Scholarship Application Essay Help Required

bestpud

I may be wrong here, but I think it is the word 'essay' that is causing the problem!

Personally, I'd call it a personal statement, and I have no issue with people asking for advice about that. I certainly did when writing mine for uni! I wouldn't ask someone to help me actually construct it, but I did speak to people about possible things to put in, or leave out, and asked my tutors as well. Is that really such a bad thing?

Now, essays are somewhat different imo. I just don't think this is an essay?

But really, either way, the OP is only asking for opinions on what to put in. It's not many words and if you haven't seen one before then it seems quite sensible to ask others what they would do.

Like I said, perhaps it's just me?

poet123

I don't think the OP is cheating either,she/he is asking for pointers from which to construct a sales pitch. I think you should approach it as such rather than an essay,you have to make the powers that be "buy" you rather than another student. My starting point would be that most Unis want to see that you have taken advantage of all the opportintites your time at their establishment has offered. So I would include all the clubs societies etc you have joined,the friendships you have formed and the attachment you feel to this uni in particular. Focus on how this has informed your studies and helped you to achieve the required grades,mention the calibre of the staff,and maybe throw in the value you feel the instiution had added to you, and how in turn you can add value to them by continuing to be a model student,and eventually as an alumuni will continue to represent the uni to the world. Value added is a big education buzz word!!!!

Good luck!

Tigersilly

dmg24 wrote: »

At my university you always had to complete a disclaimer stating that if you got any help with the work that you were submitting. Hopefully the OP's university does the same, although I doubt they will be honest enough to admit it.

Is there any point in doing a degree anymore when so many people cheat? x

I am not a cheat.

If I were preparing for an interview and wanted to present myself in the best light would you call me a cheat for not including this at the end:

'I'd like to thank my mother for telling me what I was a dilligent worker I was when I gained 80% in my exam, My lecturers for encouraging me to read specific books that would be helpful to my learning, my friend at university for telling me I ought to include how I have excellent time management skills for I juggling studying with volunteering, oh- and my local newsagent for telling me what an excellent communicator I am every time I pop in to buy the local paper. All these people have helped me recognise my skills and I don't think it would be fair if I didn't tell, you, the interviewer."

Now, if I handed in a direct word for word account of all my skills based on a generic list of all the typical qualities a good student should have, I have no doubt that the I would appear 'wooden' and devoid of any self-awareness, if I didn't have examples to back it up. That's not what I want to display.

I suppose all I was asking for was a few pointers on stucturing the 250 word 'essay'.

I am writing the statement. Yes, I called it an 'essay'. That was my own choice of words - perhaps as someone has suggested the phrase 'personal statement' should be used.

Honestly, you'd think I was robbing achievements from other people the way some people are talking about me. Was it another person who got a first for me this year? Was it another person who did voluntary work, was it another person who talked to my local newsgent and knocked his socks off with my smalltalk... I don't think so.

Oldernotwiser

Tigersilly wrote: »

Honestly, you'd think I was robbing achievements from other people the way some people are talking about me. Was it another person who got a first for me this year? Was it another person who did voluntary work, was it another person who talked to my local newsgent and knocked his socks off with my smalltalk... I don't think so.

In that case, have faith in your own abilities and don't ask for help from strangers who, as far as you can know, may not have two GCSEs between them! From what you're saying here you're doing just fine, far better than anybody here could suggest for you. Put it in your essay/personal statement and get on with it!

Tigersilly

Oldernotwiser wrote: »

In that case, have faith in your own abilities and don't ask for help from strangers who, as far as you can know, may not have two GCSEs between them! From what you're saying here you're doing just fine, far better than anybody here could suggest for you. Put it in your essay/personal statement and get on with it!

Thank you, I have 'got on it with it'.

I do however like to take advice from a variety of sources. I have no problem with listening to suggestions from strangers who may have possibly had the experience of applying for a scholarship or who have picked up tips on the art of self-promotion. I don't see asking for advice as a weakness, but rather a way to broaden my knowledge.

melancholly

i think cheating is harsh, but i also think for this particular situation, asking for help isn't quite in the spirit of it - does that make sense?

this is a chance for you to show why you got your marks - and from your comments at the end of post 13, you shouldn't have much trouble pointing out how good you are (not that i fully understand the point of the reference to the newsagent!)

Tigersilly

melancholly wrote: »

(not that i fully understand the point of the reference to the newsagent!)

It was a bad joke. Small-talk with my newsagent.. often consists of him asking me whether I've passed my exams every other week. He has a terrible memory, but the guy seems happy every time I tell him I've passed!

bestpud

aurora_borealis wrote: »

Personally, I've learned never to coach or prepare anyone for a job/position that they may not be up to.

It's not fair on them or their referees.

If i'm not confident of person's abilities, I steer well clear. Since I don't know the OP, I'd be wary to advise.

I find this odd given you offered to help people with their dissertations a while ago? Including reading over their drafts as I recall?

Personally, I am confused by the responses on here, and more so because they are from people I rarely disagree with! I really cannot see the 'problem' and it is definitely not cheating imo.

I haven't read through old posts though. Is there 'history'? :think:

Hmm, I'm confused! Granted, it doesn't take much...

iNFLUENCE_2

I really cant see the problem here, I bet the form itself doesnt say the OP has to write it all on her own with no help, applications for stuff like that are usually accepted to be somthing people are going to ask for help with.

With some of the thinking here, we'd be applying the same principle to job applications, is it not fair to ask for help with a job application? The exact same thing is happening here, except its for a bursary and not a job.

Also to the OP: It might help to include some details on why your applying, maybe you want to help it fund some activities (maybe going to play sport abroad or something).

TigerAngel11

There's a world of difference between giving tips/advice and telling someone what to write. It's a shame that so many people are so unsupportive and b****y, especially to those of us who are simply trying to reassure someone. We can't all have your unshakeable confidence.