overcome and how it has shaped you.

When addressing this prompt, be honest and open about a challenge you have faced and how you have overcome it. Highlight any lessons or skills you have gained from overcoming this challenge.

4. Champion Who is a person that has influenced you and why?

When addressing this prompt, discuss a person who has had a significant impact on your life and why. Highlight how their influence has shaped your personal or academic pursuits.

5. Change How will you make a positive impact in your community with the help of this scholarship?

When addressing this prompt, discuss your future community service goals and how the scholarship will support these efforts. Highlight any past community service experiences that demonstrate your commitment to making a positive impact.

6. Character How have your personal values and beliefs influenced your academic pursuits?

When addressing this prompt, discuss your personal values and beliefs and how they have influenced your academic and career goals. Highlight any experiences or achievements that demonstrate your character and commitment to your values.

7. Classroom How will you contribute to the academic community at your future college or university?

When addressing this prompt, discuss how you plan to contribute to the academic community at your future college or university. Highlight any academic or leadership experiences that demonstrate your potential to make a positive impact.

8. College Why have you chosen this particular college or university and how will this scholarship support your academic goals there?

When addressing this prompt, discuss why you have chosen your particular college or university and how the scholarship will support your academic pursuits. Highlight any relevant experiences or goals that align with the college or university's mission or values.

9. Committee Composition What unique perspective do you bring to the scholarship selection committee?

When addressing this prompt, discuss your unique experiences, skills, or background that you believe will contribute to the scholarship selection committee. Highlight any achievements or experiences that demonstrate your potential to make a positive impact.

10. Community How have you contributed to your local community and how will this scholarship support your future community service efforts?

When addressing this prompt, discuss any past community service experiences and how they have made a positive impact. Highlight any future community service goals and how the scholarship will support these efforts.

11. Competition How have you demonstrated your competitive spirit and drive for success?

When addressing this prompt, discuss any academic or extracurricular achievements that demonstrate your competitive spirit and drive for success. Highlight any leadership roles or experiences that demonstrate your potential for future success.

12. Contribution How will you contribute to your field of study through research or other academic pursuits? When addressing this prompt, discuss any research or academic goals you have for your field of study. Highlight any past academic or research experiences that demonstrate your potential to make a positive impact.

13. Control How have you taken control of your academic or personal life and achieved success?

When addressing this prompt, discuss any personal or academic challenges you have faced and how you have taken control of your life to achieve success. Highlight any skills or lessons you have gained from these experiences.

14. Creative How have you used your creativity to solve a problem or make a positive impact?

When addressing this prompt, discuss any experiences or achievements where you have used your creativity to make a positive impact. Highlight any problem-solving skills or unique approaches you have taken to achieve success.

15. Credentials How do your academic credentials and achievements make you a strong candidate for this scholarship?

When addressing this prompt, discuss your academic achievements and credentials that make you a strong candidate for the scholarship. Highlight any honors, awards, or certifications that demonstrate your academic excellence.

16. Culture How have your cultural experiences and background influenced your academic pursuits and goals?

When addressing this prompt, discuss how your cultural experiences and background have shaped your academic pursuits and goals. Highlight any experiences or achievements that demonstrate your unique perspective and potential to make a positive impact in your field of study.

How to Address Scholarship Essay Prompts?

Below you can find some of the most common scholarship questions and tips to answer them. Keep in mind these guidelines while answering the scholarship essay topic of your choice.

Your answers should show that you have a plan for your future and are serious about it. The scholarship committee wants to see that their money is going to someone who has the necessary drive, so don't be shy with what you say.

There's a competition going on - one that you can't afford to lose when your future is at stake. You need to stand out, and the best way to do it is by addressing any weakness with an answer like ‘I currently have limited knowledge in this area, but I will be able to make up for my lack of experience through diligent study.’ These scholarship committees look for applicants who show potential rather than people who already know everything about what they want from life.

It is very important to show the scholarship committee that you are passionate about your goals and ambitions. This will help them decide who they offer scholarships to, so it makes sense to take this question seriously.

While it is impossible to paint a complete image of your entire life in such a short time, you can give an overview of the information about your life that matters most with this scholarship.

To answer this question, show you have a serious plan for the future through education.

Maintaining a strong GPA throughout college is not enough; scholarship committees want more than just an educated student. They also want someone who will use their degree in ways that correspond with it. You'll have some tough competition when trying to prove yourself as a deserving candidate. So, make sure you are realistic about what types of goals and plans can realistically be achieved by going back to school or taking on another graduate program at one university.

This common scholarship essay question is a perfect way to share your thoughts about the importance of community service.

This prompt allows applicants to discuss what they have learned by doing this work and why more students should participate so that communities everywhere will improve.

Tips for Writing an Effective Scholarship Essay

Here are some key tips to keep in mind when writing your scholarship essay:

  • Address the Prompt: One of the most important things you can do when writing your scholarship essay is to address the prompt directly. Make sure you understand what the prompt is asking you to write about, and focus your essay on that topic.
  • Be Concise: Scholarship essays often have strict word limits, so it's important to be concise and to the point. Make sure every sentence in your essay serves a purpose and contributes to your overall argument.
  • Focus on Personal Experiences: Scholarship committees want to get to know you as a person. Thats why it's important to share personal experiences and stories in your essay. Use specific examples and anecdotes to illustrate your points for the scholarship.
  • Edit and Proofread: Once you've written your essay, take the time to edit and proofread it carefully. Look for typos, grammatical errors and make sure your essay flows smoothly and is easy to read.

Other Scholarship Questions

Here are some scholarship essay prompts with answers in the form of PDF samples:

Why Do You Deserve This Scholarship?

Describe a Challenge You Have Faced and How You Overcame It

Who Has Been The Biggest Influence in Your Life, and Why?

How Will You Use Your Education to Make a Positive Impact on Society?

Remember, it's not easy to predict every scholarship essay question. But trying out an AI essay generator can give you an advantage in your application

If you're still not sure where to start or if your essay needs some expert help,  CollegeEssay.org  is here for you.

We offer a top-notch college essay writing help  that can provide you with an impressive high school or college essay. Our service is the best and only option you need for all your scholarship essay needs. 

Contact us today to receive expert guidance on how to succeed and win. Don't hesitate, connect with our scholarship essay writing service now!

Frequently Asked Questions

How long should a scholarship essay be.

Scholarship essays are usually about 500 words or one page long. If you can't find the information about the word or page limit for the essay, it's usually safe to stick to 500 words or one page.

Do scholarship essays need a title?

You can also include a title for your scholarship essay if you want, but this is usually unnecessary. 

Is it okay to lie on a scholarship essay?

Scholarships are a great way to save money for college, but lying about your academic achievements could result in serious consequences.

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Overview of Common Scholarship Essay Prompts

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Overview of Common Scholarship Essay Prompts

Applying for scholarships can be intimidating, but it’s reassuring to remind yourself that many applications share common essay prompts. Once you come up with answers to some of the most common scholarship essay prompts, applying for new scholarships becomes much easier. Our overview of common scholarship essay prompts will help you write your best essays to date.

In the guide below, we offer advice about answering eight of the most popular scholarship essay prompts. When you encounter these questions on your applications, you can refer back to this list for guidance on how to answer the prompts effectively and leave an impression on your reader.

Don’t miss: Top writing and essay scholarships

“Tell us about yourself.”

This is a very open-ended question, and the most common problem that students face is trying to accomplish too much in their responses. To avoid this pitfall, remember why the scholarship committee is asking the question: they want to get an idea of your passions, your ambitions, and any life events or circumstances that may be relevant to the scholarship you are applying for. 

While it is impossible to give a thorough rundown of your entire life in a short essay, it is much more feasible to give a succinct overview of the information about your life that is relevant to the scholarship. Here are some ideas of what to include in the essay:

  • Formative experiences that inspired you to pursue your field of study
  • Values that you hold that align with the values of the scholarship organization
  • Demographic information
  • Short-term and long-term goals for the future

“How will this scholarship help you?”

This question is a great opportunity to describe the opportunities that you will be able to take on as a result of receiving the scholarship. Scholarship committees are not only looking for qualified candidates, but also candidates who stand to benefit the most from their assistance. 

EXAMPLE: A scholarship might help a student accept an unpaid internship in a lab this summer rather than working as a lifeguard to save up money to pay for tuition for next year. Or it could allow them to attend their first-choice college rather than a college that was lower on their list but offered a better financial aid package. 

See also: How to write a statement of financial need

“Tell us about a time where you demonstrated leadership.”

There is a lot of room to get creative when answering this question. You should tell an anecdote about a time that you demonstrated independent thinking and effective teamwork. This can be in a formal leadership position or an informal one; a creative interpretation of the idea of “leadership” could help your essay stand out. 

The most effective part of this essay will not be the story itself, but rather your reflection on it. Try to communicate your story succinctly to leave adequate space for reflection. Discuss how the values and skills you learned will make you successful in college and beyond.

It can be helpful to tell your story to a friend or family member, and ask them what values or characteristics they think it demonstrates. They might be able to identify characteristics about you that you hadn’t even noticed.

Read more: How to start a scholarship essay (with examples)

“Tell us about a time that you failed and what you learned from it.”

This question allows you to show an advanced sense of self-awareness, as well as an ability to learn from your mistakes and adapt to a situation. As a general rule, try to avoid any failures that are overly personal or speak poorly to your character. 

EXAMPLE: You could write about failing to meet a project deadline at school or at your job. This incident could teach you about the importance of scheduling your time and to seek out help from your teacher or supervisor when you need it. This response depicts a failure that many people face, but puts you ahead of the crowd by showing that you learned a skill that will be very useful in a college environment.

Related:  How to answer scholarship essay questions about your career goals

“Where do you see yourself in five years?”

With this question, the scholarship committee wants to know about your ambitions that extend past your college career. In your essay, you should apply your educational goals towards some specific career and personal goals. This question will help persuade the scholarship committee that you will go on to be a success story for their organization. 

You can also use this prompt to showcase your understanding of the path to achieve your goals. After laying out your ambitions, you should provide an explanation of how you envision yourself reaching them, to show that you have researched your goals and are confident in your choice to pursue the degree you are pursuing.

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“tell us about a contribution you’ve made to your community.”.

This question is a great opportunity to demonstrate the impact you’ve had and hope to have on the people around you. Your contribution may have been formal or informal; you can write about anything you’ve done in your community that has affected others. This could be volunteering with a local nonprofit, working in a student organization at your high school, or even a creative project that you shared with the public. 

Remember, the main reason why a scholarship committee cares about what you’ve done in your past is how it forecasts what you’ll do with your future. After you have described your contribution, make sure to reflect on it and describe how it relates to the contributions you hope to make in the future.

Read more: What’s the best scholarship essay format?

“How are you planning on paying for your education?”

When answering this prompt, you should show that you have a thorough plan to finance your college education. This demonstrates a sense of responsibility and shows that you have a feasible plan to finance your education should you receive the scholarship. 

You can outline all of your revenue streams, but emphasize the ones that you have taken the lead on. Make sure to include:

  • College savings accounts
  • Jobs that you have worked to save up for college
  • Other financial planning such as research about different types of loans
  • Mention that there is still a gap between your funding and the amount you are being asked to pay, to show the importance of the scholarship to you

“What are your academic and professional goals?”

This is a similar question to “Where will you be in 5 years?” An effective answer will provide an overview of your future goals and how you plan on getting there. You can also circle back and emphasize how this scholarship would help you to achieve those goals. It’s also a good idea to relate these goals to your values; discuss personal experiences that led you to set these goals. 

Key Takeaways

  • Because so many scholarships use very similar prompts, you should save and compile your responses so you can adapt them for future prompts
  • Most prompts will ask you questions about yourself, so you should become as comfortable as possible with writing essays about yourself
  • While some applications may ask you the same questions, you should keep in mind that it can be worth changing some of the language to address the values of a specific scholarship organization
  • Remember to have a well-researched financial plan as well, as that may be something you are asked about and you should be prepared to answer

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Frequently asked questions about common scholarship essay prompts

What are most scholarship essays about, what should you avoid in a scholarship essay, what is the structure of a scholarship essay, scholarships360 recommended.

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Scholarship Story

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!

Dell Scholarship FAQs

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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  • How to Write a Scholarship Essay | Template & Example

How to Write a Scholarship Essay | Template & Example

Published on October 11, 2021 by Kirsten Courault . Revised on May 31, 2023.

A good scholarship essay demonstrates the scholarship organization’s values while directly addressing the prompt. If you plan ahead , you can save time by writing one essay for multiple prompts with similar questions.

Table of contents

Apply for a wide variety of scholarships, make a scholarship tracker spreadsheet, tailor your essay to the organization and the prompt, write a focused and relevant personal story, scholarship essay example, other interesting articles, frequently asked questions about college application essays.

Scholarships are a type of student financial aid that don’t require repayment. They are awarded based on various factors, including academic merit, financial need, intended major, personal background, or activities and interests.

Like college applications, scholarship applications often require students to submit their grades, standardized test scores, letters of recommendation, and an essay.

A scholarship essay shares your values and qualities in the context of a specific question, such as “How does technology affect your daily life?” or “Who has had the greatest impact on your life?”

Be wary of scholarship scams

While some applications may not require an essay, be wary of scholarship scams that do the following:

  • Guarantee you scholarship money for a fee
  • Claim scholarship information is exclusive to their company
  • Ask for your bank or credit card information to hold the scholarship

Some legitimate companies do charge for releasing comprehensive scholarship lists or creating a tailored list of scholarship opportunities based on your profile.

However, you can always discover scholarship opportunities for free through your school counselor, community network, or an online search.

Many students focus on well-known, large scholarship opportunities, which are usually very competitive. To maximize your chance of success, invest time in applying for a wide variety of scholarships: national and local, as well as big and small award amounts. There are also scholarships for international students .

In addition to charitable foundation and corporate scholarships, you should consider applying for institutional scholarships at your prospective universities, which can award money based on your application’s strength, your financial situation, and your demonstrated interest in the school.

Check with your guidance counselor, local organizations, community network, or prospective schools’ financial aid offices for scholarship opportunities. It’s a good idea to start applying as early as your junior year and continue throughout your senior year.

Choose the right scholarships for you

Choose scholarships with missions and essay topics that match your background, experiences, and interests. If the scholarship topic is meaningful to you, it will be easier for you to write an authentic and compelling essay.

Don’t shy away from applying for local scholarships with small dollar amounts. Even a few hundred dollars can help you pay for books.

Local scholarships may be more tailored to your community, background, and activities, so they’re likely more relevant to you. Fewer students apply for these scholarships, so you have less competition and a higher chance of success.

Some places to look for local scholarships include

  • Civic organizations, such as the Rotary Club, Lions Club, etc.
  • Your church, mosque, synagogue, or place of worship
  • Community groups, such as the YMCA
  • Ethnicity-based organizations
  • Your local library or local small businesses
  • Organizations related to your intended major
  • Your city or town
  • Your school district
  • Unions, such as SEIU, the Teamsters, CWA, etc.
  • Your employer or your parents’ employers
  • Banks, credit unions, and local financial institutions

Prevent plagiarism. Run a free check.

While researching scholarship opportunities, create a scholarship tracker spreadsheet to keep track of the following:

  • Scholarship amounts
  • Required application materials

You can use our free Google Sheets template to track your scholarship applications.

Scholarship application tracker template

You can also include scholarship essay prompts in your college essay tracker sheet . By grouping or color-code overlapping essay prompts, you can plan to write a single essay for multiple scholarships. Sometimes, you can also reuse or adapt your main college essay .

Even if you’re adapting another essay, it’s important to make sure your essay directly addresses the prompt, stays within the word count limit , and demonstrates the organization’s values. The scholarship committee will be able to tell if you reuse an essay that doesn’t quite respond to the prompt, so be sure to tailor it to the questions asked.

Research each organization

Before writing, research the scholarship organization’s mission and reason for awarding the scholarship. Learning more about the organization can help you select an appropriate topic and relevant story.

While you should tailor your essay to the organization’s values, maintain your authentic voice. Never use false or exaggerated stories. If the organization’s values don’t align with yours or you can’t brainstorm a relevant story for the scholarship, continue searching for other scholarship opportunities to find a more appropriate one for you.

After researching the organization, identify a specific personal experience that embodies its values and exemplifies why you will be a successful student.

Choose a story with the following criteria:

  • Responds to the prompt
  • Demonstrates the organization’s values
  • Includes an authentic story
  • Focuses on you and your experience, not someone else’s

A good scholarship essay is not

  • A resume of your achievements
  • A lengthy opinion piece about the essay topic
  • An essay featuring a negative tone that puts down others

If appropriate, you can briefly address how the scholarship money will help you achieve your educational goals. You should also end with a brief thank-you.

Take a look at the full essay example below. Hover over the underlined parts to read explanations of why they work.

Prompt: Describe how working for Chelsea’s Chicken restaurant has developed leadership skills that will help you succeed in college. Give specific examples of leadership characteristics that you have exhibited during your employment with us.

As a nervous 16-year-old, I walked into Chelsea’s Chicken for my first day of work determined to make enough money to put gas in my car and buy pizza on the weekends. My only previous job was mowing my neighbors’ lawns when they were on vacation, so I had no idea what to expect. I was a bit intimidated by my new responsibilities, especially handling money and helping disgruntled customers.

However, it didn’t take me long to learn my way around the cash register and successfully address customer complaints. One day, Roger, the store manager, asked me if I wanted to join Chelsea’s Chicken Leadership Training Initiative. He said he saw leadership potential in me because of my attitude with the customers and my enthusiasm for learning new job responsibilities. It surprised me because I had never thought of myself as a leader, but I quickly agreed, and Roger handed me a three-ring binder that was thicker than my math and science textbooks put together! He told me to take it home and read over it during the following week.

In that binder, I discovered that being a leader means taking the initiative, especially when the job is undesirable. One week later, I got to practice that idea when a little kid threw up in the bathroom and missed the toilet. It smelled terrible, but I stepped forward and told Roger that I would clean it up. My coworkers thought I was crazy, but I started to believe in my leadership potential.

That night as we closed the store, Roger pulled me aside in the parking lot and told me that he could tell that I had been studying the manual. He wanted to give me more responsibility, along with a dollar-per-hour pay raise. I was surprised because I had been working there for only a couple of months, but his encouragement helped me make a connection: good leadership helps other people, and it often is rewarded. I was determined to experience more of both.

Within a month, I was ready to take the Team Leader exam, which mattered because I would receive a promotion and a much bigger raise if I passed. But, when I got to work, two of the scheduled team members had called in sick. We were noticeably short-handed, and our customers weren’t happy about it.

I walked back to the lockers, put on my vest and hat, and took my place behind an open register. Customers immediately moved into my line to place their orders. Roger looked at me with surprise and asked, “Did you forget that you’re testing tonight?” I responded, “No, sir—but what’s the use of taking a leadership test if you aren’t going to lead in real life?” Roger smiled at me and nodded.

He stayed late that night after we closed so that I could leave early and still take the test. I noticed that Roger was always staying late, helping employees learn new skills. His example taught me that leaders take the initiative to develop other leaders. He gave me a clear picture of what shared leadership looks like, making room for others to grow and excel. When I asked him where he learned to do that, he said, “From the same leadership manual I gave you!”

Chelsea’s Chicken has offered me so much more than a paycheck. Because of Roger’s example, I have learned to take the initiative to care for my family and friends, such as being the first to do the dishes without my mom asking or volunteering to pick up my friend for our SAT prep course. Now, as I prepare to enter college, I have confidence in my leadership ability. I know I’m signing up for a challenging major—Biology, Pre-Med—yet I also know that Chelsea’s Chicken has helped me to develop the perseverance required to complete my studies successfully.

If you want to know more about academic writing , effective communication , or parts of speech , make sure to check out some of our other articles with explanations and examples.

Academic writing

  • Writing process
  • Transition words
  • Passive voice
  • Paraphrasing

 Communication

  • How to end an email
  • Ms, mrs, miss
  • How to start an email
  • I hope this email finds you well
  • Hope you are doing well

 Parts of speech

  • Personal pronouns
  • Conjunctions

A scholarship essay requires you to demonstrate your values and qualities while answering the prompt’s specific question.

After researching the scholarship organization, identify a personal experience that embodies its values and exemplifies how you will be a successful student.

Invest time in applying for various scholarships , especially local ones with small dollar amounts, which are likely easier to win and more reflective of your background and interests. It will be easier for you to write an authentic and compelling essay if the scholarship topic is meaningful to you.

You can find scholarships through your school counselor, community network, or an internet search.

You can start applying for scholarships as early as your junior year. Continue applying throughout your senior year.

Yes, but make sure your essay directly addresses the prompt, respects the word count , and demonstrates the organization’s values.

If you plan ahead, you can save time by writing one scholarship essay for multiple prompts with similar questions. In a scholarship tracker spreadsheet, you can group or color-code overlapping essay prompts; then, write a single essay for multiple scholarships. Sometimes, you can even reuse or adapt your main college essay .

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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.

Answering 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.

dell scholarship essay prompts

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.

Researching scholarship essay prompts

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. 

dell scholarship essay prompts

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!

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Scholarship Informer

The 16 Most Popular Scholarship Essay and Application Questions

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

dell scholarship essay prompts

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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Published: 2024-03-27

Navigating Controversy and Hot Topics in Required Diversity Courses

Student-teacher alliance buffers against the impact of moderate math anxiety on course performance among college students, community college psychology students’ cooperative learning experiences----a qualitative analysis by year in college, dialogue with students as a valuable tool in teacher inquiry for professional development a narrative of a novice science teacher educator learning about student interaction in biology classrooms, case studies, deconstructing a geology field trip to reconstruct around a pedagogical framework: a case study on the integration of cognitive learning theories and learning progressions., reflective essay, the limits of white privilege pedagogy: a reflective essay on using privilege walks in the college classroom.

COMMENTS

  1. PDF Three Writing Tips

    for the Dell Scholars application We don't have long essay format for our application. Instead, each writing prompt has between a 1,200- and 1,600-character limit. A great way to approach these is to first write down the main point (or couple of points) you want to get across in your answer, then draft your answer around that point.

  2. How to Win the Dell Scholarship [2022-2023 Edition]

    The official dates for the Dell Scholarship application in 2022 haven't been released yet. But based on the previous application cycles, you can expect the following timeline: October 1: Application opens. December 1: Application deadline. December 10: Semifinalists announced.

  3. PDF 2024 Semifinalists Short-Answer Essays

    2024 Semifinalists Short-Answer Essays . Describe an experience that occurred during high school that helped you grow as a person. How did it help you grow, how did you demonstrate initiative in achieving/addressing it, and what did you learn that you can apply in future situations?

  4. Dell Scholars Application

    Welcome to the Dell Scholars Application! Funded by the Michael & Susan Dell Foundation, a private foundation dedicated to enabling children and youth to achieve their potential, the Dell Scholars program offers an opportunity for under-served and lower income students to realize their dream of a college education. $20,000 scholarships are ...

  5. The Dell Scholarship

    Check for scholarships. 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 ...

  6. How to Apply for the Dell Scholars Program 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.

  7. Dell Scholars Program

    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 ...

  8. Dell Scholars Application

    Applicant Login. Email Address *. Password *. Remember Me? WARNING! If you are using a computer in a public area like the library, you do not want to use this feature.

  9. FAQ

    If you're applying for a scholarship and don't find the answer to your question in the links above, you can reach us at: Email: [email protected]. Phone: 1-800-294-2039. P Phone lines are open Monday - Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Central Time (CT). For media or press inquiries please email us at [email protected] .

  10. Information for Students

    Receive a $20,000 scholarship to support your academic journey. Access personalized, multifaceted support for academic, financial, and emotional challenges that may arise during your college experience. Receive a Dell laptop with four-year warranty and book credits annually for four years. Access a teletherapy membership, which includes live ...

  11. How To Apply For Dell Scholarship Program

    Sample Dell Scholarship Essay Prompts; Tips for Writing a Winning Scholarship Essay; Table: Dell Scholarship Key Dates and Deadlines. Date: Milestone: October 1: Application Opens: December 1: Application Deadline: Mid-December: Semi-Finalists Notified: January-February: Semi-Finalist Interviews:

  12. What Is the Dell Scholarship Application Process?

    In the Dell Scholarship application, you will be required to write six brief essays, each with a character limit of 1,200-1,800 characters. While this may seem daunting, each essay prompt roughly equates to about 250 words. Let's explore what each essay prompt entails in the Dell Scholars program.

  13. Dell Scholarship Guide: Your Path to Educational Funding

    The essay prompts for the Dell Scholarship application typically ask students to describe their life challenges, educational goals, and how they have prepared for college. The prompts emphasize an applicant's determination to succeed despite obstacles.

  14. Dell Scholars

    The Dell Scholars program empowers students to reach their college and career goals. DELL SCHOLARS BY THE NUMBERS. A proven model with. 20. years of scholar success. Our community includes. 4,000. Dell Scholars alumni. Dell Scholars are. 50%. more likely to graduate than peers. Meet Our Alumni.

  15. 100+ Scholarship Essay Prompts & Questions and How to Answer

    Dell Scholarship Essay Prompts . The Dell Scholars Program is designed to support students from underserved backgrounds in completing a college degree. The essay prompts for this program often focus on the applicant's personal or family financial challenges, commitment to education, and how they've demonstrated resilience and resourcefulness. ...

  16. Scholarship Essay Prompts and How to Make Yours Stand Out

    The key to standing out is writing about a unique topic. But nailing down a unique topic can be easier than it sounds! So, we've gathered a list of unique scholarship essay prompts and written out how you can put your spin on them. Let's explore these common scholarship essay prompts below: 1. Describe Your Academic and/or Career Goals.

  17. Latest Scholarship Essay Prompts 2024 & How to Answer Them

    When addressing this prompt, discuss your future career aspirations and how the scholarship will support your academic and professional pursuits. Highlight any relevant experiences, skills, or certifications that will contribute to your success. 2. Catch-All.

  18. Dell Scholarship

    The Dell Scholars Program intends to provide a steady stream of support, from winning the scholarship to the day of school graduation. This comprehensive support makes it one of the most life-changing scholarship opportunities available today! ... This step will also help you to understand the essay prompts, which is crucial for a successful ...

  19. Overview of Common Scholarship Essay Prompts

    In your essay, you should apply your educational goals towards some specific career and personal goals. This question will help persuade the scholarship committee that you will go on to be a success story for their organization. You can also use this prompt to showcase your understanding of the path to achieve your goals.

  20. Dell Scholarship FAQs Tailored Specifically for U.S. Students

    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. ... 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 ...

  21. How to Write a Scholarship Essay

    Yes, but make sure your essay directly addresses the prompt, respects the word count, and demonstrates the organization's values. If you plan ahead, you can save time by writing one scholarship essay for multiple prompts with similar questions. In a scholarship tracker spreadsheet, you can group or color-code overlapping essay prompts; then, write a single essay for multiple scholarships.

  22. Top 10 Scholarship Essay Prompts: How to Answer + Infographic

    4. Tell us about a time you failed and what you learned from it. 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.

  23. The 16 Most Popular Scholarship Essay and Application Questions

    Make sure you read the application carefully.) Common Scholarship Questions: 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 ...

  24. Vol. 24 No. 1 (2024): Journal of the Scholarship of Teaching and

    Journal of the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning. Current Past Issues About About the Journal ... Navigating Controversy and Hot Topics in Required Diversity Courses Ryan Miller, Laura Struve, Morgan Murray, Alex Tompkins pdf ... A Reflective Essay on using Privilege Walks in the College Classroom Amy Dundon , Elisabeth Stoddard , Geoffrey ...