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Tips for Writing Essays for your Scholarship application 

• Read the directions and know the deadlines - Each essay will have specific instructions on how the essay should be written and when and how it should be turned in. Not following these instructions or missing the deadline will put your application in jeopardy of disqualification. It is important to note that you can apply to OGO scholarships even if you haven鈥檛 been accepted into your program! 
• Answer the question - This may seem obvious, but it is a frequent mistake made by essay writers. Make sure you read the question or essay prompt very carefully. Your essay should answer the entire question and address all aspects of the essay prompt. Be sure to answer any specific criteria for the scholarship.  
• Brainstorm and use an outline - Before you start writing, brainstorm about the essay questions or essay prompt. Ask yourself:  
  • What topics am I being asked to write about?  
  • What examples from my life relate to the topic? How does this global opportunity fit in, considering who I am?  
  • How does it fit in with my academic and career goals?  
  • What will I be able to contribute as a returnee from this program?

Begin by creating an outline which will guide your writing and make sure you touch upon all the important information that you brainstormed! 

• Tell your story and make connections - Telling your story to the scholarship committee is your opportunity to show how thoughtful, creative and committed you are to this experience. You want your essay to convey who you are as a person, how you meet the scholarship criteria and clear connections from your life, goals and academics to the global experience. 
• Proofread and makes an appointment with the Writing Center - Proofreading your essay for sentence structure, spelling, grammar and other errors is an essential step. Read your essay aloud to more easily identify mistakes. Take your essay to the Student Writing Center, located in Alden Library Learning Commons and have someone review it with you! Check their website for walk-in hours. Make sure you bring a draft! /university-college/academic-achievement-center/writing

Remember, if you have any questions about scholarship opportunities you can always talk to an advisor at the Office of Global Opportunities.  

Get Creative with Funding! 

Maybe you鈥檝e missed the scholarship deadlines or are looking for other ways to save up for your global experience. We strongly recommend reaching out and getting creative! 

• GoFundMe and other fundraising websites can be great options to digital raise funds for your experience. Be sure to make sure you read all the fine print and know exactly how funds will be processed. Many of these sites can take a percentage of your total raised or charge for credit card transactions.  
• Create and sell! This can be done in a lot of different ways, from baking treats to knitting scarves and everything in between. When coming up with a price to sell your goods for, ensure that you are accounting not just for the cost of materials, but also the time needed to make these items.  
• Reach out to your community. Maybe teachers from your high school would be able to help donate to your cause in exchange for you coming back and giving a presentation to their current students. Maybe you or your family are a part of a religious group or community group. Utilize those connections and make the ask. At the end of the day, the worst someone will say is no.