Gen Tanabe - How to Write a Winning Scholarship Essay: 30 Essays That Won Over $3 Million in Scholarships

How To wRITe a wInnIng scHolaRsHIp essay IncludIng 30 essays THaT won oveR $3 mIllIon In scHolaRsHIps You can win or lose a scholarship with your essay.Learn how to write an essay that wins.Step-by-step instructions on how to craft a winningscholarship essay and ace the interview.Get valuable advice from actual scholarship judgesand winners.This book is a must have for high school and collegestudents who want to learn how to win scholarships.Gen and Kelly Tanabe Harvard graduates and award-winning authors of Get Into Any CollegeGet Free Cash for College1001 Ways to Pay for College Special contributions by Gregory James Yee Critical Acclaim for How to Write a Winning Scholarship Essay By Gen and Kelly Tanabe This how-to book is full of good advice for college-bound students. Thirty essays with brief introductory notes give teens concrete ex amples of what works. Twelve essays that bombed are also analyzed, pointing out pitfalls to avoid. Examples of interview questions and answers are also included. An excellent guide for all students who are hoping to continue their education. Bookwatch, Midwest Book Review Sound advice for the college bound and useful for counselors as well as for libraries. Paula Rohrlick, KLIATT Praise for Other Books by Gen and Kelly Tanabe Authors of Get into Any College, Get Free Cash for College and Accepted! 50 Successful College Admission Essays Upbeat, well-organized and engaging, this comprehensive tool is an exceptional investment for the college-bound. Publishers Weekly Upbeat tone and clear, practical advice. Book News Whats even better than all the top-notch tips is that the book is writ ten in a cool, conversational way. College Bound Magazine Invaluable information ranging from the elimination of admission myths to successfully tapping into scholarship funds. College Bound Magazine Invaluable information ranging from the elimination of admission myths to successfully tapping into scholarship funds.

Leonard Banks, The Journal Press A present for anxious parents. Mary Kaye Ritz, The Honolulu Advertiser When you consider the costs of a four-year college or university education nowadays, think about forking out (the price) for this little gem written and produced by two who know. Don Denevi, Palo Alto Daily News The Tanabes literally wrote the book on the topic. Bull & Bear Financial Report Filled with student-tested strategies.Pam Costa, Santa Clara Vision The first book to feature the strategies and stories of real students. New Jersey Spectator Leader iv How to Write a Winning Scholarship Essay How to write a winning scholarship essay By Gen and Kelly Tanabe Published by SuperCollege, LLC 3286 Oak Court Belmont, CA 94002 650-618-2221 www.supercollege.com Copyright 2009 by SuperCollege, LLC. Previous editions: Copyright 2006, 2002 under the title: Money-Winning Scholarship Essays and Interviews All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the written permission of SuperCollege. This book is protected under International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions. credits: Cover design by TLC Graphics, www.TLCGraphics.com. Design: Monica Thomas. All essays in this book are used with the permission of their authors. Trademarks: All brand names, product names and services used in this book are trademarks, registered trademarks or tradenames of their respective holders.

SuperCollege is not associated with any college, university, product or vendor. disclaimers: The authors and publisher have used their best efforts in preparing this book. It is intended to provide helpful and informative material on the subject matter. Some narratives and names have been modified for illustrative purposes. SuperCollege and the authors make no representations or warranties with respect to the accuracy or completeness of the contents of the book and specifically disclaim any implied warranties or merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose. There are no warranties which extend beyond the descriptions contained in this paragraph.

The accuracy and completeness of the information provided herein and the opinions stated herein are not guaranteed or warranted to produce any particular results. SuperCollege and the authors specifically disclaim any responsibility for any liability, loss or risk, personal or otherwise, which is incurred as a consequence, directly or indirectly, of the use and application of any of the contents of this book. ISBN13: 978-1-932662-37-5 Manufactured in the United States of America 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Tanabe, Gen S. How to write a winning scholarship essay / by Gen and Kelly Tanabe. p. cm.

ISBN 978-1-932662-37-5 (alk. paper) 1. Scholarships. 2. College applications--United States. 3.

Universities and colleges--United States--Admission. 4. Exposition (Rhetoric) I. Tanabe, Kelly Y. II. Title.

LB2338.T363 2009 808.066378--dc22 2009026470 Contents at a Glance v conTenTs aT a glance vi How to Write a Winning Scholarship Essay Table of conTenTs Table of Contents vii The life-changing voyage / 135 viii How to Write a Winning Scholarship Essay Table of Contents ix A directory of select awards and scholarships that appear in this book including information on how to apply. The best resources on the Internet to help with scholarships and financial aid. x How to Write a Winning Scholarship Essay Special FeaTUReS Stories & Advice from Winners & Judges These stories of success and failure from students and advice from judges and experts are both entertaining and enlightening. Judges Roundtable: Chapters 3 - 7 - 10 We sat down with judges and experts from around the country to find out what it takes to win a scholarship. Read their frank advice on what students have done right and wrong. Dedication xi This book would not have been possible without the selfless contributions of scholarship winners, judges and experts.

They gave their time and shared their knowledge for your benefit. We would like to recognize the special contributions made by Gregory James Yee. We dedicate this book to all of the people who helped to make it possible. And to you, our dear reader, we hope you will use these lessons to create your own winning scholarship essays. xii How to Write a Winning Scholarship Essay CHAPTER ONEThe SecReT Towinning aScholaRShipIn this chapter:Why you are 60 seconds awayfrom the trash binHow your essay or interviewwill make or break your chances ofwinning a scholarshipWhy you can win even withoutstraight AsWho we are and why we know somuch about winning scholarships How to Write a Winning Scholarship Essay You Are 60 Seconds Away from the Trash Bin If you witnessed the judging of a scholarship competition, youd be surprised at how quickly decisions are made. Its not unusual for scholar ship judges to decide in less than 60 seconds whether your application advances to the next round or gets tossed into the rejection pile.

With so little time, how do you capture the attention of these discrimi nating judges and improve your chances of winning? For most competi tions the secret is in your essay or interview. These give the judges the insight they need to separate the winners from the runners-up. If you are like the majority of scholarship applicants, you probably arent sure what makes an essay or interview a winner. And how would you know? Its unlikely that you have access to dozens of past scholarship winners who can share their experiences and show you their winning essays and interview answers. And it is even more un likely that youve had the opportunity to speak with actual scholarship judges who can tell you exactly what qualities cause a candidate to stand out as a winner. now you can have this advantage. now you can have this advantage.