Scholarship Application Tips by Izy Fernandez https://padlet.com/mfernandez306/e3l1coi40hhehpax Some tips for applicants of the Ismael R. Fernandez Memorial Scholarship. Most of these Tips can be applied to other scholarships. en-us 2021-07-22 01:23:55 UTC 2026-02-16 17:29:13 UTC hello@padlet.com https://padlet.net/icons/png/1f4bb.png Tip#1 : Focus Effort into Your Essay mfernandez306 https://padlet.com/mfernandez306/e3l1coi40hhehpax/wish/1657689836 Of course it is important to make sure every bit of your scholarship application is neat, but your essay is important for us to give us insight into your reasoning skills and motivations.

Here is a rubric to help guide your writing.]]> 2021-07-22 01:26:27 UTC https://padlet.com/mfernandez306/e3l1coi40hhehpax/wish/1657689836 Tip #2: Don't Summarize your Resume in your Essay. mfernandez306 https://padlet.com/mfernandez306/e3l1coi40hhehpax/wish/1657693909 It's important to understand that every document we ask for serves a specific purpose:
  • Transcripts or Acceptance Letters are used to determine if you are eligible to apply. 
  • Resumes give us a better picture of your involvement in your community inside and outside of school
  • Character references are supposed to help us get to know your character, background, and personality.
  • The Essay gives us insight into what you are passionate about, how you reason and analyze, and how committed and active you are in reaching your goals.
So if you decide to use your essay to list or elaborate on your resume, you are missing a key component of the application and are not allowing us to get a better picture of who you are.
]]> 2021-07-22 01:29:03 UTC https://padlet.com/mfernandez306/e3l1coi40hhehpax/wish/1657693909 Tip #3: Pick a Problem you are actually passionate about. mfernandez306 https://padlet.com/mfernandez306/e3l1coi40hhehpax/wish/1657714666 The problem does not have to be a global issue. We would welcome an essay where a student speaks on creating style classes on natural hair to combat negative beauty standards just as much as an essay offering solutions to improving the availability of medical care to rural communities.

We want to know what gets you fired up to take on the world! Don't feel pressured into writing about something you have little interest in or that you don't know much about. 

What we want to see in the essays is whether: 
  • You can identify and summarize a problem clearly.
  • You can offer a reasonable and doable solution to the issue
  • The issue is important to you and you have looked into it more than once
  • You have already taken little steps to alleviate the problem or towards preparing yourself to help solve it

Just keep your essay honest and true to your interests.
]]> 2021-07-22 01:41:11 UTC https://padlet.com/mfernandez306/e3l1coi40hhehpax/wish/1657714666 Tip #4: Do not Write to Fill up space. mfernandez306 https://padlet.com/mfernandez306/e3l1coi40hhehpax/wish/1657757028 Why use five sentences to say something you can say in one sentence? You don't have to try to fit a whole bunch of information into one sentence. Just make sure to get rid of redundant statements, Don't throw in adjectives and adverbs for decoration, and make every word count.

Example:
Wordy--
I am extremely passionate about the issue of keeping our city litter free. It is a huge problem, especially in large cities like Portland. In Portland I have seen people throwing their garbage on the street or along the Max Line rails. Littering is a more complex issue that is affected by the issue of homelessness. People without homes often contribute to the problem of littering as homeless people often leave bottles, carts, or tattered material wherever then set up. I think if we first address homelessness as best as we can and then implement small changes to the city, such as adding more public garbage cans in dirtier parts of the city, we can help solve this issue.

Better--
In Portland, litter is a threat to the cleanliness of the city and the natural areas within and surrounding it. The issue is complex and is entangled with issues like homelessness, but small changes, such as adding more public garbage cans in areas with large populations of homeless people or with more litter, can help alleviate the problem.]]> 2021-07-22 02:06:04 UTC https://padlet.com/mfernandez306/e3l1coi40hhehpax/wish/1657757028 Tip#5: Don't Be Discouraged by Grades mfernandez306 https://padlet.com/mfernandez306/e3l1coi40hhehpax/wish/1657793246 Transcripts (AKA your Grades) are only used to determine eligibility.

I repeat, transcripts are only used to determine eligibility. You only need a 2.5 GPA to be eligible. You are not a less competitive applicant for this scholarship if you have a lower GPA than another applicant. Our scholarship board is mostly concerned with your commitment and involvement in your community (school, work, church, other programs and organizations) and how well you can articulate and demonstrate your motivation to address and solve a problem.

If you still are worried about it then, instead of a transcript, you can submit an acceptance letter from your chosen college. If you apply early enough many colleges and universities send out acceptance letters between January and March. ]]> 2021-07-22 02:29:55 UTC https://padlet.com/mfernandez306/e3l1coi40hhehpax/wish/1657793246