What to Write in a Scholarship Essay (Even If You Think You Have Nothing to Say)

Feel like you have nothing impressive to say?

You’re not alone. Most students feel stuck when it’s time to write their scholarship essay—especially if you’re not sure what schools are looking for.

The good news? You don’t need to be perfect.

 You just need to be clear, honest, and specific.

The 3-Part Structure That Just Works

Scholarship essays usually follow one basic format. Think of it like telling your story to someone who’s never met you.

Break it into three simple parts:

1. Who You Are

Start with a quick intro to your background. Where you’re from. What you’re studying. What brought you here.

Real-life example: “I grew up in a small city in Brazil where access to higher education felt out of reach. But after learning English on my own and working weekends to save for tuition, I applied to study Environmental Science in Canada.”

2. What You’ve Done

This is where you show your impact. Think: volunteering, school projects, leadership, challenges you’ve overcome.

You don’t need huge achievements. Just real ones.

“During high school, I helped organize a recycling program that reduced waste in our cafeteria by 40%. It was the first student-led initiative in our school.”

3. Why This Matters

Connect your past to your goals. Why are you applying? What will you do with this opportunity?

Be real. Be specific. Avoid vague statements like “I want to help people.”

Try: “My goal is to return home and work on sustainable agriculture projects that support low-income farmers.”

What Do They Even Want Me to Talk About?

Scholarship prompts often look scary—but they’re really just asking:

• What drives you? (Motivation, background)

• What have you done? (Leadership, community work, creative or academic efforts)

• What do you want to do next? (Your future goals)

If the question says: “Describe a time you demonstrated leadership,” …don’t just say you were captain of your team. Tell a story. What was the challenge? What did you do? What changed after?

If it says: “Tell us about your goals,” …get specific. Where do you see yourself? What problem do you want to solve?

How to Make It Sound Like You

Here’s a trick: Write like you talk.

If it feels too stiff or formal, rewrite it. Imagine explaining your story to a friend over lunch. No big words. No fancy sentences.

Try this test:

Would your younger cousin understand what you just wrote? If not, simplify it.

Avoid this:

“I endeavor to utilize my academic knowledge for the betterment of underprivileged communities.”

Try this instead:

“I want to use what I’m learning to help fix real problems in the places I care about most.”

That’s the voice that gets remembered.

Bonus Tips for a Strong Essay

• Keep it under 500 words unless they ask for more

• Start with a personal story or moment—it grabs attention

• End with a clear goal—where you’re going and how the scholarship helps

• Read it out loud to catch awkward sentences

• Ask a friend to read it and ask what they learned about you

You’ve Got More to Say Than You Think

Even if your path hasn’t been “perfect,” that’s okay. Your story—your real, honest story—is enough.

Try this out and see if it works for you.

What to Write in a Scholarship Essay (Even If You Think You Have Nothing to Say)