How to win scholarships for English majors
As an English major, you know that different occasions call for different writing styles. Academic papers, works of fiction, and newspaper articles all use different tones and dictions to achieve their goals. This is also true of scholarship essays! We can help you tailor your writing to stand out among other scholarship essays with a few guides we’ve put together.
These guides include how to start a scholarship essay, how to write a winning scholarship essay, and how to respond to a “Why do you deserve this scholarship?” prompt. We can also help you through writing a 250 word and a 500 word essay. Finally, don’t miss our guide on how to write an essay about yourself.
Don’t forget self-reflection!
Remember before even sitting down to write your essay, your first step should be to do some self-reflection. Without concerning yourself with formatting, elegance, or succinctness, write down some general ideas about what the study of English means to you. Jot down some past experiences, what they demonstrate about your potential and character, and some goals for the future. Fit your studies into this trajectory and conceptualize your education as a means toward an end.
Once you’ve done this, you’re already halfway there! Now, your ideas are solidified, and all that remains is to package them into a powerful, succinct essay. You can focus on that task rather than trying to perfect your writing at the same time as you come up with your ideas.
Also see: Top writing summer programs for high school students
Resources for English majors
English majors enjoy the privilege of a wide variety of career options upon graduation. One of the best ways to find out which field is for you is by investigating different professional organizations. We’ve compiled a list of a few professional organizations here for jobs commonly held by English majors:
- National Council of Teachers of English
- American Society of Journalists and Authors
- Investigative Reporters and Editors
- Public Relations Society of America
- American Association of Advertising Agencies
- Rhetoric Society of America
- Linguistic Society of America
Additional scholarship opportunities
While you are searching for scholarships for English majors, also check out essay and writing scholarships as well. We have lists of scholarships for high school seniors, easy scholarships to apply for, scholarships for journalism majors, scholarships for women, and scholarships for Black students.
Frequently asked questions about scholarships for English majors
Do any colleges offer scholarships for creative writing?
Are English majors worth it?
Since you are either planning to or already majoring in English, we assume you enjoy writing. Our list of scholarships for writers should come in handy.
Join for exclusive scholarships, personalized matching, and application tracking. 0% Spam, 100% Free.
📝Sample Essay from a Scholarship Winner
Here's a winning scholarship essay from Autumn G, who won our "Pen to Paper" Scholarship for Storytellers. Read the essay below and keep scrolling for some commentary on what made Eno's essay a winner.
Prompt: [Note: Please only respond to 1 of the following 3 prompts] 1. If you were a superhero, what would your superpower be? What would be your weakness? 2. Write a short story using the following three words as a foundation – (1) friendship, (2) abrupt, (3) repair 3. Describe a day in the life of an inanimate object.
Essay
Another night wraps around me like an old blanket. Surrounded by other forgotten hunks of metal, a low sigh of silence floats between us. Been at least half a year since we were last in use, though I didn't keep track, not like the screwdrivers did. I spent my time in quiet wonderin' if I'd done somethin' wrong. I reckon I did complain 'bout my job quite a bit. Slamming down onto things with the back of my head often had me groanin' 'bout how tough my work was; it seemed more rigorous than what my coworkers faced. But it gave me a purpose, a kind of joy knowin' I was the main link between things. Anyhow, we'd been locked up too long, stuck in one spot like we might be there forever. That is, until my sulking was interrupted by a younger man's voice. Not the one I'd grown used to, but a voice that boomed right above us. And just like that, there was light. The cramped space that'd been dusted over could finally breathe easy. Now that I saw the voice-holder, he couldn't have been more than 30. The young man spoke softly with a kind face. "Dad's old tools," he hummed with a mighty tight smile. "They're all yours now, dear," his mother assured. And just like that, the mournful dread sunk, but the days of useless worry were over.
Why it worked
This essay pulls off a lot in just a few words. It manages to show, not tell that the narrator is a hammer, and communicate a history and future for the narrator, as well as the narrator's feelings about this change in its life. By using a strong voice and a folksy affect, it matches the piece's tone to its sentiment. Great work, Autumn!
Will Geiger
Scholarships360 Co-Founder, Former Admissions Officer