why do i deserve a scholarship essay

How to answer “Why do you deserve this scholarship?” essay prompt (with examples!)

When you’re applying for scholarships, you’ll see tons of different essay prompts. Two of the most common are “Why do you deserve this scholarship?” or its variant “Why are you applying for this scholarship?” While these might seem like intimidating questions, don’t overthink them! These are straightforward questions that you can easily answer. Here’s how.

What’s the scholarship committee looking for?

Tips to consider.

• Examples of “Why I Deserve It” scholarship essays

Variant: “Why are you applying for this scholarship?”

Variant: “why do you need this scholarship”, ready to start answering an essay prompt like this.

Scholarship providers want to give the award to the most deserving student. So by including these prompts, they’re basically asking: Why should it be you?

In particular, they want to know:

• What makes you unique? What are your particular interests and motivations?
• How do your strengths and goals fit in with this particular scholarship? For instance, why you might deserve an athletic scholarship might be different from why you deserve a financial need scholarship . 
• How will you make use of the scholarship funds? Scholarship providers want to know their awards will make a difference. Show them how this money would really help advance your goals.

Link your passions to the scholarship

One of the first things to consider is to express who you are in your writing. Show scholarship providers why you deserve this scholarship by painting them a picture of who you are and what drives you. But remember to keep it related to the scholarship. For example:

• If you’re applying for a journalism-related scholarship, explain how you became interested in journalism, and what kind of journalism you hope to pursue.
• If you’re applying to a community service scholarship , explain what kind of community service you do and why you’re committed to it.

Show your grit

This is where your scholarship essay might get personal . You might deserve this scholarship because you have persevered through some personal struggles. Those struggles might be more serious–for example, related to family income (growing up poor) or physical obstacles (a disability or injury). Or it might be a more fleeting personal circumstance (like not getting that student organization position you were vying for).

In any case, focus on how you overcame these difficulties–and how the experiences have shaped who you are today. Also remember to focus it back on the scholarship topic at hand.

For example, if you’re applying to an arts scholarship, you might say:

Although I always loved art, growing up poor in a rural area made it difficult to have access to the fine arts museums (far away) or materials (too expensive). So I made do in other ways. I borrowed art books from the library and did virtual tours of the Met and the MOMA from my home computer. And since I couldn’t afford a fancy SLDR camera, I learned all the iPhone photography tricks I could, and used open-source software to do post-production on my photos.

This kind of statement shows how much the student loves art and the lengths the’ve gone to, in order to explore the medium, despite obstacles. A scholarship committee might read this and think: “This student is particularly deserving of our scholarship.

Share what you plan to do with the scholarship award

Why you are deserving doesn’t just have to do with your past achievements; it also has to do with your future plans and goals. Scholarship providers want to fund students who will go on to achieve great things or who wish to give back to their communities.

For instance, in scholarship winner Michelle Marie Charles’ essay, she explains how the award money will be put to good use:

My wish is to help guide undocumented people to obtain a job in a foreign country, and to fight for them to stay in the country. […] Once I am an attorney, I will seek new opportunities to expand the help provided to immigrants. I will create programs that specifically target undocumented people to know their own voice and to educated themselves about the law. […] I know the long journey that lays ahead of them and know how difficult the process of transferring to undocumented to citizen is, but I want to be there so they know that they still have a choice.

Examples of “Why I Deserve It” scholarship essay s

In general, there are three ways we’ve seen Going Merry students successfully tackle this essay. 

1. Treat it like a résumé, in paragraph form.

Since it’s asking you to brag about your strengths, some essay answers simply describe the applicant’s multiple accomplishments (either in chronological order, or grouped by interest/category – like academics, sports, research, student clubs). This is a particularly good strategy if the scholarship application doesn’t ask for a résumé or list of extracurricular activities. In that case, this essay is your opportunity to discuss those.

An example version of this might read like this :

“I [have been committed] to programs that would further develop my view of the world. I have been involved in Choir and Music Club. I have also been a member of the Red Crescent club for 3 years, which has expanded my exposures to other cultures by learning another language and studying multiple customs. I have been the captain of both the varsity golf and softball teams for two years, developing my leadership skills. My involvement in both my school and community prove that I am a student committed to developing a promising future.”

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2. Treat it like a personal statement. 

Maybe you deserve the scholarship because of the type of person you are: someone who has overcome adversity, thinks deeply, is passionate about a specific subject, or wants to contribute to their community. In that case, you might simply be able to reuse your personal statement , tweaking it slightly to be able to explain how your personal characteristics or narrative make you a deserving scholarship recipient. 

One example of this is Going Merry winner Jesús Adrian Arroyo-Ramirez’s essay , which discusses how he overcame the obstacle of his immigration status. He writes:

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. 

3. Treat it like a career and/or academic goals essay. 

You’re likely using your scholarship money to attend college or grad school, so that you can pursue certain academic or career interests. You can discuss those, and then explain how scholarship funding would allow you to continue down that intended path, just like this short essay did : 

“The scholarship award will only push me further towards my Accounting degree and my dreams of one day having a successful career as an Accountant. […] Five years from now I see myself employed at a large local firm, crunching numbers, evaluating,and solving certain financial matters. I just feel blessed that I am given the opportunity to be awarded a scholarship to help fulfill my dream and I will prove that I do have what it takes to not only be a successful student, but an outstanding accountant.”

Here’s a guide on writing a career goals essay , and another guide for writing an essay on your academic goals . 

Is this the same question as “Why do you deserve this scholarship?” Yes and no. Both questions get at the same core idea (why are you relevant and deserving of the scholarship money), so for both essay prompts, your essay should describe your strengths and future plans. 

However, to properly answer this “why are you applying” question, you’ll need to more explicitly address your interest in the scholarship topic (e.g. if it’s a scholarship for nursing, why are you interested in nursing), as well as information about your financial situation (you are likely applying because you have need for the money, to pay for college or grad school). 

What about this one? Is this the same question?

Nope! This is a question about financial need. Although it may be uncomfortable to discuss, this prompt is asking you directly about your financial situation and why additional funding is necessary for you to pursue your academic or career plans.  Here’s more information about how to write a statement of financial need .

Also, check out this helpful list of the 10 most common scholarship essay topics to get started!

Now that you’ve got a better grasp on how to answer a prompt like, “Explain why you deserve this scholarship,” we think you’re ready to start writing and applying to scholarships! Get started by signing up for a free profile with Going Merry . You can write your essay and apply to thousands of scholarships . Just think of us as your one-stop shop for all things scholarships, including essay writing resources.

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10 reasons why I deserve a scholarship [model answers and prompt]

Scholarships are an essential aid for many students, but what does it take to secure one? Answering “why do I deserve a scholarship” can feel challenging, yet it’s the key to opening many educational opportunities.

In this article, we break down the top 10 reasons why you might be a deserving candidate, alongside advice on what scholarship committees are seeking.

From displaying academic excellence to overcoming adversity, we provide model answers to help you articulate your story convincingly.

We’ll also guide you on aligning your essay with the funders’ mission, offering tips on crafting a tailored, impactful application.

Read on to equip yourself with the insights and confidence to assert “why I deserve a scholarship”.

Why Do I Deserve A Scholarship? Here are some awesome prompts for your response:

Use the essay prompts below to help beat writer’s block for your essay, especially when crafting a scholarship essay sample.

Essay Prompts and Questions to Answer for your Essay on Why I Deserve a Scholarship:

• “One of my proudest academic achievements is…”
• “I have consistently maintained a GPA of… because…”
• “Due to my family’s financial situation, I have faced challenges such as…”
• “A scholarship would significantly alleviate financial stress by…”
• “I have been actively involved in community service by…”
• “Through my volunteer work with… I have learned…”
• “I demonstrated leadership as the president of…”
• “In my role as captain of the… team, I was responsible for…”
• “I have a unique talent for… which I have developed by…”
• “My skills in… have led me to achieve…”
• “I conducted a research project on… which resulted in…”
• “Leading the project on… taught me…”
• “One significant challenge I have overcome is…”
• “Despite facing… I have managed to…”
• “My passion for… began when…”
• “I am committed to… because I believe…”
• “As the first person in my family to attend college, I have…”
• “This scholarship will help me overcome the challenges of being a first-generation student by…”
• “I contribute to diversity in my community by…”
• “My background in… has allowed me to…”
• “My long-term career goal is to…”
• “Achieving this goal is important to me because…”
• “I have been involved in… which has helped me…”
• “Participating in… has taught me the importance of…”
• “One innovative idea I have is…”
• “In the future, I plan to work on projects that…”
• “My academic plan includes…”
• “My career plan is to…”
• “The values that drive me include…”
• “I am motivated by… because…”

Sentence Starters:

• “I believe I deserve this scholarship because…”
• “My academic record shows…”
• “Financial support is crucial for me as…”
• “Volunteering at… has shaped my…”
• “As a leader, I have…”
• “My unique talent in… has…”
• “Despite facing…, I have…”
• “My commitment to studying… is evident through…”
• “Being a first-generation college student means…”
• “Diversity is important to me because…”
• “My career aspirations include…”
• “Participating in… has allowed me to…”
• “I have a vision for… that involves…”
• “My educational journey includes plans to…”
• “The core values that guide me are…”

Check out my YouTube video on crafting the best personal statement to support your scholarship application!

Why Do Scholarship Organizers Ask This Question?

According to the US Department of Education in Trends From 1995–96 to 2007–08 show us that:

• Total grant aid: $116 billion
• Average grant aid per student: $4900

And the source of the funding is mainly from Universities:

Scholarship organizers ask applicants to answer specific questions to gain a deeper understanding of their motivations and aspirations and give out quite a limited amount of money.

By posing these questions, they are able to assess whether the candidates truly deserve the scholarship opportunity.

The scholarship committee wants to identify individuals who not only have financial need but also display a genuine passion for their field of study or have a compelling personal story.

Moreover, these questions serve as a way to distinguish applicants from one another. It allows the committee to recognize those who stand out and have the potential to make a significant impact in their chosen field.

Scholarship organizers often inquire about how the applicant plans to utilize the funds.

This helps ensure that the scholarship money is going towards a worthy cause and will be used in a productive and beneficial manner.

Therefore, it is crucial for applicants to carefully consider their way to answer these questions, as a well-thought-out response can greatly increase their chances of receiving the scholarship and ultimately, achieving their educational goals. 

What’s the scholarship committee looking for?

The scholarship committee seeks applicants who align with their mission and priorities.

To impress them, adhere strictly to guidelines, including word counts. You may even be called in to a meeting and interview. Check out this link for the best scholarship interview tips!

Research the organization thoroughly, understanding its vision, goals, and objectives.

Reflect these in your essay to show shared values. If no formatting instructions are given, stick to a standard 12-point Times New Roman font with double spacing.

Think from the reviewer’s perspective and ensure your essay resonates with the funders’ priorities.

Tailor your content to the organization’s focus areas.

For example, if you’re a biology major interested in microbiology, emphasize this if it’s relevant to the scholarship. Use the scholarship as a platform to showcase your specific interests. Make your application specific, personal, and focused on the scholarship provider’s interests.

The application isn’t just about you ; it’s about how well you fit with the scholarship’s purpose.

Tips to consider for writing a “Why do you deserve this scholarship?” essay – sample answers

Writing a “Why do you deserve this scholarship?” essay can be challenging.

Begin by sharing your story, focusing on your accomplishments, demonstrating how you’re a hard worker, your leadership or volunteer experiences make you a deserving candidate for the scholarship.

Here are some elements that you should consider including in your application.

• Express Aspirations for Community Service : Make sure to express your desire to create a positive impact on the community through something like a scholarship fund, nonprofit, charity, or other forms of community service in your scholarship essay. This shows relatability to the scholarship committee.
• Personalize Your Application : Try to personalize your application by addressing the scholarship board directly, or including a heartfelt message in your thank you note.
• Elaborate on Your Financial Situation : If there are significant financial circumstances that weren’t covered in your FAFSA application, mention them. Highlight special circumstances like extensive medical bills, family situations, etc., that necessitate additional financial support.
• Narrate Your Growth Journey : Include a story of personal growth or overcoming a challenge in your essay. This can be a narrative of triumphing over hardships in a particular class or a life event.
• State Your Career Goals : Clearly state your major or career goals, and what inspired you to pursue them. Use simple, understandable language especially when applying for scholarships not directly related to your field of study.
• Mention Relevant Experiences : Include the activities, community service, clubs, associations, and coursework that relate to your major or career goals. Don’t just list them, narrate how these experiences have shaped you and prepared you for your career.
• Demonstrate How the Scholarship Will Help : Without sounding entitled, explain how receiving the scholarship will aid in your academic journey. Try to be humble and indirect, stating your need without sounding too desperate.
• Detail Your Life Goals : Including your long-term life goals in your essay gives the scholarship committee a clear vision of your future plans.
• Show Your Community Involvement : Indicate any community involvement that relates to your career or life goals. This shows that you’re proactive and already engaged in activities aligned with your objectives.
• Highlight Leadership Positions : If you’ve held leadership roles, elaborate on the duties and responsibilities associated with those positions. This demonstrates initiative, management skills, and responsibility.
• Name Your Role Models : Mention who has motivated you or had a significant impact on your life. You could quote them if their words tie into the overall theme of your essay.

The scholarship committee is seeking a worthy cause, so illustrate how supporting your dreams aligns with their values. 

Proofread attentively, ensuring your scholarship essay is clear, persuasive, and free of errors.

By following these tips, your answer to “why you deserve this scholarship” may compel the committee to acknowledge you as a deserving scholarship recipient. 

Tips on Answering “Why Do I Deserve a Scholarship?”

It’s essential to frame your achievements on a scholarship application not as bragging, but showcasing your capability and motivation. This approach can turn your essay into a compelling scholarship opportunity.

Acknowledge that your need, while genuine, isn’t to beg but to highlight how the scholarship helps you overcome your challenges.

Here are the best ways to do this!

1. Understanding the Scholarship Essay Question

Understanding the essay question, “Why do I deserve this scholarship?” is crucial for drafting a compelling response. Don’t see it as a mere requirement but as an opportunity to make your case convincingly and uniquely.

2. Focusing on the Future: How Scholarships Support Career Goals

Scholarships aren’t just about avoiding student debt, they’re stepping stones towards your future career. Discuss how this scholarship will facilitate your long-term educational goals and broader contributions to society.

3. Aligning Your Interests: Tailoring Your Answer to the Scholarship’s Purpose

Research the organization offering the scholarship. If it’s associated with a specific field or honors a certain individual, tailor your response to reflect alignment with the scholarship’s purpose or values.

4. Crafting a Story: The Importance of Using Specific Examples

Generalizations rarely make an impact. Instead, use specific examples from your life that highlight your attributes. Show the judges your qualities rather than just telling them.

5. Showcasing Kindness: Illustrating Personal Attributes with Real-Life Instances

Demonstrate your kindness, selflessness, or commitment to community service through real experiences. A story that shows your empathy and care can set you apart from the crowd.

6. Overcoming Challenges: The Art of Displaying Resilience in Scholarship Essays

Sharing how you’ve overcome obstacles shows your resilience and problem-solving skills, characteristics highly valued by scholarship committees. Highlight your ability to turn challenges into opportunities.

7. Striking a Balance: Sharing Past Struggles without Dwelling on Them

While it’s important to share past struggles, the focus should be on your resilience and how you’ve overcome these challenges. It’s not about evoking sympathy, but about demonstrating your strength and determination.

8. Ensuring Success: Proving Your Potential through Past Experiences

Showcase your potential for success by drawing on past experiences that demonstrate your commitment and determination. The more convincingly you can argue this, the more likely you are to secure the scholarship.

9. Utilizing the Word Count: Maximizing Your Space for Maximum Impact

Using the maximum word limit allows you to provide a detailed and compelling response. Don’t write less than the limit and don’t exceed it. Every word is an opportunity to persuade the committee.

10. Conclusion: Effectively Conveying Why You Deserve the Scholarship

Wrap up your essay by summarizing your key points. Reiterate your passion, commitment, and potential, leaving a lasting impression of why you indeed deserve the scholarship.

Wrapping up – applying for a scholarship so you are awarded a scholarship

Applying for a scholarship involves more than just financial need or exceptional grades.

It’s about convincing the selection committee that you not only align with their mission and values but that you also bring unique qualities that set you apart from other candidates.

It’s about sharing your life’s journey, demonstrating your resilience, and illustrating how the scholarship will help you in furthering your education, achieving your career goals, and making a difference in your community.

Your scholarship essay should be a blend of your aspirations, achievements, personal struggles, and the difference you aspire to make. It should give a compelling answer to the question, “Why do I deserve this scholarship?”

Your response should showcase your commitment, determination, and the potential for success you’ve demonstrated through your academic or career experiences so far.

Applying for scholarships can seem daunting, but with a bit of time, effort, and using the tips provided in this blog, you can craft a winning scholarship essay that resonantly answers “Why I deserve this scholarship?”.

Always remember, it’s not just about whether you think you’re deserving but being able to effectively communicate this to the scholarship committee.

So, take the leap, believe you deserve to win, and put forth your best self in your application.

Best of luck with your journey!

Dr Andrew Stapleton has a Masters and PhD in Chemistry from the UK and Australia. He has many years of research experience and has worked as a Postdoctoral Fellow and Associate at a number of Universities. Although having secured funding for his own research, he left academia to help others with his YouTube channel all about the inner workings of academia and how to make it work for you.

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Feb 2, 2023

Why I Deserve This Scholarship Essay | Outlines and Examples

Are you applying to a scholarship program at your dream university? Here are some scholarship essay outlines and examples to help you stand out from the rest!

Crafting a compelling essay for your scholarship application is more than just a task; it's an opportunity to showcase your dedication, aspirations, and unique perspective. The weight of this essay cannot be understated – from its formatting to its grammar and content, every detail could sway the decision between acceptance and rejection. It's crucial to express both your academic achievements and your future career plans with clarity and confidence. For many, distilling their aspirations and achievements into a concise and persuasive essay can be daunting. If you ever feel lost or overwhelmed, consider turning to resources that can assist, such as online writing tools known to help streamline the process. They can be invaluable in guiding you, organizing your thoughts, and ensuring that your essay stands out in a sea of applications.

General tips on how to write a proper scholarship essay:

A scholarship essay should be clear and concise, it should also be unique to your own experiences to emphasize your unique qualities as a candidate for the scholarship. Here are some of our tips:

Emphasize your individual skills and promote your personal strengths by highlighting your achievements and projects. This will show the scholarship committee that you are worth investing in.

Be yourself and talk about your long-term goals and how you believe you can achieve them. You can also talk about your hobbies, goals, and interests outside of school, as this will further highlight your personality and give them an idea of who you are as a person.

Talk about the life experiences that have influenced you and why you want to study at this particular university/field of study. Make sure to relate your experiences to the scholarship you are applying for and how they will help you achieve your dreams.

Avoid using general statements like “I want to achieve my academic goals” or “I am passionate about this field.” General statements like this are overused and will not stand out to the scholarship committee. Make sure to state your specific goals and ambitions and use the essay to demonstrate why you should be awarded the scholarship.

Explain your personal characteristics that make you a deserving candidate for the scholarship. What makes you different from your other fellow students? What unique skills and talents do you have?

Write a short and concise overall summary of what you want to say in your essay of around 4-5 paragraphs. Make sure not to write too much content as this will only confuse the scholarship committee and make sure to write in a professional tone.

Make sure to give sufficient supporting details about your experiences by providing examples to support your ideas. Talk about your life past experiences like accomplishments, grades, and extracurricular activities that have helped shape who you are today.

Proofread and make proper adjustments. Make sure that you are taking breaks when creating your essay scholarship draft throughout the writing process to avoid burnout and ensure a high-quality final product. You can also ask a friend or a teacher to read your essay and scan through errors that you might have overlooked during the writing process.

Make sure to submit the scholarship essay before the deadline! After properly proofreading, make sure that the essay is submitted in a punctual manner to prevent disqualification due to late submissions.

Scholarship Essay Examples

Now that you are fully equipped with the guidelines and the tips mentioned above, we can now show you a couple of examples of how to write a scholarship essay for your dream university or field of interest.

Scholarship Essay Example #1

"Dear Scholarship Committee,

Two years ago, I learned that over 100,000 ocean animals die every year from plastic. Two years ago, I became committed to reducing the amount of plastic I use. Two years ago I became a minimalist.

I am the kind of person that once exposed to a fact, I am unable to turn a blind eye to it. When I understood the crux of consumerism and the impact that it was having on our earth, I knew that I had to do something about it.

I started small. I bought a stainless steel water bottle and started using reusable grocery bags. I stopped purchasing food items wrapped in plastic. I started making my own soap and deodorant. I started shopping in second-hand stores.

But, I knew that my initiatives weren’t enough. Sure, they were something. But I knew that I had to involve more people in my undertaking. So, naturally, I took to social media.

I began to share my zero-waste project with family and friends. I started to see a lot of support coming in. People were interested. How was I making my dish soap, they wanted to know. Where were the best second-hand shops? There was a response.

So, I started a Facebook page called “Clean Your Act” and began to share environmental problems that were happening around the world. I also shared my tips on reducing your waste.

I decided to start an environmental awareness group at my high school, during my junior year. I recruited an environmental science teacher to help me. Every week, I share with participants how-tos like starting a compost. We also have discussions on environmental issues plaguing our planet.

Next year, I will be starting my bachelor’s degree at the environmental science school of the University of Virginia. With the rising costs of college, it will be difficult for me to pay for the expenses on my own.

For this reason, I am applying to the Environmental Studies Scholarship Program. I have dreams of pursuing this field and by obtaining a degree in it, I know that I will get the necessary tools to grow my passion into something big.

I am going to work very hard in the program and learn all that I can. I am hoping to bring my “Clean Your Act” group to campus and get other students involved in the movement.

I am committed to saving our environment, one animal and tree at a time. I may not be able to save all 100,000 animals, but I can definitely save some of them. I don’t need to move mountains to save the world. But, if I can make others appreciate the mountains and our world, then they’ll want to learn how to treat it better."

This scholarship application works well because the writer is talking about relevant things related to the field he/she is applying for. The writer also talks about themselves and the learnings they have obtained through their experience thus far and how they plan on using their skills and their future education to help the world.

Another great thing about this scholarship essay is that the writer talks about their achievements and projects, which would make them stand out to the scholarship committee.

Scholarship Essay Example #2

"To Whom It May Concern:

My name is [Name] and I am a third-year student at Oklahoma State University. I am currently pursuing a five-year Bachelor of Architecture Degree. My plan is to follow up with a one-year master’s degree after I graduate.

In high school, I worked extensively with my local Habitat for Humanity branch to help build homes for low-income families. I learned about the construction process from the ground up, and I discovered the importance of function in architectural design. The homes we built during my four years as a volunteer were never extravagant. They served their purpose and became a beacon of hope for their owners.

My education has been focused on this mindset: function over form, stability over showmanship. I have enrolled in several classes that crossover to the Architectural Engineering major. My goal is to have a comprehensive view of how design meets structure. I have worked on three extra-credit residential design projects under the supervision of my architecture professors (Dr X and Dr Y). This helped speed up my research and education.

My goal is to become an architect to create accessible, affordable housing opportunities in underprivileged communities. Living in a college town, I have seen countless rental properties available. Yet there are few homes for sale that are affordable enough for college students and first-time buyers. This is the case in many towns throughout America, especially areas with a low standard of living. I want to create neighbourhoods that include affordable starter homes. This would enable low and middle-class families to build equity, avoid excessive debt, and create financial stability for their futures.

This summer, I will intern with LMNOP Architects. Upon completion of my master’s degree, I hope to continue there as I further develop my skills. After working under acclaimed residential architects Suzan Craft and Peter Wood, I would like to open my own architectural firm focused on developing inexpensive, high-quality housing. I also would like to work with Habitat for Humanity again, this time as an architect instead of a general labourer. I believe firmly in their mission to build “a world where everyone has a decent place to live.” I appreciate your consideration. With your help, I can continue my schooling in architecture and design to bring accessible homes to those in need.

This is another scholarship essay that clearly and concisely states the purposes of the program sought by the applicant. Additionally, they state details about the goals they want to attain in the near future if they get accepted by their desired school of choice. Again, clear aims are established as to why they desire to continue their education and how they plan to use the knowledge they gain through this new program.

Scholarship Essay Example #3

"Winston Churchill once said, “Success consists of going from failure to failure without loss of enthusiasm.” And while I never define my obstacles as ‘failures,’ I mark my success by my repeated perseverance through adversity. I have faced several challenges over the years, from dyslexia to homelessness; yet I continued to earn exemplary grades and graduate at the top of my class. I deserve this scholarship because I have the strength and determination to achieve my goals, no matter what hurdles I have to overcome.

I was not born a gifted student. Testing and assignments were always difficult for me, whether I studied or not. In second grade, my parents had me tested for learning disabilities. The psychologist said that I had a hyperactivity disorder and prescribed medication to suppress my energy. After two years of abiding by that treatment, I was re-evaluated and diagnosed with dyslexia. This helped me get the treatment I needed, and I finally made progress in school.

Shortly after I learned how to study with dyslexia, my father lost his job. He was the sole breadwinner for the household, and I was soon on the street with my mother and two younger siblings. I got a job in newspaper delivery, one of the few fields that will hire a 12-year-old. My father found odd jobs to bring money to the family, and together we were eventually able to pay for a two-bedroom apartment to live in. I was valedictorian that school year, and I maintained a perfect attendance record. Like my father, I knew I had to do whatever was necessary to succeed and thrive.

In high school, I developed an interest in psychology. I noticed patterns in behaviours, both in myself and in the people around me. I asked my child therapist, the one who officially diagnosed me with dyslexia if I could work at his clinic over the summers. He allowed me to intern at his counselling centre during my junior and senior years, and I gained valuable insight into the business side of psychology.

I am now entering the second year of my psychology degree. I plan to complete my bachelor’s degree and earn a Doctorate in Neuropsychology in the years that follow. My focus is on psychological testing, specifically for children with autism or learning disabilities. I spent years struggling in school because of a preventable misdiagnosis. I want to ensure that other children do not face the same struggles in the future.

Why do I deserve this scholarship? Because I have the passion and determination to become a trusted member of the psychological community. With my education, I can help children get the treatment they need at an early age, giving them the best chance at finding their own success. You’re not just helping me get through college. You’re improving the quality of life for countless families to come. I appreciate your consideration, and I look forward to building a lasting relationship with your organization."

This is yet another fantastic essay because the writer used a quote, a personal story, and the experiences that made them want to become a psychologist to help others overcome their struggles and live a better life. The quote they used was powerful and shows why the writer deserves the scholarship because they are determined to make their dreams come true despite the obstacles they face and want to do what others cannot in order to help others have a bright future. 

To sum it all up:

Writing a scholarship essay letter on why you deserve the scholarship is quite daunting and you really have to stand out from the rest in order to get accepted. So you need to really think about what makes you special and stand out from everyone else and give a clear reason as to why you should be getting the scholarship that you are asking for.

Jenni.ai is an AI writing assistant that can help you create a flawless scholarship college essay prompt that will greatly increase your chances of getting accepted to your dream university. So what are you waiting for? Get the help you need by signing up here today !

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How to Write a “Why Do You Deserve This Scholarship?” Essay

Maria Geiger is Director of Content at Scholarships360. She is a former online educational technology instructor and adjunct writing instructor. In addition to education reform, Maria’s interests include viewpoint diversity, blended/flipped learning, digital communication, and integrating media/web tools into the curriculum to better facilitate student engagement. Maria earned both a B.A. and an M.A. in English Literature from Monmouth University, an M. Ed. in Education from Monmouth University, and a Virtual Online Teaching Certificate (VOLT) from the University of Pennsylvania.

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When you are applying for scholarships (or college admissions), you’ll find many scholarships that require essays . These essays can vary, but you’ll come across certain prompts multiple times. One of the most common prompts you’ll see is why do you deserve this scholarship? The specific phrasing of the prompt may change from scholarship to scholarship, but the gist of the question is about why the scholarship committee should award you the scholarship.

Before we get into tips for how you can write a winning “why do you deserve this scholarship” essay, we’ll tell you why scholarship committees ask this essay question.

Don’t miss: Scholarships360’s free scholarship search tool

What is the scholarship selection committee looking for in this essay?

This is actually really simple: the scholarship committee is looking to identify the most deserving student for the scholarship. This is why it is important to take some time to research the specific scholarship opportunity, as well as the organization that is funding the scholarship. You will likely find some clues on the scholarship website to illuminate what the scholarship opportunity is all about. 

What type of scholarship are you applying for? 

The type of scholarship you are applying for matters greatly in altering your essay responses! 

Here are a few common scholarships you may apply for: 

• Major-related 
• Community service
• Location-based
• Job-related

Depending on the type of scholarship, you should cater your essay response to it! Meaning, if you are applying for a community service scholarship, you should be detailing the specific type of community service you do, why you do it, how you got into doing it, and if you will continue doing a similar service in college. 

Also, it should go without saying that you should be applying to these specific scholarships if you have a passion or connection to the topic! For example, you should not be applying to a journalism scholarship if you have no experience in journalism and want to pursue biology in college! Rather, you should be applying to biology and STEM-based scholarships! Not only does this personal connection increase your odds of winning the scholarship but it also will make your life easier by writing about things you truly care about! 

How to write a “Why do you deserve this scholarship” essay in 4 steps

Make a strong first impression.

As with any scholarship essay, you will want to start the essay by engaging the reader right away. By starting strong and grabbing the reader’s attention, your essay will immediately stand out. You can start with a brief slice from an analogy that you’ll dig into later, a bold statement, or, when appropriate, a joke. Try to make the first sentence central to your essay, but avoid writing out your main idea verbatim.

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

Use specific examples from your own life

Next, you will want to show the reader why you deserve the scholarship with a few specific examples from your life . These examples should be tailored to the scholarship awarding organization. Don’t just write what happened, but rather, extrapolate a meaning from your examples and illustrate what they demonstrate about you and how you’ve learned from them.

Oftentimes, the most important part of an essay isn’t the events you write about, but the meaning you glean from them. Show your reader that you take a thoughtful approach to these experiences and you’ll find success in your applications.

Related: College essay primer: Show, don’t tell

Keep in mind the focus of the scholarship

Every scholarship and scholarship awarding organization is different. That’s why it is a smart move to tailor your scholarship essay to the scholarship and/or organization.

If you are applying for aviation scholarships , the scholarship committee will be very interested in why you are interested in studying aviation or aeronautical engineering. So, strong candidates for these scholarships will have some sort of demonstrated track record that is related to aviation.

Similarly, if you are applying from a scientific organization, you will want to be specific about your interests. This means specifying your field of interest between science, technology, engineering, or mathematics .

Learn More: How to write a winning scholarship essay

Share more information about your career and educational goals

Finally, you will want to shed some light on how you plan on using the scholarship award (if you were to win it!). Are you planning on attending a specific college? Perhaps you are pursuing a technical or vocational certificate? Or maybe your career pathway will require a masters or doctoral degree?

Whatever the case, you’ll want to show the scholarship committee exactly what you plan on using the scholarship award for and how that fits into your educational and/or career goals.

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Top tips for writing scholarship essays.

• Be authentic and tell the truth! 
• Describe what you would do with the scholarship money specifically 
• Answer the question it is asking fully 
• Do not veer off track of the question 
• Apply for scholarships that you are passionate about
• Get personal! 

Don’t want to write an essay? Be sure to check out: Top no essay scholarships

Looking for more help writing your scholarship essays?

Check out our extensive guide to responding to the most common scholarship prompts to help you respond effectively to other common prompts. And we’ve also got you covered with these mini-guides on:

• How to write a 250 word essay
• How to write a 500 word essay
• What’s the best scholarship essay format?

Remember, it’s never too early to apply for scholarships, so apply to all you qualify for–your future self will be thankful! 

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How to Write an Essay on ‘Why I Deserve This Scholarship’

Scholarships & Financial Aid

Updated on April 11th, 2024

While there are a lot of potential topics a committee may want a student to cover in their scholarship essay, the “why I deserve this scholarship” essay prompt is one of the most common ones around.

Ultimately, it seems simple at its core, but the “why I deserve this scholarship” topic can feel like the most complex question on the planet if your child isn’t sure how to tackle it.

Ideally, your student needs to strike a balance in their tone, making sure they don’t come off arrogant while also not selling themselves short. Additionally, they need to cater their response to their target audience, the scholarship committee.

If your child isn’t sure how to begin, here are some tips for writing a winning “why I deserve this scholarship” essay.

• 1.1 Consider the Source of the “Why I Deserve This Scholarship” Question
• 1.2 Use Examples, Not Trait Descriptions
• 3 Look to the Future
• 4.1 Related Video: Scholarship Essay Sample About Why I Deserve The Scholarship

Why I Deserve This Scholarship: Having the Right Attitude

It isn’t uncommon for students to struggle with the “why I deserve this scholarship” prompt because of self-doubt. Not everyone is comfortable tooting their own horn, and some even have trouble viewing their academic achievements and accomplishments as noteworthy, their experiences as valuable, and their perspective as unique.

However, nearly every student has overcome an obstacle over the course of their life or had to persevere through personal struggles to reach a point of academic excellence and success. That means they do have something to share that can showcase why they deserve the scholarship.

Before your child begins writing their “why I deserve this scholarship” essay, they need to have the right mindset. It’s important for them to realize that they are worthy and to use that feeling to drive their writing.

If your student needs a little help, consider sitting down with them and reflecting on their biggest achievements. Remember, the accomplishments don’t have to be academic. Life experiences of all kinds can qualify, so don’t be afraid to mention events that happened outside of the classroom.

Consider the Source of the “Why I Deserve This Scholarship” Question

When your child writes a scholarship essay, the scholarship committee is their target audience. After all, these are the people who select the winner, so catering the content to them can help your student force a stronger, more meaningful connection with the committee members.

As your child gets ready to brainstorm ideas, they need to keep the community involvement organization behind the scholarship in mind. This allows them to choose the accomplishments that will genuinely speak to the reader.

For example, a scholarship from a charity that focuses on giving back to the local community may appreciate hearing about your student’s volunteer experiences. A for-profit company might connect with your child’s story about running a side business or how they worked part-time while maintaining a high GPA. Organizations that focus on academics could connect with your student’s work as a tutor or time spent participating in school clubs or community organizations that enhanced their learning experience.

By focusing on the scholarship provider, your child can select accomplishments and leadership skills that align with the organization’s values and goals. If they aren’t sure how to find this information, the organization’s “About Us” page on their website can provide powerful insights, especially in their mission and core values statements.

Ultimately, taking a little time to research the organization before your child writes their “why I deserve this scholarship” essay can pay off big if it gives them the ability to forge a more meaningful connection with their audience.

Use Examples, Not Trait Descriptions

Scholarship committees often get inundated with scholarship essays with statements like, “I’m a hard worker,” and other generalizations or platitudes. Sentences like that aren’t particularly powerful and aren’t almost guaranteed not to be convincing.

However, a well thought out example has the potential to sway hearts and minds. In the vast majority of cases, people enjoy stories, so your student should tell theirs in their “why I deserve this scholarship” essay. Encourage them to take people on a journey instead of using clichés. It will be significantly more impactful, and can dramatically improve their odds of being selected.

If you and your student are working on the scholarship application process, make sure you don’t miss our free scholarship training. It’s about 45 to 60 minutes long and I cover exactly where you can find more scholarships your student is actually eligible for and are legitimate. Grab your spot here:  6 Steps to Quickly Securing Scholarships for College

Look to the Future

Scholarship committees don’t just want to know where your student has come from; they also want to know where they are going. Along with discussing their accomplishments, your child should also include details about their career goals and how the scholarship funds can help them reach them.

To create an effective scholarship essay, your child will need to look beyond simply getting their college degree. For example, do they have a future career in mind? Do they want to change the world in some way? Is there something they are hoping to achieve outside of academia?

Once your student has an idea of career path and where they want to go, they need to explain how the can enable them to get there. For example, giving them the ability to attend a school with a rigorous and respected program in a relevant field that would otherwise be unaffordable could be a pertinent point.

Similarly, if the scholarship allows them to access additional experience that would help them excel, such as a chance to participate in a non-paid internship instead of working a part-time job, that could also be worth discussing.

The idea is to showcase that, by awarding your child this scholarship money, more people could benefit than just your student. In the end, a scholarship is an investment made by an organization, so they want to know that it is money well spent.

Related articles:

• How to Win Scholarships with the Right Scholarship Essay Format
• How to Get Started with Scholarships

How to Structure a Winning Essay

If your child wants to impress the scholarship committee, they need to make sure they use the proper structure when writing their essay, no matter what topic is being covered.

Generally, this involves starting with an introduction (also known as a thesis) that both catches the reader’s attention and summarizes what is going to be discussed. Then, they transition into the body of the essay, where each paragraph will cover a single point or a relevant example that addresses the topic. Finally, they again summarize the essay, reemphasize how their points support the topic, and discuss lessons learned to create a solid conclusion.

Related Video: Scholarship Essay Sample About Why I Deserve The Scholarship

If your student isn’t comfortable with creating the structure for their “why I deserve this scholarship” essay, have them check out this article: How to Write a Winning Essay . It covers the basics of everything from brainstorming to editing the final piece, providing them solid guidance to help them craft a great essay for any question they may encounter.

Ultimately, writing an amazing “why I deserve this scholarship” essay doesn’t have to be challenging. Your child just needs to consider their accomplishments, cater the achievements they cover to the audience, speak about the future, career aspirations and how the scholarship will help, and bundle it all together using the proper structure.

With a little self-reflection, your student can certainly come up with something that sets them apart and highlights why they are deserving candidate for such an amazing investment. And, if they have trouble, offer to sit down with them and reminisce about everything they’ve been through and achieved.

Everyone has something that makes them a deserving scholarship recipient, so bolster your student’s confidence and let them showcase their awesomeness for all the world (or, at least the scholarship committee) to see.

Related Video:

• 7 College Scholarship Essay Ideas to Win More Funding

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Why Are You Applying to This Scholarship Essay (with Example)

David Apr 2, 2019

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When you are applying to scholarships, it is important that you understand the college, company, or organization that is awarding the scholarship. What do they believe in? Why are they awarding the scholarship?

Understanding the organization or company will allow you to write your scholarship application in a way which is geared towards the specific company. This will increase your chances of winning the scholarship.

“Why Are You Applying to This Scholarship?”

You will probably have to write a personal essay . If you have to answer ‘Why are you applying to this scholarship?’ it’s important that you direct your essay in a way that speaks to the scholarship committee. You want the scholarship committee to think “wow, this is the right person for the scholarship” when they’re reading your application.

To answer this question as informative as possible, you need to do research before starting to write the essay. Get on Google and start reading about the scholarship provider. Visit their website and find their ‘About’ section. What do they do? Do they have a mission statement? Maybe they list past scholarship winners and you can read about these students.

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You should look for scholarships that match who you are and what you want to do. If you are interested in working in medicine, look for scholarships which award medical students.

Writing the Essay

Now that you have found scholarships which are in line with your career and educational goals, start making a list. What reasons do you have for applying to the scholarship?

Now that you have made a list of your reasons, you are ready to begin writing. Start your essay in a way that will grab your reader’s attention. Make sure to share personal experiences, whether they are achievements or hardships you’ve overcome. Keep your essay personal and give specific details whenever possible.

When you’re done writing your essay, go over it several times. Put yourself in the place of the reader. Do you convey clearly enough to the reader why you applied to the scholarship?  Send it to family members to read and revise.

Why Are you Applying To This Scholarship Example:

See this example of a student applying to the Environmental Studies Scholarship Program in order to study environmental science at the University of Virginia.

Dear Scholarship Committee,

Two years ago, I learned that over 100,000 ocean animals die every year from plastic. Two years ago, I became committed to reducing the amount of plastic I use. Two years ago I became a minimalist.

I am the kind of person that once exposed to a fact, I am unable to turn a blind eye to it. When I understood the crux of consumerism and the impact that it was having on our earth, I knew that I had to do something about it.

I started small. I bought a stainless steel water bottle and started using reusable grocery bags. I stopped purchasing food items wrapped in plastic. I started making my own soaps and deodorant. I started shopping in second-hand stores.

But, I knew that my initiatives weren’t enough. Sure, they were something. But I knew that I had to involve more people in my undertaking. So, naturally, I took to social media.

I began to share my zero-waste project with family and friends. I started to see a lot of support coming in. People were interested. How was I making my dish soap, they wanted to know. Where were the best second-hand shops? There was a response.

So, I started a Facebook page called “Clean Your Act” and began to share environmental problems that were happening around the world. I also shared my tips on reducing your waste.

I decided to start an environmental awareness group at my high school, during my junior year. I recruited an environmental science teacher to help me. Every week, I share with participants how-to’s like starting a compost. We also have discussions on environmental issues plaguing our planet.

Next year, I will be starting my bachelor’s degree at the environmental science school of the University of Virginia. With the rising costs of college, it will be difficult for me to pay for the expenses on my own.

For this reason, I am applying to the Environmental Studies Scholarship Program. I have dreams of pursuing this field and by obtaining a degree in it, I know that I will get the necessary tools to grow my passion into something big.

I am going to work very hard in the program and learn all that I can. I am hoping to bring my “Clean Your Act” group to campus and get other students involved in the movement.

I am committed to saving our environment, one animal and tree at a time. I may not be able to save all 100,000 animals, but I can definitely save some of them. I don’t need to move mountains to save the world. But, if I can make others appreciate the mountains and our world, then they’ll want to learn how to treat it better.

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

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“Why Do You Deserve This Scholarship” Essay (+Examples)

While landing a full-ride scholarship might seem like hitting the jackpot, numerous scholarships offer amounts between $1000 to $5000. With the right strategy, these can significantly reduce college debt and associated expenses. But here’s the catch: crafting the perfect scholarship essay is often a requirement. Surprisingly, many students overlook the immense impact of a compelling essay, even though it’s a cornerstone of college admissions. This essay is a canvas to paint who you are, your values, and your aspirations. And often, the pivotal question to address is: “Why do you deserve this scholarship?” For those seeking an edge, there are resources like scholarship essays for sale to help craft the perfect piece. But in this guide, we break down how to ace that pivotal question and increase your scholarship odds. Plus, stick around for a sample essay to spark your inspiration.

Twelve keys to a successful scholarship essay (summary):

Why do you deserve this scholarship essay: how to write it properly, 1. write at least 500 words.

This will show that you care and want the scholarship. But, the essay won’t be too long to bore the review committee.

2. Respect the grammar, vocabulary, and formatting rules

5 paragraphs (1 for the introduction, 3 body paragraphs, and 1 for the conclusion). Make sure the essay is free of typos and grammatical errors. That’s the first step to writing a winning scholarship essay.

3. Give strong reasons for why you deserve the scholarship and what will you do with the money – be specific.

Powerful reasons drive human behavior. You can think about your essay as a persuasive letter that needs to evoke certain feelings and emotions. Brainstorm and come up with a few great reasons you deserve it. Adding the word “because” snowballs the chances of eliciting a positive response. A famous example from a persuasion study:

“I have 5 pages, Can I use the Xerox machine before you because I’m in a rush” got a 94% success rate vs. 60% when no “reason why” was given.

“I deserve this scholarship because I graduated top of my class, even though I still had to help my little sister with her homework”. “I would be so grateful if I could receive this scholarship because my family is in a tough financial situation now, and my younger sister also dreams about going to college”.

4. Include a powerful, memorable story

There was one  essay that got a student into 14 colleges , including Harvard, Stanford, and Princeton. Although a scholarship essay is different, you can use principles from an admissions essay to achieve the desired results. The secret ingredient in this one was a powerful personal story about bullying and reconciliation with a homeland.

Here’s an excerpt:

This memory has woven itself into my philosophy and my dreams. The very personal knowledge that millions live in a way such that electric toothbrushes are an unfathomable luxury (my cousin, Aina), has given me the following personal rules:

If you can, include a beautifully written, personal story like this in the essay, you will be so much closer to getting the scholarship you deserve.

5. Use words with an emotional impact

6. give proof of why you deserve it.

If you want to convince the committee that you truly deserve to receive a scholarship, you need to back up your claims with solid proof. It’s not enough to share powerful stories, and give strong “reasons why”. You also need to make the case more believable by proving that what you say is true. You need to be specific in this area. Do you have excellent grades in high school? Your GPA is off the charts? Did you take part in interesting extracurricular activities? Do you have high achievements in sports and athletics? Did you win an award for your accomplishments? An important person gave you a word of praise? Did you score north of 1400 on your SAT or notched a score of at least 24 on the ACT? You can use these things to make your claim more believable. Make it appear that you deserve the money because of your true accomplishments and hard work. Example: “In my senior year of High School, I received the MVP award for my accomplishments in football. My coach said he sees me in the big leagues if I work hard enough for it.”

7. Hook – get attention from the very beginning

The scholarship committee has to go through dozens and dozens of essays and applications every day. Most of them are quite bland and follow the same tired script. To stand out, you need to come up with an attention-grabbing paragraph  that will stop them in their tracks and get them focused. This is called a “hook”. There are a couple of ways in which you can do it.

You can start with:

8. demonstrate the right attitude, 9. paint a bright picture of your future.

Try to stir the imagination of the recipients of your essay. How this money is going to help you move ahead? What great things are you going to accomplish in the future? What do you want to do when you graduate? What are your goals for the next 5 years? How are you going to help people and contribute to society? By answering some of these questions, you will prove to the committee that you are worth investing in. You can bolster your claims by providing evidence of activities you take part in and the character traits you possess. This will help the committee gain valuable insight into your psychology and increase your chances of getting the scholarship money. Have you participated in community service activities, volunteered for a worthy cause from an early age, and achieved exemplary grades during the school year? Being a trusted member of your community matters a lot and shows that you’re destined for great things. Example: “Deep inside, I know that I’m going to succeed, and help many other people on the way. This is just a matter of time.”

10. Call to action (close the essay with a bang)

Additional tips for editing and managing the scholarship essay:.

According to the National Center for Education Statistics, there are over 750,000 scholarships available to students. That’s over $122 billion distributed every year. In fact, around two-thirds of students receive financial aid during their time in college. So – someone is getting the money. And that’s why you need to apply and send the essays to as many scholarship and grant-giving organizations as possible. Treat it as a part-time job. Now, among these 750,000 organizations (whether federal, university-based, or private), the majority will ask in one way or another: “Why should you receive this scholarship”? Of course, you will not send a unique essay along with every single application. You need to learn how to recycle it and adapt it to the specific situation. For example, if you apply for a university scholarship, the focus should be on scholastic achievements and a future in science and technology. If it’s a military organization, talk more about self-discipline, organization, and willpower. Religious groups? Adjust the essay so it relates to faith-based communities. Businesses? Talk about the entrepreneurship of the student, and their ability to  get things done. You get the point. When writing the essay, put yourself in the other person’s shoes and think – “If I were this person, which reasons would convince me that this student deserves a scholarship?” Turn yourself and your child into scholarship copywriters and adapt the approach as you go. There’s nothing that will get the application rejected faster than receiving a “cookie-cutter” type of essay that goes to hundreds of organizations without any changes.

An example of a “Why do you deserve this scholarship” essay

Two-thirds of students who earned a four-year degree borrowed for college. The average student loan is $28,500. These numbers seem mild in comparison to what I and my family are facing. My older brother and sister are already in college because my mom always wanted us to be  well-educated and make a positive impact on society. But this has caused us to borrow, and now we’re over $60,000 in debt. Our father is never here to help us as he left us when we were still small children. But this hasn’t stopped me from dreaming and painting a brighter vision for my future. I know that to get out of this situation, I will have to work harder than anyone else around me. Even though I’m young, I have already worked part-time in a local cafeteria and earned a little bit of money  on the side as a blogger to help my family. My true vocation is architecture. Ever since I was a child, I used to flip through the pages of “The Most Beautiful Buildings in The World” book in the nearby library and think that one day, I too would be able to construct magnificent structures full of light and color. I’m drawing as much as I can, and I have already filled 12 notebooks with my projects. I also received straight “A’s” in mathematics and physics since the very beginning of my school time. I even got first place in my high school art competition and my teachers say I’m going to accomplish great things in the future. I am dedicated to succeeding no matter what, but nowadays it’s becoming harder and harder because I have to save every penny and worry about money almost all the time. I fear that instead of pursuing my dream, I will have to settle for a low-paying job simply to survive and help my mom. But I don’t want to postpone my studies and wait until my siblings pay off their debt. I don’t want to put everything on hold. If I received a bit of financial help, it would be so much easier for me to go through college and become somebody. I deserve this scholarship because of my hard work, dedication, fantastic grades, and my entrepreneurial spirit. I promise I will make this money go a long way and continue with my efforts to make the world  a better place. I’m eagerly waiting for your response.

As you can see, writing a “Why do you deserve this scholarship” essay is easier than it seems. Once you have the final draft, you can use it as a template (with modifications), when applying for many scholarships. The important thing in scholarship essays is to push the right emotional buttons, share the exact reasons you deserve the money, and never give up until you get the scholarship. Don’t trust the companies that say they will find the scholarships for you and write  the best essay that will guarantee success. No one cares about your situation more than you, and it’s who needs to show up as a hard worker with strong leadership skills to make it happen.

Rafal Reyzer

Hey there, welcome to my blog! I'm a full-time entrepreneur building two companies, a digital marketer, and a content creator with 10+ years of experience. I started RafalReyzer.com to provide you with great tools and strategies you can use to become a proficient digital marketer and achieve freedom through online creativity. My site is a one-stop shop for digital marketers, and content enthusiasts who want to be independent, earn more money, and create beautiful things. Explore my journey here , and don't miss out on my AI Marketing Mastery online course.

How to Conquer “Why Do You Deserve This Scholarship?” Essays

FAQs , High School Students , Scholarship Mindset , Scholarships , Undergraduate Students

Scholarships for college or university often include an essay prompt. Scholarship committees give you a question and you do your best to answer it. One of the most common essay questions asked is: Why do you deserve this scholarship?

It’s a question that doesn’t have a universal answer. This is because there are several types of scholarships , which reward different things.

To win scholarships, the way you position your answer matters. If you want to compete with other students and stand out , you must do two things. First, show that you understand and appreciate why the scholarship exists, and second, show that your profile meets the criteria better than any other student.

Below, you’ll find more tips for these common “show us you deserve it” scholarship essays. After reading this post, you’ll know what a committee’s looking for and how you can best position your scholarship application.  

Why the Scholarship Exists

The first stop to understanding why a scholarship exists is to research what it’s all about. Things like when it was founded. Why? Who donated the money? Etc. You should always have a good understanding of these questions when you apply for scholarships.

Knowing these answers will give you a good idea about what the scholarship selection committee is looking for . Another place where you can learn more about the scholarship is the eligibility requirements . This tells you what specific criteria you need to meet to qualify for the prize and what you can use the scholarship money for . If the eligibility requirements state something like, “student must play an instrument,” then you should assume that music is important. Of course, you’ll want to reflect this in your scholarship essay.

Goal of the Scholarship: How Does Your Profile Relate?

Closely related to the above, you should also ask: What is the goal of the scholarship? This will help you understand your audience and position your scholarship essay for success. Here are a few examples of what the goals of certain scholarships may be.  

Merit-based scholarships : these are prizes that award students for outstanding academic or extracurricular achievements. When applying to merit scholarships, you should distinguish yourself from other students by highlighting your GPA , academic goals, or highly impactful service to your community. For these scholarship opportunities, the higher your achievements, the better.

Student-specific scholarships : these prizes reward students for various reasons related to their personal characteristics. for example, numerous scholarship competitions exist for students based on gender, race, religion, ethnicity, and much more. these prizes can be diverse, so do your research and show the scholarship committee that you best reflect what they are looking for., brand scholarships : these awards are offered by businesses or corporations. oftentimes, winners of these prizes are posted on the website of the scholarship provider. because of this, you’ll want to communicate something unique or compelling about yourself. simply stating that you’re a good student likely won’t do the trick here because the brand will want to celebrate a student with an interesting story., demonstrating your uniqueness.

Now that you know a little about how to research what scholarship providers may be looking for, there’s one piece of advice that works for almost every single scholarship prize out there: be unique!

It’s a lot easier said than done, but without question, every single student has a story worth telling. The thing is, you have to own who you are. In other words, be sincere, authentic, and real.

If you grew up going on a lot of camping trips and learning survival skills, tell that story. How does it help you succeed in college or university and in your career?

If you grew up facing difficult personal circumstances, tell that story. Again, how does this help you in your career?

Where You’ve Been or Where You’re Going

If, after a ton of self-analysis, you still can’t think of a story to tell, then focus on where you’re going. Tell a scholarship provider about your career goals and show them that winning their prize will help you do something major in your professional life. Maybe an investment in you will help drive some large impact in the future. If this is the case, share this story. This could be a great way to demonstrate why you deserve this scholarship.

Ultimately, you must show a scholarship committee that your story and goals fit with the mission of their prize. In other words, show them why you’ll be a great ambassador of this scholarship opportunity.

Why You Deserve This Scholarship Essay Examples

Here are a couple of sample introductions that show you how you can frame an essay to win scholarships . Keep in mind that the question is “why you deserve this scholarship,” so your essay should be about you . Applying for this scholarship requires you to combine the scholarship’s mandate with your personal story. Here are some introductions to help you frame your winning scholarship essay questions:

Introduction Example One: A Scholarship Resume That Shines

Last winter, my high school administration made the decision to cancel all after school programs because of budget cuts. This action robbed students of necessary skill development and important community participation that comes along with extracurriculars. I couldn’t let this happen. In response, I wrote a letter to my school board and city council. It received thousands of signatures. While it took nearly three months, this advocacy was central to having after school programs reinstated in my high school. I believe that my community service, leadership, and perseverance closely align with the ABC Scholarship’s stated values. For this reason, I know I would be a great ambassador of the prize.

Introduction Example Two: An Investment in Your Potential

When someone looks at my academic and extracurricular achievements so far, they may call me average. However, this would be a mistake. People often underestimate me because I’m quiet, but what they don’t see on the surface is my great ambition. My goal is to completely change the way we think about [insert anything you’re passionate about here]. For this reason, winning the ABC Scholarship prize wouldn’t just help me, but anyone who has ever encountered [whatever the problem is that you’re working toward]. This is why I deserve this scholarship and how I plan to use the prize money for positive change.

“Why you deserve this scholarship” essays should be authentic, personal, and always free of grammatical errors. Always ensure that you pay careful attention to the scholarship requirements on the scholarship website. Note important details like word count, exact essay question(s), and any other scholarship application items desired by the selection committee.

Finally, whether you’re a graduating high school student, undergraduate, or graduate student, apply for college and university scholarships now! There are many “deserve this scholarship” questions out there, and now you know what committees look for. Writing these winning scholarship essays could help you overcome the major stress that comes along with paying for higher education. Don’t wait! You’ve got this!  

Christopher Grafos, Ph.D., is the founder and chief scholarship mentor at BridgesEDU Scholarships.

He’s a first-generation university graduate whose life was transformed by education and winning scholarships. 

Scholarships help students financially, but they also help advance a student’s career. It’s his life’s work to champion this message and share the secrets to finding and winning scholarships. 

Read more about Christopher’s journey here . 

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Scholarship Essay Examples

With college tuition costs rising each year, many students apply for merit scholarships to help make college more affordable. However, merit scholarships can be competitive—and that’s where our scholarship essay examples come in. By reading our scholarship essay examples, you can learn what it takes to write an award-winning essay. 

Scholarships are an excellent opportunity for students to lessen their college tuition costs. Most merit scholarships require a brief application, usually including one or more essays. Below, we’ve rounded up our best scholarship essay examples.

Reading winning scholarship essay examples, especially scholarship essay examples about yourself, can help you begin the scholarship essay process. By reviewing essay examples, you can learn how to craft a strong essay. You’ll also get a better sense of what scholarship committees look for when they review applications.

In this guide to Scholarship Essay Examples, you’ll find tips on how to write the best scholarship essay, as well as:

• Various scholarship essay examples about yourself
• A strong scholarship essay sample about why I deserve the scholarship
• Scholarship essay examples about financial need, and more!

We’ve included scholarship essay examples specific to schools, including UC Berkeley, as well as specific programs, like the SHPE scholarship. We’ll also discuss the different types of scholarships you’ll find on your scholarship search. 

Now, before we jump into our essay examples, let’s learn more about getting scholarship money for college.

What is a scholarship essay?

A scholarship essay is an essay you’ll include in your merit scholarship applications. In many ways, your scholarship essays might resemble your college essays. So, the scholarship essay format should seem familiar. 

The best scholarship essays will highlight who you are and why you deserve money for college. Scholarship essay prompts will ask you to include various information, from details about your background to explanations of why you deserve a scholarship.

Crafting a compelling, well-written essay can help you win substantial financial awards to help cover your college tuition costs. However, not all scholarship essays are the same. Later on, we’ll review different winning scholarship essay examples to show you what kind of essays you’ll write in your application process.

Types of Scholarships

There are many different types of scholarships available to students. You can find a variety of scholarship opportunities on scholarships websites. The earlier you start your scholarship search, the more scholarships you’ll find. 

While some scholarship applications accept applicants of all backgrounds and abilities, some have very specific eligibility guidelines. So, you may not be eligible for every scholarship. If you’re not sure whether or not you’re eligible, you can find eligibility information on most scholarships websites. 

Here are a few different scholarship types you may come across in your scholarship search:

• Academic scholarships
• Merit scholarships
• Essay competitions
• Community service scholarships
• Military scholarships

Scholarship essay prompts will differ across programs. As you’ll see in our winning scholarship essay examples, the prompts can vary in word count and complexity. We’ll provide you with descriptive essay examples to help you get an idea of what to expect.

Merit-Based Scholarships

Most scholarships we’ll highlight in this article are merit-based scholarships . A merit-based scholarship is money awarded by a college or community organization based on your academic achievements. 

In contrast, a need-based scholarship is awarded based on a student’s financial need. If you are applying for financial aid, be sure to check out our scholarship essay examples about financial need. You’ll find both merit- and need-based scholarships on your scholarship search.     

To qualify for a merit-based scholarship, you generally must meet specific criteria. Scholarship committees look at your grades, academic achievements, extracurriculars, and even test scores. Need-based scholarships can have similar requirements, but they’re primarily concerned with your family’s financial status.

There are many merit-based scholarships available to help students afford college, including:

• National merit scholarships
• Gates Scholarship
• Jack Kent Cooke Scholarship
• Robertson Scholarship

Check out our guides on these popular merit-based scholarships for more details. There, you’ll find tips on how to write a winning essay. Our descriptive essay examples can also help prepare you to apply to these programs After all, while prompts vary, the scholarship essay format remains fairly standard. 

Finding scholarships

In this guide, we’ll highlight some scholarships you may be eligible for. However, make sure to check out the rest of our resources to help you approach the scholarship search. 

Some scholarships we’ll discuss include:

• QuestBridge scholarship : helps low-income students attend elite colleges
• Park scholarships : for students attending NC State University
• SHPE scholarship : offers financial assistance for Hispanic students interested in STEM degrees. 

Scholarship essay examples about financial need will help you prepare for your scholarship applications. For instance, if you apply for the SHPE scholarship, you’ll include a lot of details about your background. 

You can also use scholarship search portals or scholarships websites to find other scholarships you may be eligible for. 

How do you write a scholarship essay?

While scholarship essay prompts may differ, you’ll usually stick to the same general scholarship essay format. 

One resource that can help you write the best scholarship essays and find money for college is Sallie Mae. Sallie Mae is a private lender offering undergraduate, graduate, and professional student loans. They also grant scholarships and provide aspiring college students with a scholarship search portal on their scholarships websites. Here’s what they have to say about having a winning scholarship essay format.

Organization

When writing a scholarship essay, it’s best to start with a scholarship essay format that organizes your thoughts. This will allow you to follow a plan that clearly and concisely gets your points across. You should begin your essay with a solid introduction. Then, introduce your supporting arguments and add an appropriate conclusion. 

A good scholarship essay clearly states why you deserve to win money for college with evidence to back up your argument. You’ll see how to do this in our scholarship essay sample about why I deserve the scholarship. The best scholarship essays will be original and honest. It should be written in an inspirational and positive tone, highlighting your strengths and capabilities. 

When you feel like you have put your best foot forward, you should ask others for their feedback. This can be from a teacher, counselor, or one of our advisors here at CollegeAdvisor! Proofread your final essay and make sure you’ve caught any spelling and grammatical errors before submitting your application.

Up next, we’ll get into our descriptive essay examples and the different scholarship essay prompts they responded to. 

By looking at scholarship essay examples, you can learn what exactly makes a good essay. So, let’s look at some descriptive essay examples written by students looking to secure money for college. 

First, we will walk you through scholarship essay examples about yourself. Then, we’ll look at a scholarship essay sample about why I deserve the scholarship. Lastly, we will provide you with scholarship essay examples about financial need. Remember to keep these scholarship essay examples in mind when writing essays of your own!

Scholarship Essay Examples About Yourself

Let’s take a closer look at some scholarship essay examples about yourself.

Scholarship essay prompts vary quite a bit, so make sure you understand what the prompt really asks of you. That way, you can answer the question or address the prompt in its entirety.

Some scholarship essay prompts may ask how the scholarship will make a difference for you. They may also ask about any contributions you have made to your community. 

Ready to look at some winning scholarship essay examples? Check out these scholarship essay examples below.

The first of our scholarship essays is for Phi Sigma Rho. Here’s the prompt: 

How do you promote Phi Sigma Rho and STEM on your campus or in your community? (300 words Max)

Phi sigma rho scholarship essay.

In my campus and community, I strive to promote Phi Sigma Rho and STEM by promoting Phi Rho’s values and sharing my experiences and passion for Phi Rho.

My involvement in the Women in Engineering Program (WEP) and Society of Women Engineers (SWE) has allowed me the opportunity to promote Phi Rho and STEM. These activities have given me insight into how to successfully create a network that will support and encourage women in engineering to continue their careers. 

Within WEP, I served as a sophomore orientation leader (Envoy), mentoring first-year women and assisting with program logistics. As an envoy, I was able to promote Phi Rho ideals of friendship and encouragement. I was also able to informally recruit for Phi Rho by sharing my experiences and passion for the sorority.

Within SWE, I was the Internal Relations Chair my freshmen year and am the Director of Member Engagement this year. Both roles are related to member engagement, allowing me to promote friendship within engineering. Member engagement is important for creating a community among female engineers. Similar to my envoy position, my leadership within SWE has allowed me to share my love for Phi Rho.

Additionally, my volunteer experience with Engineering Ambassadors (EA), a STEM outreach group, has allowed me to promote STEM in the community. In EA, I give presentations on engineering, speak on panels, and lead hands-on activities for K-12 students. EA has taught me strategies to promote STEM to children and teenagers.

Because of Phi Sigma Rho, I have the confidence to inspire and encourage the next generation of female engineers. I hold the values of scholarship, friendship, and encouragement in the highest regard and strive to embody those in every leadership position and volunteer role. Through SWE, WEP, and EA, I have promoted Phi Sigma Rho, its values, and STEM as a whole in both my campus and community.

This is, in many ways, a scholarship essay sample about why I deserve the scholarship. The writer clearly highlights how they’ve engaged with Phi Sigma Rho and how their values align with those of the organization. The writer also provides specific examples of their leadership positions, skills, and accolades. 

The next two of our scholarship essay examples about yourself are for the SHPE scholarship. Here they are: 

SHPE Scholarship essay example #1

Essay prompt:.

Summarize your life experiences and any challenges that have impacted your path to higher education. (250 Words) 

Essay Example:

I vividly remember the first day of First Grade because I didn’t know the Pledge of Allegiance like the rest of my classmates. Growing up in a Hispanic household, I had never learned what the pledge was. This was the beginning of several years of disconnect. 

From receiving weird looks when I told classmates my family opened Christmas gifts at midnight, to my parents’ confusion when I didn’t want them to speak Spanish in public, both sides of my life never understood the other. As a result, I always felt out of place in school, like I was behind in some way because I didn’t share the same upbringing as my classmates. In contrast, academics felt like a level playing field, something we were all learning together in the same way.

While I couldn’t tell you who won the super bowl, I could do mathematics or read just as well, if not better, than my classmates. Socially, I always felt out of place, but academically I was always comfortable, and as a result, I tried to excel in that area of my life. That desire to succeed created the relentless work ethic I have today and the appreciation I have for education.

Despite the lack of emphasis from my parents on schoolwork, I developed this sense of responsibility and persistence to pursue an education. Although my family’s Hispanic culture made my life difficult when I was younger, it made me a more resilient person.

More scholarship essay examples

Shpe scholarship essay example #2.

Discuss your educational and career aspirations as well as your ability to complete and achieve these goals. (250 words)

Using a degree in engineering, I hope to work on improving sustainability and efficiency in the aerospace industry by creating cheaper, safer, and more environmentally-conscious options.

Recently, Pratt and Whitney designed an engine that is 16% more efficient and will release 3600 less metric tons per airplane per year. Excitingly, it also greatly reduces the noise footprint of an airplane. Innovations like these will allow the aerospace industry to evolve and improve while reducing negative environmental impact. I hope to work at the forefront of this innovation, pushing the boundaries of improved engine performance and efficiency. 

Last semester, I started working in the Experimental and Computational Convection Laboratory on campus to learn more about turbines. Some current projects in the lab involve new turbine cooling techniques and additive manufactured heat exchangers. Throughout the course of my undergraduate career, I hope to learn more about the barriers facing improved engine and turbine efficiency. Following undergraduate, I plan to attend graduate school to gain a deeper knowledge of these topics. Following graduate school, I may go into industry working on turbines and jet engines. Due to beginning research early, I believe graduate school is an attainable educational goal.

The potential ability to make a difference in the environmental impact of the aerospace industry is exciting. To accomplish this, I know studying Mechanical Engineering will give me the skills necessary to fulfill my career goals.

Both of these scholarship essay examples use specific details to highlight the writer’s strengths, experiences, and accolades. In reading these winning scholarship essay examples, we get a sense of who the writer is both as a person and as a student. 

Scholarship Essay Sample about “Why I deserve the scholarship”

Another scholarship essay prompt you may come across is “why I deserve this scholarship.” A good scholarship essay clearly highlights why you deserve to win the scholarship and provides evidence to support your argument. 

Below, you’ll find scholarship essay samples about why I deserve the scholarship. You can use these as a guide to help you tackle your own scholarship essays. 

Here’s the first of our scholarship essay examples, which was used for the Park Scholarship: 

The Park Scholarship is an investment in the potential of young people. It prepares scholars to make lifelong contributions to communities, states, nations, and the world. Tell us a story that illustrates your potential to make these lifelong contributions. (What have you done that should compel us to invest in you?) (Max. 3,990 characters including spaces.)

Park scholarship essay example.

Coming from a Venezuelan family, I have always been able to connect with total strangers through Spanish. Whether I’m eating at a restaurant or volunteering, I am constantly stumbling upon other Spanish speakers. The ability to converse in their language allows me to bond with them in a way I couldn’t in English, something I do not take for granted. 

Because of my experience, I believe that learning a foreign language is an incredibly important skill. Being able to speak in a second language allows a person to understand another community and reach out to people within that community. Additionally, speaking a second language assists in appreciating other cultures. This appreciation is important for fostering open-mindedness, something America as a whole struggles with today. 

In my school district, foreign language classes are not offered until late middle school. Once in high school, many students drop the class. In addition, those who stay in the class often find that the classes provide little more than a basic understanding of the language and then become discouraged in their learning. On a larger scale, this issue affects America as a whole. Second language programs often come second in terms of funding and planning and are not encouraged as rigorously as other academic courses. As a result, many Americans are ignorant to the benefits of bilingualism and are unable to understand the viewpoint of those who are multilingual.

After my freshman year of high school, my frustration with my community’s lack of priority for second language learning culminated in my desire to take some sort of action to promote foreign language education. In my sophomore year, a classmate and I created and ran an introductory Spanish program, Spanish in the Spring, at my local library for young children in the district. I spent hours at home creating lesson plans, activities, themes, and advertisements for the program. I placed heavy emphasis on cultural aspects and the importance of the Spanish language in America and the world as a whole.

My purpose for this program was to introduce children at a young age to learning a foreign language, so their desire to learn would continue throughout their life. Through the program, I was also able to share my belief of the importance of learning a second language with the children, as well as their parents. After the final day of the program, I was thrilled when one parent mentioned their desire to learn a foreign language program themself. I felt that if I made an impact on one person or family, the entire program was worthwhile. 

Unfortunately, this past spring I was unable to continue the Spanish in the Spring program due to library scheduling restraints. However, I hopefully plan to offer the program again this spring with some changes that will improve and expand the experience. One of these changes will include the immersion of parents into the experience to encourage foreign language education as a family activity.

While this program was only offered once, the impact was immeasurable, for the children, for the cause of foreign language education, and for me.

This is another scholarship essay sample about why I deserve the scholarship. In it, the writer clearly and directly answers the prompt—that is, they highlight their potential to make a lifelong impact on members of their community. 

Ready for another scholarship essay example? Here’s the next one: 

How will a ScholarSHPE impact your life and education? (200 Words)

Shpe scholarship essay example.

Receiving a ScholarSHPE will give me the gift of time and opportunities. My parents are unable to support me financially throughout college due to large amounts of accrued debt. A ScholarSHPE will reduce my financial stress and allow me to improve my overall health as a result. It will also prevent the need to work several hours a week at a part-time job to pay for tuition, books, and living expenses, which will limit what I can do academically and outside of class. A ScholarSHPE will allow me to spend more time on research pursuits, engineering extracurriculars, volunteer work, and school work, instead of long hours at a part-time job. 

This essay sample is fairly straightforward. In it, the writer follows a clear scholarship essay format, explicitly answering the prompt. 

UC Berkeley Scholarships essay examples

Let’s look at some school-specific merit scholarship essay examples. 

At the University of California – Berkeley , students can apply for a variety of merit scholarships. These scholarships can help offset the cost of UC Berkeley tuition. 

Below, we’ve included various scholarship essay examples for the UC Berkeley scholarships. These UC Berkeley scholarships can help students cover their college tuition costs. This can make the UC Berkeley tuition less of a barrier for students hoping to attend. 

You’ll find a variety of UC Berkeley scholarships that can help you afford UC Berkeley tuition. Available UC Berkeley scholarships include: 

• Berkeley Undergraduate Scholarship
• Fiat Lux Scholarship
• Middle Class Scholarship
• Regents’ and Chancellor’s Scholarship

These are just a few ways to cover the cost of UC Berkeley tuition. UC Berkeley students also receive more than $10 million per year in outside scholarships to cover college tuition costs. If you are interested in exploring non-UC Berkeley scholarships, check out this list of outside scholarship resources . 

To help you get started, check out our winning UC Berkeley scholarship essay examples. The authors of these scholarship essay examples about financial need all won money to help cover their UC Berkeley tuition.

UC Berkeley scholarship essay examples

I am grateful to realize how fortunate I am today. All the loved ones around me and their acts of kindness have given me such a great life. I also realize the sacrifices that those around me have had to give up in order for me to succeed. It is because of this that I have realized what “paying it forward” truly means. I have been given the opportunity to make an impact in my community and I have fully taken advantage of this opportunity. I have been a volunteer for the Buddyball Sports Organization, which is a non-profit sports organization dedicated to providing the opportunity for children with developmental disabilities to play sports.

Growing up, watching and playing sports has been one of my greatest pleasures of life, so teaching these less fortunate kids has been something I have enjoyed doing every single weekend. On top of this, I am also both a volunteer at the South Orangetown Ambulance Corps and the Nyack Hospital. With the desire to pursue a career in the medical field, volunteering at these places has given me a great idea of what my career could look like in the near future. While all of these volunteer activities have had a significant impact on me, little did I know that this summer would truly make a lasting difference in my life. 

This past summer, my family decided to go on a vacation to India to visit my relatives. This was the first time in my life that I was going to India and this was only because my grandmother came down with Parkinson’s disease and was extremely sick. Little did I know at that time that my visit to India would be a life-changing experience. Never could have I imagined such a filthy village. Everywhere I looked, there was garbage and to make matters worse, no one seemed to do anything to try to ameliorate the repugnant image of my home country.

While I realized on my flight home that I was not going to be able to make a difference and help my community back in India, there was nothing stopping me from doing so right here in Rockland County, New York. When I was told that I would have the opportunity to help organize and direct “Make a Difference Rockland,” I joyfully accepted! Make a Difference Rockland is a free public meet and greet for all local non-profits and other government agencies in an attempt to promote different community service opportunities within the public. By gathering all the local non-profit organizations and giving them a chance to present themselves, people learn more about all of the local community service opportunities that are available to them. This way, the community will be able to recruit volunteers and will not have to suffer through calamitous conditions.

As one of the people in charge of organizing, it was my responsibility to adequately contact, invite and help prepare for hundreds of people. Once I gathered their contact information, I had to ask each one of these places if they would be interested in joining the fair. If interested, I had to also prepare a table for them to present themselves at the fair. The feeling of bringing all of these community service groups together brought me a feeling of happiness that I will never forget. 

The best scholarship essays will teach the reader about who the writer is, what they care about, and why they deserve a scholarship. The essay above does just that—it highlights the writer’s background and describes how they give back to their community. 

Next, let’s dig into a few more scholarship essay examples. 

If you’re interested in more descriptive essay examples, keep reading. 

Reading a ton of winning scholarship essay examples is a great way to pick up on what makes them winners. Over time, you’ll start to notice how the details, tone, and flow all work together to tell a story.

Below, you’ll find a few more scholarship essay examples. Our first one is from the NC Parks Scholarship. Here’s the prompt:

What do you do to serve your community? Why do you do the service that you do? What impact have you made? What challenges or insights have your service contributions given you? (Max. 3,990 characters including spaces.) 

Community-focused scholarship essay example #1.

“What are the boys like in high school?” “Is it easy to get a boyfriend?” Sighing, the other frustrated leaders and I look at each other as we read the questions posed by the younger girls. Every year at Girls’ Night Out (GNO), a program that introduces and prepares eighth-grade girls for high school, the girls question the leaders about relationships and dating ad nauseum, irritating other leaders to the point of ignoring the questions. 

Giving each question a careful and deliberate answer is often difficult, but instead of disregarding the issue, I try to offer my most sincere and honest advice. Originally, when I began as a group leader in the program I would give the same response, “You shouldn’t worry about boys. Instead, enjoy your friends, and do things you enjoy.” While that advice is true, it is often not the answer that will satisfy the girls. Through many years in the program, I have learned that advice is not “one size fits all”; it must be individualized to the person’s needs. Now, when faced with a question about dating, I respond with more questions before giving “words of wisdom”.

Many times I am able to understand the perspective of the middle school student, allowing me to give advice accordingly. Supplying proper advice about sensitive topics is one of the most impactful parts of GNO. As a role model and positive influence for the girls, I largely impact their ideas and perception of the environment when entering high school. In addition to teaching the students valuable lessons, volunteering at GNO has taught me that various perspectives may present themselves identically. To better understand those around me, it is important that I look beyond the surface for the other person’s viewpoint.

Beyond understanding other viewpoints from GNO, I have learned from other service that understanding a person’s situation is essential for providing exceptional assistance. Through Key Club, I volunteer many times a year at the local food pantry. As a volunteer, I help the recipients “shop” at the small grocery store using a point system. The process takes up a lot of time because shoppers do not always know what they want. Originally I  thought this was a poor design. I believed it would be much more efficient to just hand out the food rather than giving out points and shopping with the food pantry recipients.

Upon expressing my opinion to one of the adult food pantry staff, he explained to me that the grocery store aspect of the store taught the recipients life skills. Additionally, by giving them autonomy over what food they “bought”, they retained a sort of independence, an important skill to have if they find themselves above the income level required to use the food pantry.

The next time I volunteered I took note of the skills presented. Budgeting of points, deciding whether or not they needed something, determining the quality of the fruit, and decision-making of choosing extra food or toiletries, were all skills that those above the poverty line have ingrained. For those who have been using food pantries and other assistance for prolonged periods of time, these skills are not so natural. As a result, teaching the people means after they no longer need the services of the food pantry, they have valuable skills necessary for their independence.

From this experience, I learned an important lesson: helping people is not just giving them what they need at the moment, but understanding what they will need in the future and providing that as well. After realizing this, I emphasize the abilities that the food pantry teaches whenever I dedicate my time. By doing that, I am positively affecting the development of those skills. 

When reflecting on the various ways I have served my community, one thing stands out to me: I always understand another viewpoint or gain a new perspective afterwards. For me, the ability to look at something from different angles is an unparalleled talent, and one of the most important skills a person can have.

Describe your volunteer or community experience with SHPE or other organizations and any internships you have held.  (250 Words)

Community-focused scholarship essay example #2.

In SHPE, I have been involved in planning the Penn State College of Engineering STEP-UP (Student Transition Engineering Program at University Park) Program as a chair. The STEP-UP program helps students from Penn State branch campuses smoothly transition to the University Park campus through a 3-day program in the spring. The program introduces them to engineering resources, other engineering students, and provides professional development. Due to COVID-19, this year it was held virtually. 

Within the Society of Women Engineers and the Women in Engineering Program, I have volunteered at different STEM events in the community for elementary school students. I am also currently serving as an Envoy (a mentorship and logistical position) for the Women in Engineering Program Orientation. Additionally, I participate in many of SWE’s service events, such as donating and collecting donations, cleaning up areas on and around campus, and visiting nursing homes.

On campus, I am also involved with Engineering Ambassadors (EA), a group that does STEM outreach around Pennsylvania from the elementary school to high school level. EA goes virtually or in person to schools, does engineering presentations and activities, and answers questions.

Prior to COVID-19, I had secured an internship with Pratt and Whitney, however, they had to cancel their internship program. As a result, I was fortunate enough to obtain a Process Quality Engineering internship at Brentwood Industries for summer 2020.

Both of these scholarship essay examples highlight how the writers have given back to their communities. These winning scholarship essay examples highlight the writers’ strengths. In doing so, they highlight why these writers deserve help with college tuition costs. 

Reflecting on scholarship essay format

As important as the content of your essay is, your scholarship essay format is equally important. As you write, be sure to adhere to the scholarship essay format guidelines provided to you. 

However, there are some things all of the best scholarship essays have in common. Here are some general tips, tricks, and outlines to help you in your own writing process.

Three scholarship essay writing tips:

• Word counts are hard to adhere to, but the other applicants must adhere to them, too. Make sure every word counts. 
• When you write a solid essay, you can repurpose some of your key points, including specific anecdotes and details, in other scholarship applications.
• Writing a good essay helps you solidify who you are and what you want. This sets you up for success in the scholarship application process and beyond. 

Three essential elements to include in your essay:

• State your goals. Scholarship committees are investing in your future and your potential. To take a chance on you, they need to know your plan and what you want to do with your award. 
• Establish an implicit or explicit link between your goals and the scholarship you are applying for. Describe to the committee how the specific scholarship will help you attain your goals. Give them a tangible reason as to why you deserve their investment. 
• Share your story. Use personal details about your experiences that highlight your identity and objectives. How have you pursued your goals and prepared for your future? How will the scholarship help you going forward? Get personal and be honest.

Storytelling in your essay

Some of the best scholarship essays utilize good storytelling strategies. You should share the details of your personal story in a narrative, using a logical order. Remember, telling personal details about yourself and your goals does not mean simply restating your resume!

By the end of the essay, the scholarship committee should have an in-depth sense of why you applied. You should reveal:

• When and how you arrived at your future goals
• Your motivations to accomplish these objectives
• What traits or skills you have developed along the way
• The meaningful experiences that drive you to your goals
• Any personal challenges you have faced and how you have overcome them
• What has shaped you and your worldview

These details humanize you and show your complexity as a person and an applicant. It’s helpful to use anecdotes and personal experiences to give life to facts and details about yourself. Sharing real-life experiences will help make your essay more interesting and more fun to read.

Creating your scholarship essay format

Once you have thought about what you want to say, start thinking about your scholarship essay format. You may start by making a list of what your reader may be interested in:

• How you spend your time
• Your accomplishments
• What your passions are, etc.

Start by brainstorming everything you may want to include in your essay. Then, think about whether the stories you include support your arguments. Ask yourself, “What did I learn?” or “How did this get me closer to my goals?”. These reflections help the reader connect to your purpose for writing. 

Make sure to organize your thoughts in a narrative order. However, there isn’t just one way to write an essay. So, don’t limit yourself to one version of your story. You may find yourself writing multiple drafts before you get to your final scholarship essay format.

Editing and proofreading your essay

When you think you have finished, be sure to proofread and edit to ensure it’s ready to be submitted. Check that you’ve adhered to all the scholarship essay format guidelines (like the word count). 

Reviewing also includes getting input from others! An outside reader’s opinion can help you confirm your essay effectively communicates your ideas.

Tips for scholarship essays

You may notice some similarities between the scholarship essay examples about yourself we’ve provided. That’s because the authors of the best scholarship essays all use similar strategies to make their essays great. 

Here are 5 tips from U.S. News to help you make all of your scholarship essays stand out:

Tips for writing stand-out scholarship essays

1. get personal and be specific.

The best scholarship essays will share an authentic story with impactful details. The key is to be yourself and not shy away from personal details. The more the committee gets to know about you, the more likely they are to invest in your future. You want your essay to offer a genuine, in-depth look into who you are as a person.

2. Tell a story

Your essay should be more than a collection of facts—it should tell a story. That means having a solid introduction that grabs the reader’s attention from the very start. Then, you should include a logical flow of experiences or details. By the end of your essay, you want your reader to have learned something valuable about you.  

3. Tailor the scholarship essay to the prompt

Some of your scholarship essay prompts may be similar across different scholarship applications. However, it’s important that your essay is specific to each prompt and answers the question entirely. While you can repurpose an essay you’ve already written as inspiration or a starting point, be extra attentive when doing so.

4. Don’t tailor yourself to the reader

Many students fall into the trap of telling a story they think scholarship foundation committees want to hear. Instead, stay true to yourself as you craft your scholarship application essays. Don’t tell your reader what you think they want to hear—just tell them who you are. 

5. Follow directions

This final tip may arguably be the most important. Above all else, students should follow instructions. This means adhering to the scholarship essay format guidelines and word count. It also means answering the essay prompt in its entirety. Application readers can be easily frustrated by a student’s failure to follow directions. This could reflect poorly on you and your essay in the long run. 

Use these tips to guide you as you approach the scholarship essay format. 

Scholarship Essay Examples – Final Thoughts

We hope our roundup of scholarship essay examples has shown you how to approach your scholarship applications. With rising college costs, scholarships should be a part of your college financial planning process. Take the time to do your own scholarship search based on your specific interests. You can find plenty of scholarships to apply to on scholarships websites and college financial aid pages. There are many different scholarships websites to help you with your search. 

Save this guide

Feel free to save this guide and review our scholarship essay examples about yourself and about financial need. You can always look back on our scholarship essay sample about why I deserve the scholarship when writing your own essay. 

Start with an outline that organizes your thoughts. Then, make sure your essay is clear and concise. Be original and honest, and include personal details and anecdotes when appropriate. State why you deserve to win the scholarship. Then, support your claim in a way that makes a scholarship committee invested in your future. 

We’re here to help

Don’t forget to proofread your essay and ask others for their feedback. When in doubt, reach out to our advisors at CollegeAdvisor. Our team is always here to help support you find and apply for scholarships!

This article was written by Bailey Bennet. Looking for more admissions support? Click here to schedule a free meeting with one of our Admissions Specialists. During your meeting, our team will discuss your profile and help you find targeted ways to increase your admissions odds at top schools. We’ll also answer any questions and discuss how CollegeAdvisor.com can support you in the college application process.

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7 Ways to Answer “Why Do I Deserve a Scholarship?”

Table of Contents

Ah yes, the timeless query of scholarship committees: “Why do you deserve a scholarship?” This age-old question is wielded with the purpose of evaluating a candidate’s qualifications and motivation for attaining such an esteemed award.

Scholarship committees have a keen eye for more than just academic prowess. They seek candidates with a burning desire to succeed and leave a positive mark on their community.

A crystal-clear blueprint of how the scholarship will help them achieve their educational and professional aspirations is also highly sought-after.

If you are looking to learn effective techniques for answering the age-old question “why do I deserve a scholarship?” in both essays and interviews, then look no further. Read on to discover valuable insights and evaluate your scholarship application game.

Tips on Answering “Why Do I Deserve a Scholarship?”

1. showcase your achievements and accomplishments.

It is important to showcase your achievements and accomplishments, and how they align with the scholarship’s objectives. This means taking the time to research the scholarship and identifying the qualities or achievements they are looking for in a candidate.

Once you have pinpointed these, you can showcase your own relevant accomplishments in a clear and concise manner.

For example, if the scholarship is focused on promoting diversity and inclusion, you could highlight any initiatives or activities you have undertaken to promote these values, such as leading a diversity club or volunteering at a community organization.

Alternatively, if the scholarship is focused on academic excellence, you could showcase your outstanding grades, any research or academic projects you have completed, or any relevant awards or honors you have received.

2. Demonstrate Your Passion and Enthusiasm for Your Field of Study

The second way to answer the question “why do I deserve a scholarship?” is to demonstrate your passion and enthusiasm for your field of study, and how receiving the scholarship will enable you to make a meaningful contribution.

When writing your scholarship essay or preparing for an interview, be sure to clearly communicate your enthusiasm and the impact that receiving the scholarship would have on your ability to achieve your goals.

For instance, you could explain how the scholarship would enable you to participate in research, attend conferences, or gain hands-on experience in your field.

By conveying your passion and the potential impact of receiving the scholarship, you can demonstrate that you are not only deserving but also highly motivated and committed to success in your field.

3. Share Your Future Goals and How the Scholarship Will Help You Achieve Them

To answer the question “why do you deserve to win this scholarship?”, you could also explain how the scholarship would enable you to attend a prestigious university, gain access to cutting-edge research, or pursue a specific area of study.

However, it is important to be careful not to make broad or unrealistic claims about your future goals that are not supported by evidence or a clear plan.

For example, saying “I want to become the CEO of a Fortune 500 company” without explaining how the scholarship would help you achieve that goal may come across as overly ambitious and unrealistic.

Instead, focus on specific, achievable goals and how the scholarship will help you get there. Use concrete examples and demonstrate how you have already taken steps towards achieving your goals.

4. Explain Any Financial Constraints or Challenges You Are Facing

While many candidates may have faced challenges, what sets you apart is how you have overcome them and used them to become a stronger and more resilient person.

For instance, you could discuss how you have overcome financial challenges to pursue your education or how you have persevered through personal struggles to achieve your academic or career goals.

To make your story unique, focus on the specific ways in which you have grown and developed as a result of these challenges. Show the scholarship committee that you have the determination and resilience to succeed, despite any obstacles in your way.

By sharing your unique story, you can demonstrate why you are a deserving candidate for the scholarship.

5. Discuss Any Relevant Work or Volunteer Experiences

Next, showcase your leadership skills and how you have made a positive impact on your community. To make your answer stand out, focus on unique leadership experiences that demonstrate your ability to work effectively with others, solve problems, and make a positive impact.

For example, you could discuss how you organized a successful fundraising event for a local charity, led a team to develop a new project, or mentored younger students to help them achieve their academic goals.

To make this approach effective, be sure to tie your unique skills or experiences back to the scholarship and how it will enable you to further develop these qualities.

This will demonstrate that you are not only a strong candidate, but also that you have a clear understanding of how the scholarship will benefit you and your future goals.

6. Emphasize Your Unique Background, Experiences, or Perspectives

The sixth effective way to answer the question “why do I deserve a scholarship?” is to emphasize your unique background, experiences, or perspectives that make you a valuable and diverse candidate.

For example, you could discuss your experiences as a first-generation college student or your background growing up in a multicultural family.

You could also highlight any unique perspectives you bring to the table, such as your experience volunteering with underserved communities or your research on an underrepresented topic.

This can help set you apart from other candidates and demonstrate why you are a deserving recipient of the scholarship.

7. Express Sincere Gratitude for the Opportunity

Finally, be sure to demonstrate your appreciation for the chance to be considered for the scholarship and showcase your enthusiasm for the program and your future goals.

By expressing your gratitude, you show the scholarship committee that you are a humble and appreciative candidate who understands the value of the scholarship. You can also demonstrate your commitment to the program by discussing how the scholarship will benefit your future.

Overall, expressing sincere gratitude is a powerful way to showcase your character and commitment to the scholarship program.

“Why Do I Deserve a Scholarship?” Answer Samples

Example 1: different ways to answer “why do i deserve a scholarship” in 10 words.

Scholarship committees may ask you to answer this question in 10 words only to assess your ability to be concise and to the point. This skill is important in academic and professional settings where clear and efficient communication is crucial.

Below are some good examples on how to answer the question “why do you deserve this scholarship?” in 10 words:

• Passionate about education, need financial assistance.
• Strong academic record, motivated to achieve success.
• Leadership skills, committed to making a difference.
• Overcoming challenges, determined to reach goals.
• Pursuing dreams, scholarship critical to success.
• Proven dedication, deserve opportunity to succeed.
• Unique experiences, will make significant contributions.
• Desire to give back, scholarship crucial for impact.
• Excellent candidate, scholarship will open doors.
• Demonstrated potential, deserve investment in future.

Example 2: How to Answer the Question Based on a Personal Experience

“I believe I deserve this scholarship because of my experience volunteering at a local non-profit organization. It showed me the importance of community service and motivated me to pursue a career in the non-profit sector. Receiving this scholarship would allow me to continue my volunteer work, pursue a degree in non-profit management, and make a meaningful difference in my community.”

This answer works by highlighting a specific experience that demonstrates the candidate’s qualifications and motivation for receiving the scholarship.

By mentioning their experience volunteering at a non-profit organization, the candidate is demonstrating their commitment to community service and their desire to make a positive impact on the world.

Example 3: How to Answer the Question Based on Academic Goals

“I believe I deserve this scholarship because of my academic goals in nursing. As a nursing student, I am passionate about providing quality care to patients, especially those who are underserved or vulnerable. I have seen firsthand the impact that nurses can have on patients and their families. With this scholarship, I would have the financial support I need to pursue my degree in nursing and develop the skills and knowledge necessary to make a meaningful impact in the field. I plan to use my education and experience to work in underserved communities and provide compassionate care to those who need it most.”

This answer clearly articulates the candidate’s passion and goals in nursing, highlighting their dedication to providing quality care to patients. The mention of volunteering and firsthand experience further demonstrates their commitment to the field.

Moreover, the explanation of how the scholarship would support their academic goals and future career plans shows that the candidate has a clear plan and a strong desire to succeed.

Bottom Line

In conclusion, answering the scholarship interview question, “why do I deserve a scholarship?” requires thoughtful consideration and a strategic approach. Remember to be confident, authentic, and specific in your answers to stand out from other applicants.

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Proving My Worth: Why I Deserve a Scholarship

One of the key benefits of writing an essay on why you deserve a scholarship is that it encourages you to think about the impact you want to have in your field of study or career, and how the scholarship can help you achieve your goals. You need to remember that your scholarship essay is your chance to make a strong impression on the scholarship committee. By showcasing your strengths, achievements, and potential, you can demonstrate why you deserve this scholarship and how it will help you achieve your goals.

Writing an essay requires time and effort, and some people may struggle with managing their time effectively to complete the task. By the way, with custom writing services, you can get expert guidance on how to craft a scholarship essay that addresses the prompt, meets the word count and showcases your unique strengths and qualifications.

Why I Deserve This Scholarship

As a college student, I constantly strive to achieve my academic and career goals. I believe that obtaining a scholarship would not only help me achieve these goals but also validate the hard work and dedication that I have put into my studies. Well, I would like to explain my thoughts in the essay about why I deserve a scholarship to help achieve my academic and career goals.

Scholarship Can Help Me Graduate with Honours

As a dedicated and hard-working student, one of my primary academic goals is to graduate with honours. However, the financial burden of pursuing higher education can often be overwhelming and distract from academic pursuits. That’s why I believe that a scholarship would be invaluable in helping me achieve my goals. With the financial assistance of a scholarship, I would be able to devote more time and energy to my studies, ultimately increasing my chances of graduating with honours. I could focus on taking challenging courses and conducting in-depth research, without the added stress of worrying about how to pay for tuition and living expenses. In addition to the academic benefits, a scholarship would also provide me with a sense of validation for my hard work and dedication. It would demonstrate that my efforts have been recognized and that others have acknowledged my potential for success.

Achieving a Graduate Degree in Psychology

Pursuing a graduate degree in psychology is an essential step towards achieving my career goal of becoming a psychologist. The advanced knowledge and training that a graduate degree provides will allow me to better understand human behaviour, diagnose and treat mental illnesses, and help others lead fulfilling lives. However, the high cost of graduate school is a significant obstacle for me. Without financial assistance, it will be difficult for me to pursue this path. That’s why I believe that a scholarship would greatly alleviate this concern and allow me to focus on my studies and career aspirations. With the support of a scholarship, I could attend the best graduate programs in psychology and receive a high-quality education that will prepare me for my future career. I would also be able to participate in research opportunities and gain hands-on experience in the field.

Gain Hands-On Experience and Achieve My Career Goals

In addition to my academic goals, I also have career goals that I am working towards. One of these goals is to gain practical experience in my field. I am currently working part-time as a research assistant, but I would like to have more opportunities to gain hands-on experience. A scholarship would allow me to focus on my studies while also providing me with the financial support to seek out internships and other opportunities that can help me achieve my career goals. Furthermore, a scholarship would provide me with the financial freedom to explore my interests and take risks. I believe that taking calculated risks is essential for personal and professional growth. With a scholarship, I would be able to take on new challenges and pursue opportunities that would have otherwise been out of reach.

I believe that receiving a scholarship would not only alleviate this financial stress but also provide me with the validation and recognition that I have worked hard to achieve. Knowing that someone else recognizes and values my efforts would give me the motivation and encouragement to continue pushing myself towards success.

Tips on How to Write a Scholarship Essay About Why You Deserve It

If you’re tasked with writing a scholarship essay on why you deserve to receive the award, it’s essential to highlight your accomplishments, strengths, and future potential. To help you begin crafting an impactful essay, here are some valuable tips to consider.

Understand the essay prompt

Before starting to write, make sure you understand the essay prompt and what the scholarship committee is looking for. Pay attention to the requirements, word count, and the main question or theme.

Highlight your achievements

Begin by listing your academic achievements, extracurricular activities, and any other accomplishments that demonstrate your skills and potential. These could include volunteer work, leadership roles, or personal challenges you have overcome.

Connect your achievements to your goals

Next, explain how your achievements relate to your academic and career goals. Show how the scholarship will help you achieve these goals and how you plan to use the scholarship funds.

Share your story

Personalize your essay by sharing your unique story and experiences. Explain any obstacles you have overcome and how these challenges have shaped you as a person.

Show your passion and dedication

Demonstrate your passion for your field of study or career path. Show how you are dedicated to achieving your goals and how the scholarship will help you get there.

Edit and proofread

Finally, make sure you edit and proofread your essay carefully. Check for grammar and spelling errors, and ensure that your essay flows logically and is easy to understand.

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how to write a "Why do you deserve this scholarship" essay Answered

Hi! I'm a rising senior and will be attending CC summer semester. I am applying for a grant to cover the costs. They require a 250 word essay on why I deserve this scholarship. I have never written one of these before and I have no clue where to start! Some background- I will be attending CC in the county in which I lived all my life, I'm very community-oriented, I plan to be a doctor and live in my hometown. How do I do this? Thanks in advance!

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I suggest talk about why you want to be doctor (what spark your interest) you are in the community showing you love to help go on to talk about how being a doctor will help people (further detail) then go on to say how this scholarship money will help towards being qualified and being more prepared for taking your position in the medical career.

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I would answer it honestly, why do you deserve it? Be humble like not bragging but also you are community oriented and want to be a doctor for some reason, explain this. And then explain how this scholarship will help you and the community as a whole. If you have a lot of expenses or some financial trouble (medical school is expensive so this is more than enough) just explain this and say the scholarship will help you to reach your goals. Keep is simple and well written.

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