<p>I am applying for a scholarship awarded to academic top students. i am doing pretty well in my classess and i even received math cup from school last year but i didnt do anything spectacular in sports, so what should i involved in my essay about why should i receive this scholarship rather than other canddidates ? Do i need to mention anything about sports ?
thanx~</p>
<p>Umm...if it says ACADEMIC TOP STUDENTS, I doubt sports is of matter.</p>
<p>If some example essay is available, and it shows sports as one of the categories listed just make up some excuse you were too busy ________ over sports.</p>
<p>Extra curricular activities are e.c.a. No need to worry.</p>
<p>Jess, let me see if I can give you some insight that might help you shape your essay. I am assuming that this scholarship also has an application where you can list your activities and achievements. Instead of focusing on your achievements and activities, why don't you focus on the motivation behind them? If you can channel this theme of positive character change towards high achievement through your essay (and application), you will be able to answer the question on a deeper level and at the same time show the scholarship selection committee why they should award the scholarship to you. Does that make sense? </p>
<p>Here's the logic: you'll probably be one of hundreds and maybe thousands of students who will be applying for this scholarship. Do you think they choose solely on what you've achieved? You may have great achievements within your school and community. However, those components (your grades, test scores, achievements, etc.) do not define who you are. Your essay should tell the judges something they cannot find by glancing at your application. Your achievements should really just be support for your application. You can, and you should, use them to enhance your reason for applying for this scholarship. So think hard about your reason for achieving good grades and participating in ECs (not just that you wanted to look good for applying to colleges). </p>
<p>I can tell you the most powerful essays are not the ones that talk about a student's achievements and involvements but rather ones about character change for the better through certain experiences and realizations. Then that's when you can use your achievements to support your essay, although the best essays are ones that are powerful without having to mention achievements. I would suggest thinking about answering this question on a deeper level by telling the judges something about you. That is the key: your essay needs to be personal. If they can take your essay, swap it with another random essay in their pile of applications, and the essay still fits with that application (albeit with different activities), then it's not personal. So make it personal by showing who you are, but at the same time, don't forget to answer the question.</p>
<p>I hope this helps. Good luck!</p>