How to answer the "How would this award help you?" question

<p>My university is offering several major-specific scholarships that require me to answer the following essay question:</p>

<p>How would receiving a scholarship help you move towards accomplishing your educational or career goals?</p>

<p>I admit that I am weak with this prompt; I don’t really know where to begin. To me, it seems that this question type is biased toward essays that detail financial need. If I am wrong, and I hope I am, how can I answer this question without talking about financial need?</p>

<p>Do you mean that you do NOT have financial need, so you are trying to think of another way to say the scholarship will help? Or that you DO have financial need, but want to approach the essay in a new way?</p>

<p>Talk about your career goals and the literal price of them. Though you may not have financial need, you just got to run with what you have. Despite my lack of financial need, I was able to win a scholarship that asked this question.</p>

<p>Just make it concise and straight to the point. Don't mention your personal finances. Focus on everything else. If you're still unsure, just PM. =]</p>

<p>Why on earth are you applying for a scholarship if you</p>

<p>a) haven't got any need</p>

<p>and </p>

<p>b) haven't got any educational or career goals</p>

<p>???</p>

<p>The answer to the prompt goes something like this:</p>

<p>This money will let me take an unpaid internship rather than having to work at McDonalds.</p>

<p>or</p>

<p>This money will let me do a special program of study that I couldn't otherwise afford.</p>

<p>then</p>

<p>This internship/special program of study will enhance my educational/professional preparation in the following way.</p>

<p>then</p>

<p>Give specific information about just exactly what you are going to do in that wonderful internship and how it relates to your chosen profession </p>

<p>or </p>

<p>Give specific details about just exactly what you are going to do in that special program of study that will allow you to bring more to your academic program, and consequently enhance the learning experience of your fellow students.</p>

<p>Good luck!</p>

<p>fabrizio: when I went back to school (5 years ago) I had that same prompt for an "outside" scholarship, and discussed my desire to have a laptop as a method of being able to do work without being chained to my home. There are many things that even a small amount of money can help you with. You've been offered some great ideas, now get cracking and apply yourself!</p>

<p>Thanks for all the responses. I think I have a good idea of where to begin now.</p>