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Accuplacer Videos, links, order of Study

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Accuplacer Videos, links, order of Study

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**THAMOS, SWABI, FANBOYS in Sentences Rules 2022 and Videos

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Dialogue is an ongoing conversation (Ba-dum-dum) between authors and editors because it is one of the trickiest aspects of writing.

There are a variety of resources out there to show authors how to write dialogue, integrate it into your story, and use this great tool to your benefit, for maximum effect.

Listed below are my top 10 rules for writing great dialogue - these are the code I live by when I do my editing, when talking with my authors, and even on the odd occasion I find myself needing to write dialogue.

1. Make sure your dialogue has a purpose
2. Balance your dialogue tag
3. Show don't tell
4. Avoid long monologues
5. Use a light hand with your accents
6. Keep your dialogue dynamic
7. Dialogue doesn't work alone - coordinate!
8. Pay attention to punctuation
9. Read your dialogue aloud
10. Read examples and practice
Make sure your Dialogue has a purpose
Whenever you need to have a conversation in your story, make sure you know why. Make sure it has a purpose and is moving the story forward in some way, whether by showing more about a character and their motivation or furthering the plot.

Many point to the example of a greeting - while in the real world it is normal to say, "Hi, how are you?" any time someone new walks into the room, you don't necessarily need all these niceties in your dialogue. Skip to the good stuff!

Now, with that being said, small talk can have its place. If you have a character that is trying to stall, feels awkward, or maybe hates who they are talking to and has nothing else to say? That small talk can be the vehicle in showing those emotions. So feel free to add it in!

But, if not, cut it out. Sometimes you can show a reader so much more by what isn't said than what is, and dialogue is just as much about writing quality conversation as it is knowing when not to include it.
Balance Your Dialogue Tags
One of the biggest questions surrounding dialogue and dialogue tags is how many "saids" are too many? How often should you write "he/she/they said" versus substituting in a more dynamic dialogue tag?

There is no right or wrong answer, but using "said" is not inherently a bad thing. It has been so integrated into reading culture that it is like white noise to the reader. It is hardly noticeable, leaving readers able to skip right over it and keep on moving to the more important details.

Your favorite authors probably use it way more than you realize. Go ahead and pick up one of your favorite books. I recommend it being a book you've already read and loved-one that you didn't clock anything being too repetitive with the dialogue tags-and see how many times it crops up.

That being said, there are times when you might need something stronger, more descriptive, than "said." So feel free to add in other dialogue tags, but you want to do so sparingly. While readers are no longer notice "said," other dialogue tags do pull attention, and using them too often can be noticeable.

You also want to avoid over explaining with your dialogue tags. If you have a character who stutters and you've shown this in their dialogue, don't add a tag that says, "he stuttered." Let your dialogue speak for itself.

Two other quick mentions on dialogue tags:

Actions are not dialogue tags. Things like smiling, grinning, grimacing, etc... describe the main character, not how they are saying something. Take care not to confuse the two.

Also, if your dialogue asks a question, your tag should be some form of "ask." Otherwise, there is a disconnect between what your tag shows and how the dialogue reads:

"How are you?" he said.

Just seems weird, right? But you'd be surprised how often it slips in, so keep an eye out.

Show Don't Tell

Yes, there is show don't tell, even in dialogue! Oh, the irony. But there is so much you can show your reader through slang, phrases, and language choices in dialogue to detail a character's personality, background, or mood, helping you craft unique characters without telling the reader about them.

For a clichéd example, perhaps you have a character say, "Ope, I'm just going to squeeze right past ya." By this, the readers could guess that they are from the Midwest without you ever mentioning a region or state. I'm guilty of uttering this phrase a time or two, I must admit-born and raised Illinois.

Or you can use more subtle language choices as well. Something as simple as the difference between someone saying soda versus pop, clicker versus remote... you get the idea.

This is especially important when writing science fiction and fantasy. You are crafting an entire world, so there is a lot you need to get across to your reader in a short amount of time, with as little telling as possible. So being able to show that a character is a ship engineer by how they talk, their knowledge expertise and slang, is infinitely preferable to having someone have to tell the reader "LaForge is the lead engineer on the Enterprise."

You can also add to this by reading the room-who are your characters talking to? What is the situation? Should it change your character's tone, word choice, mood? They probably speak differently to their boss than they do their friends. Or, if they don't, that can show that they are either quite close to their boss or care very little for their job.

The goal with this is to craft unique enough characters that your reader could tell who might be speaking by what they say or how they say it.

For example, if I showed a conversation between Hagrid and Dumbledore with no narrative, dialogue tags, or anything-completely made up dialogue, not from the books or movies-if you are at all familiar with the franchise, you'd probably be able to immediately tell who was who and that is on their rich, individual characterization.

There are a few crutch ways that authors tend to tell in their stories-addressing characters, using their names in dialogue unnecessarily to confirm with the reader who they are talking to, and having their character tell another information they might already be aware of because they need the reader to know and don't know how else to tell them. Phrases like "As you know" and "Remember" are a kiss of death in dialogue. Avoid these at all possible.
Avoid Long Monologues
This rule pretty much speaks for itself. If you find a character getting a bit long winded, you are most likely telling. Break it up, and consider how much actually needs to be said versus what can be shown in other ways.
Take a Light Hand To Your Accents
I separate out accents from the showing point above because, while this does certainly show a detail about your character, it is more about how they are saying something versus what they say. So instead of choosing flashlight versus torch, you are deciding whether or not to show how words might be shortened or elongated to show an accent.

With this, be aware of what your readers will prefer and what market expectations are, but the biggest consideration is how much will be helpful versus distracting. You want to convey the accent, but you also want to make sure your readers are focused on the information you are showing, not just how it is being said. If your readers are spending their time trying to pronounce your sentence, and not taking in the key message, you've gone too far.

Jamie from Outlander is a great example - there are times when words are changed to show his accent, but for the most part Ms. Gabaldon let the reader imagine the accent in favor of keeping their focus on the plot.
Keep Your Dialogue Dynamic
People lie, and so do characters-and you want to translate how nuanced conversations can be into your dialogue. So pay attention to when your characters should leave something out, lie, be vague, maybe not say anything at all. Keep the tension and plot moving with how you shape their conversations, the back and forth, keeping the readers engaged.
Dialogue Doesn't Work Alone-Coordinate!
Dialogue can't carry the emotion and pace of your novel all on its own-it is a part of a whole-so make sure you are coordinating your dialogue with the body language of your characters, setting, other characters... all the pieces of your story, to show your reader the full picture. Don't rely too much on just narrative or just dialogue, or your book is going to feel unbalanced.

A great way to spot check for this if you feel like a chapter is coming across as clunky is to take a look at the white space on your page. Does the page look empty? You might be relying too much on dialogue and not enough on narrative or action beats. Is the page one big block of text? You might have too much narrative or a long monologue that you need to break up. It is all about balance and using all the tools at your disposal to show the reader, inviting them into your world.
Pay attention to Punctuation
I know, I know, punctuation isn't sexy or fun... ever. Especially when all you want to do is focus on your plot and characters. But with dialogue, what isn't said is just as important as what is, and part of that includes the non-verbal cues you can send to your reader to show them what is happening without having to tell them. And punctuation is your answer!

So some quick and dirty rules:

All dialogue should end in some form of punctuation within the quotes. So a comma that would lead to a dialogue tag; a period if it is leading to a separate description or narrative; an exclamation or question mark (never both!) to show more feeling or emotion; an ellipses if they are hesitating or trailing off; or an em-dash if they are interrupted. What punctuation you choose will give your readers more information about what is going on, without you ever needing to tell them!

New speakers should be new paragraphs. It is signaling to the readers that a change is happening, and helps with the balance of your dialogue and page.

The start of a new sentence should be capitalized, even if it is in the middle of a narrative sentence. It is the start of a new dialogue sentence, and you want to signal that to the reader.

Read aloud
The best thing you can do to test your dialogue is read it aloud. Whether you go through your story, you have a program, or maybe a very kind family member or friend, read some, if not all, aloud. Does it flow? Does it make sense? Sound natural?

A key thing to keep in mind here is it doesn't need to sound real-again, we don't need a greeting every time a new character walks into the room or the usual small talk-but you want it to sound natural. True to how that character would speak and what they would say in that moment. NOT what the reader needs to hear in that moment.

There is a great quote from Screencraft ( link) that says, "One could argue that it's less about how real people talk and more about how real people would want to talk."

I love that. It has always stuck with me.
Read and Practice
The golden rule of writing great dialogue is read examples-both good and bad-and practice! Pull out books by a few of your favorite authors, and your least favorite, and see why. What did they do differently with their dialogue that drew you, or put you off? How can you learn from that and adapt that into your own writing?

And practice, practice, practice! Pull characters from your favorite books, your favorite tv shows, or even your own book-put them in a new setting and write a conversation. See how you can put all the above rules to the test without the pressure of knowing it is going towards your final story. Play with new techniques and see what you love, what catches your attention!

Do you have publishing or writing questions? I'd love to hear from you! Feel free to reach out on social media (links below).

Check out my YouTube channel for more tips and tricks!

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10 Rules For Writing Great Dialogue - Susan Barnes Editing

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Dialogue is an ongoing conversation (Ba-dum-dum) between authors and editors because it is one of the trickiest aspects of writing.

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Learning how to show don't tell in writing is one of the most difficult-and important-parts of writing when you first start.

It's what will give readers the coveted emotional attachment that forges true, long-lasting fans (and customers!).

Part of writing and publishing a book successfull y is ensuring you have the highest quality writing, and this rule of show don't tell is crucial for that.

When you start writing a book, it's as if everyone around you becomes the expert. They tell you to show don't tell, start with action, or even embellish your stories to sound "better."
But how do you know what advice to take...and what do those writing tips even mean Here's how to show don't tell in writing: in the first place?
We're here to help you understand showing versus telling and how that will actually help you write better and stronger.

It's safe to say that the idea of showing not telling is one all writers should pay close attention to.

Show don't tell in writing is a piece of advice that's been around for longer than you might realize. Even if it didn't have a phrase attached to it yet, the best authors out there have been using it for the duration of their careers (and even before, most likely).

1. Understand what show don't tell means

2. Learn from examples of showing versus telling

3. Cut the "sensing" words to show don't tell

4. Avoid emotional explaining when showing not telling

5. Describe body language

6. Use strong verbs to show don't tell

7. Focus on describing senses

8. Practice showing not telling every day

But although these writers knew how to In fact, it's why they're known as the best writers of all time.

bring their writing to life instinctually, not all of us are so lucky. We have to learn the process of show don't tell, which can be tricky if you don't know where to start.

Want to know which author you're most like? Take the quiz and learn more about yourself and your writing style!
But in actuality, show don't tell refers to the way in which you describe the experience you (or your character) went through.
What does show don't tell mean?

Show don't tell describes writing in various forms with an emphasis on using and showing actions in order to convey the emotions you want readers to interpret, which creates a better experience for readers, instead of writing exposition to tell what happened.
[Pssst! Want to see some of our Students' published books? Check out the SPS Library here!]﻿
By showingthe actions and relationships and feelings instead of just telling the reader what happened, the writing comes off deeper, and more meaningful. This creates a much deeper connection and brings readers closer to you (or the main character).

At a first glance, this writing rule could be confused for the best day in Kindergarten when you bring your pet lizard in to show the class.
Be on the lookout for the details.
And that makes them feel deeper and stronger about the story. It creates empathy and invests the reader - which is exactly what you need.

Writing your book introduction with an abundance of showing not telling is a powerful way to draw readers in for the duration of your entire book.

Show Don't Tell Examples:
Why this showing example is better:
These examples are pretty basic but that's the best way to gain an understanding of what this looks like. Keep in mind that your sentences may be more complex than these examples, but still full of "tell" words or phrases.

Show Don't Tell Example #1:

"I heard footsteps creeping behind me and it made the whole situation scarier."

"Crunching hit my ears from behind, accelerating the already rampant pounding of my heart."
Why this showing example is better:
In an instance such as this, you want the reader to feel what you did: the surprise and the sense of urgency, the fear.

Show Don't Tell Example #2:

"She was my best friend. I could tell her almost anything."

I met her at the town square, running in for our usual hug that carried on for far too long as we gushed about our lives with smiles lighting our faces."

The first example of is shorter, but it doesn't do a great job of really showing the impact you have on each other. Anyone can think of "best friend" and form an overall thought about what that looks like. But this isn't just "anyone." This is best friend. your relationship with one another is vital to forging that deeper connection.
It's about creating an experience for the reader instead of just a recount of events.
Why should you show don't tell in writing?

The entire point of showing versus telling in writing is to make a stronger emotional connection with your readers and hook them.

They already picked up your book for the killer title and eye-grabbing cover, but they need a reason to stay.
But it is the most vital for pulling your reader in and not only hooking them, but keeping them with you throughout the duration of your book.
The idea behind this writing technique is to put the reader in your shoes. Make them feel, hear, and sense the situation

Why is showing not telling also important for non-fiction?

If you write fiction, you hear this advice all the time. However, all of you non-fiction writers out there, this piece of writing advice might be new to you.

Show don't tell isn't always the first thing a non-fiction writer thinks of when it comes to adding more intrigue to your story.

Many fiction writers hear this writing advice often because it's one of the best ways to make real people feel deeply for fictional characters.
That's exactly what you want to avoid.
If you can show don't tell the right way, the reader won't even notice those distractions.

How to Show Don't Tell in Writing

Thankfully, we have some of the best tips for showing not telling in writing.

#1 - Get rid of all basic sensory words

Instead, you need to pull them into your world and into your psyche the very moment you were encountering the situation.

This is done by using strong verbs and other visual language.

Show Don't Tell Exercise #1:

Step 1: Read through your writing and circle every telling word you can find. Anything that explains one of the 5 senses.
Think of any word to describe an emotion. I'll help you out a little:
Step 2: Then write down specifics for each. If you heard someone creeping up behind you, how did you hear it? Was it crunching on gravel? Was it the shuffling of shoes against carpet?

Once you have these, rewrite those sections by explaining the senses manifested to you and not just you sensed (detailed below in the next writing exercise).

#2 - Don't use "emotion explaining" words

This might be a bit tricky and you certainly don't have to follow this one 100% of the time, but if you can get this right, it'll make showing versus telling so much easier to grasp.

I could go on, but I think you get the idea.

These are all great words to describe how someone felt. However, they're also very weak, unexciting ways to do so.

Show them the sweat beading your forehead as you raced to your destination. Show them the lifting of your cheeks as your lips parted way for an uncontrollable smile.

Show Don't Tell Exercise #2:

Skim through your writing and circle every word that's an emotion.
A person's actions are really a gateway to their mind and how they feel.
Then, for every emotion-explaining word you find, write down physical reactions of feeling that way.
In all honesty, a lot of this one is about having faith that your audience can put two and two together.
Once you have a small list for each circled word, use it to craft a couple of sentences to describe (and just what that looked like.
And honestly? It's also pretty boring and flat. That's the power of showing not telling.
#3 - Describe body language

One of the best ways you can show not tell in writing is to use strong descriptive language when it comes to body language.

You can tell if another person has a crush on someone just by paying attention to the way their body adjusts when in that person's presence, right?
This can be a difficult task for those who aren't sure what "strong language" looks likes, but I'll make it easier for you.
Oftentimes, we tend to over-explain in an effort to make something obvious when really, the emotion is in the guesswork; it's in allowing someone to draw their own conclusions. That over-explaining is what comes across as "telly" and not as emotionally compelling.

#4 - Use strong verbs

Showing itself can be extremely impactful, but using strong language and verbs in specific situations is even more powerful for adding depth to your story.

The way you make someone else actually how you did as you were going through the experience is to make sure the words you're using directly reflect the emotions .

Show Don't Tell Exercise #3:

Think of a situation you want to explain in your book (or maybe something you already have written out).
It's about taking one specific idea or vibe or feeling and using what you know to transform it into something that's showing not telling Showing versus telling is largely about allowing your readers to interpret what your characters are going through without just telling them. .
Take that list and start writing ways in which you can bring those emotions to life. What do those things mean for you? How would these emotions manifest during that specific time?

Now take those stronger verbs and words that depict a deeper emotion and craft your sentence or paragraph with those to reflect how you truly felt.

How does this sentence make you feel? Do you feel comfort, relaxation, and a sense that I love being there?

That was the purpose.
With regular practice (by writing every day, we suggest), you'll learn when to use telling and when to use showing in order to give the reader the best reading experience they have.
This specific example for show don't tell can be a little time-consuming at first, you will get the hang of it and these methods will soon become second nature to you.

#5 - Focus on describing senses

We told you to cut sensing words in tip #1, and that's true, but with this comes the fact that you still have to describe what your character is feeling and sensing.

This often means using all the senses you can to depict a scene.

Instead of saying, "She hated it there." you can use her senses to show the readers that emotion.

For example: writing with showing like this "The faint scent of stale cigarette smoke met her nostrils, pulling her face into a familiar grimace." allows your readers to understand that she finds where she is distasteful, without having to just say so.

#6 - Practice showing not telling every day

To master the tip of show don't tell in writing, it takes time and practice to get it right. There's a fine line of using showing versus telling in your writing.

You can even practice by reading other books and your own writing. Recognizing areas of showing can help you do it more in your own works.

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Show Don't Tell: How to Show Not Tell in Your Writing

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Learning how to show don't tell in writing is one of the most difficult-and important-parts of writing when you first start. It's what will give readers the coveted emotional attachment that forges true, long-lasting fans (and customers!).

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Oregon Promise Updates - As of 7/12/22

Awarding Update for 2022-23 Renewal Students

Oregon Promise awarding has begun for current college students who received the grant during the 2021-22 academic year and met all eligibilty requirements. Visit our Information for Recipients page for more information.

Awarding Update: Class of 2022

Oregon Promise awarding has begun for students who will start college in Fall 2022. There is no EFC/income limit for Class of 2022 applicants. Visit Oregon Promise FAQs for all details.

Class of 2022 GED graduates - apply by 7/11/22

GED® students who will graduate between March 1, 2022 - June 30, 2022 - apply for Oregon Promise NOW!
If you graduated high school prior to July 1, 2022, then unfortunately you have missed the deadline to apply.

More Updates

The application is currently closed. If you will be a high school or GED® test graduate between July 1, 2022 and June 30, 2023, the application is estimated to open mid-September 2022.

What is Oregon Promise?

Oregon Promise is a state grant that helps to cover tuition costs at any Oregon community college for recent high school graduates and GED® test graduates. Students must apply during their senior year or immediately after GED® test completion. Find your deadline here.

Who is eligible?

You must meet all of the eligibility and application requirements:

1. Submit the Oregon Promise Grant Application by the appropriate deadline.

2. Submit the FAFSA or ORSAA and list at least one Oregon community college. You must complete this by your application deadline.

Be a recent Oregon high school graduate or GED® test graduate.

Attend an Oregon community college by your required start term, based on your graduation date.

Have a 2.0 cumulative high school GPA or higher, or a 145 grade on all GED® tests.

Be an Oregon resident for at least 12 months prior to college attendance. For dependent students, your parent(s) must also live in Oregon.

Have no more than 90 college credits completed or attempted.

Students may be subject to eligibility requirements based on their Expected Family Contribution (EFC). EFC eligibility requirements are subject to change based on available funding.

When is my deadline to apply?

Most students must apply for Oregon Promise during their senior year of high school (before you graduate) - or immediately after you complete the GED® test credential.

Oregon Promise has rolling deadlines based on when the student graduates. If you will be a high school or GED® test graduate between July 1, 2022 and June 30, 2023, the application is estimated to open mid-September 2022

View the deadlines table below, or use this tool to determine your deadline.

FIND YOUR DEADLINE

DEADLINE NOTE: The deadline is 5:00 pm (PST or PDT). If a deadline falls on a weekend or holiday, it will automatically be extended to 5:00 pm (PST or PDT) on the following business day.

Graduates between Oct. 1 - Nov. 30 may apply for either Winter or Spring Term.

How do I apply?

Complete all steps by your application deadline (varies by graduation date). For most students, you MUST apply during your senior year of high school (before you graduate), or immediately after GED® test completion.

How to Apply:

1. Submit the Oregon Promise application in the OSAC Student Portal.

2. Submit the FAFSA or ORSAA for the year that you will start college. List at least one Oregon community college on the FAFSA or ORSAA.

When do I have to start college?

Most Oregon Promise students must begin attending an Oregon community college during the term immediately following your graduation date (excluding summer).

If you are graduating in the spring (March - June), you must begin attending a community college and receive the Oregon Promise Grant in FALL term. You must apply by your application deadline.

If you are graduating at another time during the year, use the Find Your Deadline tool to determine your college start term and application deadline. You may need to begin college in winter or spring term.

How long can I receive Oregon Promise?

Once awarded, you can receive Oregon Promise until you have attempted a total of 90 college credits. There is no limit to the number of years or terms you can receive the grant; it is based on the 90 credit limit. College credits earned in high school and other types of credits count toward the 90 credit limit, even if they are not paid for by Oregon Promise.

How much money will I receive?

Awards range from $2,000 to $4,128 per year (in 2022-23) for full-time students. Your Oregon Promise award amount depends on several factors.

How will I be notified if I'm awarded?

You should frequently check your award status in the OSAC Student Portal. OSAC will also notify you by email once you have been awarded. Learn more about award information on the FAQ page.

I am a current Oregon Promise recipient - how do I renew my award and remain eligible?

Oregon Promise recipients must submit a FAFSA or ORSAA each year of college by JUNE 1, in order to apply for renewal.See all requirements on the Information for Recipients page. Renewal students DO NOT complete another Oregon Promise application.

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Oregon Promise Updates - As of 7/12/22 Awarding Update for 2022-23 Renewal Students Oregon Promise awarding has begun for current college students who received the grant during the 2021-22 academic year and met all eligibilty requirements. Visit our Information for Recipients page for more information. More Updates The application is currently closed.

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apply to college with common app | your future starts here

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Apply to college with Common App | Your future starts here

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Common App is a nonprofit organization of 1000+ colleges and universities that simplifies, informs, and supports your college application journey.

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Get help writing your college application essays. Find this year's Common App writing prompts and popular essay questions used by individual colleges.

The college essay is your opportunity to show admissions officers who you are apart from your grades and test scores (and to distinguish yourself from the rest of a very talented applicant pool).

2023-24 Common App Essays

Nearly 700 colleges accept the The Common Application , which makes it easy to apply to multiple schools with just one form. If you are using the Common App to apply for college admissions, you will have 250-650 words to respond to ONE of the following prompts:

1. Some students have a background, identity, interest, or talent that is so meaningful they believe their application would be incomplete without it. If this sounds like you, then please share your story.

2. The lessons we take from obstacles we encounter can be fundamental to later success. Recount a time when you faced a challenge, setback, or failure. How did it affect you, and what did you learn from the experience?

3. Reflect on a time when you questioned or challenged a belief or idea. What prompted your thinking? What was the outcome?

4. Reflect on something that someone has done for you that has made you happy or thankful in a surprising way. How has this gratitude affected or motivated you?

5. Discuss an accomplishment, event, or realization that sparked a period of personal growth and a new understanding of yourself or others.

6. Describe a topic, idea, or concept you find so engaging that it makes you lose all track of time. Why does it captivate you? What or who do you turn to when you want to learn more?

7. Share an essay on any topic of your choice. It can be one you've already written, one that responds to a different prompt, or one of your own design.

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Tackling the Common App Essay Prompts

Prompt #1: Share your story.

Answer this prompt by reflecting on a hobby, facet of your personality, or experience that is genuinely meaningful and unique to you. Admissions officers want to feel connected to you and an honest, personal statement about who you are draws them in. Your love of superheroes, baking chops, or family history are all fair game if you can tie it back to who you are or what you believe in. Avoid a rehash of the accomplishments on your high school résumé and choose something that the admissions committee will not discover when reading the rest of your application.

Prompt #2: Learning from obstacles.

You're trying to show colleges your best self, so it might seem counterintuitive to willingly acknowledge a time you struggled. But overcoming challenges demonstrates courage, grit, and perseverance! That's why the last piece of this prompt is essential. The obstacle you write about can be large or small, but you must show the admissions committee how your perspective changed as a result.

Prompt #3: Challenging a belief.

Your answer to this question could focus on a time you stood up to others or an experience when your own preconceived view was challenged. Choose this prompt if you have a relevant-and specific!-experience to recount (and reflect on). A vague essay about a hot button issue doesn't tell the admissions committee anything useful about YOU.

Prompt #4: Reflecting on gratitude.

Colleges are looking for students with unique experiences that can enhance their future campus community, and this is your chance to share that by recognizing what someone else has done for you. Even though this prompt requires you to reflect on the action of another person, make sure that the focus remains on how the act of kindness impacted you and the way you live your life. This essay should make you and the reader smile.

Prompt #5: Personal growth.

Just like Prompt #2, the accomplishment or event you write about can be anything from a major milestone to a smaller "aha" moment. Describe the event or accomplishment that shaped you but take care to also show what you learned or how you changed. Colleges are looking for a sense of maturity and introspection-pinpoint the transformation and demonstrate your personal growth.

Prompt #6: What captivates you?

This prompt is an invitation to write about something you care about. (So avoid the pitfall of writing about what you think will impress the admission office versus what truly matters to you). Colleges are looking for curious students, who are thoughtful about the world around them. The "what or who do you turn to when you want to learn more" bit isn't an afterthought-it's a key piece of the prompt. Make sure you explain how you pursue your interest, as well.

Prompt #7: Topic of your choice.

This question might be for you if you have a dynamo personal essay from English class to share or were really inspired by a question from another college's application. You can even write your own question! Whatever topic you land on, the essentials of a standout college essay still stand: 1.) Show the admissions committee who you are beyond grades and test scores and 2.) Dig into your topic by asking yourself how and why. There isn't a prompt to guide you, so you must ask yourself the questions that will get at the heart of the story you want to tell.

More College Essay Topics

Individual schools sometimes require supplemental essays. Here are a few popular application essay topics and some tips for how to approach them:

Describe a person you admire.

Avoid the urge to pen an ode to a beloved figure like Gandhi or Abraham Lincoln. The admissions committee doesn't need to be convinced they are influential people. Focus on yourself: Choose someone who has actually caused you to change your behavior or your worldview, and write about how this person influenced you .

Why do you want to attend this school?

Be honest and specific when you respond to this question. Avoid generalities like "to get a good liberal arts education" or "to develop career skills," and use details that show your interests: "I'm an aspiring doctor and your science department has a terrific reputation." Colleges are more likely to admit students who can articulate specific reasons why the school is a good fit for them beyond its reputation or ranking on any list. Use the college's website and literature to do your research about programs, professors, and other opportunities that appeal to you.

What is a book you love?

Your answer should not be a book report. Don't just summarize the plot; detail why you enjoyed this particular text and what it meant to you. What does your favorite book reveal about you? How do you identify with it, and how has it become personal to you?

Again, be honest in answering this question-don't choose a classic from your literature class or a piece of philosophy just because you think it will make you seem smarter. Writing fluently and passionately about a book close to you is always better than writing shakily or generally about a book that doesn't inspire you.

Avoid slipping into clichés or generalities. Take this opportunity to really examine an experience that taught you something you didn't previously know about yourself, got you out of your comfort zone, or forced you to grow. Sometimes it's better to write about something that was hard for you because you learned something than it is to write about something that was easy for you because you think it sounds admirable. As with all essay questions, the most important thing is to tell a great story: how you discovered this activity, what drew you to it, and what it's shown you about yourself.

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Popular College Application Essay Topics (and How to Answer Them)

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Find out how to tackle the common application essay prompts-and get your college application to rise to the top of the pile.

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If you're applying for college via the Common App, you'll have to write an essay in response to one of seven prompts.

Here's a brief overview of the Common App essay and seven examples of effective Common App essays, along with explanations of why they work.

What is the Common Application essay?

The Common Application, or Common App, is a college application portal that is accepted by more than 900 schools.

Within the Common App is your main essay, a primary writing sample that all your prospective schools will read to evaluate your critical thinking skills and value as a student. Since this essay is read by many colleges, avoid mentioning any college names or programs. Instead, save tailored answers for the supplementary school-specific essays within the Common App.

Regardless of your prompt choice, admissions officers will look for an ability to clearly and creatively communicate your ideas based on the selected prompt.

We've provided seven essay examples, one for each of the Common App prompts. After each essay, we've provided a table with commentary on the essay's narrative, writing style and tone, demonstrated traits, and self-reflection.

Prompt 1: Background, identity, interest, or talent

This essay explores the student's emotional journey toward overcoming her father's neglect through gymnastics discipline.

Prompt 2: Overcoming challenges

This essay shows how the challenges the student faced in caring for her autistic sister resulted in an unexpected path forward in her education.

Prompt 3: Questioning a belief or idea

This essay illustrates a student's courage in challenging his culture's constructs of manhood and changing his course while positively affecting his father in the process.

Prompt 4: Appreciating an influential person

The student demonstrates how his teacher giving him an unexpected bad grade was the catalyst for his becoming a better writer.

Prompt 5: Transformative event

This student narrates how she initially went to church for a boy but instead ended up confronting her selfishness by helping others.

Prompt 6: Interest or hobby that inspires learning

This essay shows how a student's natural affinity for solving a Rubik's cube developed her self-understanding, academic achievement, and inspiration for her future career.

Prompt 7: Free topic

In this free topic essay, the student uses a montage structure inspired by the TV show Iron Chef America to demonstrate his best leadership moments.

Frequently asked questions about college application essays

What is the Common Application essay?

The Common App essay is your primary writing sample within the Common Application, a college application portal accepted by more than 900 schools. All your prospective schools that accept the Common App will read this essay to understand your character, background, and value as a potential student.

Since this essay is read by many colleges, avoid mentioning any college names or programs; instead, save tailored answers for the supplementary school-specific essays within the Common App.

How do I find my college essay topic?

To decide on a good college essay topic, spend time thoughtfully answering brainstorming questions. If you still have trouble identifying topics, try the following two strategies:

Identify your qualities → Brainstorm stories that demonstrate these qualities

Identify memorable stories → Connect your qualities to these stories

You can also ask family, friends, or mentors to help you brainstorm topics, give feedback on your potential essay topics, or recall key stories that showcase your qualities.

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Common App Essays | 7 Strong Examples with Commentary

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If you're applying for college via the Common App, you'll have to write an essay in response to one of seven prompts. Here's a brief overview of the Common App essay and seven examples of effective Common App essays, along with explanations of why they work.

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The room was silent except for the thoughts racing through my head. I led a spade from my hand and my opponent paused for a second, then played a heart. The numbers ran through my mind as I tried to consider every combination, calculating my next move. Finally, I played the ace of spades from the dummy and the rest of my clubs, securing the contract and 620 points when my partner ruffed at trick five. Next board.

It was the final of the 2015 United States Bridge Federation Under-26 Women's Championship. The winning team would be selected to represent the United States in the world championship and my team was still in the running.

Contract bridge is a strategic and stochastic card game. Players from around the world gather at local clubs, regional events, and, in this case, national tournaments.

Going into the tournament, my team was excited; all the hours we had put into the game, from the lengthy midnight Skype sessions spent discussing boards to the coffee shop meetings spent memorizing conventions together, were about to pay off.

Halfway through, our spirits were still high, as we were only down by fourteen international match points which, out of the final total of about four hundred points, was virtually nothing and it was very feasible to catch up. Our excitement was short-lived, however, as sixty boards later, we found that we had lost the match and would not be chosen as the national team.

Initially, we were devastated. We had come so close and it seemed as if all the hours we had devoted to training had been utterly wasted. Yet as our team spent some time together reflecting upon the results, we gradually realized that the true value that we had gained wasn't only the prospect of winning the national title, but also the time we had spent together exploring our shared passion. I chatted with the winning team and even befriended a few of them who offered us encouragement and advice.

Throughout my bridge career, although I've gained a respectable amount of masterpoints and awards, I've realized that the real reward comes from the extraordinary people I have met. I don't need to travel cross-country to learn; every time I sit down at a table whether it be during a simple club game, a regional tournament or a national event, I find I'm always learning.

I nod at the pair that's always yelling at each other. They teach me the importance of sportsmanship and forgiveness.

I greet the legally blind man who can defeat most of the seeing players. He reminds me not to make excuses.

I chat with the friendly, elderly couple who, at ages ninety and ninety-two, have just gotten married two weeks ago. They teach me that it's never too late to start anything.

I talk to the boy who's attending Harvard and the girl who forewent college to start her own company. They show me that there is more than one path to success.

I congratulate the little kid running to his dad, excited to have won his very first masterpoints. He reminds me of the thrill of every first time and to never stop trying new things.

Just as much as I have benefitted from these life lessons, I aspire to give back to my bridge community as much as it has given me. I aspire to teach people how to play this complicated yet equally as exciting game. I aspire to never stop improving myself, both at and away from the bridge table.

Bridge has given me my roots and dared me to dream. What started as merely a hobby has become a community, a passion, a part of my identity. I aspire to live selflessly and help others reach their goals. I seek to take risks, embrace all results, even failure, and live unfettered from my own doubt.
Analysis:
Growing up, I always wanted to eat, play, visit, watch, and be it all: sloppy joes and spaetzle, Beanie Babies and Steiff, Cape Cod and the Baltic Sea, football and fussball, American and German.

My American parents relocated our young family to Berlin when I was three years old. My exposure to America was limited to holidays spent stateside and awfully dubbed Disney Channel broadcasts. As the few memories I had of living in the US faded, my affinity for Germany grew. I began to identify as "Germerican," an ideal marriage of the two cultures. As a child, I viewed my biculturalism as a blessing. I possessed a native fluency in "Denglisch" and my family's Halloween parties were legendary at a time when the holiday was just starting to gain popularity outside of the American Sector.

Insidiously, the magic I once felt in loving two homes was replaced by a deep-rooted sense of rootlessness. I stopped feeling American when, while discussing World War II with my grandmother, I said "the US won." She corrected me, insisting I use "we" when referring to the US's actions. Before then, I hadn't realized how directly people associated themselves with their countries. I stopped feeling German during the World Cup when my friends labeled me a "bandwagon fan" for rooting for Germany. Until that moment, my cheers had felt sincere. I wasn't part of the "we" who won World Wars or World Cups. Caught in a twilight of foreign and familiar, I felt emotionally and psychologically disconnected from the two cultures most familiar to me.

After moving from Berlin to New York at age fifteen, my feelings of cultural homelessness thrived in my new environment. Looking and sounding American furthered my feelings of dislocation. Border patrol agents, teachers, classmates, neighbors, and relatives all "welcomed me home" to a land they could not understand was foreign to me. Americans confused me as I relied on Urban Dictionary to understand my peers, the Pledge of Allegiance seemed nationalistic, and the only thing familiar about Fahrenheit was the German after whom it was named. Too German for America and too American for Germany, I felt alienated from both. I wanted desperately to be a member of one, if not both, cultures.

During my first weeks in Scarsdale, I spent my free time googling "Berlin Family Seeks Teen" and "New Americans in Scarsdale." The latter search proved most fruitful: I discovered Horizons, a nonprofit that empowers resettled refugees, or "New Americans," to thrive. I started volunteering with Horizon's children's programs, playing with and tutoring young refugees.

It was there that I met Emily, a twelve-year-old Iraqi girl who lived next to Horizons. In between games and snacks, Emily would ask me questions about American life, touching on everything from Halloween to President Obama. Gradually, my confidence in my American identity grew as I recognized my ability to answer most of her questions. American culture was no longer completely foreign to me. I found myself especially qualified to work with young refugees; my experience growing up in a country other than that of my parents' was similar enough to that of the refugee children Horizons served that I could empathize with them and offer advice. Together, we worked through conflicting allegiances, homesickness, and stretched belonging.

Forging a special, personal bond with young refugees proved a cathartic outlet for my insecurities as it taught me to value my past. My transculturalism allowed me to help young refugees integrate into American life, and, in doing so, I was able to adjust myself. Now, I have an appreciation of myself that I never felt before. "Home" isn't the digits in a passport or ZIP code but a sense of contentedness. By helping a young refugee find comfort, happiness, and home in America, I was finally able to find those same things for myself.
Analysis:
Due to their endearing (and creative) use of language-with early phrases like "sloppy joes and spaetzle" as well as "Germerican" and "Denglisch"-readers are inclined to like this writer from the get-go. Though the essay shifts from this lighthearted introduction to more serious subject matter around the third paragraph, the shift is not abrupt or jarring. This is because the student invites readers to feel the transition with them through their inclusion of various anecdotes that inspired their "feelings of cultural homelessness." And our journey does not end there-we go back to America with the student and see how their former struggles become strengths.

Ultimately, this essay is successful due to its satisfying ending. Because readers experience the student's struggles with them, we also feel the resolution. The conclusion of this essay is a prime example of the "Same, but Different" technique described in our article on How to End Your College Essay . As the student describes how, in the end, their complicated cultural identity still exists but transitions to a source of strength, readers are left feeling happy for the student. This means that they have formed a connection with the student, which is the ultimate goal!

Prompt #1, Example #3

"1...2...3...4 pirouettes ! New record!" My friends cheered as I landed my turns. Pleased with my progress, I gazed down at my worn-out pointe shoes. The sweltering blisters, numbing ice-baths, and draining late-night practices did not seem so bad after all. Next goal: five turns.

For as long as I can remember, ballet, in all its finesse and glamor, had kept me driven day to day. As a child, the lithe ballerinas, donning ethereal costumes as they floated across the stage, were my motivation. While others admired Messi and Adele, I idolized Carlos Acosta, principal dancer of the Royal Ballet.

As I devoted more time and energy towards my craft, I became obsessed with improving my technique. I would stretch for hours after class, forcing my leg one inch higher in an effort to mirror the Dance Magazine cover girls I injured my feet and ruined pair after pair of pointe shoes, turning on wood, cement, and even grass to improve my balance as I spun. At competitions, the dancers with the 180-degree leg extensions, endless turns, and soaring leaps-the ones who received "Bravos!" from the roaring audience-further pushed me to refine my skills and perfect my form. I believed that, with enough determination, I would one day attain their level of perfection. Reaching the quadruple- milestone only intensified my desire to accomplish even more.

My efforts seemed to have come to fruition two summers ago when I was accepted to dance with Moscow's Bolshoi Ballet at their renowned New York City summer intensive. I walked into my first session eager to learn from distinguished ballet masters and worldly dancers, already anticipating my improvement. Yet, as I danced alongside the accomplished ballerinas, I felt out of place. Despite their clean technique and professional training, they did not aim for glorious leg extensions or prodigious leaps. When they performed their turn combinations, most of them only executed two turns as I attempted four.

Taken aback and confused, I wondered why our teacher expected so little from us. The other ballerinas seemed content, gracing the studio with their simple movements.

As I grew closer with my Moscow roommates, I gradually learned that their training emphasized the history of the art form instead of stylistic tricks. Rather than show off their physical ability, their performances aimed to convey a story, one that embodied the rich culture of ballet and captured both the legacy of the dancers before them and their own artistry. As I observed my friends more intently in repertoire class, I felt the pain of the grief-stricken white swan from , the sass of the flirtatious Kitri from Don Quijote, and I gradually saw what I had overlooked before. My definition of talent had been molded by crowd-pleasing elements-whirring pirouettes , gravity-defying leaps, and mind-blowing leg extensions. This mindset slowly stripped me from the roots of my passion and my personal connection with ballet.

With the Bolshoi, I learned to step back and explore the meaning behind each step and the people behind the scenes. Ballet carries history in its movements, from the societal values of the era to each choreographer's unique flair. As I uncovered the messages behind each kick, and jump, my appreciation for ballet grew beyond my obsession with raw athleticism and developed into a love for the art form's emotive abilities in bridging the dancers with the audience. My journey as an artist has allowed me to see how technical execution is only the means to a greater understanding between dancer and spectator, between storyteller and listener. The elegance and complexity of ballet does not revolve around astonishing stunts but rather the evocative strength and artistry manifested in the dancer, in me. It is the combination of sentiments, history, tradition, and passion that has allowed ballet and its lessons of human connection to become my lifestyle both on and off stage.
Analysis:
My paintbrush dragged a flurry of acrylic, the rich colors attaching to each groove in my canvas's texture. The feeling was euphoric.

From a young age, painting has been my solace. Between the stress of my packed high school days filled with classes and extracurriculars, the glide of my paintbrush was my emotional outlet.

I opened a fresh canvas and began. The amalgamation of assorted colors in my palette melded harmoniously: dark and light, cool and warm, brilliant and dull. They conjoined, forming shades and surfaces sharp, smooth, and ridged. The textures of my paint strokes - powdery, glossy, jagged - gave my painting a tone, as if it had a voice of its own, sometimes shrieking, sometimes whispering.

Rough indigo blue. The repetitive upward pulls of my brush formed layers on my canvas. Staring into the deep blue, I felt transported to the bottom of the pool I swim in daily. I looked upward to see a layer of dense water between myself and the person I aspire to be, an ideal blurred by filmy ripples. Rough blue encapsulates my amorphous, conflicting identity, catalyzed by words spewed by my peers about my "oily hair" and "smelly food". They caused my ever present disdain toward cultural assemblies; the I wore felt burdensome. My identity quivers like the indigo storm I painted - a duel between my self-deprecating, validation-seeking self, and the proud self I desire to be. My haphazard paint strokes released my internal turbulence.

Smooth orange-hued green. I laid the color in melodious strokes, forming my figure. The warmer green transitions from the rough blue - while they share elements, they also diverge. My firm brushstrokes felt like the way I felt on my first day as a media intern at KBOO, my local volunteer-driven radio station, committed to the voices of the marginalized. As a naturally introverted speaker, I was forced out of my comfort zone when tasked with documenting a KBOO art exhibition for social media, speaking with hosts to share their diverse, underrepresented backgrounds and inspirations. A rhythmic green strength soon shoved me past internal blue turbulence. My communication skills which were built by two years of Speech and Debate unleashed - I recognized that making a social change through media required amplifying unique voices and perspectives, both my own and others. The powerful green strokes that fill my canvas entrench my growth.

Bright, voluminous coral, hinted with magenta and yellow. I dabbed the color over my figure, giving my painting dimension. The paint, speckled, added depth on every inch it coated. As I moved the color in random but purposeful movements, the vitality ushered into my painting brought a smile across my face. It reminded me of the encounters I had with my cubicle-mate in my sophomore year academic autism research internship, seemingly insignificant moments in my lifelong journey that, in retrospect, wove unique threads into my tapestry. The kindness she brought into work inspired my compassion, while her stories of struggling with ADHD in the workplace bolstered my empathy towards different experiences. Our conversations added blobs of a nonuniform bright color in my painting, binding a new perspective in me.

I added in my final strokes, each contributing an element to my piece. As I scanned my canvas, I observed these elements. Detail added nuance into smaller pictures; they embodied complexities within color, texture, and hue, each individually delivering a narrative. But together, they formed a piece of art- art that could be interpreted as a whole or broken apart but still delivering as a means of communication.

I find beauty in media because of this. I can adapt a complex narrative to be deliverable, each component telling a story. Appreciating these nuances - the light, dark, smooth, and rough - has cultivated my growth mindset. My life-long painting never finishes. It is ever-expanding, absorbing the novel textures and colors I encounter daily.
Analysis: Analysis:
Prompt #2: The lessons we take from obstacles we encounter can be fundamental to later success. Recount a time when you faced a challenge, setback, or failure. How did it affect you, and what did you learn from the experience?

Prompt #2, Example #1

"You ruined my life!" After months of quiet anger, my brother finally confronted me. To my shame, I had been appallingly ignorant of his pain.

Despite being twins, Max and I are profoundly different. Having intellectual interests from a young age that, well, interested very few of my peers, I often felt out of step in comparison with my highly-social brother. Everything appeared to come effortlessly for Max and, while we share an extremely tight bond, his frequent time away with friends left me feeling more and more alone as we grew older.

When my parents learned about The Green Academy, we hoped it would be an opportunity for me to find not only an academically challenging environment, but also - perhaps more importantly - a community. This meant transferring the family from Drumfield to Kingston. And while there was concern about Max, we all believed that given his sociable nature, moving would be far less impactful on him than staying put might be on me.

As it turned out, Green Academy was everything I'd hoped for. I was ecstatic to discover a group of students with whom I shared interests and could truly engage. Preoccupied with new friends and a rigorous course load, I failed to notice that the tables had turned. Max, lost in the fray and grappling with how to make connections in his enormous new high school, had become withdrawn and lonely. It took me until Christmas time - and a massive argument - to recognize how difficult the transition had been for my brother, let alone that he blamed me for it.

Through my own journey of searching for academic peers, in addition to coming out as gay when I was 12, I had developed deep empathy for those who had trouble fitting in. It was a pain I knew well and could easily relate to. Yet after Max's outburst, my first response was to protest that our parents - not I - had chosen to move us here. In my heart, though, I knew that regardless of who had made the decision, we ended up in Kingston for my benefit. I was ashamed that, while I saw myself as genuinely compassionate, I had been oblivious to the heartache of the person closest to me. I could no longer ignore it - and I didn't want to.

We stayed up half the night talking, and the conversation took an unexpected turn. Max opened up and shared that it wasn't just about the move. He told me how challenging school had always been for him, due to his dyslexia, and that the ever-present comparison to me had only deepened his pain.

We had been in parallel battles the whole time and, yet, I only saw that Max was in distress once he experienced problems with which I directly identified. I'd long thought Max had it so easy - all because he had friends. The truth was, he didn't need to experience my personal brand of sorrow in order for me to relate - he had felt plenty of his own.

My failure to recognize Max's suffering brought home for me the profound universality and diversity of personal struggle; everyone has insecurities, everyone has woes, and everyone - most certainly - has pain. I am acutely grateful for the conversations he and I shared around all of this, because I believe our relationship has been fundamentally strengthened by a deeper understanding of one another. Further, this experience has reinforced the value of constantly striving for deeper sensitivity to the hidden struggles of those around me. I won't make the mistake again of assuming that the surface of someone's life reflects their underlying story.
Analysis:
Here is a prime example that you don't have to have fabulous imagery or flowery prose to write a successful Common App essay. You just have to be clear and say something that matters. This essay is simple and beautiful. It almost feels like having a conversation with a friend and learning that they are an even better person than you already thought they were.

Through this narrative, readers learn a lot about the writer-where they're from, what their family life is like, what their challenges were as a kid, and even their sexuality. We also learn a lot about their values-notably, the value they place on awareness, improvement, and consideration of others. Though they never explicitly state it (which is great because it is still crystal clear!), this student's ending of "I won't make the mistake again of assuming that the surface of someone's life reflects their underlying story" shows that they are constantly striving for improvement and finding lessons anywhere they can get them in life.

The only part of this essay that could use a bit of work is the introduction. A short introduction can be effective, but this short first paragraph feels thrown in at the last minute and like it is missing its second half. If you are keeping your introduction short, make it matter.

Fire!

Was I no longer the beloved daughter of nature, whisperer of trees? Knee-high rubber boots, camouflage, bug spray-I wore the garb and perfume of a proud wild woman, yet there I was, hunched over the pathetic pile of stubborn sticks, utterly stumped, on the verge of tears. As a child, I had considered myself a kind of rustic princess, a cradler of spiders and centipedes, who was serenaded by mourning doves and chickadees, who could glide through tick-infested meadows and emerge Lyme-free. I knew the cracks of the earth like the scars on my own rough palms. Yet here I was, ten years later, incapable of performing the most fundamental outdoor task: I could not, for the life of me, start a fire.

Furiously I rubbed the twigs together-rubbed and rubbed until shreds of skin flaked from my fingers. No smoke. The twigs were too young, too sticky-green; I tossed them away with a shower of curses, and began tearing through the underbrush in search of a more flammable collection. My efforts were fruitless. Livid, I bit a rejected twig, determined to prove that the forest had spurned me, offering only young, wet bones that would never burn. But the wood cracked like carrots between my teeth-old, brittle, and bitter. Roaring and nursing my aching palms, I retreated to the tent, where I sulked and awaited the jeers of my family.

Rattling their empty worm cans and reeking of fat fish, my brother and cousins swaggered into the campsite. Immediately, they noticed the minor stick massacre by the fire pit and called to me, their deep voices already sharp with contempt.

"Where's the fire, Princess Clara?" they taunted. "Having some trouble?" They prodded me with the ends of the chewed branches and, with a few effortless scrapes of wood on rock, sparked a red and roaring flame. My face burned long after I left the fire pit. The camp stank of salmon and shame.

In the tent, I pondered my failure. Was I so dainty? Was I that incapable? I thought of my hands, how calloused and capable they had been, how tender and smooth they had become. It had been years since I'd kneaded mud between my fingers; instead of scaling a white pine, I'd practiced scales on my piano, my hands softening into those of a musician-fleshy and sensitive. And I'd gotten glasses, having grown horrifically nearsighted; long nights of dim lighting and thick books had done this. I couldn't remember the last time I had lain down on a hill, barefaced, and seen the stars without having to squint. Crawling along the edge of the tent, a spider confirmed my transformation-he disgusted me, and I felt an overwhelming urge to squash him.

Yet, I realized I hadn't really changed-I had only shifted perspective. I still eagerly explored new worlds, but through poems and prose rather than pastures and puddles. I'd grown to prefer the boom of a bass over that of a bullfrog, learned to coax a different kind of fire from wood, having developed a burn for writing rhymes and scrawling hypotheses.

That night, I stayed up late with my journal and wrote about the spider I had decided not to kill. I had tolerated him just barely, only shrieking when he jumped-it helped to watch him decorate the corners of the tent with his delicate webs, knowing that he couldn't start fires, either. When the night grew cold and the embers died, my words still smoked-my hands burned from all that scrawling-and even when I fell asleep, the ideas kept sparking-I was on fire, always on fire.
Analysis:
This Common App essay is well-written. The student is showing the admissions officers their ability to articulate their points beautifully and creatively. It starts with vivid images like that of the "rustic princess, a cradler of spiders and centipedes, who was serenaded by mourning doves and chickadees, who could glide through tick-infested meadows and emerge Lyme-free." And because the prose is flowery, the writer can get away with metaphors like "I knew the cracks of the earth like the scars on my own rough palms" that might sound cheesy without the clear command of the English language that the writer quickly establishes.

In addition to being well-written, this essay is thematically cohesive. It begins with the simple introduction "Fire!" and ends with the following image: "When the night grew cold and the embers died, my words still smoked-my hands burned from all that scrawling-and even when I fell asleep, the ideas kept sparking-I was on fire, always on fire." This full-circle approach leaves readers satisfied and impressed.

While dialogue often comes off as cliche or trite, this student effectively incorporates their family members saying "Where's the fire, Princess Clara?" This is achieved through the apt use of the verb "taunted" to characterize the questioning and through the question's thematic connection to the earlier image of the student as a rustic princess. Similarly, rhetorical questions can feel randomly placed in essays, but this student's inclusion of the questions "Was I so dainty?" and "Was I that incapable?" feels perfectly justified after they establish that they were pondering their failure.

Quite simply, this essay shows how quality writing can make a simple story outstandingly compelling.

Prompt #3: Reflect on a time when you questioned or challenged a belief or idea. What prompted your thinking? What was the outcome?

Prompt #3, Example #1

When I was younger, I was adamant that no two foods on my plate touch. As a result, I often used a second plate to prevent such an atrocity. In many ways, I learned to separate different things this way from my older brothers, Nate and Rob. Growing up, I idolized both of them. Nate was a performer, and I insisted on arriving early to his shows to secure front row seats, refusing to budge during intermission for fear of missing anything. Rob was a three-sport athlete, and I attended his games religiously, waving worn-out foam cougar paws and cheering until my voice was hoarse. My brothers were my role models. However, while each was talented, neither was interested in the other's passion. To me, they represented two contrasting ideals of what I could become: artist or athlete. I believed I had to choose.

And for a long time, I chose athlete. I played soccer, basketball, and lacrosse and viewed myself exclusively as an athlete, believing the arts were not for me. I conveniently overlooked that since the age of five, I had been composing stories for my family for Christmas, gifts that were as much for me as them, as I loved writing. So when in tenth grade, I had the option of taking a creative writing class, I was faced with a question: could I be an athlete and a writer? After much debate, I enrolled in the class, feeling both apprehensive and excited. When I arrived on the first day of school, my teacher, Ms. Jenkins, asked us to write down our expectations for the class. After a few minutes, eraser shavings stubbornly sunbathing on my now-smudged paper, I finally wrote, "I do not expect to become a published writer from this class. I just want this to be a place where I can write freely."

Although the purpose of the class never changed for me, on the third "submission day," - our time to submit writing to upcoming contests and literary magazines - I faced a predicament. For the first two submission days, I had passed the time editing earlier pieces, eventually (pretty quickly) resorting to screen snake when hopelessness made the words look like hieroglyphics. I must not have been as subtle as I thought, as on the third of these days, Ms. Jenkins approached me. After shifting from excuse to excuse as to why I did not submit my writing, I finally recognized the real reason I had withheld my work: I was scared. I did not want to be different, and I did not want to challenge not only others' perceptions of me, but also my own. I yielded to Ms. Jenkin's pleas and sent one of my pieces to an upcoming contest.

By the time the letter came, I had already forgotten about the contest. When the flimsy white envelope arrived in the mail, I was shocked and ecstatic to learn that I had received 2nd place in a nationwide writing competition. The next morning, however, I discovered Ms. Jenkins would make an announcement to the whole school exposing me as a poet. I decided to own this identity and embrace my friends' jokes and playful digs, and over time, they have learned to accept and respect this part of me. I have since seen more boys at my school identifying themselves as writers or artists.

I no longer see myself as an athlete and a poet independently, but rather I see these two aspects forming a single inseparable identity - me. Despite their apparent differences, these two disciplines are quite similar, as each requires creativity and devotion. I am still a poet when I am lacing up my cleats for soccer practice and still an athlete when I am building metaphors in the back of my mind - and I have realized ice cream and gummy bears taste pretty good together.
Analysis:
This essay is cohesive as it centers around the theme of identity and the ability for two identities to coexist simultaneously (an interesting theme!). It uses the Full Circle ending strategy as it starts with a metaphor about food touching and ends with "I have realized ice cream and gummy bears taste pretty good together."

The main issue with this essay is that it could come off as cliché, which could be irritating for admissions officers. The story described is notably similar to High School Musical ("I decided to own this identity and embrace my friends' jokes and playful digs, and over time, they have learned to accept and respect this part of me") and feels slightly overstated.

At times, this essay is also confusing. In the first paragraph, it feels like the narrative is actually going to be about separating your food (and is somehow going to relate to the older brothers?). It is not entirely clear that this is a metaphor. Also, when the writer references the third submission day and then works backward to explain what a submission day is and that there are multiple throughout the semester, the timeline gets unnecessarily confusing. Reworking the way this paragraph unfolded would have been more compelling and less distracting.

Overall, this essay was interesting but could have been more polished to be more effective.

Prompt #4: Describe a problem you've solved or a problem you'd like to solve. It can be an intellectual challenge, a research query, an ethical dilemma - anything that is of personal importance, no matter the scale. Explain its significance to you and what steps you took or could be taken to identify a solution.

Prompt #4, Example #1

"Advanced females ages 13 to 14 please proceed to staging with your coaches at this time."

Skittering around the room, eyes wide and pleading, I frantically explained my situation to nearby coaches. The seconds ticked away in my head; every polite refusal increased my desperation.

Despair weighed me down. I sank to my knees as a stream of competitors, coaches, and officials flowed around me. My dojang had no coach, and the tournament rules prohibited me from competing without one.

Although I wanted to remain strong, doubts began to cloud my mind. I could not help wondering: what was the point of perfecting my skills if I would never even compete? The other members of my team, who had found coaches minutes earlier, attempted to comfort me, but I barely heard their words. They couldn't understand my despair at being left on the outside, and I never wanted them to understand.

Since my first lesson 12 years ago, the members of my dojang have become family. I have watched them grow up, finding my own happiness in theirs. Together, we have honed our kicks, blocks, and strikes. We have pushed one another to aim higher and become better martial artists. Although my dojang had searched for a reliable coach for years, we had not found one. When we attended competitions in the past, my teammates and I had always gotten lucky and found a sympathetic coach. Now, I knew this practice was unsustainable. It would devastate me to see the other members of my dojang in my situation, unable to compete and losing hope as a result. My dojang needed a coach, and I decided it was up to me to find one.

I first approached the adults in the dojang - both instructors and members' parents. However, these attempts only reacquainted me with polite refusals. Everyone I asked told me they couldn't devote multiple weekends per year to competitions. I soon realized that I would have become the coach myself.

At first, the inner workings of tournaments were a mystery to me. To prepare myself for success as a coach, I spent the next year as an official and took coaching classes on the side. I learned everything from motivational strategies to technical, behind-the-scenes components of Taekwondo competitions. Though I emerged with new knowledge and confidence in my capabilities, others did not share this faith.

Parents threw me disbelieving looks when they learned that their children's coach was only a child herself. My self-confidence was my armor, deflecting their surly glances. Every armor is penetrable, however, and as the relentless barrage of doubts pounded my resilience, it began to wear down. I grew unsure of my own abilities.

Despite the attack, I refused to give up. When I saw the shining eyes of the youngest students preparing for their first competition, I knew I couldn't let them down. To quit would be to set them up to be barred from competing like I was. The knowledge that I could solve my dojang's longtime problem motivated me to overcome my apprehension.

Now that my dojang flourishes at competitions, the attacks on me have weakened, but not ended. I may never win the approval of every parent; at times, I am still tormented by doubts, but I find solace in the fact that members of my dojang now only worry about competing to the best of their abilities.

Now, as I arrive at a tournament with my students, I close my eyes and remember the past. I visualize the frantic search for a coach and the chaos amongst my teammates as we competed with one another to find coaches before the staging calls for our respective divisions. I open my eyes to the exact opposite scene. Lacking a coach hurt my ability to compete, but I am proud to know that no member of my dojang will have to face that problem again.
Analysis:
This essay is great because it has a strong introduction and a strong conclusion. The introduction is notably suspenseful and draws readers into the story. Because we know it is a college essay, we can assume that the student is one of the competitors, but at the same time, this introduction feels intentionally ambiguous as if the writer could be a competitor, a coach, a sibling of a competitor, or anyone else in the situation.

As we continue reading the essay, we learn that the writer is, in fact, the competitor. Readers also learn a lot about the student's values as we hear their thoughts: "I knew I couldn't let them down. To quit would be to set them up to be barred from competing like I was." Ultimately, the conflict and inner and outer turmoil is resolved through the "Same, but Different" ending technique as the student places themself in the same environment that we saw in the intro, but experiencing it differently due to their actions throughout the narrative. This is a very compelling strategy!

The main weakness of this essay is that it is slightly confusing at times-how the other students found coaches feels unintentionally under-explained (a simple phrase like "through pleading and attracting sympathy" in the fourth paragraph could have served the writer well) and a dojang is never defined. Additionally, the turn of the essay or "volta" could've packed a bigger punch. It is put quite simply with "I soon realized that I would have become the coach myself." A more suspenseful reveal could've served the author well because more drama did come later.

Prompt #5, Example #1

Tears streamed down my face and my mind was paralyzed with fear. Sirens blared, but the silent panic in my own head was deafening. I was muted by shock. A few hours earlier, I had anticipated a vacation in Washington, D.C., but unexpectedly, I was rushing to the hospital behind an ambulance carrying my mother. As a fourteen-year-old from a single mother household, without a driver's license, and seven hours from home, I was distraught over the prospect of losing the only parent I had. My fear turned into action as I made some of the bravest decisions of my life.

Three blood transfusions later, my mother's condition was stable, but we were still states away from home, so I coordinated with my mother's doctors in North Carolina to schedule the emergency operation that would save her life. Throughout her surgery, I anxiously awaited any word from her surgeon, but each time I asked, I was told that there had been another complication or delay. Relying on my faith and positive attitude, I remained optimistic that my mother would survive and that I could embrace new responsibilities.

My mother had been a source of strength for me, and now I would be strong for her through her long recovery ahead. As I started high school, everyone thought the crisis was over, but it had really just started to impact my life. My mother was often fatigued, so I assumed more responsibility, juggling family duties, school, athletics, and work. I made countless trips to the neighborhood pharmacy, cooked dinner, biked to the grocery store, supported my concerned sister, and provided the loving care my mother needed to recover. I didn't know I was capable of such maturity and resourcefulness until it was called upon. Each day was a stage in my gradual transformation from dependence to relative independence.

Throughout my mother's health crisis, I matured by learning to put others' needs before my own. As I worried about my mother's health, I took nothing for granted, cherished what I had, and used my daily activities as motivation to move forward. I now take ownership over small decisions such as scheduling daily appointments and managing my time but also over major decisions involving my future, including the college admissions process. Although I have become more independent, my mother and I are inseparably close, and the realization that I almost lost her affects me daily. Each morning, I wake up ten minutes early simply to eat breakfast with my mother and spend time with her before our busy days begin. I am aware of how quickly life can change. My mother remains a guiding force in my life, but the feeling of empowerment I discovered within myself is the ultimate form of my independence. Though I thought the summer before my freshman year would be a transition from middle school to high school, it was a transformation from childhood to adulthood.
Analysis:
This essay feels real and tells readers a lot about the writer. To start at the beginning, the intro is 10/10. It has drama, it has emotions, and it has the reader wanting more.

And, when you keep going, you get to learn a lot about a very resilient and mature student. Through sentences like "I made countless trips to the neighborhood pharmacy, cooked dinner, biked to the grocery store, supported my concerned sister, and provided the loving care my mother needed to recover" and "Relying on my faith and positive attitude, I remained optimistic that my mother would survive and that I could embrace new responsibilities," the reader shows us that they are aware of their resilience and maturity, but are not arrogant about it. It is simply a fact that they have proven!

Sometimes writing about adversity can feel exploitative or oddly braggy. This student backs up everything they say with anecdotes that prove and show their strength and resilience, rather than just claiming their strengths. When I read this essay, I want to cheer for its writer! And I want to be able to continue cheering for them (perhaps, if I were an admissions officer, that would make me want them at my school!).

Prompt #5, Example #2

Armed with a red pen, I slowly walked across the room to a small, isolated table with pink stools. Swinging her legs, my young student beamed and giggled at me, slamming her pencil bag on the table and bending over to pick up one of her toys. Natalie always brought some new toy with her to lessons-toys which I would sternly take away from her and place under the table until she finished her work. At the tutoring center where I work, a strict emphasis on discipline leaves no room for paper crowns or rubber chickens.

Today, she had with her a large stuffed eagle from a museum. As she pulled out her papers, I slid the eagle to the other side of the table. She looked eagerly around, attempting to chat with other students as I impatiently called her attention to her papers. "I should name my eagle," she chimed, waving her pencil in the air. I cringed-there was no wondering why Natalie always had to sit by herself. She was the antithesis of my academic values, and undoubtedly the greatest adversary of my teaching style.

As the lesson progressed, Natalie became more fitful; she refused to release her feathered friend, and kept addressing the bird for help with difficult problems. We both grew increasingly more frustrated. Determined to tame this wryly, wiggling student, I stood my ground, set on converting this disobedient child to my calm, measured ways of study.

As time slowly crept by, I noticed that despite Natalie's cheerful tone and bright smile, the stuffed eagle was troublesomely quiet and stern-faced. Much like myself. Both the eagle and I were getting nowhere in this lesson-so we hatched a quick plan. Lifting the eagle up in the air, I started reading in my best impersonation of an eagle, squawking my way through a spelling packet. The result provided a sense of instant gratification I never knew I needed. She sang out every letter, clapped her hands at every page, and followed along with the eagle, stopping at every few letters to declare that "E is for eagle" and pet her teacher fondly on the beak.

Despite my ostensibly dissatisfied attitude toward my students, I did not join the tutoring center simply to earn money. I had always aspired to help others achieve their fullest potential. As a young adult, I felt that it was time for me to step out of the role of a pupil and into the influential role of a teacher, naively believing that I had the maturity and skill to adapt to any situation and help these students reach their highest achievements academically. For the most part, the role of a stern-faced, strict instructor helped me get by in the workplace, and while my students never truly looked happy, I felt that it was part of the process of conditioning a child to learn.

Ironically, my transition to adulthood was the result of a stuffed animal. It was indisputable that I always had the skill to instruct others; the only thing needed to instruct someone is knowledge of the subject. However, it was only upon being introduced to a stuffed bird in which I realized that students receive the most help not from instructors, but While almost anyone can learn material and spit it back out for someone, it takes the maturity and passion of a teacher not only to help students improve in their students, but also to motivate them and develop them into better citizens. From my young pupil and her little bird, I have undergone a change in attitude which reflects a growth in maturity and ability to improve the lives of others that I hope to implement in my future role as a student, activist, and physician. My newfound maturity taught me that the letter "e" stands for many things: empathy, experience, enthusiasm, and eagle.
Analysis:
In this essay, the student effectively explores their values (and how they learned them!) then identifies these values through a reflective conclusion. While the writer humbly recognizes the initial faults in their teaching style, they do not position their initial discipline or rigidity as mean or poorly intentioned-simply ineffective. This is important because, when you are discussing a transition like this, you don't want admissions officers to think of you as having been a bad person.

My favorite part about this essay is its subtlety. The major shift in the essay comes through the simple sentence "The result provided a sense of instant gratification I never knew I needed." The facts of this narrative are not too complicated. Simply put, the writer was strict then learned that it's sometimes more effective not to be strict. The complexity of this narrative comes through reflection. Notably, through the ending, the student identifies their values (which they hadn't given a name to before): "it takes the maturity and passion of a teacher not only to help students improve in their students, but also to motivate them and develop them into better citizens."

The final sentence of this essay ties things up very nicely. Readers are left satisfied with the essay and convinced that its writer is a kind human with a large capacity for reflection and consideration. That is a great image to paint of yourself!

Prompt #5, Example #3

When it's quiet, I can still hear the Friday night gossip and giggles of my friends. It's a stark contrast from the environment I've known all my life, my home. My family has always been one to keep to themselves; introverts with a hard-working mentality-my father especially. He spent most of his time at work and growing up without him around, I came to be at peace with the fact that I'd probably never really get to know him. The thought didn't bother me at the time because I felt that we were very different. He was stoic and traditional; I was trying to figure out who I was and explore my interests. His disapproval of the American music I listened to and my penchant for wearing hand-me-downs made me see him as someone who wanted to restrain my individuality. That explains why I relied heavily on my friends throughout middle and high school; they liked me for who I was. I figured I would get lonely without my friends during quarantine, but these last few months stuck at home gave me the time to make a new friend: my father.

It was June. I had the habit of sleeping with my windows open so I wouldn't need to set an alarm; the warmth of the sun and the sounds of the neighborhood children playing outside would wake me. One morning, however, it was not the chirping of birds or the laughter of children I awoke to, but the shrill of a saw. Through the window screen, on the grass below, my father stood cutting planks of wood. I was confused but didn't question him-what he did with his time was none of my business. It was not until the next day, when I was attempting to work on a sculpture for an art class, that the sounds of hammering and drills became too much to ignore. Seeking answers, I trudged across my backyard towards the corner he was in. On that day, all there was to see was the foundation of what he was building; a shed. My intrigue was replaced with awe; I was impressed by the precision of his craft. Sharp corners, leveled and sturdy, I could imagine what it would look like when the walls were up and the inside filled with the tools he had spread around the yard.

Throughout the week, when I was trying to finish my sculpture for art class-thinking about its shape and composition-I could not help but think of my father. Art has always been a creative outlet for me, an opportunity to express myself at home. For my dad, his craftsmanship was his art. I realized we were not as different as I had thought; he was an artist like me. My glue and paper were his wood and nails.

That summer, I tried to spend more time with my dad than I have in all my 18 years of life. Waking up earlier than usual so we could have our morning coffees together and pretending to like his favorite band so he'd talk to me about it, I took advantage of every opportunity I had to speak with him. In getting to know him, I've recognized that I get my artistry from him.

Reflecting on past relationships, I feel I am now more open to reconnecting with people I've perhaps misjudged. In reconciling, I've realized I held some bitterness towards him all these years, and in letting that go, my heart is lighter. Our reunion has changed my perspective; instead of vilifying him for spending so much time at work, I can appreciate how hard he works to provide for our family. When I hear him tinkering away at another home project, I can smile and look forward to asking him about it later.
Analysis:
This is an outstanding example of the great things that can be articulated through a reflective essay. As we read the essay, we are simply thinking alongside its author-thinking about their past relationship with their father, about their time in quarantine, about aspects of themselves they think could use attention and growth.

While we reflect, we are also centered by the student's anecdote about the sculpture and the shed during quarantine. By centering us in real-time, the student keeps us engaged in the reflection.

The main strength here is the maturity we see on the part of its writer. The student doesn't say "and I realized my father was the best dad in the world;" they say "and I realized my father didn't have to be the best dad in the world for me to give him a chance." Lots of students show themselves as motivated, curious, or compassionate in their college essays, but a reflective essay that ends with a discussion of resentment and forgiveness shows true maturity.

Prompt #5, Example #4
Analysis:
This essay is structurally-sound, with the student's journey learning to savor mantou and their journey trying to find their voice serving as outstanding parallels. Additionally, as they describe the journey to find a voice in their writing, they definitely show off their voice! The clear introduction provides a great image and draws us in with an intriguing question. Additionally, their little inserts like "a strand of sweetness" and "falling in love with a voice that I never knew I had" work very well.

When the student describes their first published poem, however, their writing gets a little more stilted. This is a common error students make when writing about their achievements. If this student is writing about the craft that goes into writing, we should hear the details of the craft that went into the poem, instead of simply learning that they "opened up about being ridiculed for bringing Asian food to school at Youth Leadership Forum." This is interesting information but would be stronger if it were supplemented by descriptions of the voice they created, comparisons to the styles of other poets, and analysis of their stylistic choices. This would make the essay feel more cohesive, centering entirely around concepts of voice and style.

Note: We don't have a stellar example for this prompt, so instead, we're sharing a couple examples that need improvement, and what can be done to make the essays more engaging.

Prompt #6, Example #1

What factors shape the depth and allure of a literary character? This is the exact question I asked myself as my eyes riveted on the white pages covered with little black letters.

I was reading my old novels. I've written three novels and many short stories. Each of them repetitively portrayed the hero as intelligent and funny, and the antagonists as cold and manipulative. I came to the appalling realization that my characters were flat, neither exciting nor original. They just didn't stand out!

As Oscar Wilde said, 'Vice and virtue are to the artist material to an art.' Their mixing makes a novel addictive because its plot is rich with turnarounds and its characters more engaging. In his famous work The Picture of Dorian Gray , Wilde deconstructs the psyche of his characters. He brilliantly plays with the protagonist's youthful appearance and the decaying portrait to build a truly unique idiosyncratic identity. The persona of Dorian Gray is so complicated a psychologist could analyze it for hours on end!

Inspired by this character, It was my turn to explore good and evil into characters to make my stories more enthralling. I skillfully played with vice and virtue, separating, merging them... My latest novel is the fruit of this exercise. I chose to set it in 20th century London. Its opium dens and exclusive salons; middle-class workers, peasants and politicians breathed the same newly industrialized air; modernity in Blackfriars bridge and tradition in St Paul's Cathedral; all of these contrasts set the perfect environment for my characters to grow. Following Laclos' Valmont, Maupassant's Georges Duroy and Duffy's Myra Hindley, I played with those contrasts to present an intricate character, truly creative - unlike my previous ones. Insanity, religion, depravity and love are merged into each character, reflecting Edwardian London. As I reflected on my work, I realized vice and virtue altogether made them more human and credible. These characters stood out, they were interesting, I even wanted to know more about them!

After rewriting, erasing, typing, and thinking countless times, I realized writing is a unique exercise. Nothing is definite when you are holding a fountain pen, hearing its screeching sound on the white paper and watching the ebony ink forming letters. When I wasn't too happy about a change I made in my story, I simply erased and rewrote it. Everything I imagined could happen: white pages are the only place the mouse eats the cat or the world is taken by a zombie attack!

This exact exercise of diversifying my characters satisfied my relentless curiosity. Asking myself 'how could this character be if she had lost her parents in a maritime tragedy?' allowed me to view the world from different perspectives (some very dissimilar to my own) and considering how each character would react to different situations brought them to life. As I was writing, I was aiming to change the usual narratives I had previously traversed. I loved experimenting with countless personality traits in my characters - minutes flowing, my hand dancing on the paper as my mind was singing words coming alive....

There were times where my hand just stopped writing and my mind stopped raging. I tried thinking differently, changing a character's background, the story, the setting. I was inspired by Zola, A.Carter, Fitzgerald, the Brontë sisters... I could observe the different reactions of their characters, and reflect on mine theoretically. But it was only part one of the work: I then had to write, sometimes aimlessly, sometimes frantically, always leading to fresh ideas - I was exploring the practical, trying, erasing and rewriting. Both theory and practice are required to gain intellectual independence and experience, in writing and more globally: before I can change a character, I have to understand it. Before we can change the world, we have to understand it.
Analysis:
The main strength of this essay is the authenticity of the topic the student chose. They aren't making anything up or stretching the truth. Writing is something that captivates them, and that captivation shines through-particularly through their fourth paragraph (where they geek out over specific plots and characters) and their fifth paragraph (where they joyfully describe how writing has no limitations). Admissions officers want to see this passion and intensity in applicants! The fact that this student has already written three novels also shows dedication and is impressive.

The main weakness of this essay is its structure. Ironically, it is not super captivating. The essay would have been more compelling if the student utilized a "anecdote - answer - reflection" structure. This student's current introduction involves a reflective question, citations about their past writing experience, then their thoughts on Oscar Wilde's Dorian Gray. Instead, this student could've provided one cohesive (and powerful!) image of them being frustrated with their own writing then being inspired by Dorian Gray. This would look something like:
"I stayed up three nights in a row studying my own writing-bored by my own writing. The only thing more painful than seeing failure in the fruits of your labor is not seeing a path for improvement. I had written three novels and numerous short stories, and all I could come up with was funny and intelligent heroes going up against cold and manipulative villains. What kind of writer was so consistently cliche? On the third night, I wandered over to my bookshelf. Mrs. Dalloway caught my eye (it has such a beautiful cover). I flipped through. Then, I grabbed Giovanni's Room . I was so obsessed with my shortcomings that I couldn't even focus long enough to see what these authors were doing right. I picked up The Picture of Dorian Gray and decided to just start reading. By the end of the night, I was captivated."
An introduction like this would flow nicely into the student describing their experience with Dorian Gray then, because of that experience, describing how they have altered their approach to writing. The conclusion of this essay would then be this student's time for reflection. Instead of repeating content about their passion-"I then had to write, sometimes aimlessly, sometimes frantically" and "I was exploring the practical, trying, erasing and rewriting"-, the student could dedicate their conclusion to reflecting on the reasons that writing is so captivating or the ways that (until the day they die) writers will always be perfecting their craft.

This essay is a great example of how important it is to pick a topic that truly excites you. It also illustrates how important it is to effectively structure that excitement.

Prompt #6, Example #2

Astonished by the crashing sound of waves in my ear, I was convinced this magical shell actually held the sound of the big blue sea - my six-year-old self was heartbroken when I couldn't take the thirty-dollar artificial shell from SeaWorld's gift shop . It distinctly reminded me of the awestruck feeling I had when I witnessed the churning waves of a windy night by the ocean the previous weekend; I lost track of time gazing at the distant moonlit border dividing our world from the ever-growing black void. Turning to my mom, I inquired curiously, "Can we go to the place where the water ends one day?"

She explained to me I could never reach the end of the ocean because the harsh line I had seen was actually an illusion called the horizon - there was no material end to the ocean. For a mind as young as mine was, the idea of infinity was incomprehensible. As my infatuation with the ocean continued to grow, I finally understood that regardless of how far I travel, the horizon is unattainable because it's not a physical limit. This idea is why the ocean captivates me - no matter how much you discover, there is always more to explore.

Learning about and exploring the ocean provided an escape from one reality into another; though we are on the same planet, it's an entirely separate world. Through elementary and middle school, I devoted vast amounts of my free time to learning about simpler concepts like a dolphin's ability to echolocate and coral reef ecosystems. I rented countless documentaries and constantly checked out books from my local library - my all-time favorite was an episode of the television series Cosmos: A Spacetime Odyssey titled "The Lost Worlds of Planet Earth." This episode remained memorable because it was centered around the impacts of fossil fuels on marine animals; it was the first time I'd learned about the impending crisis we are faced with due to the human mistreatment of our planet.

Prior to viewing that episode, I relied on the ocean as an outlet - I fueled all of my emotions into studying marine organisms. Once I learned of its grave future, I delved into the world of environmental activism. This path was much more disheartening than studying echolocation - inevitable death due to climate change took a toll on my mental health. I attended two climate strikes in November of my sophomore year. Following the strikes, I joined Sunrise Movement Sacramento, a youth-led climate justice organization advocating for the Green New Deal. While analyzing legislation and organizing protests were significant takeaways from my experience with climate activism, they were not the most important. I became an organizer because of my love for the ocean and I remain an organizer because of my passion for dissolving the disproportionalities marginalized groups face due to the sacrificing of people's livelihood for the sake of profit. The more I learned about our modern society, the more hopeless I grew that I could see any significant change within my lifetime.

However, this hopelessness comes in waves; every day, I remind myself of the moment I discovered the horizon. Or the moment I first dove into the beautiful waters of the Hawaiian coast and immediately was surrounded by breathtaking seas of magnificent creatures and coral gardens - life felt ethereal and beautiful. I remind myself that like the ocean, the vast majority of the universe has yet to be discovered; that distant border holds infinite opportunity to learn. In a universe as vast as ours, and life as rare as ours, individuals still choose to prioritize avarice over our planet. Despite this grave individualism, the ocean reminds me every day there is hope in the fight for a better world. Though I will never discover every inch of the ocean's floor, I will forever envision and reach for new horizons.
Analysis:
Sometimes the path to a great essay is taking something normal and using it to show admissions officers who you are and what you value-that is precisely this student's approach! Finding the ocean fascinating is not unique to this student. Tons of kids (and adults, too!) are obsessed with the ocean. What this student does is take things a step further as they explain their curiosity about the ocean in relation to their pain about the destruction of the environment. This capacity for reflection is great!

This student shows a good control of language through their thematic centering on ocean and horizons that carries through their essay-with "this hopelessness comes in waves" and "I will forever envision and reach for new horizons." The details provided throughout are also effective at keeping readers engaged-things like " my six-year-old self was heartbroken when I couldn't take the thirty-dollar artificial shell from SeaWorld's gift shop" and " my all-time favorite was an episode of the television series Cosmos: A Spacetime Odyssey titled "The Lost Worlds of Planet Earth."

The main weakness of this essay is the lack of reflection when the student discusses environmental activism. There's reflection on the student's connection to the ocean and horizons at the beginning and at the end, but when the student discusses activism, the tone shifts from focusing on their internal thoughts to their external actions. Remember, a lot of students write about environmental activism, but not a lot of students write about an emotional connection to the ocean as an impetus for environmental activism. This student would stand out more to admissions officers if they had dug into questions of what the ocean means to them (and says about them) in the paragraphs beginning "Learning about and exploring the ocean..." and "Prior to viewing that episode."

Scalding hot water cascades over me, crashing to the ground in a familiar, soothing rhythm. Steam rises to the ceiling as dried sweat and soap suds swirl down the drain. The water hisses as it hits my skin, far above the safe temperature for a shower. The pressure is perfect on my tired muscles, easing the aches and bruises from a rough bout of sparring and the tension from a long, stressful day. The noise from my overactive mind dies away, fading into music, lyrics floating through my head. Black streaks stripe the inside of my left arm, remnants of the penned reminders of homework, money owed and forms due.

It lacks the same dynamism and controlled intensity of sparring on the mat at taekwondo or the warm tenderness of a tight hug from my father, but it's still a cocoon of safety as the water washes away the day's burdens. As long as the hot water is running, the rest of the world ceases to exist, shrinking to me, myself and I. The shower curtain closes me off from the hectic world spinning around me.

Much like the baths of Blanche DuBois, my hot showers are a means of cleansing and purifying (though I'm mostly just ridding myself of the germs from children at work sneezing on me). In the midst of a hot shower, there is no impending exam to study for, no newspaper deadline to meet, no paycheck to deposit. It is simply complete and utter peace, a safe haven. The steam clears my mind even as it clouds my mirror.

Creativity thrives in the tub, breathing life into tales of dragons and warrior princesses that evolve only in my head, never making their way to paper but appeasing the childlike dreamer and wannabe author in me all the same. That one calculus problem that has seemed unsolvable since second period clicks into place as I realize the obvious solution. The perfect concluding sentence to my literary analysis essay writes itself (causing me to abruptly end my shower in a mad dash to the computer before I forget it entirely).

Ever since I was old enough to start taking showers unaided, I began hogging all the hot water in the house, a source of great frustration to my parents. Many of my early showers were rudely cut short by an unholy banging on the bathroom door and an order to "stop wasting water and come eat dinner before it gets cold." After a decade of trudging up the stairs every evening to put an end to my water-wasting, my parents finally gave in, leaving me to my (expensive) showers. I imagine someday, when paying the water bill is in my hands, my showers will be shorter, but today is not that day (nor, hopefully, will the next four years be that day).

Showers are better than any ibuprofen, the perfect panacea for life's daily ailments. Headaches magically disappear as long as the water runs, though they typically return in full force afterward. The runny nose and itchy eyes courtesy of summertime allergies recede. Showers alleviate even the stomachache from a guacamole-induced lack of self-control.

Honestly though, the best part about a hot shower is neither its medicinal abilities nor its blissful temporary isolation or even the heavenly warmth seeped deep into my bones. The best part is that these little moments of pure, uninhibited contentedness are a daily occurrence. No matter how stressful the day, showers ensure I always have something to look forward to. They are small moments, true, but important nonetheless, because it is the little things in life that matter; the big moments are too rare, too fleeting to make anyone truly happy. Wherever I am in the world, whatever fate chooses to throw at me, I know I can always find my peace at the end of the day behind the shower curtain.
Analysis:
This essay is relatable yet personal! The writer makes themself supremely human through discussing the universal subject of showering. That being said, an essay about showering could easily turn boring while still being relatable. This writer keeps its relatable moments interesting and fun through vivid descriptions of common feelings including "causing me to abruptly end my shower in a mad dash to the computer before I forget it entirely" and "the stomachache from a guacamole-induced lack of self-control."

While describing a universal feeling, this student also cleverly and intentionally mentions small facts about their life through simple phrases like "I'm mostly just ridding myself of the germs from children at work sneezing on me" and "the childlike dreamer and wannabe author in me." To put it simply, though we are talking about a shower, we learn about so much more!

And, at the end, the student lets us know that that is exactly why they love showers. Showers are more than meets the eye! With this insightful and reflective ending ("the big moments are too rare, too fleeting to make anyone truly happy"), readers learn about this student's capacity for reflection, which is an important capacity as you enter college.

The one major error that this writer commits is that of using a trite transition. The inclusion of "Honestly though" at the beginning of this student's ending detracts from what they are trying to say and sticks out in their writing.

Steam whooshed from the pot as I unveiled my newest creation: duck-peppercorn-chestnut dumplings. The spicy, hearty aroma swirled into the kitchen, mingling with the smell of fresh dough. Grinning, I grabbed a plump dumpling with chopsticks, blew carefully, and fed it into the waiting mouth of my little sister. Her eyes widening, she vigorously nodded and held up five stubby fingers. I did a little happy dance in celebration and pulled my notebook out of my apron pocket. Duck-peppercorn-chestnut: five stars.

In my household, dumplings are a far cry from the classic pork and cabbage. Our menu boasts everything from the savory lamb-bamboo shoot-watercress to the sweet and crispy apple-cinnamon-date. A few years ago, my sister claimed she was sick of eating the same flavors over and over. Refusing to let her disavow our family staple, I took her complaint as a challenge to make the tastiest and most unconventional dumplings to satisfy her. With her as my taste tester and Mum in charge of dough, I spent months experimenting with dozens of odd ingredient combinations.

During those days spent covered in flour, my dumplings often reminded me of myself-a hybrid of ingredients that don't usually go together. I am the product of three distinct worlds: the suburbs of Boston, the rural Chinese village of [location removed], and the coastal city of [location removed]. At school, I am both the STEM nerd with lightning-fast mental math and the artistic plant mom obsessed with funky earrings. I love all that is elegant, from Chinese calligraphy to the rolling notes of the Gourd flute, yet I can be very elegant, like when my sister and I make homemade slime. When I'm on the streets, marching for women's rights and climate action, I'm loud, bellowing from the bottom of my gut. In the painting studio, though, I don't speak unless spoken to, and hours can slip by like minutes. I'm loud and quiet. Elegant and messy. Nerdy and artistic. Suburban, rustic, and metropolitan.

While I'm full of odd combinations, they are only seemingly contradictory. Just as barbeque pork and pineapple can combine beautifully in a dumpling wrapper, different facets of my identity also converge. After my tenth-grade summer, when I spent six weeks studying design at art school and another three researching the brain at Harvard Med, I began asking myself: What if I mixed art and neuroscience together? That fall, I collaborated with my school's art museum for an independent research project, exploring two questions: How are aesthetic experiences processed in the brain? And how can neuroscience help museums design exhibits that maximize visitor engagement? I combed through studies with results from tightly controlled experiments, and I spent days gathering my own qualitative data by observing museum visitors and asking them questions. With the help of my artistic skills, I could identify the visual and spatial elements of the exhibits that best held visitors' attention.

By synergizing two of the ingredients that make me who I am-art and neuroscience-I realized I shouldn't see the different sides of myself as separate. I learned to instead seek the intersections between aspects of my identity. Since then, I have mixed art with activism to voice my opinions nonverbally, created Spotify playlists with both Chinese and western pop, and written flute compositions using music theory and math. In the future, by continuing to combine my interests, I want to find my niche in the world. I can make a positive impact on society without having to choose just one passion. As of now, my dream is to be a neuroscientist who designs art therapy treatments for mental health patients. Who knows though? Maybe my calling is to be a dim sum chef who teaches pottery on the side. I don't know where I'll go, but one thing's for sure-being a standard pork and cabbage dumpling is definitely not my style.
Analysis:
"Everyone follow me!" I smiled at five wide-eyed skaters before pushing off into a spiral. I glanced behind me hopefully, only to see my students standing frozen like statues, the fear in their eyes as clear as the ice they swayed on. "Come on!" I said encouragingly, but the only response I elicited was the slow shake of their heads. My first day as a Learn-to-Skate coach was not going as planned.

But amid my frustration, I was struck by how much my students reminded me of myself as a young skater. At seven, I had been fascinated by Olympic performers who executed thrilling high jumps and dizzying spins with apparent ease, and I dreamed to one day do the same. My first few months on skates, however, sent these hopes crashing down: my attempts at slaloms and toe-loops were shadowed by a stubborn fear of falling, which even the helmet, elbow pads, and two pairs of mittens I had armed myself with couldn't mitigate. Nonetheless, my coach remained unfailingly optimistic, motivating me through my worst spills and teaching me to find opportunities in failures. With his encouragement, I learned to push aside my fears and attack each jump with calm and confidence; it's the hope that I can help others do the same that now inspires me to coach.

I remember the day a frustrated staff member directed Oliver, a particularly hesitant young skater, toward me, hoping that my patience and steady encouragement might help him improve. Having stood in Oliver's skates not much earlier myself, I completely empathized with his worries but also saw within him the potential to overcome his fears and succeed.

To alleviate his anxiety, I held Oliver's hand as we inched around the rink, cheering him on at every turn. I soon found though, that this only increased his fear of gliding on his own, so I changed my approach, making lessons as exciting as possible in hopes that he would catch the skating bug and take off. In the weeks that followed, we held relay races, played "freeze-skate" and "ice-potato", and raced through obstacle courses; gradually, with each slip and subsequent success, his fear began to abate. I watched Oliver's eyes widen in excitement with every skill he learned, and not long after, he earned his first skating badge. Together we celebrated this milestone, his ecstasy fueling my excitement and his pride mirroring my own. At that moment, I was both teacher and student, his progress instilling in me the importance of patience and a positive attitude.

It's been more than ten years since I bundled up and stepped onto the ice for the first time. Since then, my tolerance for the cold has remained stubbornly low, but the rest of me has certainly changed. In sharing my passion for skating, I have found a wonderful community of eager athletes, loving parents, and dedicated coaches from whom I have learned invaluable lessons and wisdom. My fellow staffers have been with me, both as friends and colleagues, and the relationships I've formed have given me far more poise, confidence, and appreciation for others. Likewise, my relationships with parents have given me an even greater gratitude for the role they play: no one goes to the rink without a parent behind the wheel!

Since that first lesson, I have mentored dozens of children, and over the years, witnessed tentative steps transform into powerful glides and tears give way to delighted grins. What I have shared with my students has been among the greatest joys of my life, something I will cherish forever. It's funny: when I began skating, what pushed me through the early morning practices was the prospect of winning an Olympic medal. Now, what excites me is the chance to work with my students, to help them grow, and to give back to the sport that has brought me so much happiness.
Analysis:
Flipping past dozens of colorful entries in my journal, I arrive at the final blank sheet. I press my pen lightly to the page, barely scratching its surface to create a series of loops stringing together into sentences. Emotions spill out, and with their release, I feel lightness in my chest. The stream of thoughts slows as I reach the bottom of the page, and I gently close the cover of the worn book: another journal finished.

I add the journal to the stack of eleven books on my nightstand. Struck by the bittersweet sensation of closing a chapter of my life, I grab the notebook at the bottom of the pile to reminisce.
"I want to make a flying mushen to fly in space and your in it" - October 2008
Pulling back the cover of my first Tinkerbell-themed diary, the prompt "My Hopes and Dreams" captures my attention. Though "machine" is misspelled in my scribbled response, I see the beginnings of my past obsession with outer space. At the age of five, I tore through novels about the solar system, experimented with rockets built from plastic straws, and rented Space Shuttle films from Blockbuster to satisfy my curiosities. While I chased down answers to questions as limitless as the universe, I fell in love with learning. Eight journals later, the same relentless curiosity brought me to an airplane descending on San Francisco Bay.
"I wish I had infinite sunsets" - July 2019
I reach for the charcoal notepad near the top of the pile and open to the first page: my flight to the Stanford Pre-Collegiate Summer Institutes. While I was excited to explore bioengineering, anxiety twisted in my stomach as I imagined my destination, unsure of whether I could overcome my shyness and connect with others.

With each new conversation, the sweat on my palms became less noticeable, and I met students from 23 different countries. Many of the moments where I challenged myself socially revolved around the third story deck of the Jerry house. A strange medley of English, Arabic, and Mandarin filled the summer air as my friends and I gathered there every evening, and dialogues at sunset soon became moments of bliss. In our conversations about cultural differences, the possibility of an afterlife, and the plausibility of far-fetched conspiracy theories, I learned to voice my opinion. As I was introduced to different viewpoints, these moments challenged my understanding of the world around me. In my final entries from California, I find excitement to learn from others and increased confidence, a tool that would later allow me to impact my community.
"The beauty in a tower of cans" - June 2020
Returning my gaze to the stack of journals, I stretch to take the floral-patterned book sitting on top. I flip through, eventually finding the beginnings of the organization I created during the outbreak of COVID-19. Since then, Door-to-Door Deliveries has woven its way through my entries and into reality, allowing me to aid high-risk populations through free grocery delivery.

With the confidence I gained the summer before, I took action when seeing others in need rather than letting my shyness hold me back. I reached out to local churches and senior centers to spread word of our services and interacted with customers through our website and social media pages. To further expand our impact, we held two food drives, and I mustered the courage to ask for donations door-to-door. In a tower of canned donations, I saw the value of reaching out to help others and realized my own potential to impact the world around me.

I delicately close the journal in my hands, smiling softly as the memories reappear, one after another. Reaching under my bed, I pull out a fresh notebook and open to its first sheet. I lightly press my pen to the page, "And so begins the next chapter..."
Analysis:
"We're ready for take-off!"

The tires hit the tarmac and began to accelerate, and I just realized what I had signed up for. For 24 hours straight, I strapped myself into a broken-down SUV whereas others chose the luxury of soaring through the skies for a mere two hours. Especially with my motion sickness and driving anxiety, I would call myself crazy too.

To say I have always remained in my comfort zone is an understatement. Did I always order chicken fingers and fries at a restaurant? Yup! Sounds like me. Did I always create a color-coded itinerary just for a day trip? Guilty as charged. Did I always carry a first-aid kit at all times? Of course! I would make even an ambulance look unprepared. And yet here I was, choosing 1,000 miles of misery from Las Vegas to Seattle despite every bone in my body telling me not to.

The sunlight blinded my eyes and a wave of nausea swept over me. Was it too late to say I forgot my calculator? It was only ten minutes in, and I was certain that the trip was going to be a disaster. I simply hoped that our pre-drive prayer was not stuck in God's voicemail box.

All of a sudden, I noticed brightly colored rocks in the distance, ones I had been dying to see for years. Their fluorescence popped amongst the magnificent winding hills as the sunset became romantic in hue. The desert glistened with mirages of deep blue water unlike anything I had ever seen. Nevada was home, but home always seemed to be just desert and casinos. For once, I looked forward to endless desert outside my window rather than a sea of clouds.

I never realized how little I discovered of the world beyond home. For years I complained about how there was nothing to do or discover outside. Not once did I set out to prove myself wrong. Instead, I chose a daily routine of homework at the kitchen table and late-night TV. However, as summer vacation ended, I decided to set my stubbornness aside and finally give this drive back home a chance. Little did I know that it would turn out to be my favorite trip of all time.

As we drove along, the world chose to prove me wrong when I discovered Heaven on Earth along Shasta Lake. I stood out of the sunroof, surrounded by lush green mountains and fog. I extended my arms out and felt a sense of flight that no plane could ever take me on. As the water vapor kissed my face, I floated into a dreamland I never wanted to leave. I didn't have to go to great lengths to discover the beauty of the world; it was right in front of me. From this moment on, comfort and convenience would no longer be my best friends. Rather than only looking for famous travel destinations or following carefully mapped-out routes, I would let curiosity lead the way.

Since then, my daily life has been anything but routine. I'm proud to boast of my family's homemade kombucha attempts, of flights purchased and taken in one day, and of a home flooded with knick-knacks from thrifting trips. Every day I set out to try something new, see a different perspective, and go beyond normal. Whether it is by trying a new recipe using taro, making a risky fashion choice with wide-legged pants, or listening to a new music genre in Spanish, I always act with curiosity first.

Over the years, I have devoted my time towards learning Swedish, building computers, and swimming. Although my accent is horrid, some computers almost broke, and even a starfish would outswim me, I continue to enjoy activities I once criticized. For me, there is no enjoyment without some risk. Nobody I know is a kazoo-playing, boogie-board loving, boba connoisseur like me.
Analysis:
Is Your Common App Essay Strong Enough?

At selective schools, your essays account for around 25% of your admissions decision. That's more than grades (20%) and test scores (15%), and almost as much as extracurriculars (30%). Why is this? Most students applying to top schools will have stellar academics and extracurriculars. Your essays are your chance to stand out and humanize your application.

That's why it's vital that your essays are engaging, and present you as someone who would enrich the campus community.

Before submitting your application, you should have someone else review your essays. It's even better if that person doesn't know you personally, as they can best tell whether your personality shines through your essay.

That's why we created our Peer Essay Review tool , where you can get a free review of your essay from another student, and improve your own writing skills by reviewing other students' essays. We've also recently introduced a paid expert review option, where you can get feedback from CollegeEssayGuy's team. Give these resources a try to craft the most engaging essay possible!

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19 Stellar Common App Essay Examples to Inspire Your College Essay

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The room was silent except for the thoughts racing through my head. I led a spade from my hand and my opponent paused for a second, then played a heart. The numbers ran through my mind as I tried to consider every combination, calculating my next move.

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Common Application Essay Prompt Examples & Templates (2022)

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If you are looking for guidance on the Common Application, including Common App essay prompts and essay examples and templates as well as answers to the most common questions about the Common App, then you've come to the right place. This Application Prep guide is fully updated with the 2022-2023 Common App application and essay prompts.

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The 2022-2023 Common App Prompts (7 Example Essays & Analysis)

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How do you choose the best college essay prompt? Learn how to choose the best Common App essay prompt for writing your personal statement when applying to college.

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Applying for scholarships can be a daunting task, but it's nice to know that many of them share the same essay prompts. Once you answer some common questions about yourself and your goals on scholarship applications, applying becomes much easier than before. Our overview is going to help you write essays like never before - without worrying about what questions might come up.

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

College Scholarship Essay Prompts 2022

The scholarship essay writing is usually about recounting a personal experience. Most of the scholarships ask students to write an essay, but they vary in subject.

You can prepare yourself for the application process by writing four to five essays before beginning. This will help you complete your applications quickly and apply for as many scholarships as possible in a short amount of time so that when you find one, it won't matter how long it takes because you'll have already written all of them.

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

College scholarship essay prompts

Robertson scholarship essay prompts

Park scholarship essay prompts

Vanderbilt scholarship essay prompts

Easy scholarship essay prompts

UCLA alumni scholarship essay prompts

Johnson scholarship essay prompts

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

List of Best College Scholarship Essay Prompts

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

Tell us about yourself.

How will this scholarship help you?

Where do you see yourself ten years from now?

How will you make a difference in our world?

Describe a volunteer experience?

Why do you need this scholarship?

Describe a challenge you have overcome.

Who do you admire the most?

Why do you deserve this scholarship?

Briefly describe your short- and long-term goals.

What are your academic and future goals?

Tell us about a time when you had failed in something.

What makes you unique?

Does any quality or attribute distinguish you from others?

What are your most important extracurricular activities?

What is your biggest strength and weakness?

What are your greatest accomplishments?

What are your strongest personality traits?

How has your education contributed to who you are today?

What is your most prominent achievement, and how does it relate to your field of study?

How to Address Scholarship Essay Prompts?

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

What are Your Short and Long-term Goals?

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

What are Your Biggest Weaknesses?

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

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

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

Where Do You See Yourself in 5 Years?

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

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

What are Your Contributions to the Community?

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

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

Scholarship Essay Topics 2022

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

A person who has a major influence on your life

Things you have done outside of the classroom that has demonstrated your skills

Have you struggled for something and succeeded?

What leadership qualities do you have?

Why do you want to be a ___?

How do you define leadership?

Describe the importance of a good teammate?

What do you expect to gain from a college degree?

What success means to you?

A book that has affected you deeply

Remember, it's not easy to predict every scholarship essay question. But knowing some of the important ones can give you an advantage on your application

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

Our experts can provide you a top high school or college essay that you will be proud of. We are the best and only place you need for all of your scholarship essay help. Contact us now to get expert advice on how to win!

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Scholarship Essay Prompts 2022 & How to Answer Them

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Applying for scholarships can be a daunting task, but it's nice to know that many of them share the same essay prompts. Once you answer some common questions about yourself and your goals on scholarship applications, applying becomes much easier than before.

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10 Common Scholarship Questions and How to Answer Them

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10 Common Scholarship Questions and How to Answer Them

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When your student applies for scholarships, writing the essay often feels like the most challenging part. Luckily, it doesn't have to be. By learning about common scholarship essay questions and how to answer them, your student can be prepared for most of the topics they'll need to address.

Knowing how to answer common scholarship essay questions is only part of the battle. You also have to track down great scholarships to pay for college. If you and your student want to learn more about exciting scholarship opportunities, sign up for our free college scholarship webinar! Just head to http://thescholarshipsystem.com/freewebinar and reserve your spot today.

If your student wants to get ahead of the curve and write winning scholarship essays, here's a look at ten common scholarship essay questions and how to tackle them.

10 Common Scholarship Essay Questions and How to Answer Them

1. Tell Us About Yourself

This is possibly one of the trickiest college scholarship essays to write, not because it's complicated, but because it's so broad. Students have a lot of freedom with this prompt, so it's easy to become overwhelmed about how to proceed.

Typically, students shouldn't just give an overview of their life stories. Instead, they need to provide the committee with insights about their passions and drives, events that shaped their perspective, and relevant successes or achievements.

It's also wise to be a bit future-focused, discussing not just where they've been but where they hope to go. Students can touch on valuable personality traits along the way, too, as that helps the reader gauge who they are as a person.

2. How Will This Scholarship Make a Difference for You?

Generally, students have a few options for addressing this question. First, they could showcase how the scholarship helps them overcome a relevant financial hardship. This can include being able to afford tuition, get needed equipment or supplies, or access a program at a college that may otherwise be out of reach.

Second, they could concentrate on how the scholarship will help them achieve their academic or professional goals. For example, your student might want to discuss how the award would allow them to pursue their preferred field.

Students should focus on how the scholarship eliminates roadblocks, though the exact type of obstacle can vary. Additionally, they should discuss what they'll be able to achieve if they receive the award, both in the short- and long-term.

3. Can You Tell Us About a Time You Failed? What Did You Learn from That Experience?

For many students, even figuring out how to start a scholarship essay introduction for this topic is hard, let alone writing the whole thing. It's difficult discussing a failure with others, so many students hold back if they are given this prompt.

However, honesty is the best policy. Additionally, even when talking about a failure, it's possible to keep the essay positive.

Students should start by outlining the scenario and giving an overview of how the failure occurred. The misstep can be academic, personal, or professional, as long as it's clear that something went wrong along the way.

After the overview, it's all about a quick pivot. Students should explain the lessons they learned and what they would do differently if faced with a similar situation again. That helps them demonstrate their self-awareness and growth, along with their ability to persevere.

4. Tell Us About a Contribution You've Made to Your Community

This scholarship essay prompt is incredibly common for volunteering scholarships or awards focused on service. Students need to share insights about their community service-oriented activities, as well as the positive impact created by their participation.

Additionally, it's smart for students to spend some time explaining how the experience impacted them. They may also want to touch on any plans they have to continue to remain active in their community, as that can help them stand out.

5. What Are Your Academic (or Professional) Goals?

With this common scholarship essay question, students need to clearly outline what they want to achieve, either academically or professionally, depending on exactly what they are asked. Usually, it's best to start off with the basics. Students should explain what they want to study or the career path they hope to have.

However, they shouldn't stop there. It's also wise to dig a bit deeper, diving into precisely what motivated them to head in this direction. Some students do this by sharing their epiphany moment, while others talk about how it's the culmination of a life-long passion. As long as it paints a great picture, any approach is potentially a winner.

6. Tell Us About a Time Where You Stepped Up as a Leader

Leadership is a hot topic for college scholarship essays. Many committees ask questions like this one to see what applicants bring to the table. Usually, your student needs to provide a clear example of when they took on a leadership role.

There are a lot of options for approaching this. Heading up a school project counts, as well as captaining a sports team. Coordinating volunteer efforts may work, along with a wide variety of work-related activities.

Again, exactly what your student chooses is less important than how they describe it. It's all about sharing a story, ensuring the reader can get a good gauge on what happened and how your student's involvement made a difference.

7. Who Has Been Your Biggest Influence (or Inspiration)?

Many scholarship essay questions want students to talk about their heroes. While it may seem odd to ask students to discuss someone other than themselves, it's actually a great way to learn more about an applicant's passions.

As they describe why the person influenced or inspired them, they incidentally talk about how they are motivated, their priorities, and their values. It also allows the reader to learn more about what shaped your student's goals and aspirations, which can be quite enlightening.

Ideally, students want to be story-oriented. While they can certainly discuss the person's traits and background, the focus should largely be on moments that inspired or influenced their way of thinking. That makes the essay more meaningful.

8. Why Do You Want to Go to College?

For some students, this question is surprisingly tough. Many students saw college as a must from a relatively young age, essentially viewing it as anything as optional. However, students do have choices about how they move forward after high school.

Scholarship committees want to know that heading to college isn't an afterthought or something a student is doing solely because they were pressured in that direction. Ideally, students should discuss personal motivations or goals that made college the right choice for them. That way, their passion can shine through.

9. How Are You Planning on Financing Your College Education?

If a scholarship is focused on financial need, your student may face questions about how they intend to fund their education. This can be a difficult topic, particularly for students who may not be able to afford school without outside support, such as scholarships or grants. It's hard to talk about financial hardship, but this question makes it necessary.

Students should actually start their essay by giving the committee insight into their situation, particularly regarding personal or household circumstances that make affording college difficult. After the overview, students should outline all of their efforts to secure enough funding. That can include everything from applying to scholarships, exploring work-study, getting a part-time job, or anything else.

Often, scholarship committees appreciate it when students are taking every chance to find ways to pay for college. It lets them know that the student is passionate enough to go the extra mile and demonstrates that they aren't afraid of challenges if it means achieving their goals. So, students should touch on everything they are doing to make their college dream possible.

10. Why Do You Deserve This Scholarship?

Writing an essay about why they deserve a scholarship can be hard for any student. However, it's a topic they need to be ready to discuss. This is one of the most common scholarship essay questions around.

Previously, The Scholarship System took a deep dive into how to write an essay on "Why I deserve this scholarship," making that a great resource for any student who wants to prepare. As an overview, it's about showcasing their perspective without coming across as arrogant and discussing achievements (academic or otherwise) that highlight why they are a standout applicant.

Using Common Scholarship Essay Questions to Prepare

Simply knowing what the common scholarship essay questions are usually isn't enough. Instead, students should take extra steps to prepare to write their essays.

First, it's wise to spend a little time brainstorming about the topics. That way, students can develop several ideas that they may want to explore and see if one approach resonates more than another.

Second, checking out some scholarship essay examples that won money is an excellent idea. This helps students learn more about what scholarship committees connect with, as well as more about how to tackle certain topics.

Finally, it's wise to learn more about essay writing techniques. Along with reviewing how to write scholarship essays, it doesn't hurt to research college personal statements, as those can be very similar to scholarship (and college application) essays. Similarly, checking out scholarship essay formats is a smart move. It will help your student figure out how to start a scholarship essay introduction, how to end a scholarship essay, and everything in between.

By doing that additional research, they'll have as much information as possible. And, in the end, that could increase the odds that their essay will be a winner.
Related Videos:

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10 Common Scholarship Essay Questions and How to Answer Them - The Scholarship System

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When your student applies for scholarships, writing the essay often feels like the most challenging part. Luckily, it doesn't have to be. By learning about common scholarship essay questions and how to answer them, your student can be prepared for most of the topics they'll need to address.

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16 Most Popular Scholarship Essay and Application Questions

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16 Most Popular Scholarship Essay and Application Questions

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Believe it or not, scholarship committees generally ask the same types of questions and have similar applications.

That's right! The scholarships you find are going to fit into specific themes which you must be able to identify in order to save your family time, frustration, stress, and most importantly - money.

The 16 themes below are designed for you to use as a reference until you can spot them on your own. Also, make sure you check out our Scholarship Fast Track videos, specifically the Application Accelerators Module, that outlines these scholarship essay themes and questions even more!

The Top 16 Scholarship Essay Themes

I've provided a definition as well as common scholarship question examples for each theme.

[info-box type="success"]Real Talk: These questions are not made-up and, in fact, come from actual scholarship applications that are open to students at all levels. I hope that they serve you well in preparing for your upcoming applications.[/info-box]

Common Scholarship Questions and Essay Prompts

The career theme is pretty self-explanatory. The committee wants to know any and everything relating to you or your student's career goals.
Common Scholarship Questions:

What do you want to do after you graduate from college?

Why did you select this career?

How will you change the field/industry?

Where do you see yourself 10 years from now?

This is a student's life summary or autobiography which usually includes information about the past, present, and future. Some committees refer to it as a personal statement or brief bio. (Warning: Not all personal statements will be looking for a life summary. Make sure you read the application carefully.)
Common Scholarship Questions:

Please write a short autobiography including information about your family, work experience, community involvement, hobbies, spare time activities, and what you hope to do in the future.

Please include a short summary or personal statement describing your accomplishments and goals.

List any honors and awards you've received.

List your extra-curricular activities.

Everyone loves a good underdog story. An essay theme that focuses on Challenges asks the student to identify a time when they were down or faced conflict. The committee wants to hear how instead of giving up, you rose to the occasion or at least learned what was necessary to achieve success.
Common Scholarship Questions:

Write a short essay that describes areas in your life where you demonstrated leadership and overcame obstacles either through your school, social, or family life.

What's the most difficult challenge you've ever faced? How did you handle it?

Why you? Out of all the available applicants, why should you or your student earn the scholarship?
Common Scholarship Questions:
This is one I'm starting to see more and more of in the scholarship world. Committees are interested in the opinions, thoughts, and ideas of applicants. With topics like legislation, population control, and the environment, committees want to see analytical and critical thinking skills.
Common Scholarship Questions:
As Defined by Merriam-Webster, "Character is the way someone thinks, feels, and behaves." Essentially, it's what makes you who you are.
Common Scholarship Questions:

Describe a time in your life that has shaped who you are as a person.

This is what I believe in...

How do you define success?

What traits do you possess that will enhance your education or future career?

Academics, teaching methods, assignments, and anything that pertains to student learning fall under this category.
Common Scholarship Questions:
This is one of the most common scholarship essay themes. The premise: Why do you want to go to college?

You'll often see this theme attached to others as an additional question or a required component of the application.
Common Scholarship Questions: Is this helping you? Are you beginning to see how this can save you a lot of time? If so, let me know in the comments below, Tweet Me @ScholarshipTalk, or just share the following message and I'll know you see the benefits of organizing your scholarships based on themes. ?
[clickToTweet tweet="Organizing my scholarships based on the 16 core essay themes has saved me time! #OwnYourDegree" quote="Organizing my scholarships based on the 16 core essay themes has saved me time!"]

I'm sure you've seen some of the eccentric scholarships out there that challenge you to write about your favorite ice cream, talk about using their product, or design a logo for their company. These scholarships tend to be unique or inspired by the sponsoring organization.
Common Scholarship Questions:

Create a greeting card and be featured in our upcoming holiday card collection.

Design a mascot for our company.

Write an essay about how lights and fixtures could impact your mood.

Develop an innovative video to end smoking.

This is also a popular scholarship theme. Instead of looking at a student's GPA, test scores, or major, the community essay theme focuses on community service, community initiatives, and community improvement.
Common Scholarship Questions:
A common theme for athletes, band members, dancers, or those involved in groups/organizations is the Competition scholarship essay. It highlights participation and its associated benefits.
Common Scholarship Questions:
Again, this is another scholarship essay theme that you may see added to another scholarship question or application. The committee wants to know about you or your student's contribution to society at various levels.
Common Scholarship Questions:
Control, i.e. leadership, oftentimes stands alone as a scholarship theme because of the many questions that can be asked. From being a leader to follower and everything in between, the committee is seeking answers regarding group interaction, the organization of people, or participation within a group setting.
Common Scholarship Questions:

What does leadership mean to you?

Explain a family, social or school situation, in which your leadership made the difference. What was accomplished?

I'm starting to see a rise in Creative scholarship essays as well. You may notice some similarities with the Committee Composition theme because these scholarships are usually committee-driven and created.

The committee will provide a question, but give you freedom in depicting or representing the theme or category they've selected.
Common Scholarship Questions:
As defined by Merriam-Webster, "Credentials are a qualification, achievement, personal quality, or aspect of a person's background, typically when used to indicate that they are suitable for something."

These scholarships will require specific credentials to apply or may use the credential within application questions.
Common Scholarship Questions:

To apply for this scholarship, you must be a female student majoring in a male-dominated industry. Please tell us why you selected this career?

Applicants must be a member of the LGBTQI community. Describe a volunteering activity you conducted for your community.

Students must be a dependent of an active military member or veteran. Why do you need this scholarship?

Students applying for this scholarship must be undergraduate students entering their first semester. What study habits do you think are imperative to freshmen student success?

Cultures can be comprised of many different components. From college communities to hometown traditions, the Culture theme is based on the defining characteristics of a student's environment.
Common Scholarship Questions:
[info-box type="alert"]Do you want a downloadable version of these themes and questions for your notes? Click here for a FREE copy.[/info-box]

Save a Ton of Time by Using These Themes

Scholarship applications may have one or several themes present. Focus on identifying your possible scholarship themes.

Labeling scholarships by themes and working on them at the same time allows the student to divide and conquer. If your family can get good at identifying themes, you'll immediately save hours of time on applications.

As I start to see new themes emerge, I'll be sure to add them to the list. For now, this should keep you pretty busy as you continue to find and apply for scholarships.

Feature Image Artwork Credit: iStockPhoto/tostphoto

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The 16 Most Popular Scholarship Essay and Application Questions

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Believe it or not, scholarship committees generally ask the same types of questions and have similar applications. That's right! The scholarships you find are going to fit into specific themes which you must be able to identify in order to save your family time, frustration, stress, and most importantly - money.

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Higher education has never been more confusing or expensive. Our goal is to help you navigate the very big decisions related to higher ed with objective information and expert advice. Each piece of content on the site is original, based on extensive research, and reviewed by multiple editors, including a subject matter expert. This ensures that all of our content is up-to-date, useful, accurate, and thorough.

Our reviews and recommendations are based on extensive research, testing, and feedback. We may receive commission from links on our website, but that doesn't affect our editors' opinions. Our marketing partners don't review, approve or endorse our editorial content. It's accurate to the best of our knowledge when posted. You can find a complete list of our partners here.

Writing is an extremely important part of success in high school, college, and life in general. For some students, writing is also an intricate part of who they are and how they express themselves. If you are someone who loves English class and is genuinely excited about a new creative writing assignment, then you should keep reading! Writing scholarships, creative writing scholarships, and essay scholarships are great ways to put your talent to use.

Jump ahead to:

Keep on reading to learn about the top scholarships for writers and creative writers including eligibility, award amounts, and deadlines!

Top writing scholarships in 2022

Eligibility: Open to U.S. college students who submit an essay about how memorializing key Civil War figures has changed in the past hundred years

Amount: $1,500 (three scholarships are awarded!)

Deadline: July 31, 2022

Other essay scholarships

Creative writing scholarships

Are you a writer who loves fiction, poetry, and screenplays? If so, you can put those talents to use by applying for creative writing scholarships.

Creative writing scholarships are a subset of writing scholarships that support students who enjoy writing poetry, fictional stories, plays, and generally using their imagination to guide their writing.

Here are the top creative writing scholarships that you can apply for:

College-specific creative writing scholarships

Some colleges and universities may also offer specific scholarships to student with a talent in creative writing! Check with the colleges on your list for these college-specific creative writing opportunities!

Note that some of these scholarships may have requirements for winning students that stipulate that they take a certain number of creative writing classes when enrolled in the college.

Scholarship essay resources

When it comes to writing and essay scholarships, your writing skills will be put to the test. You'll have to adapt your writing to specific styles in order to effectively and succinctly communicate your ambitions and potential. We have a host of resources to help you perform well in this arena and stand out from the crowd.

Frequently asked questions about writing scholarships

Do I have to major in English to earn a writing or essay scholarship?

You don't! Each of these scholarships has different requirements, and although some might be geared towards English majors, there are many which are not. Remember, the only thing that makes a writing or essay scholarship is that it uses a piece of writing as a major deciding factor in its decision process. So, you could earn a writing or essay scholarship for physics, chemistry, computer science - really, anything.

Where can I get help proofreading my scholarship essays?

If you're in the middle of writing scholarship essays, it's a great idea to recruit someone to help proofread your work. Sometimes, getting an extra set of eyes on your essays can be just the ticket to make sure your writing is as effective as can be. You can try asking your high school guidance counselor. Family members, friends, and even teachers who you have close relationships with, can also be helpful.

If you qualify, you can also apply for CollegePoint, a free resource that matches you with current college students to guide you through the college application process. They will help with every factor, including college application, selection, scholarship searching, college interviews, and more. Find out all you need to know with our review of CollegePoint's services.

How much should I write if there is no word limit on the application?

If there is no word limit on the scholarship application, you should aim to write an essay that is around 500 words - somewhere between 400 and 600. If the question is very simple, you can shoot for less words than this, and if it is very complex and multi-faceted, you can shoot for a longer one. However, as a general rule for a relatively basic question, 400 to 600 words is a good range.

Creative Writing Scholarships

Upcoming Essay Scholarships

Eligibility: Open to high school juniors and seniors who write an essay about Ayn Rand's book The Fountainhead.

Amount: up to $5,000

Eligibility: Graduating Class of 2022 high school seniors entering community college, career training, or four-year colleges/universities

Explore these other scholarship categories:

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Top 43 Writing & Essay Scholarships in August 2022 - Scholarships360

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Advertiser disclosure Higher education has never been more confusing or expensive. Our goal is to help you navigate the very big decisions related to higher ed with objective information and expert advice. Each piece of content on the site is original, based on extensive research, and reviewed by multiple editors, including a subject matter expert.

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Niche (Due Sept 30th) No Essay Scholarship

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Niche (Due Sept 30th) No Essay Scholarship

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Niche $50,000 Back to School "No Essay" Scholarship

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Covering the cost of college without writing a single essay? Sounds too good to be true! Niche is giving one student $50,000 to help pay for tuition, housing, books, and other educational expenses. Apply below for your chance to win so you can focus on what really matters instead of worrying about finances.

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20 Best College Scholarships For High School Seniors 2022-2023. Are you a high school senior class student looking for a scholarship program to enroll in? Scholarships for high school seniors are very rare to find regarding that most scholarships available are either for undergraduate or graduate studies. Kamerpower.com

If you're a high school senior, then first off, congratulations! You're now in your fourth and final year of high school. You're one step closer to becoming a college student, you're now officially able to start applying for scholarships for high school seniors.

Scholarships are an AMAZING way to help you pay for college because the money you earn through scholarships does not ever need to be repaid.

List of Scholarships for High School Senior in 2022

ACF Andrew Piech Memorial Scholarship.

AEF (Ascend Educational Fund) Scholarship

AEG Oakland Community Foundation Scholarship

AG Bell College Scholarship Awards

ISC) Undergraduate Cybersecurity Scholarship.

Anchor Scholarship Foundation

Barbara Odom-Wesley Spirit of Achievement Scholarship

Because College is Expensive Scholarship

Bernie Varnadore Scholarship Program

Billy Smith Memorial Scholarship

B. Noel Endowed Scholarship

AAAI (Allergy & Asthma Awareness Initiative)Inc. Scholarship.

AAMI Foundation Scholarship.

Baylor University Baptist Scholarships.

Allen Meyer Family Scholarship.

American Atheists Chinn Scholarships.

Amish Descendant Scholarship.

A scholarship is, to put it simply, free money that you can earn to put towards paying for college. Unlike other types of financial aid (aka, loans), money that you earn from scholarships doesn't ever need to be repaid, which is what makes it so awesome.

How can I balance applying for scholarships with my schoolwork AND college applications?

As a senior, I know that you must have a lot on your plate that you're trying to balance. My number one tip to get it all done (and be as successful as possible in the process) is to set goals AND stay organized - more on this in the tips section below the scholarships!

20 Best College Scholarships For High School Seniors 2022-2023
I'm a high school senior. Is it too late for me to start applying for scholarships?
Nope, not at all! In fact, you're in a prime position when it comes to applying for scholarships because not only can you apply for scholarships that are open to high school students, but you can also begin to prepare for scholarships that are open to college students. By starting the process as a senior in high school, you can get fully acquainted and comfortable with what it entails, so that once you get onto campus in the fall, you know exactly what you have to do to secure the bag!
When should I start applying for scholarships 2022?
That depends on each scholarship's deadline. Some deadlines are as early as a year before college starts, so if you're in high school now, you should be researching and applying for scholarships during the summer between your junior and senior years. But if you've missed that window, don't give up!
How do I make my applications stand out?
One of the main ways that you can stand out through your application is through the extra requirements that you submit. Whether it's an essay, a video, letters of recommendation, or other additional submissions, these are all places where you will want to dedicate extra time and effort to make sure that what you're sending in is authentically YOU, unique, eye-catching, and memorable.
When should high school seniors start applying for scholarships?
Federal Student Aid recommends that students start researching for scholarships the summer after your junior year of high school. If you have time and energy, you should even start before that. Every scholarship has different rules and different deadlines. Some even require submissions a year prior to starting college.

What are the best scholarships for high school Seniors students?

This scholarship is open to graduating seniors of high school who are legally residing in Essex County, MA. The candidates must be challenged by a food allergy, asthma, environmental allergy, EOE, FPIES, or Celiac Disease. Aside from submitting the application, an essay is required from applicants. Seven concerned parents who had children in the Peabody Public School system founded AAAI Inc.

This scholarship award is given to immigrant students and children of immigrants who are graduating from a New York City high school to attend public or private colleges and universities, regardless of ethnicity, immigration status or national origin.

Several scholarships for full-time students who are deaf and hard of hearing and use Listening and Spoken Language, and who are in pursuit of a graduate degree or four-year undergraduate degree at an accredited mainstream college or university are awarded byThe Alexander Graham Bell Association for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (AG Bell).

A GPA of at least 3.3 is required for Undergraduate Cybersecurity Scholarship. Each recipient of this Undergraduate Scholarship receives an award amount from $1,000 to $5,000 for each recipient. Applicants are mandated to be in pursuit of our plan to pursue a degree with a focus on cybersecurity, information assurance or related field, and be a senior student of the high school or undergraduate student.

This Scholarship is for senior students or graduates of Wood River senior, or current Central Community College-Grand Island or nursing students of Concordia University campus. Applicants are mandated to attend CCC-Grand Island or Concordia University and be in possession of a 2.8 college GPA or 3.0 high school GPA.

American Atheists is proudly awarding two Chinn Scholarships for LGBT Atheist Activism. These scholarships give recognition to activism in the area of LGBT equality. Applicants do not have to be members of the LGBT community for being in receipt of this scholarship hence, allies are encouraged to apply.

Application Deadline: Submit the scholarship application form with your essay and supporting materials by 11:59 pm ET on April 15, for consideration.

This scholarship is provided to eligible family members (children and spouses) of active duty, retired or honorably discharged Surface Navy personnel. The Deadline is March. The second part closes on April 1, whereas the first part of the scholarship is still ongoing.

This scholarship is open to all students and those planning on enrolling within 12 months. The determination of the winner will come via reviewing the best application and then contacted directly and announced on the Scholarship Winners page. One entry for each person is all that is necessary.

Billy was always helping people in any way that he could and this brought about the establishment of this scholarship. This scholarship is sport-related because it memorializes the activities Billy loved most.

The following is eligible to apply for this scholarship: Outstanding High School Seniors who have participated in a franchised Dixie Boys Baseball, Incorporated program and plan to pursue undergraduate studies at a college or university. Applicants are mandated to write a 150-word essay in addition to completing the scholarship.

11. Barbara Odom-Wesley Spirit of Achievement Scholarship

This scholarship is named in honor of Barbara Odom-Wesley; the chartering president of the Xi Theta Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. It may be used at any two-year or four-year college or university. Schools of trade, technical, and cosmetology are not eligible.

This scholarship program is aimed at providing full tuition assistance to students who can demonstrate moderate to the significant need for finance, who wish to pursue an outstanding, intellectually rigorous, secondary education at Parish Episcopal School. Applicants are mandated to be new or current Parish students entering the 9th grade at Parish Episcopal School.

The purpose behind the establishment of the Amish Descendant Scholarship Fund (ADSF) was to provide financial assistance and support to those coming from an Amish upbringing who has taken up the decision to pursue higher education. To be eligible for this scholarship, the applicant will have grown up Amish and his/her family is still Amish.

Through this scholarship, three graduating high school seniors or community college transfer students in Alameda County are provided with up to $10,000 in tuition and books. There is a target by need-based scholarship students matriculating into a four-year college or university.

There are various scholarships available for undergraduate students who are active in a Baptist church, in pursuit of a career in the church or whose parent is a Baptist missionary or minister and includes: Baptist Minister's Dependent Scholarship, Baptist Church Matching Scholarship, Baptist Missionaries' Dependent Scholarship, to mention but a few.

In addition to their $1,000 scholarship through Bold, Nitro also offers a $2,000 scholarship every month, open to high school seniors and current college students. To be considered, all you need to do is fill out the application form on their website. Scholarship Deadline: End of every month.

Details: CollegExpress offers a monthly scholarship for high school seniors and students of other years in school. What's great is that when you enter for their monthly scholarship, you will also be automatically entered for their $10,000 scholarship! Scholarship Deadline: Last day of each month

18. Next College Athlete No-Essay Scholarship

This scholarship is designed for high school athletes who are looking to compete at the next level. Award Amount is $1,000. Scholarship Deadline: Rolling monthly.

The Foot Locker Scholar Athletes program honors student-athletes who demonstrate exceptional academic ability and strong leadership skills in sports, in their schools, and within their communities. Award Amount: $20,000.

20. Sierra Nevada Corporation Women in STEM Scholarship

Open to female-identifying high school seniors, undergraduate, and graduate school studentspursuing non-medical STEM-related degrees. Award Amount: $7,500.

20 Best College Scholarships For High School Seniors 2022-2023

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20 Best College Scholarships For High School Seniors 2022-2023

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20 Best College Scholarships For High School Seniors 2022-2023 . Are you a high school senior class student looking for a scholarship program to enroll in? Scholarships for high school seniors are very rare to find regarding that most scholarships available are either for undergraduate or graduate studies.

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1) Be attending college or university no later than October of 2023.

2) Be attending college or university on a full-time basis by October of 2023.

3) Have achieved a GPA of 2.5 or greater during their last academic year.

4) Be a U.S. or Canadian resident.

5) Be attending a school in the U.S. or Canada by October of 2023.

6) Submit answers to the essay questions no later than 11:59 PM EST on May 2, 2023.

*Note that you can be enrolled in any field of study.

Open Scholarship Application Page: Click Here

Location is everything. In the business world, where one wants to work often determines where one will live. People often have to move and bring their families with them because of better job offers in new locations. If I could live in New York City, many job opportunities would open for me. Even with the many day trips I have taken there, amazing chances have been at my fingertips. I have a very strong passion for singing, dancing, and acting, and New York City is a central location for all of these interests. The energy of this city is almost overwhelming with feelings of hope and promise. Just walking along the streets I've seen poised dancers walking to class, and singers freely warming up their voices. NYC is the home to tons of professional performers, something that I aspire to be. I also hope to use my Psychology and Dance degree to help others with emotional pain express themself through body movement. In New York city, art and therapy of this sort are prevailing. In the performing aspect, there are hundreds of auditions in just one single day. In most other jobs, a few interviews might be hard to find. If I could live in New York City I would also meet many people who share my dream and my passion. I trained there over the summer, and in just a week I made inspiring friends. Surrounding yourself with positive people is a great piece of advice; if I lived in NYC I would be doing just that. I realize that becoming a professional actress or performer is a hard goal to attain, but I will not let that stop me. I have seen the doors of opportunity in this great city, and I cannot wait until it is my time to walk through them.

Chiropractic medicine is also known to be under the branch of alternative medicine, because it is not entirely accepted as a form of science. Most people are reluctant to accept Chiropractic as a medical practice until they have gone to one. Cities that are more metropolitan and conservative may not accept these practices. Therefore, from a future employment prospective it would benefit my career to move to a liberal city in California, such as San Francisco, because a future employer would have patients that are more accepting of the results of the practice. The holistic approach to healing that Chiropractic takes is unorthodox in many ways. The foundation of the practice is the belief that the spine is an extension of the brain, and that if the spine is adjusted accordingly, it will thus change the mechanical behavior of the human being. Some scientists believe this to be a pseudo-scientific approach to medicine. However, holistic healing is a greatly approved practice in San Francisco, California. Naturalistic ways of healing such as yoga, acupuncture, and massage therapy are all popular in this city. Being employed in this city offers many different opportunities as well as interactions with clients that are already accepting of the practice. However, my future plans would be to grow the practice to help Chiropractic become a more accepted form of medicine, as well as help heal people without invasive means of doing it. The cliche "Less is more" is a popular one in Chiropractic, the less medicine and the less surgery one has is better for that person. If Chiropractic was a more accepted belief, perhaps it could become a primary means of medicine, and more people could be healed without utilizing harmful, dated practices.

If I could travel to any city in the world to better myself in the education field, I would go to China. China is very fortunate, having many intelligent students. Students in China are taught advanced education at a very young age; all children in China know how to speak English as a language, as a secondary language, but very fluently. Students in schools in the United States are not usually taught a foreign or secondary language, until at least the ninth grade. Even being taught a foreign language at this age, most students only study it for a minimum of two years, and after that they do not continue to study or speak the language. This leads to the language being forgotten and then it was a waste of class time to take the language. Students in China, are taught the language at a young age, and use it frequently to help them remember the usage of the language. Also, students in China are taking things in technology to new levels, coming up with new inventions and creating new things. Here in America, we produce extremely small amounts of products and all of our other merchandise is shipped in from China and other countries. We have learned to depend on China for our wants and needs and also to be able to trade goods that we make here, keeping our economies thriving. I feel that if I would go to China, experiencing their way of life and their broad education and learning abilities of their children, it would give me an example of how to try to shape the classrooms of the future for the United States. This change in our country would create many new jobs for people, and also give America the advantage of producing things here. This giving the United States an advantage in the world of importing and exporting goods. If we were to change the ways of education, based on the advancements in technology and trying to teach students at a young age how to speak multiple languages or to even do complex math this would help our country to thrive, leaving other countries to want to set their education based on our curriculum. I feel that in a perfect world we would not have to compete with other countries to make ourselves better, but we would each have our own way of life and education and it would not be judged or compared to, but it would be ours. But, this is not a perfect world and we are not a perfect country, we all make mistakes and are entitled to make them, these are the things that make the world continue.

"The city that never sleeps." New York. Virtually known as the commerce capital of the world, New York provides the necessary fast-paced, dynamic environment captivated by eager shoppers thriving to become the generation's next trendsetters. As a business student, one can only benefit from being in a city where the shopping experience not only prevails within a shopping mall, but runs as a lifestyle. After spending a considerable time in the city where bright lights contribute to the runway perception of its densely packed yet fashionably-delightful human traffic, I would only gain live experience of what it truly means to market oneself. After all, marketing is the number one measure for the success or failure of brand companies in the future. Finding myself between Wall street and 5th avenue combines the two aspects of business in which I'm currently concentrating, finance and marketing. To begin with, marketing is a business process that deals with diffusion of innovation and products. It is not fussing about better strategies concerning increasing sales, but it focus on customer-centered ideals that will maximize customer satisfaction. W. Edwards Deming, teacher and consultant, shaped his reputation as a great management thinker by advising accountants to view work as a process and become process thinkers controlling processes, not people and costs. He also directed management accountants to develop process systems controls that are customer focused and that increase the learning capabilities of the firm1. What better way to learn than by being in a metropolis of commercial-minded individuals. By clearly identifying the marketing objectives and goals, developing a marketing strategy, and then implementing it, a business student such as myself could break down even the most delicate factors that could end up being the last call for a customer purchase. In other words, an expertise in research approaches, observational as well as experimental research, can lead to better standards in satisfaction as the primary demand metric. One of the best examples out there is the reconstruction of the corporate mindset of Hyundai executives who were only able to outdo their competition after twenty something years, when they finally realized that customer-oriented processes were the key to success. In order to measure customer profitability, marketing professionals need to pay special care to the sheer quantity of customer purchases made per year, the low costs of delivering and after-sales services to these customers, and customer purchases of high margin products. It is all a matter on keeping the organization

Being a young woman who has strong speaking, writing, and creative thinking skills, Public Relations is the ideal major for me. It has many branches within the major. As a student going into this field, the choices for the major has many different paths you can take when studyig it. Once you finish studying and getting your degree, the next step is what to do with it. Not only is picking the job a priority, but finding a destination thats big on that major is cruical. That's why when wanting to major in Public Relations, I feel that living in New York would further my career. I chose New York because of the major publication cites, and the job market. Mostly when thinking about the major magazines and newspapers, The New York Times and other major new york managed magazines come to mind. New York is know for having many books and copyrights from the state. It's popular for their writings and vibrant ideas. This state is home of the city, New York City, which is a writers or photographers supreme city. in many movies, magazines, and more, New York is a popular spot. It's an amazing spot to learn much about getting out and putting a Public Relations degree to use. In New York, the job market is rich. Not only are there many jobs, it's known for it's many internships. New york helps when wanting to get out in your field and seeing how it is, also interacting with those who has been in the field for some years. I think if wanting to major in Public Relations, going to New York is an amazing choice. Its so much to learn there, and it toughens you up. New York helps with your independence, and also your confidence in getting out in your field and showing off your skill.

As Saint Augustine said, "The World is a book, and those who do not travel read only a page." Traveling heals the soul, and mind, and helps to culture the traveler. To travel is to inherently and involutarily become educated and familiar with the many customs of the world around us. There is so much out there in the world for us to see, which would help anyone in what they want to achieve when they are older. For me, traveling to London would be not only an exciting expierience but an educational one. Traveling to London would help me culture myself, and learn about the century old laws. These are especialy important for one who is aspiring to be a attorney. No matter what career you go into, you need to be cultured. The more educated, well mannered, and expierienced you are, the more you be respected and will achieve more. Traveling is one the best ways to educate yourself. By traveling to London, I will be able to expierience some of the oldest architecture, the best art, and many differnt types of people. I can bring this all back to me when I am working as an attorney. I will be more expeirienced in working and conversing with different types of people. Being cultured, educated, and well traveled also will appeal to my clients. In the 1800's, Britain was the most influential nation in the world, in control of the Atlantic. London was its powerhouse. This is where all the laws, taxes, and even the Intolerable Acts were established. Common Law derives from England. This is the basis of every law in our country. Traveling to London and learning, and truly expieriencing the laws that helped shape the ideas in minds of our founding fathers is truly inspiring and a once in a lifetime oppurtunity. Educating myself in commmon law would be most beneficial to my career. There are many places in the world that are priceless getaways, but for a career as an attorney, only one place stands out. Traveling to London would be the most educational expierience. This location would help to educate myself on history, create well traveled, cultured adult, and help myself to learn about common law, the basis of my career, and our country.

I believe a major, highly populated city such as New York or Los Angeles would be a beneficial destination to promote a career path. I believe this because in a highly populated area there is a greater likelihood that a broad range of fields may be available in which to work. Not only would there probably be a significantly large range of fields of study but also a foreseeable means by which to discover many opportunities in each area. In a largely populated area; my thought process is that with more people there is more opportunity to serve with many different professions because the more people could translate to the more serviced needed. As compared to a smaller city, there may not be as many people therefore supply of serviced needed may be equivalent or even exceed the demand. I have already stated my belief and the reasoning behind it. However; to go a little more in depth I would say that success rates of productivity and career growth can be increased or decreased not only depending on the area, but the field. A race car driver living in a small, farm town may not see much action. As good as they may be, the opportunity just may not be there. A mechanic, or surgeon in, or even close to a large city will have a greater chance to not only exploit their ability on a large general public, but they can also earn themselves a prestigious well-known name that a larger group of people will become familiar with building that persons' respect and reputation over time. After all, that's what a career is supposed to be made up of. Sure, we all need a career to make a good living and to have a sense of productivity in our everyday lives; but everything can be looked to as a service to others in one way or another and when all parts come together as one with the opportunity there the rates of success are likely to show increase. If I am an attorney in a small town, as good as I may be, I may not be able to show it and may even struggle to find work or to keep any work that I do have. A farmer wouldn't have to worry about this because they will be okay as long as the weather plays cooperative and they are able to get their product where it needs to go. An attorney, would much more likely to be successful in a larger setting where there are more people. Every profession can be seen as a service in many ways. A farmer served people indirectly; while the work of an attorney is a direct relationship of representation that required direct contact and even face to face office work. A big city provides more room to find a suitable area; more people to serve to which increases the chances that there is also a suitable demographic with a population of demand for all the supply being provided. A farmer in a big city would not have room to grow crops. An attorney in a small town would have a lot of room to grow crops that wouldn't grow.

When I was seven years old my family went on a vacation to New York City. I made it a priority, even at such a young age, to visit the New York Stock Exchange and NASDAQ centers. I have always been interested in the stock market, finance, and economics. New York City is the perfect place for me to pursue and tackle these passions successfully at its birth place. New York City is also where I want to go to college because of all the financial and stock market agencies. New York City is the biggest city in the world. It is the perfect place where I can engage in my career passions. I would be a small fish in an ocean with an ample supply of employers and employees. It would be the opportunity of a lifetime for me to start my own corporation such as a financial consulting firm or even a brokerage. I would also be the most motivated in New York City because if I will get left behind if I don't keep up with such a busy city. I will have many business connections and friends in addition to my career. One of my favorite hobbies is to read articles in Forbes magazine. I read biographies of immigrant businessmen who started out in New York City. I admire these men because they are very similar to me. I am from an immigrant family and I aspire to succeed in the big city that they started off in. I am very smart and motivated. I believe I can make a name for myself and my family and New York City is the perfect opportunity to do that both spiritually and financially. With my business, marketing, and management skills I know that I can do something substantially influential and amazing in a place like New York City. Thank you for your time and I hope I live up to the expectations to receive this honorable scholarship.

This is really more of a request than a question. But these few words can put you on the spot in a way no question can. Many quickly lose control of the interview during the most critical time- the first five minutes. This is not the time to go into a lengthy history or wander off in different directions. Your response should be focused and purposeful. Communicate a pattern of interests and skills that relate to the position in question. Consider your response to this question as a commercial that sells your autobiography. Provide an answer that includes information about where you grew up, where you went to school, your initial work experience, additional education and special training, where you are now, and what you intend to do next. One of the most effective ways to prepare for this question is to develop a 60-second biographic sketch that emphasizes a pattern of interests, skills, and accomplishments. Focus your response around a common theme related to your major interests and skills. Take, for example, the following response, which emphasizes computers. "I was born in Canton, Ohio and attended Lincoln High School. Ever since I was a teenager, I tinkered with computers. It was my hobby, my passion, and my way of learning. Like most kids I enjoyed computer games. When my folks gave me a computer as a reward for making honor roll my sophomore year, I mastered DOS, Windows, and WordPerfect within six months. I then went on to teach myself programming basics. By the time I graduated high school, I knew I wanted to study programming. From that point on, everything fell into place. My life revolved around computing. By my junior year at Syracuse, I decided I wanted to work for a major software manufacturer. That is why I had an internship last summer at FastTrack Software. I now want to work for a major player so I can be at the forefront of breaking trends and new technology. When my college roommate told me about his start in your department, I hounded him until he helped me get a referral, which brought me here today. I am prepared to answer any questions you may have about my education and experience." This response sets a nice tone for starting the interview. The interviewee is able to say a lot within 60 seconds by staying focused. The message is clear: the interviewee has both passion and focus relating to the position. He stays on message and concludes by leaving the door open for additional questions about his education and experience. Unfortunately some candidates get off on the wrong foot by rambling on for several minutes about their childhood, family, hobbies, travels, and interests. Repeat Key Accomplishment Statements Throughout the interview you will be asked numerous questions about your attitude and ability to do the job. Whenever possible, talk about your accomplishments in terms of what you did and the results of your actions for employers. Give examples of your effectiveness, which should include specific skills and statistics. Where do you see yourself five years from now? This open-ended question is one of the most difficult and stressful ones job seekers face. Employers ostensibly ask this question because they are looking for people who know what they want to do and who are focused on specific professional goals. If you lack goals, you will have difficulty answering this question. Be sure you arrive at the interview with a clear vision of what you want to do today, tomorrow and five years from now. Be consistent with the objective on your resume and the skills and accomplishments you're communicating to the interviewer. Your answer should be employer-centered. For example, "In five years I hope to be working with an employer in an increasingly responsible position, that enables me to utilize my talents and work closely with my colleagues in solving important problems. I see myself taking on new and exciting challenges in an enjoyable environment and hopefully this will be with your company." Do not indicate...

I believe that by going to London, England, I could increase my chances of employment. I am currently a history major with a basis in Western Europe and the British Isles. By spending in London, I would have physical knowledge of the place which I am preparing to study. While knowledge about most things may come from reading, there exists an aesthetic element which cannot be replicated through any manuscript. The only way for a person to get a sense of the object itself is to be physically present at the scene. If I were to travel to London and experience the city for myself, I would be able to set myself apart from those who have not had the chance to gaze upon the medieval architecture or the aging cobblestone passages. I would also be opening myself up to the wonderful manuscripts in the libraries of the city. There also exists another reason. I am studying modern history (1700-1900) and its influence on the post-modern world. By traveling to London, I not only make myself available to the aesthetic element of the city, but also the human interaction of those who live there. I would be able to talk with people who have a history about the place. This would open me up to a whole new realm of understanding. I would be able to speak with people who live in London about how the influence of modern literature and its effect on the youth of the town. London is more than a historical city, it is a cultural marketplace. I would be able to realize the influence of modern ideology and literature and the effect that they have on the inhabitants. It cannot be doubted that London has played a role in the influence of new generations. By visiting I could see the actual effect of the modern world on the post-modern world we now live in. I could see how people who live today have adopted the architecture and the ideology of those who lived in the past. By doing so, I would be able to set myself apart from those who have only read of the influence of the city. Experience is the greatest teacher.

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2023 College Scholarships - Applications for High School and College Students

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1) Be attending college or university no later than October of 2023. 2) Be attending college or university on a full-time basis by October of 2023. 3) Have achieved a GPA of 2.5 or greater during their last academic year. 4) Be a U.S. or Canadian resident.

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Last Update: February 16, 2022

There are lots of scholarship opportunities out there, but it can be hard to know where to start looking. Some might even find it too intimidating to begin looking at all! That's where we come in. We at Colleges of Distinction have compiled a list of scholarships for 2022 to help get the ball rolling.

There's no denying it: things like textbooks, tuition, supplies, housing, and dues add up quickly when you get to campus. Luckily, a lot of companies and organizations want to help students like you pave the way to education by offering various grant and scholarship opportunities for different interests, talents, and backgrounds. More than in scholarship money was awarded to first-time college students in 2011-and that doesn't even account for the more than $100 million in unclaimed scholarships that nobody applied to!

Don't let your up-front costs scare you; with the right planning and resources, you have the potential to take your college bills down a few thousand dollars a semester. Here is a mega list of some of the best scholarships for college provided by companies, organizations, and foundations so that students can focus less on their financial aid and more on their future!

Looking for something more specific? Check out our other scholarship lists in our Advice Column (along with other resources to guide you on your college journey).

For updates on when we add more scholarships to the list, join our Monthly Newsletter here!
Rolling monthly application deadlines. Next deadline: March 1, 2022 Award: Awards $25,000
Overview: The $25,000 "Be Bold" Scholarship is a no-essay scholarship that will be awarded to the applicant with the boldest profile. No-Essay Scholarship in just a few clicks! Fund your education with verified new scholarships, available only on Bold.org. New scholarships are added daily, and membership is 100% free for students.

Well-known brands like Starbucks and Apple not only produce products that we know and love, but they also encourage higher education. They offer both their customers and employees the chance to earn a scholarship to the college or university that they desire. Some brand-name scholarships, such as the Dr. Pepper Tuition Giveaway, grant an award to cover students' entire tuition.

Take advantage of the opportunity to apply for a scholarship from a big brand name that you trust and adore. Companies such as Coca-Cola, Taco Bell, Google, Burger King, Ford, etc. have allowed students to further their education. They want to see students succeed and allow them to attend the college that they've always wanted to go to. Apply today to get a household name to help you pay for your education.
Deadline: Updated details for the 2022-2023 program cycle will be posted on this website in October. Award: Awards $20,000 to 20 student-athletes
Overview: The Foot Locker Scholar Athletes program honors student-athletes who demonstrate exceptional academic ability and strong leadership skills in sports, in their schools, and within their communities. Whether you're the lead scorer or the most spirited team player, we want to hear how you have taken the skills you've cultivated in the locker room and used to them create a powerful, positive impact on the lives of others around you.
Deadline: Ongoing Award Amount: 100% tuition coverage
Overview: Starbucks is committed to the success of its partners (employees). Every benefits-eligible U.S. partner working part- or full-time receives 100% tuition coverage for a first-time bachelor's degree through Arizona State University's online program. Choose from over 80 diverse undergraduate degree programs, and have our support every step of the way.
Deadline: The application for the 2023 Coca-Cola Scholars Program (open to those graduating high school in the 2022-2023 school year) will open in August 2022 on this site. Award Amount: $20,000
Overview: The Coca-Cola Scholars Program Scholarship is an achievement-based scholarship awarded to graduating high school seniors. Students are recognized for their capacity to lead and serve, as well as their commitment to making a significant impact on their schools and communities. Applicants must be current high school/home-schooled seniors attending school in the U.S, anticipating completion of a high school diploma at the time of application and planning to pursue a degree at an accredited U.S. post-secondary institution. For more information or to apply, please visit the scholarship provider's website.
Deadline: March 21, 2022 Award Amount: $1,500
Overview: This annual scholarship is provided by BMW AG in recognition of its commitment to excellence in engineering. BMW is world-famous for designing and building luxury, high-performance passenger cars, and motorcycles. The company is also a leader in developing and manufacturing high technology, high-performance internal combustion engines.
Deadline: April 16, 2022 Award: $2,000
Overview: Growing demand and lack of qualified workers in skilled trades like the moving industry means it's a great time to go back to school and enter these lucrative and fast-growing industries. To help keep up with demand and assist the next generation of professionals, HireAHelper will award a $2,000 scholarship four times a year to eligible students.

Deadline: Check back soon for your chance at the Dr. Pepper Tuition Giveaway.
Award: $100,000
Overview: Dr. Pepper is awarding over $1,000,000 in tuition to help students reach their biggest goals.
Requirements: Looking for students ages 18-24 to enter the tuition giveaway.
Deadline: March 4, 2022 Award:

A $30,000 college scholarship

A $50,000 technology package for their school/non-profit organization

A trip to Google headquarters in California

Google hardware and Fun Googley swag

Overview: Calling all K-12 students - bring your creativity to life in a Doodle of the Google logo, using any medium you choose for the chance to be a Doodle 4 Google winner. The National Winner's artwork will be featured on the Google homepage and will win a $30,000 scholarship and a $50,000 tech grant for their school. Come back on January 7th to find out the theme of this year's contest and get doodling!
Deadline: August 31, 2022 Award Amount: $1,000
Overview: The Thurgood Marshall College Fund (TMCF) and varying partners are proud to offer COVID-19 emergency financial assistance to students attending one of TMCF's 47 publicly-supported Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) or Predominantly Black Institutions (PBIs). Students selected will receive an emergency award of up to $1,000 for the 2021-2022 academic school year.
Deadline: July 21, 2022, by 11:59:59 PM EDT
Award Amount: We're giving away $20,000 in cash scholarships to high school students who make the best prom attire out of Duck® Brand Duct Tape!

Overview: Create and wear your original & unique prom wear using Duck® brand duct tape and/or Duck® brand crafting tape. Submit photos of your prom creation for a chance to win several awards worth $10,000.
Deadline: March 15, 2022 Award Amount: $20,000
Overview: Blacks at Microsoft (BAM) is a company-sponsored employee network dedicated to supporting the continued growth and development of black employees at Microsoft Corporation. Applicants for the Blacks at Microsoft Scholarship must be high-school seniors of African descent (for example, African-American, African, or Ethiopian); must plan to attend a four-year college or university in the fall of the year following high-school graduation, and plan to pursue a bachelor's degree in engineering, computer science, computer information systems, or select business programs (such as finance, business administration, or marketing). A minimum 3.3 GPA and financial need are required. For more information or to apply, please visit the scholarship provider's website.
Deadline: Information on the 2022 Scholarships will be available in the spring. If you would like to be notified when the call for applications opens, please email amy.burton@allwomeninmedia.org.
Award: $2,000 - $3,000
Overview: The Alliance for Women in Media Foundation and the Ford Motor Company Fund are teaming together to honor students telling the stories of women empowering others. AWMF and the Ford Motor Company Fund will select one student winner to receive $3,000, payable to the winning student's educational institution, and one student runner up to receive $2,000 for the 2020 educational fall semester.
Deadline: The application period for the 2022-2023 program will open in the fall. Award Amount: See website
Overview: How are scholarship winners selected? The scholarship recipients are selected based on: Academic achievement; Financial need; Community involvement; Personal qualities and strengths as portrayed in a personal interview, either in-person or by phone.

Deadline: Expected to Reopen in October
Award: A $20,000 scholarship and more
Overview: The Michael & Susan Dell Foundation created Dell Scholars to recognize and assist an underserved population-students in the academic middle from low-income households who are often among the first in their families to attend college. Since starting the program in 2004, the foundation has supported more than 4,800 scholars, including more than 2,000 college graduates. All Dell Scholars have overcome significant personal challenges in their pursuit of higher education. The financial award helps students with various education expenses; but, most importantly, the program is more than just a check: Dell Scholars is a college completion program that provides students with key supports they need to obtain a college degree.
Deadline: Expected to reopen in October 2022. Click here to be notified. Award: Up to $40,000 Total Per Recipient
Overview: Honoring the legacy and character of our nation's 40th President, the GE-Reagan Foundation Scholarship Program rewards college-bound students who demonstrate exemplary leadership, drive, integrity, and citizenship with financial assistance to pursue higher education.

Each year, the Program selects numerous recipients to receive a $10,000 scholarship renewable for up to an additional three years - up to $40,000 total per recipient. Awards are for undergraduate study and may be used for education-related expenses, including tuition, fees, books, supplies, room, and board. In addition, Scholars are invited to participate in a special awards program and receive ongoing leadership-development support.
Deadline: March 15, 2022 Award: $2,500
Overview: The Shell Oil Company Technical Scholarship and Shell Incentive Fund Scholarship have been created to provide financial and career assistance to graduating high school seniors who have expressed an interest in the energy industry and demonstrated an aptitude in mathematics and science. In each program, Shell will sponsor up to 20 one-year awards of $2,500 for selected graduating high school seniors enrolling in engineering or geosciences at universities identified by Shell.
Deadline: See Website Award: See Website
Overview: Our mission is to strengthen communities and help make people's lives better. Working with our Ford dealers and nonprofit partners, we provide access to opportunities and resources that help people reach their full potential. Ford Fund invests more than $16 million annually to support educational initiatives that empower people to envision and lead change in their communities or in their own lives.

Deadline: January 31, 2023 at 11:59 p.m. ET (the "Promotion Period"), and consists of twelve (12) monthly entry periods (each an "Entry Period") as set forth below. Check the calendar here.
Award Amount: $5,000
Overview: Sign up for emails to get helpful college tips and resources, and enter for the chance to win a scholarship! Throughout the year, 12 eligible students or parents will be randomly selected to win a $5,000 Discover Student Loans Scholarship Award to help cover college expenses.
Deadline: June 30, 2022 Award Amount: $4,000
Overview: Scholarship contest for college-bound students. Simply submit this Official Entry form by the deadline posted in the Official Rules and you could win a $4000 College Scholarship!
Deadline: Expected to reopen fall 2022 Award Amount: Selected students will receive 10,000 USD for the 2022-2023 school year.
Overview: As part of its commitment to military veterans, Google established the Google SVA Scholarship in partnership with Student Veterans of America. The scholarship provides assistance to student veterans who are pursuing university degrees in the field of computer science in the U.S. Selected students will receive 10,000 USD for the 2022-2023 school year.
Deadline: Sign up for an email reminder for when the next application period opens in Fall 2022.
Award Amount: $25,000
Overview: The Live Más Scholarship is n ot based on your grades or how well you play sports. No essays, no test scores, no right or wrong answers. We're looking for the next generation of innovators, creators, and dreamers. Submit a video (2 minutes or less in length) that tells us the story of your life's passion. It could be a short film, animation or just a simple testimonial. This is not about how well you can make a film - we just want you to show us your passion and explain why you should be considered for a Live Más Scholarship. Employees of Taco Bell Foundation, Inc., Taco Bell of America, LLC, Taco Bell Corp. and its parent, subsidiaries of its parent, franchisees, licensees, and the advertising and promotion agencies involved with this Program are not eligible to apply or receive a scholarship through this version of the program. For more information or to apply, please visit the scholarship provider's website.
Deadline: Rolling deadline Award Amount: Program awards 40 individual scholarships of $1,000 each
Overview: Raytheon-FIRST Robotics Scholarship program awards 40 individual scholarships of $1,000 each to FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) alumni pursuing undergraduate education as math, science, engineering or technology majors. We have offered the Raytheon-FIRST Robotics Scholarship since 2003 and to date have disbursed $400,000 in scholarship money. To be considered for the scholarship you must be a high school senior or a full-time college freshman, sophomore or junior who participated in a FIRST Robotics Competition or were a member of a FIRST Tech Challenge team.

Many different small businesses throughout the country want to help students continue their education at an accredited university. Even those that are

not big-name businesses are willing to help students in need with scholarships that range from $1,000 to $7,500 to go toward a college education. The small business scholarships below are from businesses that care for students and believe that a college education is necessary for future success. Understanding the struggle that paying for college can be, they are driven to help pay for books, colleges application fees, or other educational expenses.

These small businesses are giving scholarship money to students who are deserving of it and who most need financial aid in order to attend college. Take advantage of this kind opportunity from a group that believes in you to continue your education.
Deadline: March 15, 2022
Overview: The Herbert Hoover Uncommon Student Award is a $10,000 scholarship program for Iowa high school juniors. The program is designed to attract students who are motivated and community minded. The award, which honors Herbert Hoover, an Iowa native and the 31st President of the United States, identifies approximately 15 Iowa high school juniors who propose and then accomplish projects of their own design. The projects the students propose should demonstrate the values that Herbert Hoover exemplified in his life of public service.
Award Amount: $10,000 Deadline: April 30, 2022
Overview: USG is committed to your development! This scholarship is available for anyone working in the sport industry. This scholarship can be used for personal, spiritual, or professional development. This may include paying off student loans, tuition, job board memberships, conference fees, etc. See site for submission details.
Award Amount: 1st place: $5,000, 2nd place: $3,000, 3rd place: $2,000 Deadline: Stay tuned for 2022 updates!
Overview: The Live Bearde d team is all about helping students fulfill their dreams, just as we are fulfilling ours! Most students need a little financial aid, and if we can help you seek a higher education to be the next successful entrepreneur, start a small business, open a barbershop, become a civil or public servant, or whatever path you're traveling to pursue happiness through education, we're here to do our part in assisting!
Award Amount: $2,500 Deadline: The contest starts on November 30, 2021 CST and ends on November 29, 2022 CST.
Overview: Are you enrolled or about to enroll in a college, university, or trade school? Are you looking for a little extra help in funding your education to cover expenses that other scholarships and financial aid don't cover? If your answer is "yes," we have a solution that could help out with books, supplies, or anything else you need to cover your educational expenses. Apply now to our 2019 Scholarship, which will be in the amount of $1,000.00 USD to be paid toward the educational certification/degree program of your choice. The chosen topic is as follows: How does writing impact today's world? Think about it, write about it, and let us know your thoughts.
Award Amount: $1,000 Deadline: Monday, February 28, 2022
Overview: Shred Nations and Record Nations are Colorado based companies dedicated to promoting economic success of businesses in the shredding and secure destruction or management industries. As a member of i-SIGMA, Shred Nations and Record Nations recognizes the benefits of continuing higher education for those individuals interested in business, environmental responsibility and making future contributions to the community.
Award Amount: $7,500
One easy way to earn a scholarship is to get involved in the community. Community service is a great way to benefit others as well as yourself, as your involvement can make you eligible for awards. Not only do colleges take delight in their students' ability to give to their communities, but community service aids in the mental growth and compassion of the students themselves. Community involvement and service is highly regarded in most universities' eyes. It shows a student's helping hand, giving nature, and selflessness and willingness to give up their own time for the sake of others. It suggests that a high school student willing to do this now will continue to serve throughout their college career and in their adult lives. Community service can give a student the opportunity to earn free college money and to ultimately give them the opportunity for future success by opening their eyes to a new worldview. Take advantage of community involvement scholarships in order to help you through college. Your work in the community will open your eyes to a new worldview and open your opportunity to pay for enrollment in the university that you want.
Deadline: April 19, 2022
Overview: As one small way to promote giving back and volunteering for your community, the Bold.org Volunteering Matters No-Essay Scholarship exists to support someone who is committed to giving back to their broader community through distinct service efforts.
Award Amount: $500
The scholarship is open to all students and non-students from any field of study. The only requirement is that you believe in the power of volunteering to be an immensely positive force toward a better and more equitable world.
Deadline: May 29, 2022
Overview: Mark had a strong love for his hometown and the close bonds that could only be formed through such a tightly knit community. Throughout his life, Mark believed in giving back to his community and helping others.
Award Amount: $5,000
Mark had an immense passion for life and learning. This scholarship aims to support students from small towns in Ohio so they can pursue a college education. Any high school senior or undergraduate student in Ohio who demonstrates leadership in school, volunteering experience, and/or academic excellence may apply.

To apply, tell us how growing up in a small town impacted you and how you hope to give back to your community in the future.
Deadline: March 30, 2022
Overview: Volunteering can give you a sense of accomplishment and can even help you land a job. Applicants who have volunteering experience are 82% more likely to be chosen for a job than candidates without experience. This scholarship aims to support high school seniors in Maryland who are involved in their communities and are passionate about giving back.
Award Amount: $2,000
Any high school senior who lives in Maryland and is active in their school or community through athletics, volunteer work, or related activities may apply for this scholarship.

To apply, please tell us about yourself, your educational goals, and what you would like to be remembered for and why.
Deadline: Mar 31, 2022

Overview: The Travel with a Purpose Scholarship seeks to support a student who cares about the problems facing the world and who has the drive to pay it forward in practical ways. Students are encouraged to apply if they are currently in their senior year of high school or enrolled in undergraduate school.
Award Amount: $500
To apply, create a video that explains what problem you would choose to tackle if you could travel for 6 months and focus on solving a specific problem.

Overview: The Spirit of Giving Scholarship is available to high school seniors and current college students. You must submit an essay of between 500 and 750 words on one of the following three topics in order to be considered for this award: How have you advanced the spirit of giving in your community or abroad either through service or in giving? How has the spirit of giving affected you personally? How will your college or post-secondary education allow you to be of service to others or give to others?
Deadline: July 31, 2022
Overview: The mission of Nordson BUILDS is to attract and develop a diverse, highly-skilled talent pool for careers in the manufacturing industry. It is designed to help bright and motivated students access and complete postsecondary education by lessening the financial barriers of enrolling in college for many, and decreasing the loan burden for individuals that apply for financial aid. Students must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to be eligible to receive a Nordson BUILDS Scholarship.
Award Amount: Up to $10,000
Overview: The Gloria Barron Prize for Young Heroes celebrates inspiring, public-spirited young people from diverse backgrounds all across North America. Each year, the Barron Prize honors 25 outstanding young leaders ages 8 to 18 who have made a significant positive difference to people and the environment.
Deadline: April 15, 2022 Award Amount: $10,000
Overview: The Christianson Grant is awarded to motivated young Americans who create and carry out their own meaningful service projects abroad. Grantees also share their experiences via regular blog posts about their project and a completion report in order to further international understanding and promote cultural awareness.
Deadline: October 15, 2022 Award Amount: Up to $10,000
Overview: The Horatio Alger Association of Distinguished Americans is dedicated to the simple but powerful belief that hard work, honesty and determination can conquer all obstacles. As such, the Association honors the achievements of outstanding individuals in our society who have succeeded in spite of adversity and who are committed to supporting young people in pursuit of increased opportunities through higher education.
Deadline: March 15, 2022 Award Amount: $25,000
Overview: Service is the cornerstone of DAV's mission of empowering veterans to lead high-quality and fulfilled lives. But we would not be able to serve our nation's heroes without thousands of dedicated youth volunteers across the country. From volunteering at a local Department of Veterans Affairs medical center to assisting veterans within their local communities-and everything in between-DAV youth volunteers across the country are committed to serving our ill and injured heroes.
Deadline: February 28, 2022 Award Amount: Up to $20,000
Overview: The 2022 Ocean Awareness Contest theme WATER RISING challenges students to explore and understand their connection to water, and to creatively communicate the need to protect this vital resource. What are the stories we need to tell about water to sustain and conserve it for current and future generations of life on Earth?
Deadline: June 14, 2022 Award Amount: Up to $1,500
Overview: A program recognizes student innovation and youth-led solutions to fight hunger in the U.S. These young people are creating awareness and mobilizing peers in their communities to be catalysts for change. The scholarship awardees comprise a wide variety of students, ages 5 to 25, who are recognized at the national and regional level and hail from across the country. A program that recognizes students who are driving awareness and mobilizing youth to be catalysts for innovative models that provide solutions to eliminate hunger in the U.S. Scholarship winners receive a $5,000 scholarship and a $5,000 grant for their hunger-related charity.
Deadline: February 28, 2022 Award Amount: $5,000
Overview: The Scholars Helping Collars Scholarship is available to high school seniors. To be considered, you must submit an essay detailing your volunteer efforts to help animals in need, and how that involvement has changed your life or shaped your perceptions on the importance of animal welfare.
Deadline: February 28, 2022 Award Amount: Up to $1,500
Overview: The Spirit of Youth Scholarship Fund is an umbrella that supports three separate scholarship opportunities for participants in American Legion Auxiliary programs. One is for American Legion Auxiliary Junior members; another is for the Honorary National Junior President; and one is for participants in the American Legion Auxiliary Girls Nation program.
Deadline: March 1, 2022 Award Amount: Awards Vary
Overview: Point Foundation (Point) is the nation's largest scholarship-granting organization for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) students of merit. Point promotes change through scholarship funding, mentorship, leadership development, and community service training.
Deadline: Opens November 2022
It might seem that writing-focused scholarships are reserved only for those who have a passion for reading and writing, but anyone can take a shot at writing an essay in order to win these specially curated awards. The scholarships below are those for writers or anyone who wants to tell a story through their own written words. They are for students who are eager to write while also demonstrating the essay-writing skills they learned throughout high school. These scholarship essays could be the first step in dealing with the struggle and worry of paying for college; writing is an easy way to earn free money that could pave the way for a student's future education and future success.
Award Amount: Students accepted into the program will receive between $2,000-$4,800 in scholarship support.
Writers know how to create new life in the world we live in. They have the ability to open up our eyes to new perspectives. These writing scholarships give writers (or anyone else) the chance to show the scholarship judges their own perspectives and ideas, which could lead to their chance of earning free college money. Use your writing skills in order to make it all the more possible to enter a world of new college experiences.

Overview: Since 1963, the CINTAS Foundation has awarded over 81 fellowships in creative writing. In addition to supporting Cuban artists, many early in their careers, the CINTAS Foundation also maintains a growing collection of works by past awardees and other esteemed Cuban artists. For the purpose of historical value and documentation, award recipients are encouraged to submit creative writings sample, signed book, or other such representative samples of their work to be added to the CINTAS Fellows Collection after the grant period.
Deadline: May 1, 2022 Award Amount: $20,000
Overview: The Page Turner Young Writer Award 2022 is open to any writer aged between 18 and 25. Our judging panel below includes literary agents looking for young writers to represent and publishers looking for young writers to publish. Entering is a two-step process where you register to set up an account as an author or writer.
Deadline: March 31, 2022
Award Amount: $1,000
Overview: Tell us in 500 words or less, why you want to be a teacher. Describe your dream job to us and tell us WHY this is your dream job. Send your essay in the body of the email (no attachments) to scholarship@zippia.com with the subject line: "My Teacher Dream Job Scholarship Contest Entry".
Deadline: December 31, 2022
Award Amount: $1,000
Overview: Have you ever read one of Ayn Rand's thought-provoking novels? Now's the time! Enter an Ayn Rand Institute essay contest and you'll have a chance to win thousands of dollars in scholarship prize money. ARI has held worldwide essay contests for students on Ayn Rand's fiction for more than thirty years, awarding over $2 million in total prize money! This year we will award more than $30,000 to student winners.
Deadline: April 28, 2022 Award Amount: Up to $5,000
Overview: It is hard to describe SwR's preference in poetry in a few words. We always suggest that potential contributors read several issues of the magazine to see for themselves what we like. But some things may be said: we accept both traditional and experimental writing; we place no arbitrary limits on length; we have no specific limitations as to theme. Please limit your submission to six poems.
Deadline: At this time, Southwest Review is not taking new submissions. We hope to reopen in early 2022. Award: Up to $1,000
Overview: Writer's Digest has been shining a spotlight on up and coming writers in all genres through its Annual Writing Competition for more than 80 years. Enter our 89th Annual Writing Competition for your chance to win and have your work be seen by editors and agents! Almost 500 winners will be chosen.
Deadline: May 6, 2022 Award: Up to $5,000
Overview: The AFSA High School Essay Contest is open to high school students. To be considered, in a 1000 - to 1250 - word essay, you must identify how members of the foreign service work with other civilian parts of the U.S. government to promote peace, national security, and economic prosperity.
Deadline: April 4, 2022 Award Amount: Up to $2,500
Overview: The AFA Teens for Alzheimer's Awareness College Scholarship is available to high school students who will be entering an accredited four-year college or university within 12 months of the deadline. You must be a U.S. citizen to be eligible for this award. To apply, you must submit a short personal biography and a 1200 to 1500-word essay describing the impact of Alzheimer's disease on yourself, your family or your community, and what you have learned in light of coping with the brain disorder.
Deadline: March 1, 2022 Award Amount: Up to $5,000
Overview: Recipients of our business, interior design, and architecture scholarship will receive $1,500 to use towards expenses related to education including tuition, books, campus housing, and more.
Deadline: April 15, 2o22 Award: $1,500
Overview: Now in its 20th year, this contest seeks today's best humor poems. No fee to enter. Submit published or unpublished work. $3,500 in prizes.

A creative mind can give a student the opportunity to create beauty in the world around them, whether that be through art or music or dancing. There is so much value to creativity, so it's no surprise that scholarship accolades are not limited to academics, but can also award the creative aspects of a student's life. A creative scholarship gives a student the freedom to use their talents in order to give themselves the chance to earn money to help them pay for college. The special quality of a creative scholarship is students with all kinds of talents can earn money to help pay for college, submitting applications with art that ranges from music or film to painting or creating résumés for fictional characters.
Deadline: August 15, 2021-April 1, 2022
When applying for a creative scholarship, you should be prepared to submit a portfolio or a sample of your work to show off your abilities for the scholarship judges. In order to win, you'll have to put forth your best creative effort, impress the judges, and shine brighter than the other applicants. If you have the ability to create, take advantage of the opportunity of generating something that you love in order to potentially earn money for college.
Award: $2,250
Overview: This scholarship aims to encourage high school students to pursue music so they can achieve their creative goals.

Any high school senior who is an aspiring musician may apply for this scholarship by submitting a short video.
Deadline: February 19, 2022
In your video, tell us about adversity you have faced and how you overcame it. Also, tell us about your relationship with music and what it means to you.
Award Amount: $500
Overview: Pictures can often tell stories that words cannot. Photographers use their skills and artistic eye to focus on details that help enhance the little aspects of life. The KC R. Sandidge Photography Scholarship will support one high school senior who strives to make photography a part of their future.

Any high school student with an interest in pursuing photography is encouraged to apply for this scholarship.
Deadline: Apr 1, 2022
To apply, submit a collection of 3-5 images from your photography portfolio that relate to one another in a way that is entirely up to you. Editing is allowed as long as the integrity of the subjects photographed are maintained.
Award Amount: $1,001
Overview: This scholarship aims to support high school students who are creative so they can find innovative solutions to today's problems.

Any creative high school senior who likes to make things or find solutions to problems may apply for this scholarship.
Deadline: Apr 15, 2022

To apply, tell us about something you've created to solve a problem as well as how you would go about solving another problem if you had the necessary resources.
Award Amount: $1,000
Overview: Having hobbies allows students to take a break from the everyday school days and engage in activities special to them. This could be sports, arts, movies, clubs, and so much more. Everyone's hobbies make them unique and give them their own set of specialties and interests. To encourage students in the pursuit of their hobbies, the Hobbies Matter scholarship seeks to award two students who are passionate about the hobbies they engage in.

Any student can apply if they are in high school, undergraduate or graduate school. To apply, write about one of your favorite hobbies and what it means to you.
Deadline: March 31, 2022 Award Amount: $2,000
2 winners, $1,000 each
Overview: BIG ARTS is offering its Performing and Creative Arts Scholarship Award Program to high school seniors planning to study the arts or to students who are currently enrolled in an accredited undergraduate arts program.

Scholarships are available to students who have professional goals to pursue visual arts, music, dance, theater, literary arts or film. The purpose of the award program is to encourage artistic development in students.
Deadline: April 22, 2022
To apply or learn more about the BIG ARTS 2022 Performing and Creative Arts Scholarship, download the information sheet below or call the BIG ARTS office at 239-395-0900.
Award Amount: $25,000 (first prize), $15,000 (second) and $10,000 (third).
Overview: Two Ten provides scholarship opportunities to any student who is studying design with a focus on footwear. Applicants are evaluated by financial need and design potential. Unlike our traditional college scholarships, the Footwear Design Scholarship is available to any student who is studying design with a focus on footwear. This program was created in 2003 to assist students with a demonstrated interest and skill in pursuing a career in footwear design. Applicants are evaluated by design potential and financial need. Awards of up to $3,000 annually are renewable for up to four years of undergraduate study.
Deadline: April 1, 2022 Award Amount: Up to $3,000
Overview: Fall Deadline: Sept. 15. Okay, Female high school and college students, here is your time to debut your online business ambitions. There are open-ended questions on the application, but it's more like a friendly conversation. The questions ask you about your concerns and your role models. Besides the application, you need to provide a link to your business plan (GoSkills provides instructions for your business plan right above the area for the link). If you don't get excited about writing an essay, try your hand at mapping a business plan.
Deadline: Spring deadline: March 15, 2022 Award Amount: $2,000
Overview: Writing encompasses creative nonfiction, novel, play or script, poetry, short story and spoken word. The strongest submissions demonstrate a sense of inventiveness, show attention to the complexities and technical aspects of language, and have a clear, original, and distinct point of view.
Deadline: The 2022 application is now closed. Sign up to be notified when the 2023 application opens. Award: Up to $10,000
Overview: The Andrew Flusche Scholarship Contest requires students to raise awareness about different legal issues. Applicants must create a public service advertisement video (PSA) about how to drive courteously.
Deadline: April 30, 2022. One winner will be selected by May 31, 2022. Award: $500
Overview: This merit-based scholarship supports architecture students with demonstrated financial need. Students must be nominated by the dean or chair of the school of architecture in which they are currently studying in order to apply for this award.
Deadline: March 21, 2022
Overview: The Cover Guy 7th Annual Scholarship is now open for entries. Please follow the instructions below to enter your application for the Scholarship. The Cover Guy Scholarship is an award of finances towards your educational pursuits and also an acknowledgement of your hard work and dedication both in your community and studies. The students and community leaders that have won the award before you speak volumes of the Character of the people that are recipients of this award yearly. The Cover Guy Scholarship recipients is also a small community and you will be in great company if chosen for this award. It has been a wonderful experience giving back to our communities and helping a few of our future leaders in their educational pursuits. Again this year the award will go to a student or students that represent the Qualities of The Cover Guy and our Employees.
Award Amount: Up to $10,000 Deadline: The Cover Guy (Jay Labelle) 2022 Annual Scholarship will now open soon for applications.
Overview: Any current, full-time student of an accredited two-year or four-year American university or college is welcome to apply. There is no age or specific major requirement. To enter, applicants must submit either 1) an essay (maximum of 300 words), 2) a video (less than 1 minute), or 3) an image (photograph, drawing, etc).
Award: $1,000 Deadline: November 30, 2022
Overview: It would take more than just one hand to count all the reasons why the number five is important - and we want to know what you think! What is it about the number five that's so significant to you? One great reason is that May is the fifth month - which just so happens to be a great time to apply for fun scholarships. Help us bring awareness to the fifth month and the number five.
Award Amount: $1,000 Deadline: May 31, 2022
Overview: Since its inception, the IRA Educational Foundation has awarded almost $2.8 million to deserving students pursuing Culinary Arts and Hospitality Management in college. To qualify for a scholarship, you must be a permanent resident of the State of Illinois (under the age of 30); be accepted and plan to enroll in an accredited culinary school, college, or university; be enrolled as a full-time or substantial part-time student, taking a minimum of 9 credit hours each term and major in a culinary, restaurant management, or food service related program. For more information or to apply, please visit the scholarship provider's website.
Award Amount: $1,500 Deadline: May 2, 2022 Award Amount: Up to $180,000
Overview: This award is for full time African-American or Black students pursuing a degree in visual arts including, but not limited to, architecture, ceramics, drawing, fashion, graphic design, illustration, interior design, painting, photography, sketching, video production and other decorative arts.

Since 1990, with the help of our sponsors, they have awarded more than $1 million to students nationwide.

Overview: The Collegiate Inventors Competition® (CIC) is your opportunity to bring national attention to your work, gain valuable feedback from our National Inventors Hall of Fame® Inductees and compete for cash prizes. This unique invention competition drives innovation and entrepreneurship at the collegiate level. Their judges, including National Inventors Hall of Fame® Inductees, provide invaluable feedback and guidance as we reward the country's most innovative university students.
Deadline: April 30, 2022
Award Amount: Varies
Overview: Would you like your artwork featured by the leading publisher of premium quality cards in the United States? Here's your chance! We formally invite you to enter our 14th Annual Create-A-Greeting Card $10,000 contest. Design a greeting card for the opportunity to win yourself a $10,000 scholarship and $1,000 for your school. Plus, your winning entry will be made into a bona fide greeting card by The Gallery Collection.

Overview: Entries must be submitted by December 31 for the spring semester and August 31 for the fall semester at midnight. The winning applicant will be selected within two weeks after the deadline. The scholarship will be applied to to current semesters tuition. Submit a video or audio of three to five minutes OR submit an essay of no fewer than 800 words on personal development or high performance. Competitive candidates will explain one of the following personal development principles and discuss how living that principle made a positive impact in their life or helped to overcome a life challenge.
Deadline: March 2, 2022 Award: $10,000
Overview: Student photographers are invited to enter the College Photographer of the Year contest. Applicants must be undergraduate or graduate students enrolled for at least one semester, trimester or quarter between September and December at any college or university, and who have not worked 2 or more cumulative years as a full-time photographer, videographer, audio reporter or multimedia producer, including paid internships. Awards will be offered in the Still Division and Multimedia Division. For more information or to apply, please visit the scholarship provider's website.
Deadline: August 31, 2022 Award Amount: $2,000
Overview: AIGA Worldstudio Scholarships benefit underrepresented and economically disadvantaged students who are studying photography, illustration, and design disciplines in colleges and universities in the United States. Scholarships are awarded annually to encourage social and environmental responsibility and cultural awareness in the next generation of artists and designers.
Deadline: September 22, 2022
Award: $1,000
Overview: For the 2020 contest, the Autumn House staff serves as the preliminary readers, and the final judge is Ilya Kaminsky. The winner receives publication of a full-length manuscript and $2,500. The submission period opens January 1, 2020, and closes June 30, 2020 (Eastern Time).
Deadline: Each year, the application cycle opens in February and closes in April. Award: Up to $5,000
Overview: The Virginia Budge Award exists to create, promote, develop, sponsor, sustain, facilitate, and further the Arts within Butler County, Ohio. For the mission of the Committee, the term "Arts" shall be defined and literally construed to include the making or doing of things that have form and beauty, and to encompass all forms of Arts including the Arts of music, painting, sculpture, dance, theater, film, opera, ballet, and any other of the performing Arts requiring and exhibiting an exceptional level of creativity, skill or talent
Deadline: The submission period opens January 1, 2022, and closes May 31, 2022 (Eastern Time). We will announce the finalists and the winner of the contest by October 1, 2022. Award Amount: $2,500
Overview: The foundation for a successful career begins with education, but Dolphin Galleries recognizes that attending a college or university may not be feasible for all students and their families. Having been in the Art industry for over 42 years Dolphin Galleries recognizes the importance of the visual arts as a preservation and expression of culture. We would like to give the opportunity to the next generation of artists, designers, sculptures, painters, etc. to continue following their artistic and creative passion. Applicants must be attending or planning to enroll in an accredited United States college or university during the upcoming academic year, be in good academic standing and planning to or currently pursuing an arts-related major or minor. As part of applying, applications must send in a digital portfolio of their work.
Deadline: $500 Award NEW 2022 Application Available Jan. 17th 2022 Award: $1,000
Overview: Fall Semester: June 15th. Spring Semester: November 15th. Stop-Painting is proud to offer a bi-annual scholarship program to provide financial support to a current graduate or executive education student who can articulate how a visually organized workplace can make a company more productive. We are especially excited to get applications from students studying industrial organization psychology, supply chain management, lean organization, business organization, operations management or related fields..
Deadline: July 20, 2022 Award: $1,000
Overview:
The Dorian De Long Arts and Music Scholarship is awarded to a graduating high school student who intends to pursue advanced education (major or minor) in the arts. Eligible applicants must be attending a college/university in Colorado. Recipients will be notified no later than April 1. For more information or to apply, please visit the scholarship provider's website.
Deadline: Fall Semester: June 15th
Spring Semester: November 15th Award Amount: $1,000
Overview: The Gordon Hay Scholarship Fund is a merit-based scholarship established in memory of Gordon Hay, an organizational development professional, who was passionate about transformational change through authentic engagement of people's hearts and minds in the strategic work of business. He believed passion and fire from within fueled exceptional results.
Deadline: March 1, 2022 Award: $2,500
Overview: Metzger Wickersham's scholarship program encourages students to take a stand against dangerous driving. The Road to Safety Scholarship Contest provides high school seniors with the opportunity to submit a creative project about the dangers of drunk driving or distracted driving for the chance to win college scholarship money. The ultimate goal of the contest is to help spread the message to drive with safety in mind all the time!
Deadline: Check back soon for the 2022 Gordon Hay Scholarship application. Award: $5,000
Overview: Artists Magazine's Annual Art Competition wants to honor your most outstanding work. If your art is deserving of being celebrated in the pages of Artists Magazine, this competition is for you! $24,000 in cash prizes plus publication in Artists Magazine.
Deadline: April 15, 2022 Award: Up to $1,000
Overview: The Civilian Marksmanship Program is proud to provide this scholarship program for deserving high school seniors who excel in marksmanship! Known in the past as, simply, the CMP Scholarship Program, it was renamed in 2020 to the Carolyn Hines Memorial Scholarship.
Deadline: April 3, 2022 Award Amount: $24,000
Overview: At ASID, we know education matters. That's why the ASID Foundation, in partnership with our ASID Industry Partners, provides a number of annual scholarships and grant opportunities available to expand research and knowledge around the impact of interior design on behavior, health, and well-being.
Deadline: March 20, 2022 Award Amount: $1,000
Overview: For more than three decades, Foundation of Flexographic Technical Association (FFTA) has provided financial aid to students interested in the fields of flexography and/or graphic communications through the FFTA Scholarship, enabling them to fulfill their college goals and earn money toward their schooling expenses.
Deadline: Spring 2022 Award Amount: $4,000-$12,000
Overview: This is an amazing opportunity to showcase your knowledge and creativity!
Deadline: February 11, 2022 Award amount: $3,000
Overview: Apply for funding to pursue a post-secondary education in the arts. The Scholarship for the Arts provides support to Iowa high school seniors who excel and demonstrate a commitment to pursuing an arts-related major at an Iowa college or university.
Deadline: April 4, 2022 Award Amount: $1,500
Overview: L. Ron Hubbard's Writers of the Future Contest is an opportunity for new writers of science fiction and fantasy to have their work judged by some of the masters in the field and discovered by a wide audience.
Deadline: April 1, 2022 Award Amount: $2,500
Overview: The WJA Foundation provides scholarships to female-identifying students enrolled in jewelry or metalsmithing programs at an accredited college, university, or training school between August 1, 2021 and July 31, 2022. Recipients are selected by a jury in early June and are awarded scholarships ranging from $1,000 to $7,000.
Deadline: March 31, 2022 Award Amount: Up to $1,000
Overview: Pretty Lightroom Presets recognizes the importance of higher education and the role it plays in our personal and professional fulfillment. That's why we are so excited to continue our Pretty Presets for Lightroom $500 annual scholarship. This ongoing scholarship provides college and university students an opportunity to earn money to further their education and achieve their goals!
Deadline: April 30, 2022 Award Amount: $1,000 - $7,000
Overview: The SAG-AFTRA Foundation John L. Dales Scholarship Fund was created in 1973 in honor of the legacy Screen Actors Guild (SAG) longtime Executive Secretary. Since its creation, the John L. Dales Scholarship has awarded more than $7.5 million in scholarships to over 2,000 SAG-AFTRA members and their dependents.
Deadline: April 15, 2022 Award Amount: $500
Overview: In 1996 the W. Eugene Smith Memorial Fund established the Howard Chapnick Grant, to encourage and support leadership in fields ancillary to photojournalism, such as editing, research, education and management. The Grant was established to honor the memory of Howard Chapnick, and to acknowledge the value of his enormous contribution to photography.
Deadline: May 31, 2022
Deadline:The first application period begins on April 1st at 12:00 a.m. Eastern Standard Time ("EST") and the
deadline to apply is July 15th at 12:00 a.m. Eastern Standard Time ("EST").
The second application period begins on September 1st at 12:00 a.m. Eastern Standard Time ("EST") and
the deadline to apply is December 15th at 12:00 am Eastern Standard Time ("EST")
Award Amount: Up to $3,500
Overview: The Fall application period starts on April 1st with a final deadline of July 15th. The Spring application period starts on September 1st with a final deadline of December 15th. We know it isn't always easy when you're just starting out in a creative field of study. So, we're offering a scholarship to help hardworking student-artists out, because hey-you might be gracing our assortment with your work someday!
Deadline: May 31, 2022 Award Amount: $10,000
* One $2,000 (1) Bachelor of Fine Art scholarship (watercolor emphasis)

* One (1) $2,000 Bachelor of Art in Art History or Museum Studies scholarship
Award Amount: $1,000
Overview: The Frederic Whitaker and Eileen Monaghan Whitaker Foundation (The Whitaker Foundation) will open its next round of its nationwide Art Scholarship Program, The Whitaker Foundation Art Scholarship Fund, in March 2022. Applications for the Fall 2022 Scholarships will be accepted from March 1 through May 15, 2022.

The Foundation intends to support art students with a special emphasis on watercolor and museum studies and to help them meet the diverse needs of today's professional art and museum world.
Deadline: May 15, 2022
Through the application process facilitated by The Whitaker Foundation, students are required to gain knowledge of the Whitakers' works through submitted essays or watercolor paintings.
Award Amount:
Overview: Calling all CF artists! BEF's Scholarship of the Arts is an annual award promoting communication through creativity. Artwork in the form of video, painting, sketching and sculpturing is considered.

Overview: The Jane T. Anderson Scholarship was established by her husband, A. Douglas Anderson, to honor her life. Jane was active in art education throughout her life. She taught at the high school and college levels before becoming the director of education at the Sheldon Memorial Art Gallery in Lincoln. She was active in the local community and belonged to the Nebraska and National Art Associations. Jane passed away in 1996, but her love for the arts lives on through this scholarship.
Deadline: May 15, 2022
To be eligible to apply you must be a public high school senior residing in Lancaster County, Nebraska, demonstrate scholastic performance and artistic talent, and intend to continue your education. For those students majoring in art, art history or museumology.
Award Amount: Up to $1,000 Deadline: March 15, 2022
Overview: The Western Governors' Foundation is proud to announce the 2020 "Celebrate the West" regional art competition that challenges high school students to create works inspired by their state. WGA's visual arts challenge, sponsored by the Western Governors' Foundation, is open to high school students in the 19 Western states and three U.S.-flag islands served by the nonpartisan policy association. (Complete list of states below.) Entrants from WGA member states will create original two-dimensional artwork inspired by their state or informed by living in the West. Students may draw ideas from a variety of sources, including state history, landmarks, natural resources, National Parks and Monuments, people, communities, and culture. "Original artwork" is defined as artwork which is unique in concept, design, and execution, and is created directly and personally by the Student. "Original" work is not a copy or imitation of another person's work.
Award Amount: $800
Overview: L. Ron Hubbard's Illustrators of the Future Contest is an opportunity for new science fiction and fantasy artists worldwide to have their work judged by some of the masters in the field and discovered by a wide audience. Entries in the Illustrators of the Future Contest are judged only by professional artists. Three prizes of $500 (a total of $1500) are awarded each quarter. From the twelve quarterly winners each year the judges select a grand prize winner to receive the L. Ron Hubbard Golden Brush Award and an additional $5000 cash prize.
Deadline: April 30, 2022 Award: $1,200
Overview: The Harpo Foundation was established in 2006 to support emerging visual artists. The foundation seeks to stimulate creative inquiry and to encourage new modes of thinking about art. We view the definitions of art and artist to be open-ended and expansive.
Deadline: March 31, 2o22 Award: Up to $5,000
Overview: 3×3 is the first publication devoted entirely to the art of contemporary illustration. Published in the United States and distributed worldwide, our sole interest is in sharing what's shaping international illustration.
Deadline: April 30, 2022 Award: See Website
Overview: The biannual Future Generation Art Prize is the only prize for the young generation of artists with a global dimension and guided by an open, free, and democratic application process (online). Supported by an eminent board, distinguished jury, and outstanding selection committee, the Prize brings together the best of the art world to champion a new generation of artists. Together with its award of $100,000 and commitment to commission new works, the Prize sustainably supports artists around the globe.
Deadline: March 27, 2022 Award: Up to $1,500
Overview: There is power in innovative, conversion-focused website designs, especially those with a high-quality user experience, navigation, and good content structure throughout. The Gulo Marketing Website Design Scholarship exists to support young designers by helping alleviate some of the stress they experience in paying for college.
Deadline: May 2022
Undergraduate or graduate students attending school in Ohio, Indiana, and Kentucky are encouraged to apply if their declared major is web design/development related. To apply, explain the importance of having strong design and marketing principles, and give an example of a website that supports your explanation.
Award: Up to $100,000 Deadline: May 11, 2022
Overview: The Print and Graphics Scholarship Foundation (PGSF) is proud to announce our first-ever Promotional T-shirt Design Competition. The t-shirt will be used to promote the careers possible in graphics, availability of scholarships through PGSF, and/or how graphic communications fit into today's world. The winning design will be placed into production during the Printing United show in Atlanta this coming October.
Award Amount: $1,000
Overview: The IFDA Student Member Scholarship is available through the IFDA Educational Foundation to a full-time, current student member of IFDA who has completed a minimum of four design courses in a post secondary interior design or related program. The IFDA student identification number must be included on the application form.
Deadline: April 10, 2022 Award: See Website
Overview: The Ruth Clark Furniture Design Scholarship was established by the Carolinas Chapter to honor Ruth Clark, one of the chapter's founding members. Ruth Clark, an IFDA Fellow, graduated from the Rhode Island School of Design. During her career, she designed upholstered furniture for several companies, and many of her designs have become classics in the industry. She mentored design students and young professionals in the field, served as Carolinas Chapter President and received the prestigious IFDA National Honorary Recognition Award in 1994. Currently she is a design consultant and furniture designer for The Clark Connection. The scholarship is open to currently enrolled post-secondary students whose emphasis is on residential furniture design.
Deadline: March 31, 2022 Award: $2,000
Overview: The Tricia LeVangie Green/Sustainable Design Scholarship was established by the New England Chapter to honor the late Tricia LeVangie, an active and committed IFDA New England member. The scholarship is for an undergraduate student focusing on the evolving green/sustainable field of study. Sustainable design is the development of innovative ways to create living spaces that are energy efficient and feature green/sustainable materials, fabrications and products. The student applying for this scholarship is planning to become an educated participant in the green movement. Paying equal attention to both sustainability factors and design aesthetics, the student should be demonstrating creative use of green products and eco-friendly furnishings in class projects. The student is familiar with current information in the green/sustainable field, is applying this knowledge in class work and has a goal of seeking a future LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) accreditation. The recipient of this scholarship must be enrolled for the fall semester following the March 31st application deadline, in order to receive this scholarship.
Deadline: March 31, 2022 Award: $3,000
Overview: Two Ten provides scholarship opportunities to any student who is studying design with a focus on footwear. Applicants are evaluated by financial need and design potential. Unlike our traditional college scholarships, the Footwear Design Scholarship is available to any student who is studying design with a focus on footwear. This program was created in 2003 to assist students with a demonstrated interest and skill in pursuing a career in footwear design. Applicants are evaluated by design potential and financial need. Awards of up to $3,000 annually are renewable for up to four years of undergraduate study.
Deadline: March 31, 2022 Award: $1,500
Overview: This scholarship seeks to encourage Michigan students who are passionate about the arts to pursue their passions through education.
Deadline: April 1, 2022
Any BIPOC high school senior or undergraduate student in Michigan who is pursuing art or design may apply for this scholarship.
Award: Up to $3,000
To apply, submit a poem or short story, a dance or visual composition, or a 2d visual piece of art.
Deadline: May 19, 2022 Award: $1,000
Overview: The Irene Winifred Eno Grant provides financial assistance to individuals or groups developing an educational program(s) or project that is dedicated to health, safety, and welfare. This grant will be evaluated on the strength of the project proposal, budget, promotion plan, and expected outcome. The grant is open to students, educators, interior design practitioners, institutions, and an interior design related group.

Overview: At CardsDirect our job is to capture a moment that resonates with our customers and present it through our greeting cards. We want your help designing our next top-selling holiday card - and are proud to offer our scholarship program. The winner of our Future Designer Scholarship will receive a $2,500 scholarship to a secondary institution of their choice and will have their designs featured as products on our site. Applicants must be at least 17 years old and already accepted or enrolled in this educational organization. One entry per person. Click here for official rules and details.
Deadline: Spring 2022 Award: $5,000
Overview: IDSA's Gianninoto Graduate Scholarship originally was established with a $25,000 contribution by the late Francesco Gianninoto, FIDSA, a US package designer who was a founder of the Package Design Council, and president of Gianninoto Associates from 1932 to 1983. One of his most famous designs was the "Elsie Daisy," the Borden Cow. Gianninoto was an honorary professor at Western Connecticut State University, where he taught communication through design.
Deadline: November 1, 2022 Award Amount: $2,500
Overview: IDSA, through the Design Foundation-a public charity supporting design education-grants an undergraduate scholarship that recognizes excellence in design education. The recipient earns $1,500 USD to be used for undergraduate course tuition fees in the completion of an industrial design degree. Awards are based solely on the excellence of the work students have submitted.
Deadline: May 20, 2022 Award Amount: $1,500
Overview: These grants assist individuals with the production-related expenses that are necessary to take a project from conceptualization to realization and public presentation. These projects include, but are not limited to, publications, exhibitions, installations, films, and new media projects.
Deadline: May 20, 2022 Award Amount: $1,500
Overview: The Verve Arts Scholarship was created in honor of Thomas McDonough IV who was passionate about the fine arts. From an early age Tommy used drawing and painting to tell his stories and the stories of others around him. His work was rich in details and portrayed a certain honesty that held the eye of the viewer.
Deadline: September 15, 2022
The Verve Arts Scholarship is an annual award given every Spring to a high school senior or current undergraduate student pursuing an arts degree at a 4-year college. Applicants should be NJ residents studying in the art of drawing, painting, photography, or graphic design.
Award Amount: Up to $20,000
Military and public service jobs require a lot of sacrifice, but a college education does not have to be another one of those sacrifices. With these duties come plenty of organizations and resources looking to give back to those who have already given so much. Whether you're active duty, retired, or a dependent, there are so many scholarships opportunities that can help you accomplish your career goals. To show our gratitude to soldiers and public servants, we have dedicated a list of scholarships just for them. This list offers scholarships for government employees and all branches of the military to make their scholarship search easier. Thank you for your service!
Deadline: Apr 21, 2022
Award Amount: $1,800
Overview: The Praccess Veterans Education Grant is designed to help Southern California veterans transition from military to civilian life by reducing the obstacles to obtaining and benefiting from a post-secondary education.

To apply, you must be a resident of Los Angeles County, California. You must write a personal statement about your military experience, your proudest moments, and any significant obstacles you've faced.
Deadline: April 30, 2022
Overview: Recognizing the value of education and the benefits it brings to the Coast Guard Family, the Coast Guard Exchange (CGX) Scholarship Program was established to provide additional financial resources to dependent children of Coast Guard personnel embarking on undergraduate college/university studies. Annually a $2,000 scholarship is awarded to the outstanding applicants on a one-time basis. The number of scholarships granted each year depends on available funding.
Award Amount: $5,000
5 winners every year, $1,000 each
Overview: The Women's Army Corps Veterans Association Scholarship has been established to recognize relatives of Army Service Women.
Deadline: February 28, 2022 Award Amount: $2,000
The Pre-Qualification Portion of the Application is now CLOSED!
If you have not completed the pre-qualification process of the application, check back October 1, 2022 for the NEXT scholarship season.

APPLICATION SUBMISSION DEADLINE: MARCH 1st, 5:00 PM (EST)
Deadline: Application material must be postmarked no later than midnight:
2 Feb in the (current) year in which the scholarship is presented.
Overview: Our mission is to provide college scholarships to dependent children and spouses of all US Navy personnel - officer and enlisted - active duty, retired, honorably discharged or deceased who served within Naval Air Forces. Recipients are selected on the basis of scholastic merit, community service, extra-curricular activities and character.

Overview: We're committed to supporting Marine children in pursuit of their educational goals and there's no more versatile educational path than through Career and Technical Education (CTE). From health sciences to finance, IT to manufacturing, CTE professionals are on the cutting edge of today's most hands-on careers. This scholarship is for students planning to attend a non-degree certificate program or vocational training that is 12 months or less at a community college or private career school listed on College Navigator .
Deadline:
Overview: The ICMA-RC Public Employee Memorial Scholarship Fund (ICMA-RC Memorial Scholarship Fund) was founded in 2001 to honor the lives of our nation's police officers, firefighters, and other local and state government employees who have made the ultimate sacrifice.

The fund provides financial assistance to the surviving spouses and children of employees who have died in the line of duty and are planning to attend an accredited two-year community college, four-year accredited university, or vocational school full-time.

Each year, scholarships are awarded to selected students. Since its inception, the ICMA-RC Memorial Scholarship Fund has awarded more than $900,000 in scholarships to hundreds of recipients.
Deadline: Applications processed on a monthly basis
Overview: The mission of the Freedom Alliance Scholarship Fund is two-fold. First, it helps offset the high cost of a college education for the sons and daughters of American heroes. Second, it is a reminder to the recipient that their parents' sacrifice will never be forgotten by a grateful nation.
Deadline: Applications are accepted annually from December 15 - March 15
Overview: The vision of Children of Fallen Patriots Foundation is to ensure that every child of a fallen patriot receives all necessary college funding. We are dedicated to serving the families of service-members from all branches of the armed forces who have died as a result of combat casualties, military training accidents, service-related illnesses, suicide, as well as other duty-related deaths as ruled by the Department of Veterans Affairs.

Overview: A college education is the key to the American Dream, opening the door to a world of opportunities. This is why the Coast Guard Foundation's education support is one of the most meaningful ways we show Coast Guard families we value their service, and there is no program which highlights this more than the Fallen Heroes Scholarship.
Deadline: See Website
Overview: Nonie Weikum was a beloved wife, mother, and grandmother and was a devoted military spouse.
Deadline: See Website
Nonie always put the needs of her family first and she was a hard worker throughout her entire life. Despite never having the opportunity to pursue college herself, Nonie helped her children and grandchildren access the world of higher education.

This scholarship aims to honor Nonie Weikum's life by supporting a military spouse pursuing their education.
Deadline: March 15, 2022
Any student who is a military spouse of any age or education level may apply for this scholarship.
Awards: Multiple Deadline: May 31, 2022
Overview: Lt. Commander Estabrook devoted years of his life organizing blood drives, food banks for veterans and students, and he and his wife fostered many children in need of a safe home. But his true passion was teaching his students about the privilege of being able to serve others.
Award:
This scholarship seeks to honor Lt. Commander Estabrook and support graduating JROTC cadets or undergraduates in ROTC programs in Oklahoma.

Any undergraduate student currently enrolled in a ROTC program or high school senior who is a JROTC cadet in Oklahoma and has community service or volunteering experience may apply for this scholarship.

To apply, tell us why you're passionate about ROTC and how you hope to use your involvement to give back to your community.
Deadline: May 19, 2022

Overview: Commissaries are an integral part of the quality of life offered to service members and their families. The Scholarships for Military Children Program was created in recognition of the contributions of military families to the readiness of the fighting force and to celebrate the role of the commissary in the military family community. It is the intent of the program that a scholarship funded through contributions be awarded annually for each commissary operated by the Defense Commissary Agency worldwide.
Award: $1,000
Many students throughout the country go to a college or university on an athletic scholarship. Paying for and attending college is not an easy feat, let alone trying to succeed while also attending practices and training as a student-athlete. Athletic training itself can be a full-time job, so any amount of help toward your college expenses can give you less to worry about. These athletic scholarships award money based on a student's ability to excel in or contribute to a particular sport. The tennis scholarship, for example, seeks those planning on earning their degree in Professional Tennis Management, while the men's and women's golf awards are given to those committed to golf.

An athletic scholarship encourages a student's passion for sports, all while giving them a little help in paying for college. If you are a student-athlete and need assistance paying for college, you may be able to take the first step toward success and prevent student loans from hovering over your head when you graduate. Apply for an athletic scholarship today!

Overview: Some athletes work hard and display great dedication but are hindered from pursuing schooling or sports because of the expense.
Award: A total of 500 scholarship grants, each $2,000.
These students may be great athletes, but are outliers, just waiting for their opportunity to breakthrough. The Ron Johnston Student Athlete Scholarship seeks to support a passionate student athlete who needs financial assistance to help them accomplish their goals, dreams, and aspirations.
Deadline: Applications close February 24, 2022
Any student athlete who is a high school senior or an undergraduate can apply for this scholarship. To apply, write about someone or something that has deeply inspired you in your journey.

Overview: This scholarship seeks to honor Tom LoCasale's life by supporting students who have learned valuable life skills through the sport of golf.
Deadline: Jun 4, 2022

Any high school senior who plays golf may apply for this scholarship. Candidates who will be a first-generation college student or identify as an underrepresented minority are highly encouraged to apply.
Award: $2,965
2 winners, $1,482 each
To apply, tell us about the biggest lesson you've learned from golf and how you'll use those lessons in the future.

Overview: This scholarship aims to support students who demonstrate a commitment to both martial arts and academic success.
Deadline: May 28, 2022
Any high school or undergraduate student who practices martial arts and has a 3.0 GPA or higher may apply for this scholarship. However, low-income and/or minority students are preferred.
Award: $2,000
2 winners, $1,000 each
To apply, tell us what lessons martial arts have taught you that you have applied to your life or to school.
Deadline: Apr 16, 2022
Overview: The USTA Foundation offers a scholarship targeting those High School seniors who exhibit a passion for tennis and plan on seeking a Professional Tennis Management degree at one of the schools offering this program.
Award: $500
Overview: The Women's Western Golf Foundation was established in 1971 by the Women's Western Golf Association and is committed to increasing participation of women in golf and dedicated to providing Women's Western Scholarships to worthy and deserving undergraduate women. Since its inception, the Women's Western Golf Foundation has awarded over $4.2 million in scholarships to more than 665 young women across the country.

Overview: The Walter J. Travis Memorial Scholarship is an annual award given since 2009 to honor the remarkable accomplishments and contributions of Walter J. Travis in the game of golf. In his pioneering career, Travis was a champion amateur golfer, esteemed golf course architect, innovative turf grass expert, and prolific golf journalist. He was the founder and editor of one of the most influential golf magazines of his time, The American Golfer. We encourage applicants to explore this site to learn more about Walter J. Travis, in whose honor this scholarship program was established.
Deadline: Application deadlines may vary. Award Amount: Two $10,000 awards
Overview: On September 28, 1999, the Men's Junior Olympic Program Committee (JOPC) took a bold step for the future of men's gymnastics by adopting a Men's Scholarship Program at the Junior Level. The scholarship program mandates that a one-dollar donation be collected for every athlete participating in a men's USA Gymnastics sanctioned event where a fee is charged. This one-dollar per athlete fee will be donated to the National Gymnastics Foundation Men's Scholastic Scholarship Program.
Deadline: Applications open Award Amount: $10,000
Overview: Gary "G" Goldstein, an extremely appreciative and generous man, is a person to remember.
Deadline: May 15, 2022
As an avid wrestling supporter, he regularly attended sporting events and took pictures of the athletes to create memories. Through his appreciation and love for sports, he truly believed that with hard work and dedication, anyone could excel in anything.
Award: $1,000
As an attorney, he also had a passion for higher education.

As a way to commemorate Gary's love and dedication to life, the Gary "G" Goldstein Memorial Scholarship will be awarded to two wrestlers in Tennessee who are planning to pursue a bachelor's degree. One will go to an athlete competing in men's wrestling and one in women's wrestling.
Deadline: May 15, 2022 and June 15, 2022
To apply, please write about the biggest challenge you've overcome and what you learned from that experience.
Award Amount: See Website Deadline: Apr 4, 2022
Overview: Ty Gaulden was the first commissioner of Dizzy Dean Baseball and a national director from Alabama, Mr. Gaulden served until his death in 1980. This scholarship shall be awarded by the National Board of Directors, under such rules and conditions as it may determine, provided however, that only those players who participate in the program of the corporation who are in need of financial help shall be eligible. The deadline to submit an application for scholarship is June 15th of the current year. No applications accepted after June 15th. Applications must be submitted for renewal.
Award: $1,000
2 winners, $500 each
Overview: The Professional Bowlers Association Billy Welu Scholarship is awarded annually, recognizing exemplary qualities in male or female college students who compete in the sport of bowling. The scholarship winner receives $1,000. To be eligible candidates must be amateur bowlers who are currently in college (preceding the application date) and maintain at least a 2.5/4.0 GPA or equivalent.

Overview: Race Entry is an online race registration company that supports students of all disciplines who pursue self-improvement and enhanced health through race preparation and participation. Annually Race Entry is offering a $500 scholarship to the winner of our annual "Race to Inspire" essay contest. Many people have different reasons for running in a race. We want to hear & share your inspiring story.
Deadline: June 15, 2022 Award: Varies
Overview: The Achieving Competitive Excellence (ACE) Grant provides financial assistance to young men and women who aspire to earn a college golf scholarship through competitive junior golf.
Deadline: June 21, 2022 Award Amount: $1,000
Overview: Everyone has the potential to give back to their community and make a difference, even if it is small. The Peter T. Buecher Memorial Scholarship seeks to reward students in Minnesota who have a desire to enrich the lives of others in their community. Minnesota high school seniors and undergraduate students who play sports and have a good moral character are encouraged to apply.
Deadline: August 15, 2022
To apply, write a little bit about yourself and how you seek to enrich the lives of people in your Minnesota community.
Award: $500
No matter one's disability or illness, a student may be able to receive aid that is reserved for people with their unique set of circumstances. Disability scholarships, as well as scholarships for particular illnesses, have grown in number with the hefty cost of higher education in mind. Medical bills for therapy, treatment, and trips to the hospital add up quickly and can make the extra expense of college seem unattainable. Thankfully, scholarships like the ones shown below minimize the amount of bills that already come with being a person with an illness or disability.

The scholarship donors want to give students with disabilities the same chance for education that anyone else has as well as the ability to delve into any career they desire. Take advantage of the amazing opportunities presented through disability and illness scholarships to take financial burdens and worry off of your shoulders in order to reach your educational and career goals.
Deadline: December 1, 2022 Award Amount: Awards Vary
Overview: Millions of people suffer from various physical and mental disabilities, and unfortunately, they also deal with disability discrimination and disproportionate representation in the impoverished population.
Deadline: May 3, 2022
Continuing discussions and raising awareness for people with disabilities is fundamentally important to ensure equal rights, treatment, and opportunity for all people.
Award Amount: $1,000
2 winners, $500 each
To support those with disabilities, the WiseGeek Disability Scholarship will be awarded to one student at any grade level or field of study who has a disability and large ambitions for their life.

Overview: Roughly 1% of the population has an Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), amounting to more than 75 million people.

Unfortunately, there still isn't enough support for autistic students, preventing many from pursuing higher education and reaching their goals. Nearly 50,000 autistic individuals graduate from high school every year, but only 16,000 of those students go on to pursue a college education.
Deadline: April 16, 2022
This scholarship aims to support autistic students who are pursuing or planning to pursue post-secondary education.
Award: $1,000
Any high school or college student who is on the autism spectrum may apply for this scholarship.

To apply, share an essay or video telling us about a dream or goal of yours and how higher education will help you achieve it.
Deadline: May 5, 2022
Overview: The Skin Grip Diabetes Scholarship will be awarded to 20 individuals who live fearlessly and fight to make the world a better place despite their diagnosis.
Award: $1,000
2 winners, $500 each
To be eligible for this scholarship, you must be a high school senior or any undergraduate in a 2- or 4-year degree program who has diabetes. To apply, please upload a short video (can be filmed via cell phone, Zoom, etc) two minutes max, answering this question:

How do you live fearlessly with diabetes?

Overview: The National Federation of the Blind's annual scholarship program is the largest of its kind in the nation. Every year, we award more than $120,000 to blind scholars across the fifty states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico in recognition of their achievements and professional aspirations. Thanks to our generous partners, there are thirty merit-based scholarships currently available, ranging from $3,000 to $12,000. All scholarships are awarded on the basis of academic excellence, community service, and leadership. The finalists are announced every spring. They then attend our national convention in July when the winners of each individual scholarship are selected. Scholarship winners have gone on to succeed in careers ranging from computer science and engineering to civil rights law and international diplomacy.
Deadline: Mar 3, 2022 Award Amount: $23,410
20 winners, $1,170 each
Overview: Dylan's Journey Memorial Scholarship will be awarded to one student with Neurofibromatosis (NF) and/or a learning disability of any variety. High school, undergraduate, and graduate school students are eligible to apply.

To apply, either submit a video or write an essay that tells about your experience with NF or your learning disability, your motivation for pursuing higher education, and why you feel you are a good candidate for this scholarship.
Deadline: March 21, 2022
Overview: Northwestern Mutual Foundation has established a scholarship program to assist pediatric cancer survivors, age 25 and under, who plan to continue their education in college or vocational school programs.
Award Amount: $3,000-$12,000
This program is administered by Scholarship America®, the nation's largest designer and manager of scholarship, tuition assistance and other education support programs for corporations, foundations, associations, and individuals.

Up to $350,000 in scholarships awarded to 35 college students nationwide
Deadline: Mar 20, 2022 Award: $1,000
Overview: Northwestern Mutual Foundation has established a scholarship program to assist siblings of individuals who are in current treatment, have survived or passed away from childhood cancer who plan to continue their education in college or vocational school programs. This program is administered by Scholarship America®, the nation's largest designer and manager of scholarship, tuition assistance and other education support programs for corporations, foundations, associations, and individuals.

Northwestern Mutual Announces College Scholarship Programs to Benefit Those Affected by Childhood Cancer
Scholarships will provide financial support to help recipients continue their education and achieve college dreams.
Deadline: The application program will be available again in November. Award: $5,000
Overview: This scholarship seeks to honor the life of Ace Spencer Rubin by supporting students who are living with physical disabilities.

Any student who is entering or currently enrolled in an undergraduate program with a significant physical disability, such as the loss of a limb, may apply for this scholarship.

To apply, tell us about your experience with your disability and how this scholarship would help you achieve your goals.
Deadline: The application program will be available again in December. Award: $5,000
Overview: In 2008, OAR introduced the Schwallie Family Scholarship to support the post-secondary, undergraduate education of qualified individuals with an autism spectrum diagnosis. Schwallie Family Scholarships are supported through generous gifts from the family of former Board member, Ed Schwallie. In 2013, we announced the Lisa Higgins Hussman Scholarship Program, an expansion of our scholarship program that benefits students attending any of the types of institutions that fall under the Schwallie Family Scholarship Program criteria, as well as any of the growing number of certificate and life skills/transition programs in the country. Board member and Scholarship Committee chairwoman, Lisa Hussman, championed the initiative, which is supported through a generous gift from the Lisa Higgins Hussman Foundation. As of December 1, 2017, we have awarded a total of $815,500 to 268 students from across the country.

Their scholarship program provides $3,000 scholarships to students across the autism spectrum.
Deadline: February 16, 2022
Many students don't realize how expensive college can really be until they are deep in it. Thankfully, it's not too late ; scholarships aren't only available to high school students! There are a wide range of scholarships out there that any undergraduate student can get their hands on. Financial aid typically offers undergraduates a rewarding sum of money, but it rarely provides all of the financial relief students need. And while taking out student loans can also provide monetary aid, it comes at a price.
Award: $5,975
1 winner
With this diverse scholarship list, students are sure to find opportunities that can help them pay for books, tuition, and more. The list consists of both general and major-specific categories, so you're sure to find some that are perfect for you. Take advantage of your free time and apply to some of the scholarships below. Get started - your wallet will thank you later!

Overview: I Weigh is all about radical inclusivity and allyship, creating a community where no one feels alone. Our mission is to amplify, advocate, and pass the mic, while inspiring everyone around us to continue learning and growing as individuals, which in turn will result in growth collectively as a society.
Deadline: May 2, 2022
As part of our mission to amplify new voices, we're so excited to launch a scholarship, and at least three students will be awarded $5,000 each for their education!

To apply, share your story with us below, and if you feel inspired, add a link to an original art piece, song, vlog, or any piece of original content that shares what makes you, you!

Overview: Since 1995, SHAPE America has awarded scholarships to outstanding undergraduate and graduate student members. The Ruth Abernathy Presidential Scholarship, developed by the past presidents of SHAPE America to honor deserving students, is awarded to three undergraduate students and two graduate students in January of each year. All scholarships are presented at the SHAPE America National Convention & Expo held in the spring.
Deadline: May 18, 2022

Overview: Each year CC Bank's Young Scholars Scholarship offers up to five $2,000 scholarships to students attending universities, colleges, and other academic institutions across the U.S.
Award: $15,000
3 winners, $5,000 each
Overview: The Cooke College Scholarship Program is an undergraduate scholarship program available to high-achieving high school seniors with financial need who seek to attend and graduate from the nation's best four-year colleges and universities.
Deadline: October 15, 2022 Award: $1,250
Overview: The award is a $1,000 scholarship awarded annually to an undergraduate student. Recipients may spend the award in any manner they desire. Recipients will also receive a one-year complimentary student membership in SHAPE America.
Deadline: December 31, 2022 Award: $2,000
Overview: Established in 1987, the Thurgood Marshall College Fund (TMCF) is the nation's largest organization exclusively representing the Black College Community. TMCF member-schools include the publicly-supported Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and Predominantly Black Institutions (PBIs). Publicly-supportedHBCUs enroll over 80% of all students attending HBCUs. Through scholarships, capacity building and research initiatives, innovative programs, and strategic partnerships, TMCF is a vital resource in the K-12 and higher education space.
Deadline: Opens August 1, 2022 Award: See Website
Overview: USRA presents up to four scholarship awards all worth $4,000 to undergraduate students each fall.

Applicants must be full-time undergraduate students attending a four-year accredited college or university that offers courses leading to a degree in science or engineering. Applicants must be within two (2) years of earning a B.S. or a B.A. in a field of science and engineering, including life science and science education by the time the award is received. Scholarship awards are made in the fall, with applications accepted during the summer.
Deadline: October 15, 2022 Award: $1,000 Deadline: See Website Award Amount: See Website
Overview: Since 1980, Carrot-Top Industries, Inc. (Sponsor) has been a leading flag and patriotic products retailer priding ourselves on a dedication to patriotism and community growth across America. Now, we want to help low-income students living in rural areas with their college endeavors. The Beacon® Scholarship for Rural America will award $1,000 scholarships to ONE winner in the Spring and TWO winners in the Fall semester, to graduating high school seniors, current college students or adult learners planning to enroll in an accredited college program during the 2021-2022 academic year.
Deadline: Applications for 2022 awards will be accepted starting in June 2022. Awards will be made in Fall 2022.
Overview: This scholarship seeks to support students from Alaska facing obstacles on their paths to higher education, and to take a little bite out of the bottom line.
Award: $5,000
Any undergraduate student from Alaska who is pursuing a degree may apply for this scholarship.

To apply, tell us what have you learned about yourself or about the world that you could only experience in Alaska? And if you've traveled, what have you learned from traveling away from your home?

Need money to help you pay for your college expenses, but don't have the time to fill out those long scholarship applications? Sweepstake scholarships may be the best choice for you. These scholarships are a quick, easy way to collect money with little to no effort required. They usually don't require any essays or information about academic achievements and financial needs. All you need to do is fill out a form-some even let you submit multiple times! Start applying to the sweepstakes scholarships below today. The more you apply to, the more chances you have to win some money. Good luck!
Deadline: Application with required documents must be received by the Blades of Green by 11:59pm on March 31st, 2022. Scholarship will be awarded by May 31st, 2022. Award: $1,000 Overview: Blades of Green has created a merit-based scholarship fund for individuals seeking undergraduate or graduate level education in environmental studies or related fields. Mark and Brad Leahy have created a $1,000 scholarship for the 2019 academic year. The scholarship will be awarded based on academic excellence, the pursuit of further study in environmental education at an accredited college or university, and passion for further study.
Overview: Nitro cares about providing you the resources you need to successfully navigate financing college. That's why we're offering you the opportunity to earn a $2,000 scholarship from Nitro. We know that college is a big step forward in achieving your goals and we want to help you get there using all the tools Nitro has to offer.
Deadline: Fall 2022: June 30, 2022
Spring 2023: November 30, 2022 Award: $1,000
Overview: Sign up for emails to get helpful college tips and resources, and enter for the chance to win a scholarship! Throughout the year, 12 eligible students or parents will be randomly selected to win a $5,000 Discover Student Loans Scholarship Award to help cover college expenses.

Students who decidedly want to pursue a career in music know that the competition is steep and the prices are high. Take advantage of music scholarships, made especially for you, and use them to pave your way through college and to the career of your dreams. The talent for music can begin at any age. Whether you took piano lessons in elementary school, you were in the band in middle school, or you decided to learn how to play the guitar in high school, there's bound to be something out there to help pay your college expenses.

Overview: To be eligible for the Alys Robinson Stephens Performing Arts Scholarship, applicants must be high school seniors/graduates and accepted to UAB. There are no applications for this scholarship: via audition and testing, the student must prove to be of substantial talent and show promise for continued excellence in music. There will be a strong focus on incoming freshmen; however, current UAB students and transfer students are eligible to apply. For more information or to apply, please visit the scholarship provider's website.
Deadline: February 28, 2022 Award Amount: $2,000
Overview: FAMA grants are designed to support a specific music education/outreach project. They are non-renewable and are not intended to support ongoing projects. New grant applicants will receive priority over previous grant recipients, and preference will be given to community projects that strengthen music education/music appreciation in the United States.
Deadline: See website Award Amount: $5,000
Overview: Alex G. Luttrell, gained his wings in a car accident on October 15, 2017. During his time in this life, Alex became a very accomplished musician, singer and actor. He was involved in Band, Chorus and Drama at his beloved South Paulding High School. During his time at school he participated in Fall and Spring musicals and in his Junior year he played the role of the Spartan Warrior King in the Marching Band's halftime show "Spartan Odyssey." He also appeared in the "Ant-Man and the Wasp" movie and on TV. Those around him were infected by his charismatic spirit and entertained by his hilarious antics. Alex was known for his hair flips, nicknames and alter egos. Caring about others was in his bones and the Alex G. Luttrell Over the Rainbow Foundation will carry on this legacy by providing scholarships to performing arts students.

There is a wide range of scholarships that are waiting for you to scoop up! After you finish going through our list, continue searching for more scholarships. The more you apply, the more you have a chance to get money that can help you during college. Good luck!
Deadline: Varies
More Helpful Resources:
Award: This is a one-time $1,000 scholarship. Deadline: May 1, 2022 Award: Varies
Disclaimer: This article contains affiliate links to products and services. We may receive commissions for purchases made through these links.
Deadline: May 1, 2022 Award: $1,000 NEW LIST: 51 Scholarships Worth $1,000 for High School Students Accepted to Multiple Colleges? Here's How to Confirm-and Reject-Your Admission How to Find-and Win-Scholarships: Your Complete Guide College Prep Guide: How to Create a Four-Year Plan for High School Freshmen

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The Mega List of Scholarships You Should Apply For | Class of 2022-2023

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You're about to head off to college, and experience so many exciting things. But that also means you'll need money to support you along the way. Luckily, a lot of companies and organizations want to help you- they offer various grant and scholarship opportunities for students like you.

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CouponChief.com Scholarship Program Sponsor: CouponChief.com Amount: $1,000 Deadline: Annually in June Description: Scholarship is open to U.S. residents enrolled in high school, college, or trade school. Applicant must submit a 2-5 minute video on saving money.

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Beginning December 6, 2021, all juniors in the U.S. and U.S. territories in the Class of 2023 can earn chances at $500 and $40,000 scholarships by taking steps on BigFuture to plan and pay for college. This scholarship program was formerly known as the College Board Opportunity Scholarships for the classes of 2020-2022.

BigFuture Scholarships will award more than $3 million to more than 4,000 students in the Class of 2023. At least half of the scholarships - more than $1.5 million - will be awarded to students whose families earn less than $60,000 per year.

For counselors and other educators who've been encouraging students to participate in the College Board Opportunity Scholarships, here are the key changes you should keep in mind for juniors who want to win BigFuture Scholarships:

Beginning December 6, students, parents and educators can learn more at bigfuturescholarships.org. Juniors who take the first step of building a college list with six or more schools will be automatically entered in monthly drawings for $500 and $40,000.

Counselors can access resources to promote BigFuture Scholarships for the class of 2023 here

All seniors in the Class of 2022 can continue to sign up and take steps to earn College Board Opportunity Scholarships at cb.org/opportunity. The Opportunity Scholarships program will end on February 28, 2022. College Board will announce the 25 Class of 2022 winners of the $40,000 scholarships in March as promised.

Counselors can access resources to promote the College Board Opportunity Scholarships for the class of 2022 here

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Announcing BigFuture Scholarships for Class of 2023

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Beginning December 6, 2021, all juniors in the U.S. and U.S. territories in the Class of 2023 can earn chances at $500 and $40,000 scholarships by taking steps on BigFuture to plan and pay for college. This scholarship program was formerly known as the College Board Opportunity Scholarships for the classes of 2020-2022.

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Want a sneak peak at our scholarship database? Visit our scholarship directory where you can browse scholarships by category.

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ScholarshipOwl - Apply for hundreds of (academic) college scholarships

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2022-2023 FAFSA Walkthrough Video English

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3 big FAFSA mistakes that will cost you a lot of money!

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Dave Ramsey: How to Tackle Student Loans

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Dave Ramsey: How to Tackle Student Loans

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How Buyers Can Negotiate House Price

Home Buying - 8-minute read

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Are you ready to purchase your dream home? Learn how to negotiate house prices to increase your chances of getting the best deal on your future home.

Read More

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Home Buying - 8-minute read Miranda Crace - July 01, 2022 Are you ready to purchase your dream home? Learn how to negotiate house prices to increase your chances of getting the best deal on your future home. Read More

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Wells Fargo financial expert Barbara Shaw provides an overview of online banking. To view over 15,000 other how-to, DIY, and advice videos on any topic, visit http://www.monkeysee.com/

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Checking and Savings 101 - (Bank Accounts  1/2)

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When you apply for a job, you are typically asked to complete an employment application. You may be asked to complete a job application even if you've already submitted a resume and cover letter. Asking all candidates for the same information standardizes the job application process.

Also, the employer will have a record of your personal and employment history, verified and signed by you. When you sign the application, you are confirming that all the information on it is accurate, so it's important to be sure it's correct.

It's important for your job applications to be complete, error-free, and accurate.

Information Needed to Complete a Job Application

Regardless of whether you complete an online job application or apply in-person, make sure you have ready all the information you'll need in advance. The list below includes all the information you need to complete an application for employment.﻿﻿

Name

Address

City, State, Zip Code

Phone Number

Email Address

Eligibility to work in the U.S.

Felony Convictions (in some locations)

If underage, working paper certificate

Schools/Colleges Attended

Training Programs

Degrees/Diplomas/Certificates

Graduation Dates(s)

Employment Information

Names, addresses, and phone numbers of previous employers

Supervisor's Name

Dates of Employment

Salary

Reason for Leaving

List of three references, including names, job title or relationship, addresses, phone numbers

Position Applied For Information

Title of the job you are applying for

Hours/days available to work

When you can start work

If you're applying online, there may be an option to upload your resume as part of the application.

Application Questions You Don't Have to Answer

There are some questions that shouldn't be on a job application. You are not required to answer questions about race, ethnicity, religion, creed, national origin, public assistance, sex, marital status, sexual orientation, age, or disability.﻿﻿

How to Get the Information You Need to Apply

Double-check to make sure that you have all the information you need so you're ready to apply right away for open positions, and so that you're providing the employer with your most current education and employment status.

Ask for an Application Form: If you're applying for a position in-person, ask for a job application form, then take it home with you to complete. You can take your time filling it out so it will be neat and accurate when you return to drop it off.

How to Make the Best Impression

Always Follow the Instructions: Explicitly follow the instructions when completing both online and paper job applications. The slightest error could knock your application out of the running before an employer even gets a chance to look at it.

You might also want to check the company website or the fine print on the job application form, to verify you've followed the directions as instructed.

Review Before You Submit: Thoroughly read the instructions for applying for employment before you click the submit button (or hand in your application). Make sure every field is filled in. Some companies refuse to accept an incomplete application.

Notify Your References: Let your references know that you've listed them on your application so that they can expect an email or a call.

Being prepared for employment tests will help you respond better to employment-related questions. Some companies require drug tests for applicants seeking employment.

Review Sample Job Applications and Letters

Remember, the more prepared you are, the better your chances of getting hired. It pays to review sample job applications to give you an idea of what will be asked of you. It also pays to print out one or two application forms and complete them, so you know you have all the information needed to complete actual employment applications.

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Top Tips for Filling out Job Applications

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When you apply for a job, you are typically asked to complete an employment application. You may be asked to complete a job application even if you've already submitted a resume and cover letter. Asking all candidates for the same information standardizes the job application process.

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Producing a good resume and a well written cover letter is a basic requirement for a successful job search. These documents play a critical role in helping employers understand who you are, what motivates you, and what you have to offer as a potential employee. The Career Center is here to assist you with this important task by providing the following resources:

Resumes
Cover Letters Reference List

You'll need references too! View our sample References sheet.
Getting Feedback

Our Peer Advisors are especially good at assisting students with resumes and providing effective feedback; you can meet with them during our daily drop-in sessions.

You can also schedule an appointment with a Career Counselor for a resume or cover letter review. *NOTE: Please be sure to bring a printed copy of your resume or cover letter with you to your in-person appointment or have a digital version ready for your virtual appointment

<< Back to Job Search home

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Producing a good resume and a well written cover letter is a basic requirement for a successful job search. These documents play a critical role in helping employers understand who you are, what motivates you, and what you have to offer as a potential employee.

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After weeks of heavy job search, you're almost there!

You've perfected your resume.

You've short-listed the coolest jobs you want to apply for.

You've even had a friend train you for every single interview question out there.

But then, before you can send your application and call it a day, you remember that the job ad requires a cover letter.

Now you're stuck wondering how to write a cover letter...

Don't panic! We've got you covered. Writing a cover letter is a lot simpler than you might think.

In this guide, we're going to teach you how to write a cover letter that gets you the job you deserve.

1. What's a cover letter & why it's important for your job search

2. How to write a convincing cover letter that gets you the job (step-by-step!)

3. How to perfect your cover letter with the Novoresume free checklist

4. What excellent cover letter examples look like

New to cover letter writing? Give our resumes 101 video a watch before diving into the article!
So, let's get started with the basics!

What is a Cover Letter? (and Why It's Important)

A cover letter is a one-page document that you submit as part of your job application (alongside your CV or Resume).

Its purpose is to introduce you and briefly summarize your professional background. On average, your cover letter should be from 250 to 400 words long.

A good cover letter can spark the HR manager's interest and get them to read your resume.

A bad cover letter, on the other hand, might mean that your application is going directly to the paper shredder. So, to make sure this doesn't happen, it's essential to know how to write a convincing cover letter.

How does a good cover letter look, you might ask. Well, here's an example:

Keep in mind, though, that a cover letter is a supplement to your resume, not a replacement. Meaning, you don't just repeat whatever is mentioned in your resume.

If you're writing a cover letter for the first time, writing all this might seem pretty tough. After all, you're probably not a professional writer.

The thing is, though, you don't need to be creative, or even any good at writing. All you have to do is follow a tried-and-tested format:

Header - Input contact information

Greeting the hiring manager

Opening paragraph - Grab the reader's attention with 2-3 of your top achievements

Second paragraph - Explain why you're the perfect candidate for the job

Third paragraph - Explain why you're a good match for the company

Formal closing

Or, here's what this looks like in practice:

How to Write the Perfect Cover Letter (And Get Hired!)

Now that we've got the basics out of the way, we're going to guide you through the process of writing a cover letter step by step.

Step #1 - Pick the Right Cover Letter Template

A good cover letter is all about leaving the right first impression.

So, what's a better way to leave a good impression than a well-formatted, visual template?

You can simply pick one of our hand-picked cover letter templates, and you'll be all set in a jiffy!

As a bonus, our AI will even give you suggestions on how to improve your cover letter on the go.

Step #3 - Greet the Hiring Manager

Once you've properly listed your contact information, you need to start writing the cover letter contents.

The first thing to do here is to address the cover letter to the hiring manager.

That's right, the hiring manager! Not the overly popular "Dear Sir or Madam." You want to show your future boss that you did your research and are really passionate about working with their team.

No one wants to hire a job seeker who just spams 20+ companies and hopes to get hired in any of them.

So, how do you find out who's the hiring manager? There are several ways to do this.

The simplest option is to look up the head of the relevant department on LinkedIn. Let's say you're applying for the position of a Communication Specialist at Novoresume. The hiring manager is probably Head of Communications or Chief Communications Office.

So, you do a quick lookup on LinkedIn:

And voila! You have your hiring manager.

Or let's say you're applying for the position of a server. In that case, you'd be looking for the "restaurant manager."

If this doesn't work, you can also check out the "Team" page on the company website; there's a good chance you'll at least find the right person there.

Here are several other greetings you could use:

Dear [Department] Hiring Manager

Dear Hiring Manager

To whom it may concern

Dear [Department] Team

Step #4 - Write an Attention-Grabbing Introduction

First impressions matter, especially when it comes to your job search.

Recruiters get hundreds, sometimes even thousands, of applications. Chances are, they're not going to be reading every single cover letter end-to-end.

So, it's essential to catch their attention from the very first paragraph.

The #1 problem we see with most cover letter opening paragraphs is that they're usually extremely generic. Most of them look something like this..

Hey, my name is Jonathan and I'd like to work as a Sales Manager at XYZ Inc. I've worked as a sales manager at MadeUpCompany Inc. for 5+ years, so I believe that I'd be a good fit for the position.

See the issue here? This opening paragraph doesn't say pretty much anything except the fact that you've worked the job before.

Do you know who else has similar work experience? All the other applicants you're competing with.

Instead, you want to start off with 2-3 of your top achievements to really grab the reader's attention. Preferably, the achievements should be as relevant as possible to the position.

So now, let's make our previous example shine:

Dear Josh,

My name's Michael and I'd like to help XYZ Inc. hit and exceed their sales goals as a Sales Manager. I've worked with Company X, a fin-tech company, for 3+ years. As a Sales Representative, I generated an average of $30,000+ in sales per month (beating the KPIs by around 40%). I believe that my previous industry experience, as well as excellence in sales, makes me the right candidate for the job.

See the difference between the two examples? If you were the hiring manager, which sales manager would you hire, Jonathan or Michael?

Exactly!

Now that we've covered the introduction, let's talk about the body of your cover letter. This part is split into two paragraphs: the first is for explaining why you're the perfect person for the job, and the latter is for proving that you're a good fit for the company.

So, let's get started...

Step #5 - Explain why you're the perfect person for the job

This is where you show off your professional skills and convince the HR manager that you're a better fit for the job than all the other applicants.

But first things first - before you even write anything, you need to learn what the most important requirements for the role are. So, open up the job ad and identify which of the responsibilities are the most critical.

For the sake of the example, let's say you're applying for the position of a Facebook Advertiser. You scan the job ad and see that the top requirements are:

1. Experience managing a Facebook ad budget of $10,000+ / month

2. Some skills in advertising on other platforms (Google Search + Twitter)

3. Excellent copywriting skills

Now, in this section, you need to discuss how you fulfill these requirements. So, here's how that would look for our example:

In my previous role as a Facebook Marketing Expert at XYZ Inc. I handled customer acquisition through ads, managing a monthly Facebook ad budget of $20,000+. As the sole digital marketer at the company, I managed the ad creation & management process end-to-end. Meaning, I created the ad copy, images, picked the targeting, ran optimization trials, and so on.

Other than Facebook advertising, I've also delved into other online PPC channels, including:

Google Search

Twitter

Reddit

Quora

Step #6 - Explain why you're a good fit for the company

Once you've written the last paragraph, you might be thinking - I'm a shoo-in for the job! What else do I need to write? I'll just wrap up the cover letter and hit that sweet SEND button.

Well, no. You're not quite there yet.

The HR manager doesn't only look at whether you'll be good at the job or not. They're looking for someone that's also a good fit for the company culture.

After all, employees that don't fit in are bound to quit, sooner or later. This ends up costing the company a ton of money, up to 50% of the employee's annual salary.

Meaning, you also need to convince the HR manager that you're really passionate about working with them.

How do you do this? Well, as a start, you want to do some research about the company. You want to know things like:

What's the company's business model?

What's the company product or service? Have you used it?

What's the culture like? Will someone micro-manage your work, or will you have autonomy on how you get things done?

So, get to Googling. Chances are, you'll find all the information you need either on the company website or somewhere around the web.

Then, you need to figure out what you like about the company and turn that into text.

Let's say, for example, you're passionate about their product and you like the culture of innovation / independent work in the organization.

You'd write something like:

I've personally used the XYZ Smartphone, and I believe that it's the most innovative tech I've used in years. The features such as Made-Up-Feature #1 and Made-Up-Feature #2 were real game changers for the device. I really admire how Company XYZ thrives for excellence for all its product lines, creating market-leading tech. As someone that thrives in a self-driven environment, I truly believe that I and Company XYZ will be a great match.

What you don't want to do here is be super generic for the sake of having something to write. Most job seekers tend to mess this one up. Let's take a look at a very common example we tend to see (way too often):

I'd love to work for Company XYZ because of its culture of innovation. I believe that since I'm super creative, I'd be a good fit for the company. The company values of integrity and transparency really vibe with me.

See what's wrong here? The example doesn't really say anything about the company. "Culture of Innovation" is something most companies claim to have.

The same goes for "values of integrity and transparency" - the writer just googled what the values for the organization are, and said that they like them.
Any hiring manager that reads this will see through the fluff.
So, make sure to do a lot of research and come up with good reasons why you're applying.

Step #7 - Wrap up with a call to action

Finally, it's time to finish up your cover letter and write the conclusion.

In the final paragraph, you want to:

Wrap up any points you couldn't in the previous paragraphs. Do you have anything left to say? Any other information that could help the hiring manager make their decision? Mention it here.

Thank the hiring manager for their time. It never hurts to be courteous, as long as you don't come off as too needy.

Finish the cover letter with a call to action. The very last sentence in your cover letter should be a call to action. You should ask the hiring manager to take some sort of action.

And now, let's turn this into a practical example:

So to wrap it all up, thanks for looking into my application. I hope I can help Company X make the most out of their Facebook marketing initiatives. I'd love to further discuss how my previous success at XYZ Inc. can help you achieve your facebook marketing goals.

Step #8 - Use the right formal closing

Once you're done with the final paragraph, all you have to do is write down a formal "goodbye" and you're good to go.

Feel free to use one of the most popular conclusions to a cover letter:

Best Regards,

Kind Regards,

Sincerely,

Thank you,

And we're finally done! Before sending off the cover letter, make sure to proofread it with software like Grammarly, or maybe even get a friend to review it for you.

Does your cover letter heading include all essential information?

Full Name

Professional email

Phone Number

Date

Relevant Social Media Profiles

Do you address the right person? I.e. hiring manager in the company / your future direct supervisor Does your introductory paragraph grab the reader's attention?

Did you mention 2-3 of your top achievements?

Did you use numbers and facts to back up your experience?

Do you successfully convey that you're the right pro for the job?

Did you identify the core requirements?

Did you successfully convey how your experiences help you fit the requirements perfectly?

Do you convince the hiring manager that you're passionate about the company you're applying to?

Did you identify the top 3 things that you like about the company?

Did you avoid generic reasons for explaining your interest in the company?

Did you finalize the conclusion with a call to action? Did you use the right formal closure for the cover letter?

5+ Cover Letter Examples

Need some inspiration? Read on to learn about some of the best cover letter examples we've seen (for different fields).

College Student Cover Letter Example

Middle Management Cover Letter Example

Career Change Cover Letter Example

Management Cover Letter Example

Senior Executive Cover Letter Example

Want to discover more examples AND learn what makes them stand out? Check out our guide to cover letter examples.

Next Steps in Your Job Search - Creating a Killer Resume

Your cover letter is only as good as your resume. If either one is weak, your entire application is for naught.

After all, a cover letter is just an introduction. Imagine going through all this effort to leave an amazing first impression, but flopping at the end because of a mediocre resume.

...But don't you worry, we've got you covered on that end, too.

If you want to learn more about Resumes & CVs, we have a dedicated FREE guide for that. Check out our complete guide on how to make a resume, as well as how to write a CV - our experts will teach you everything you need to know in order to land your dream job.

Or, if you're already an expert, just pick one of our resume templates and get started.

Key Takeaways

Now that we've walked you through all the steps of writing a cover letter, let's summarize everything we've learned:

A cover letter is a 250 - 400 word document that convinces the hiring manager of your competence

A cover letter goes in your job application alongside your resume

Your introduction to the cover letter should grab the hiring manager's attention and keep it all the way until the conclusion

There are 2 main topics you need to include in your cover letter: why you're the perfect candidate for the job & why you're passionate about working in the company you're applying to

Most of the content of your cover letter should be factual, without any fluff or generalizations

At Novorésumé, we're committed to helping you get the job you deserve, every step of the way! Follow our blog to stay up to date with the industry-leading advice. Or, check out some of our top guides...

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How to Write a Cover Letter in 2023 + Examples

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Want to discover how to write a cover letter? It's a lot easier than you'd think. Learn how to write your cover letter with our guide (examples included).

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Build Your Resume, Free Templates & Examples | Rocket Resume

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Rocket Resume has millions of resume examples that help you build your resume better and land your dream job. Try the best resume builder today!

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Strong Verb Lists for Resume and Cover Letter

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Strong Verb Lists for Resume and Cover Letter

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It's always a good idea to use keywords and action verbs in your resume and cover letters. Using the right words not only shows what you have accomplished in previous jobs. These words also help your resume, cover letter, and other application materials get selected by the software and hiring managers who screen your documents.

What Are Resume Action Verbs and Keywords?

From the job seeker perspective, keywords are the words job seekers use to search for available positions. For the employer, keywords are the terms that hiring managers use to screen resumes and cover letters to find applicants that are a good fit for a job.

There are different types of keywords. Job keywords are words that describe your skills and qualifications. They describe the hard skills you have that qualify you for a job.

Action verbs show your ability to succeed. For example, words like accomplished, developed, managed, and handled describe what you have achieved.

Keywords are used to match an applicant with an available job. The closer the keywords in a resume are to those in a job description, the better a candidate's chances of being selected for a job interview.

Why and How to Include Action Verbs in Your Resume

The keywords in your resume will help you get selected for a job interview. Hiring managers search by keywords to find resumes that match the job qualifications they established when they listed the job.

In addition to listing keywords specific to your occupation (like software or sales skills) include action words that show you what you have accomplished. Rather than just stating a list of duties, including action keywords in your position descriptions.

Here's an example:

Proficient in Microsoft Word and Excel

Specialized in product order management

Helped manage associates on the sales floor

Alphabetical List of Action Verbs

Review these tips for how to get your resume past the applicant tracking systems employers use, and this list of action keywords to use to get your application noticed when applying for jobs.

A
Achieved, accomplished, acted, adapted, addressed, analyzed, authored, authorized, assessed, assisted, appraised, amended, advised, allocated, altered, accelerated, acquired, aided, assembled

B
Budgeted, built, brainstormed, balanced, blended, boosted

C
Compiled, combined, challenged, chaired, committed, communicated, coordinated, calculated, contributed, commissioned, confirmed, customized, created, challenged, critiqued

D
Decided, developed, disclosed, documented, discovered, designed, determined, demonstrated, deferred, distributed, directed, devoted, drafted, doubled, diversified, designated, dedicated, discussed

E
Exercised, expected, earned, elected, engaged, entered, engineered, employed, edited, evaluated, entertained, eliminated, exchanged, ended, estimated, exempted, endorsed, expedited, experienced, enforced, explained

F
Facilitated, focused, financed, fueled, figured, fit, formed, fortified, functioned, formulated

G
Guided, grouped, gave, garnered, granted, generated, guaranteed, gathered, graphed

H
Hired, handled, helped, headed

I
Improved, identified, installed, inspired, interviewed, issued, invested, illustrated, implemented, incurred, innovated, inspected, invented, interpreted, inaugurated, informed, induced, instilled, incorporated

J
Judged, joined, justified

L
Located, lectured, launched, litigated, lobbied, led, listened

M
Mastered, managed, merchandised, modified, met, minimized, modeled, measured, moderated, motivated, multiplied, marketed, maximized, moved, mediated

N
Negotiated, noticed, navigated, networked

O
Operated, owned, observed, oversaw, organized, obtained, oriented

P
Participated, printed, proposed, pursued, persuaded, perceived, preserved, processed, produced, promoted, planned, performed, pioneered, passed, prioritized, proficiency, provided, profiled, polled, presented, procured, purchased, placed, permitted

Q
Quoted, qualified, questioned, queried

R
Ranked, resolved, received, rewarded, revised, revitalized, revamped, responded, restored, rejected, reinforced, reinstated, rehabilitated, remedied, redesigned, recruited, recovered, recorded, reduced, replaced, retained, retrieved, reversed, ran, raised, reached, reviewed, researched

S
Saved, secured, stabilized, scheduled, screened, settled, separated, sent, selected, shaped, shortened, showed, signed, simplified, sold, specialized, staged, standardized, steered, stimulated, strategized, surveyed, supported, supplied, substantiated, set goals, supervised, studied

T
Trained, tabulated, took, traveled, transformed, tested, transferred, tailored, targeted

U
Utilized, uncovered, united, updated, undertook, unified, upgraded

V
Verified, valued, validated, visited, visualized

W
Witnessed, worked, weighed, wrote, won, welcomed

Resume Example

This is an example of a resume with action verbs. Download the resume template (compatible with Google Docs and Word Online) or see below for more examples.

Resume Example With Action Verbs (Text Version)
Notable Sales Achievements PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE EDUCATION

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Make Your Resume Stand Out With Action Verbs

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It's always a good idea to use keywords and action verbs in your resume and cover letters. Using the right words not only shows what you have accomplished in previous jobs. These words also help your resume, cover letter, and other application materials get selected by the software and hiring managers who screen your documents.

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Jerry Jenkins | Writing Tips from a New York Times Bestseller

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21-time New York Times bestselling author Jerry Jenkins reveals the secrets to compelling fiction and nonfiction writing.

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Student Expectations ~ Student & Parent Signatures Required

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Student Expectations ~ Student & Parent Signatures Required

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ELA Writing Basics, Templates, Examples, etc. 

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ELA Writing Basics, Templates, Examples, etc. 

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ELA Writing 101 BASICS/Resources _Poff_2022

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POFF Creative Writing Syllabus 2022-2023

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POFF Honors English 12/ WR 121 & 122-OHS Syllabus Template 22-23

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POFF Senior Project-OHS Syllabus Template 22-23

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Free, Powerful English Grammar Checker | SCRIBENS

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Scribens is a free online Grammar Checker that corrects over 250 types of common grammar, spelling mistakes and detects stylistic elements such as repetitions, run-on sentences, redundancies and more.

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7 Most Common English Grammar Mistakes + TEST - Do you make these mistakes?

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[1-20] 1000 English Grammar Test Practice Questions

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[1-20] 1000 English Grammar Test Practice Questions

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Tips and Techniques for Answering Writing ?s

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Tips and Techniques for Answering Writing ?s

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Commas  | Writing and Language test | SAT | Khan Academy

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Commas  | Writing and Language test | SAT | Khan Academy

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Semicolons  | Writing and Language test | SAT | Khan Academy

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Semicolons  | Writing and Language test | SAT | Khan Academy

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Punctuation marks: Comma, Colon, Semicolon

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Colons: When to Use a Colon in a Sentence | English Writing and Punctuation Essentials

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8 Comma Rules | How to Use Commas | English Writing Essentials

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Accuplacer Next-Generation Writing - When to Delete

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Welcome to the ACCUPLACER study guide page. The links below will take you through our online ACCUPLACER review. Watch our ACCUPLACER study guide tutorials and brush up on any concepts you don't remember from high school. Pinpoint your strengths and weaknesses to get the most out of your studying. If you need more help or additional practice questions consider upgrading with our ACCUPLACER book and flashcards.

Free ACCUPLACER Study Guide

Featured Lecture: Adding and Subtracting Exponents

Upgrade to our best ACCUPLACER test prep resources:

Online ACCUPLACER Test Prep Course

If you want to be fully prepared, Mometrix offers an online ACCUPLACER Test Prep Course. The course is designed to provide you with any and every resource you might want while studying. The ACCUPLACER Course includes:

55 Review Lessons Covering all the Topics

650+ ACCUPLACER Practice Questions

Over 170 Video Tutorials

More than 200 Electronic Flashcards

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and More!

The ACCUPLACER Prep Course is designed to help any learner get everything they need to prepare for their ACCUPLACER exam; click below to check it out.

ACCUPLACER Test Study Guide Customer Success Stories

Our customers love the tutorial videos from Mometrix Academy that we have incorporated into our ACCUPLACER study guide. The ACCUPLACER Exam Secrets Study Guide reviews below are examples of customer experiences.

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Learn more about the Mometrix ACCUPLACER Study Guide Mometrix Academy - Home

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ACCUPLACER Study Guide (2022) by Mometrix

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Welcome to the ACCUPLACER study guide page. The links below will take you through our online ACCUPLACER review. Watch our ACCUPLACER study guide tutorials and brush up on any concepts you don't remember from high school. Pinpoint your strengths and weaknesses to get the most out of your studying.

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About the ACCUPLACER

The ACCUPLACER is a computerized placement test designed to assess proficiency in reading, mathematics, and writing for incoming college students, including sections for students for whom English is not the first language. The ACCUPLACER helps to determine the correct college-level course placement. Like the ACT®, the ACCUPLACER was developed by the College Board®.

All of the questions on the exam are multiple-choice, with the exception of an essay portion. The test is untimed, although it takes most students approximately 90-120 minutes to complete. It is a computer-adaptive exam, meaning that the difficulty of the questions is determined by the test-taker's previous responses. This also means that the number of questions in each section will vary.

The exam was revamped in 2016, when it adopted "Next Generation" exam sections and the computer-adaptive format. The ten sections-four of which are specific to English as a second language students (ESL)-currently found in the ACCUPLACER exam are:

Students may have to take all or only parts of the exam, depending upon the recommendation of the institution to which they are applying. Some colleges do accept substitution scores from alternative exams, such as the ACT® or SAT®, meaning that it is possible to "test out" of certain sections.

Sections of the ACCUPLACER Test

ESL Language Use

The ESL Language Use section measures how well you can use correct grammar in English sentences. There are 20 questions of two different types. The first type requires you to choose the correct form of a word, or words, to use in the blank space in a sentence. The second type asks you to choose the correct form of a complete sentence, including revising the order of the words.

ESL Listening

For this test, you have to listen to people speaking in various settings. Then, you will be asked to answer questions about what you heard. There are 20 questions and all of the conversations are in English. Our practice test uses the same audiotape for each 5 questions. The ACCUPLACER ESL Listening Test is not timed.

ESL Reading Skills

This part of the ACCUPLACER test evaluates your ability to read a short passage, understand it, and answer various types of questions about it. There are 20 questions in this section and the answers range from things stated right in the passage, to things that may just be assumed, based on what the author said. You may have to deal with such concepts as main idea, fact and opinion, vocabulary in a phrase, and applying the author's point of view.

ESL Sentence Meaning

The ESL Sentence Meaning section tests your ability to read and understand sentences written in English. There are 20 questions in this section of two different types. The first type of question asks you to choose one of four words, or groups of words, to fill in the blank for the sentence to make sense. The other type requires you to answer a question based on information you read in one or two sentences.

Next Generation Advanced Algebra and Functions

This ACCUPLACER test is designed for students who plan to study in a STEM field or another field that requires a great deal of math, such as medicine or economics. It covers a wide range of higher math skills, including Algebra II concepts and Trigonometry. You'll need to be able to be conversant in relating equations to their corresponding graphs and relying on theorems to solve problems.

Next Generation Arithmetic

This is the most basic of the ACCUPLACER Next Generation math tests. It assesses the most commonly used math operations and number formats. The questions require you to do only math procedures that might be required in daily life or while performing the duties required of an employee in any career. There are a few "real life" problems (read: "word problems") but most of the questions contain either a simple equation to solve or one question to answer.

NOTE: Be sure you are preparing for the right test. ACCUPLACER used to offer a test called the ACCUPLACER Arithmetic Test, without the "Next Generation" designation in the title. It is a slightly different test, requiring somewhat different preparation.

Next Generation Quantitative Reasoning, Algebra, and Statistics

Students who are entering a field of study that is not part of the STEM (Science Technology Engineering Math) curriculum or who have not decided on a field of study will take this math test. It assesses higher-level skills than the ACCUPLACER Next Generation Arithmetic test, but most of them are still pretty basic for life in today's world. You will be required to thoroughly understand graphs and basic components of Algebra I and Geometry.

Next Generation Reading

The ACCUPLACER Next Generation Reading test (new form of the ACCUPLACER Reading Comprehension test) assesses your ability to read and understand text in various genres: literature, nonfiction literature, social sciences, and natural science. You also need to be able use what is explicitly written to form summaries and draw conclusions. Finally, you will be asked to compare and contrast two texts written about the same subject. All the information you need is in the passage, so you need not have any prior knowledge about the subject.

Next Generation Writing

The ACCUPLACER Next Generation Writing test is a new form of the ACCUPLACER Sentence Skills test, but assesses editing skills in entire paragraphs and passages, as well as those pertaining to single sentences. This test assesses your ability to proofread and edit the writing of another person, revising it in the areas of clarity, effectiveness, usage, and grammar. Unlike the Sentence Skills test, which uses only single sentences as prompts, all of the questions on this test are based on a written passage of between 300 and 350 words. Passages may be on topics from any of these areas: literary nonfiction, social sciences, humanities, or natural science. No prior knowledge of the subject is required to answer the questions.

WritePlacer Essay

During this ACCUPLACER test, you are given a prompt, or a subject, on which to write. You should plan, write, review, and edit an essay with 300-600 words and containing several paragraphs. The essay will be graded in these five areas: Focus, organization, development and support, sentence structure, and mechanical conventions. Note that your essay will not be judged based on which side you took on an issue or on other content matters, but rather on the quality of the writing you provide. Since you will be writing an essay for this portion of the test, it would seem impossible to write practice questions, but, we can give you some practice in proofreading, one of the essential skills required to submit your best writing effort. It is also one of the hardest writing skills to master and any type of practice will help. Our practice questions will help you learn to see common errors in all of the writing skills listed above.

WritePlacer Essay Prompts

The essay portion of the ACCUPLACER is the WritePlacer®. It evaluates your ability to read through a passage, take in information, and formulate your own opinion or response in a way that is cohesive, coherent, and well-supported. The WritePlacer® can be used to supplement the writing portion of the ACCUPLACER, for people who are seeking entry into a college-level course, or who are seeking placement as ESL students.

What to Expect on Test Day

Taking the ACCUPLACER exam can be stressful-after all, it determines which courses you'll have to take. But in many instances, anxiety can be eased greatly by preparing for the test adequately and having an idea of what to expect on the day of the exam.

The test is not timed, although you should expect to be at the testing center for a total of at least two hours. To ensure you give your best performance, it's recommended that you get a good night's rest and a nutritious meal before arriving to take the exam. This will ensure that you aren't distracted by an empty stomach or drowsiness. It's also a great idea to plan to arrive at least 20-30 minutes early. This extra time can be helpful if you have any difficulties finding the test center or during the registration process.

What to Bring

You will need to bring a valid form of identification with you on the day of the exam. If you are taking the exam at your school, they may accept a school-issued ID. In all other instances, you should ensure that you have a government-issued form of identification. You may check with your testing center before the day of the exam to determine what their requirements are.

What Not to Bring

You do not need to bring anything with you on the day of the exam. The ACCUPLACER is a computerized test. While there are sections of the test in which you can use a calculator or scratch paper, these applications are available within the computer program itself, eliminating the need for students to bring anything.

You should also refrain from bringing any electronic devices or personal items. They are prohibited from being in the testing room. There may or may not be storage areas for personal items, but to know for sure, you may want to check with your testing center.

Best Ways to Study for the ACCUPLACER

Take Practice ACCUPLACER Tests

One of the best ways to ensure that you are prepared for the ACCUPLACER is by taking plenty of practice tests beforehand. These practice tests can help you to identify areas where you may want to devote extra time for studying, and they can help you to familiarize yourself with the types of questions you will see and the format of the test itself. Practice tests for the ACCUPLACER are one of the most effective preparation tools available to ensure you are ready to succeed on the day of your exam.

Use Alternative Study Methods

Many students also find that they can better retain information by incorporating alternative study methods in with taking the practice tests. Flashcards for the ACCUPLACER are especially useful for the multiple-choice sections of the test and study guides for the ACCUPLACER are great for ensuring you study all of the covered topics. These materials, when combined with practice tests, can help you develop a comprehensive study plan.

Simulate the Testing Experience

It's also a great idea to simulate the testing experience by completing a good number of questions from each section of the test that you are required to take. While this test is not timed, simulating the testing experience can give you a better idea of how you will perform when taking each section back-to-back.

ACCUPLACER Tips and Tricks

Take Your Time

The ACCUPLACER exam is not timed, which means there is no need to rush through it. And it's computer-adaptive, meaning that a greater number of correct answers will lead to fewer questions being asked. For these reasons, it's a far better idea to take your time to carefully answer each question than it is to skim through the question and guess. Time is on your side with this exam, so be sure to use it wisely.

Eliminate Answers

If you do not know the answer to a question even after reading it through several times, it's a good idea to take some time to read through the answers and try to eliminate the ones you know are wrong. This process will help you to narrow down your final selection and increase the odds that it is correct.

Consider Breaking up the Sections

If you are truly nervous about how you will perform on the ACCUPLACER, it may be a good idea to break up your testing across several days. You are not required to take all sections in one sitting, so it may be good to plan for a couple testing days. This will narrow down what you need to study and prepare for before each day.

ACCUPLACER FAQ:

1. What is a good score on the ACCUPLACER?

There are no scores on the ACCUPLACER exam-the results will only tell the level of courses for which the test-taker is prepared. The computer-adaptive nature of the test means that the software will continue asking questions in a section until it is confident that it has determined the appropriate level of placement in related courses.

2. Can I retake the ACCUPLACER?

Students can retake the ACCUPLACER twice after completing the original exam. However, they must wait at least 14 days to retake the exam and there may be a small fee associated with retaking it.

3. When will I receive the results of my ACCUPLACER exam?

You can request that the testing center print a score report for all multiple-choice sections immediately after completing the exam. You will also receive a follow-up email with your full score report and a Skills Insight Statement.

4. How much does it cost to take the ACCUPLACER?

The exam fees associated with the ACCUPLACER exam vary from institution to institution, but generally range from $0 to $50. You should check with your school to determine exactly what fees you will be charged for taking the exam.

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Free ACCUPLACER Test Practice Test (2022) | 19+ Exams & Answers

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Free Practice Test for the ACCUPLACER Test. We have everything you need to help prepare you for the ACCUPLACER Test including this practice test.

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We offer free practice tests and learning resources to help students prepare to succeed on each of the ACCUPLACER tests.

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Our free ACCUPLACER practice tests (updated for 2022) will help you do well on the real ACCUPLACER. Use our actual ACCUPLACER questions and answers to show you the areas you need to focus on.

One of the best ways to prepare for the ACCUPLACER is by studying sample questions. Listed below are our free ACCUPLACER practice tests. By taking our ACCUPLACER practice tests, you will see how prepared you are for the actual exam.
Summary: Try out one of our free ACCUPLACER practice tests below. No registration required.
ACCUPLACER Math Practice Tests
ACCUPLACER Arithmetic Practice Test
ACCUPLACER Reading Practice Test 1
ACCUPLACER Sentence Skills Practice Test 1
ACCUPLACER Sentence Skills Practice Test 2
ACCUPLACER Sentence Skills Practice Test 3 ACCUPLACER Reading Practice Test 2
ACCUPLACER Reading Practice Test 3
ACCUPLACER Reading Practice Test 4
ACCUPLACER Reading Practice Test 5 ACCUPLACER Algebra Practice Test
ACCUPLACER College Math Practice Test
ACCUPLACER Reading Practice Tests

ACCUPLACER Sentence Skills Practice Tests

Along with all the ACCUPLACER practice tests and sample questions supplied above, we're happy to provide additional free ACCUPLACER practice tests from the CollegeBoard. Check out these other ACCUPLACER practice tests below.

The College Board's ACCUPLACER test is a standardized placement test used by over a thousand U.S. high schools and colleges in order to assist with appropriate placement of incoming students. The test is designed to assess overall reading, writing, and math skills on a computer-based platform.

Unlike many other standardized tests, the ACCUPLACER is not an admissions test and has no bearing on whether or not a student is admitted into a particular institution. Instead, it is used as a diagnostic tool which assesses students who have already been admitted, in order to place them in the appropriate level classes. The ACCUPLACER test includes sections on each of the following:

Reading Comprehension

Sentence Skills

Arithmetic

Elementary Algebra

College Level Mathematics

Writing (known as the Writeplacer)

Performance on The ACCUPLACER Test is vital for any student who wishes to gain a headstart in their academic career by starting at the highest level courses possible for their skill set.

The ACCUPLACER utilizes an adaptive computer based system which adjusts the difficulty level of each question based on your responses to previous questions. This ensures that the questions you see are appropriate for your skill level. Because of the adaptive nature of the ACCUPLACER, candidates are encouraged to take their time to answer each question to the best of their ability, as there are no time limits on any of the tests. All questions on the ACCUPLACER are in a multiple-choice format.

Each test has a varying number of questions associated with it, and candidates may not be required to take all tests. Make sure you are utilizing the appropriate ACCUPLACER practice tests for the tests you will be taking. The ACCUPLACER test includes each of the following:

(click on image to enlarge)

Arithmetic

The ACCUPLACER arithmetic test evaluates a candidate's performance on basic arithmetic operations as well as their ability to solve problems involving basic fundamental arithmetic concepts. Questions on this test fall under three basic arithmetic skills:

Operations with Whole Numbers and Functions

Operations with Decimals and Percentages

Applications and Problem Solving

College-Level Math

The ACCUPLACER college-level math test evaluates a candidate's ability to solve problems involving college-level mathematics concepts. Questions on this test fall under five specific college-level skills:

Algebraic Operations

Solutions of Equations and Equalities

Coordinate Geometry

Applications and other Algebra Topics

Functions and Trigonometry

Elementary Algebra

The ACCUPLACER elementary algebra test evaluates a candidate's performance on basic algebraic operations as well as their ability to solve problems involving elementary algebraic concepts. Questions on this test fall under three elementary algebraic skills:

Operations with Integers and Rational Numbers

Operations with Algebraic Expressions

Solution of Equations, Inequalities, and Word Problems

Reading Comprehension

The ACCUPLACER reading comprehension test evaluates a candidate's ability in each of the following reading skills:

Understanding what is read

Identifying main ideas

Making inferences

Distinguishing between direct statements and secondary (supporting) ideas

Sentence Skills

The ACCUPLACER sentence skills test evaluates a candidate's understanding of proper sentence structure in regards to:

Elements of a complete and clear sentence

Logic (or lack of logic) of a single sentence

Relationships between multiple sentences

Writeplacer (Written Essay)

The ACCUPLACER Writeplacer test evaluates a candidate's writing skills, which are a significant indicator for academic success. Candidates are asked to formulate, organize, and support an opinion or idea based on a given writing prompt, and are evaluated based on the following five characteristics of their response:

Focus

Organization

Development and Support

Sentence Structure

Mechanical Conventions

English as a Second Language (ESL)

If appropriate, students may take an ACCUPLACER English as a Second Language (ESL) test in the following areas:

ESL Language Use

ESL Listening

ESL Reading Skills

ESL Sentence Meaning

It is important to use the appropriate ACCUPLACER practice tests and study materials for every ACCUPLACER test you will be taking.

The ACCUPLACER Test is typically administered at the college or institution that the incoming student will be attending. There are no time limits on any of the ACCUPLACER tests, with the exception of the Writeplacer which may or may not have a time limit depending on the policy of the particular school administering the test.

On the day of the test, it is recommended that candidates arrive at their testing site early in order to avoid any mishaps. Be sure to bring a photo ID as well as any other materials your school has asked you to bring. Be sure to check with your institution's testing center for more information.

The College Board does not charge a testing fee for the ACCUPLACER test. Fees are instead determined by the educational institution administering the test, and the test is often free to take for the first time. Some institutions may charge a fee which is typically not more than $40, regardless of the number of sections administered. Be sure to check with your institution in order to determine what fees may apply.

Since most schools only allow the first attempt to be taken for free, it is recommended that you utilize all available free ACCUPLACER practice tests and other resources in order to maximize your chances of success.

Anyone entering an institution of higher learning may be asked to take the ACCUPLACER test. Performance on the ACCUPLACER will be used as a diagnostic tool to determine where the incoming student should be placed in order to maximize his or her chances of success.

ACCUPLACER test scores are made available as soon as you complete your tests. Your score is determined based on a formula which considers the number of questions answered correctly, along with the difficulty level of those questions. Your score report will appear on your computer screen after you have finished taking your test. Your score report will show the total number of questions you answered correctly, along with your percentile rank for each section taken.

Remember that there is no "passing" or "failing" the ACCUPLACER test. It is simply a diagnostic tool that helps you to be placed in the appropriate classes upon acceptance to a school or institution. Many colleges will provide the test taker with a rubric which shows which classes you will be placed in based on your scores on the ACCUPLACER. Be sure to take this rubric and your score report to your academic advisor if you have any questions.

As you undergo your ACCUPLACER test prep with our free ACCUPLACER practice tests you may find yourself wondering about key aspects of the tests. Here are some answers to some frequently asked questions about the ACCUPLACER:

There are many online resources available for those looking to prepare for the ACCUPLACER Test. Many of these resources can be found absolutely free online. Visit the official ACCUPLACER website for more information.

The ACCUPLACER Test is an important step for anyone entering an institution of higher learning. Make sure you are utilizing all available studying materials and ACCUPLACER practice tests so you can take the next step in your education today.

The sample ACCUPLACER practice test questions that we have included above will help you prepare for your final test and discover ways to boost your abilities. Make sure to take our free ACCUPLACER practice tests and those of the other sites we've listed, and review the areas that need some help. Good luck!

If you have any other sources for free ACCUPLACER practice tests, or ACCUPLACER study guides, please let us know by contacting us and we can include them above.

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Free ACCUPLACER® Practice Tests [2022] | 12+ Exams | Test-Guide

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Our free ACCUPLACER practice tests (updated for 2022) will help you do well on the real ACCUPLACER. Use our actual ACCUPLACER questions and answers to show you the areas you need to focus on. One of the best ways to prepare for the ACCUPLACER is by studying sample questions.

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Study, Study, Study! It is a challenging test. You need a 263+ to NOT need a lower writing class.

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Watch the videos on slide 2! Take Notes. Grammar is HUGE on this test

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***000 Accuplacer Sent Structure Practice Test 

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Here you'll find extensive support for APA, MLA, and Chicago documentation styles. This section features instructional videos that show you how to set up your papers in APA, MLA, and Chicago formats, interactive checklists, and visual support for both in-text documenting and referencing at the end of your paper.

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Welcome to The Writing Process!

In this step-by-step support area, you will find everything you need to know about writing a paper from start to finish.

Have you ever received a writing assignment, thought "this won't take long" and then stayed up all night writing the night before your assignment was due because it ended up taking a lot longer than you thought it would? If you have, you're not alone. Many beginning writers struggle to plan well when it comes to a writing assignment, and this results in writing that is just not as good as it could be. When you wait until the last minute and fail to engage in a good writing process, you're not doing your best work-even if you did "get all A's in high school" as a procrastinator.

Research on writing tells us that the best thing writers can do to improve their writing is improve their writing process! With that in mind, this area of the Excelsior OWL is going to take you through the steps of a thorough writing process-one that involves many stages that will help you become a better writer.

You will learn about the recursive nature of the writing process, and you'll be taken through each step of writing a paper with instruction, activities, and videos. With support for prewriting activities, you'll learn how to generate and organize your ideas, and with support for paragraph building, you'll learn how to turn those ideas into well-organized paragraphs. You'll also learn about how rhetoric can help make your writing stronger, and you can even get some advice from fellow students about what to expect in college writing courses. If you're writing a paper and need help with any of the steps along the way, The Writing Process area is here to help.

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The Writing Process - Excelsior College OWL

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In this step-by-step support area, you will find everything you need to know about writing a paper from start to finish. Have you ever received a writing assignment, thought "this won't take long" and then stayed up all night writing the night before your assignment was due because it ended up taking a lot longer than you thought it would?

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MLA stands for the Modern Language Association, and its style guidelines have been assisting authors since 1951. In 2016, the MLA Handbook introduced a template using core elements in an effort to simplify much of the documentation process in MLA format. In 2021, the ninth edition was expanded with considerably more content and visuals.

MLA Formatting: The Basics

Papers constructed according to MLA guidelines should adhere to the following elements:

Double-space all of the text of your paper (including entries within Works Cited).

Use a clear font between 11 and 13 points. One example is Times New Roman font.

Use one-inch margins on all sides and indent the first line of a paragraph one half-inch from the left margin.

Add a running head in the upper right-hand corner with your last name, a space, and then a page number. Pages should be numbered consecutively with Arabic numerals (1, 2, 3, 4, etc.), one-half inch from the top and flush with the right margin.

List your name, your instructor's name, the course, and the date double-spaced in the upper left-hand corner of the first page. This is your header. There is no cover page.

Center the title on the next double-spaced line after the header.

Provide in-text citations for all quoted, paraphrased, and summarized information in your paper.

Include an alphabetized Works Cited page at the end of your paper that gives full bibliographic information for each item cited in your paper.

If you use endnotes, include them on a separate page before your Works Cited page.

The following pages in this section will provide you with more information regarding MLA formatting, in-text citations, and the Works Cited entries. There are also three videos that give an overview of MLA formatting, in-text citations, and the Works Cited section. In addition, this section contains a practice activity as well as a page containing MLA sample papers. The information in this section follows the MLA Handbook, 9th edition. MLA guidelines do change over time, so it's important to be aware of the most current information. As always, follow the requirements of your teacher or professor; their requirements take precedence.

Image from https://www.mla.org/Publications/Bookstore/Nonseries/MLA-Handbook-Ninth-Edition

Modern Language Association of America. (2021). MLA Handbook (9th ed.).

NOTE: The 9th edition of the MLA Handbook was recently released. OWL staff are hard at work preparing updated content for the OWL. We expect that not all pages will be updated at once, but we will add new content incrementally. To avoid confusion during this transition period, please pay attention to the version that you are viewing. The version will be noted on every page. As always, please follow the guidelines in your course.

MLA stands for the Modern Language Association. Most papers that use MLA formatting and citation style are those written in the humanities, especially in languages and literature. In 2016, the MLA Handbook was updated in an effort to simplify much of the documentation process in MLA format.

MLA Formatting: The Basics

Papers constructed according to MLA guidelines should adhere to the following elements:

Double-space all of the text of your paper, and use a clear font, such as Times New Roman or Courier 12-point font.

Use one-inch margins on all sides, and indent the first line of a paragraph one half-inch from the left margin.

List your name, your instructor's name, the course, and the date in the upper left-hand corner of the first page. This is your heading. There is no cover page.

Type a header in the upper right-hand corner with your last name, a space, and then a page number. Pages should be numbered consecutively with Arabic numerals (1, 2, 3, 4, etc.), one-half inch from the top and flush with the right margin.

Provide in-text citations for all quoted, paraphrased, and summarized information in your paper.

Include a Works Cited page at the end of your paper that gives full bibliographic information for each item cited in your paper.

If you use endnotes, include them on a separate page before your Works Cited page.

Your Works Cited page at the end of your project should line up with the in-text citations in the body of your essay.

The following pages in this section will provide you with more information regarding MLA basic formatting, in-text citations, and the Works Cited entries. The information in this section follows the MLA Handbook, 8th edition. MLA guidelines do change over time, so it's important to be aware of the most current information.

The Modern Language Association of America. (2016). MLA handbook (8th ed.). The Modern Language Association of America.

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Excelsior OWL explains what MLA Style is and the guidelines a MLA style paper should adhere to. Learn more about MLA formatting today!

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This short video is meant to give students who are brand new to APA format some context and basic overview information about using APA format for college papers.

APA stands for the American Psychological Association, and APA format is the formatting style that many academic majors use to format their papers and cite sources within their papers.

There are three basic "parts" of APA that you should understand: There is the basic format of how you set up your paper for things like your cover page, margins, line spacing, etc. There is in-text citing, where you use citations within your paper to let your readers know where your source material comes from. Finally, there is the References list, where you list all of the publication information for any sources used within your paper.

We'll start with the overall formatting.

In the 7th edition of APA format, you should have a cover page that includes your title, your name, the name of your program and school, the name of your class, the name of your professor, and the date. You should also have the page number at the top right corner. Your page numbers should appear on every page.

You should begin your essay on the next page. Your margins should be 1 inch all the way around. You should use a clean, standard font, and you should double space your lines and single space after all punctuation. Be sure to indent by hitting tab for all new paragraphs.

Next, we will explore in-text citing.

It is important to remember that you must cite your sources within your text when you quote, summarize, and paraphrase information from your sources. This means, you must cite even information you put into your own words.

In APA, there are two basic structures for in-text citations-the narrative citation and the parenthetical citation.

The narrative citation is used when you mention the author or authors' last names within the sentence. In this kind of citation, the year citation is placed after the author or authors' last names, and any page or paragraph citations come at the end.

The parenthetical citation is used when you haven't mentioned the author or authors' names within the sentence. This citation includes the author or authors' last names, year, and page number if necessary for a direct quote.

Finally, we will take a look at a References page.

The References page is where you will provide full publication and retrieval information for your sources. The References page is presented in alphabetical order, and it is important to remember that your in-text citations must match up with your References.

APA provides guidelines for formatting each reference based on source type. Be sure to refer to the References section in the Excelsior OWL for more information about how to format your References.

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Excelsior's Online Writing Lab highlights how to write papers in APA format and the elements needed to write a cohesive paper.

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Examples of Essays, MLA, etc.

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Find, evaluate, and integrate sources for a research paper.

Review the research process.

Narrow your argument and write effectively for your audience.

Learn effective research strategies to find and evaluate sources.

Take notes and create an outline.

Integrate sources into your writing.

Produce a literature review or an annotated bibliography.

Go to Research

Practice your grammar and punctuation skills to help you write clearly.

Understand parts of speech and how they work together.

Learn the "rules" for all types of punctuation.

Practice your skills with interactive quizzes.

Review the 20 most common errors college writers make.

Save yourself with Grammar Essentials

Learn to avoid plagiarism when you write with sources.

Understand what different kinds of plagiarism are.

Learn about the potential consequences of plagiarism.

Practice avoiding plagiarism and providing proper documentation for borrowed information.

Take pre and post tests to test your knowledge.

Learn to Avoid Plagiarism

Complete modules to practice your writing skills.

Take modules to practice writing skills like grammar and APA citation.

Download a summary report for proof of completion.

Begin The Writing Refresher

The Reading Lab is the first completely free, comprehensive, online open education resource for college-level reading. It offers a variety of multimedia materials-instructional videos, online exercises, and handouts.
Go to the Reading Lab

Find all sorts of goodies for educators at all levels.

Build your own custom OWL with the Owlet tool.

Learn how to use the Excelsior OWL in writing classes and in classes across the curriculum.

Discover about how to integrate the Excelsior OWL into traditional, hybrid, flipped, and online classes.

Find our more information about how the Excelsior OWL connects to the Written Communication VALUE Rubric.

Discover our Educator Resources

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The Excelsior Online Writing Lab (OWL) is an award-winning online writing lab resource for writers at Excelsior college and across the globe.

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OSLIS is a K-12 web portal providing access to quality licensed databases
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OSLIS is a project of the Oregon Association of School Libraries in partnership with the State Library of Oregon
and is supported by the Institute of Museum and Library Services through a LSTA grant.

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OSLIS is a K-12 web portal providing access to quality licensed databaseswithin an information literacy framework. Learn more... OSLIS is a project of the Oregon Association of School Libraries in partnership with the State Library of Oregon and is supported by the Institute of Museum and Library Services through a LSTA grant.

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We are a globally renowned resource that provides assistance with English to students, teachers, professionals, and organizations across the world. Our goal is to assist clients in their development as writers - no matter their skill level.

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Purdue OWL® - Purdue OWL® - Purdue University

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We are a globally renowned resource that provides assistance with English to students, teachers, professionals, and organizations across the world. Our goal is to assist clients in their development as writers - no matter their skill level.

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Writing Templates, Examples, Video Tutorials

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Writing Templates, Examples, Video Tutorials

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