How to write good essays for the Mastercard Foundation Scholarship

Summary

This webinar transcript offers guidance on crafting compelling postgraduate scholarship essays, emphasizing recent achievements linked to climate change and sustainability. It advises applicants to demonstrate leadership, quantify their impact, and reflect on their experiences. The discussion also addresses demonstrating financial need without seeming desperate and the importance of connecting past experiences to future goals in the essay.

Takeaways

• 📘 Postgraduate applicants should focus on recent experiences and achievements rather than high school or early life events.
• 🌿 Scholarships are centered on climate change and sustainability, and applicants should show how their skills can be applied to these themes.
• 🔗 It's important to demonstrate a link between one's experiences and the issues of climate change or sustainability, even if the work was in a different field.
• 💡 Leadership should be interpreted broadly, encompassing any situation where one has influenced others or brought about change, not just formal positions.
• 🏆 Postgraduate level applicants are expected to show concrete achievements rather than just interests or aspirations.
• 🔎 Strong applications should provide a broader context for achievements, rather than focusing on small-scale examples.
• 📊 Quantifying achievements with numbers can help convey the scale and impact of one's work.
• 🌟 Reflective capacity is crucial; applicants should be able to articulate what they learned from their experiences and how their understanding evolved.
• 📝 The essay should tell a cohesive story, connecting past experiences, current activities, and future plans in a logical and compelling manner.
• 🚫 Common pitfalls include essays with many mistakes, lack of specificity about why a particular degree program is chosen, and an overemphasis on the desire to study abroad rather than the program itself.

Q & A

What is the general expectation for applicants applying for postgraduate study in terms of their experiences discussed in their applications?

Applicants should focus on experiences later in life, preferably during or after their undergraduate studies, rather than high school or earlier. The experiences should ideally be linked to the themes of climate change and sustainability, even if not directly related.

How important is it for an applicant's work or study to be directly related to climate change and sustainability when applying for these scholarships?

While having a direct connection to climate change and sustainability is helpful, it's not essential. What's important is demonstrating how an applicant's skills and experiences can be applied to these issues.

Can leadership be demonstrated in contexts outside of formal positions like being the president of an organization?

Yes, leadership can be interpreted broadly and demonstrated in various contexts, including instances where an applicant has influenced others and brought about change without necessarily holding a formal position.

What does the term 'demonstrated achievement' mean in the context of postgraduate scholarship applications?

It refers to tangible actions and accomplishments that applicants have achieved, rather than just interests or aspirations. It's about showing what they have actually done, particularly in relation to the themes of the scholarship.

Why is it beneficial to put one's work in a broader context when writing an application essay?

Putting work in a broader context helps to convey the scale and impact of an applicant's achievements, making the essay more compelling and giving a clearer picture of the applicant's capabilities.

How can applicants effectively quantify their achievements in their essays?

Applicants can quantify their achievements by using numbers, such as the number of people influenced, attendees at an event, or the scale of a project in terms of time or budget.

What is the significance of reflecting on one's experiences in the application essay?

Reflection shows the applicant's ability to learn from their experiences, understand the impact of their work, and how their perspectives or approaches may have evolved as a result.

Can you explain the STAR method mentioned in the script for structuring an application essay?

The STAR method stands for Situation, Task, Action, and Result. It's a structured way to describe a specific scenario, the challenges faced, the actions taken, and the outcomes achieved.

How should applicants address their financial needs in the scholarship application without appearing to beg?

Applicants should focus on describing the challenges they faced in accessing education and how they overcame these barriers, demonstrating their resilience and the necessity of the scholarship for their studies.

What is the importance of linking past experiences, current activities, and future plans in an application essay?

Linking these elements provides a coherent narrative that showcases the applicant's journey, growth, and how the scholarship fits into their broader goals and aspirations.

How can applicants avoid common pitfalls in their essays, such as lack of clarity or appearing desperate for the scholarship?

Applicants should ensure their essays are well-prepared, free of errors, clearly explain their interest in the specific degree program, and convey a sense of having other opportunities, thus maintaining a balance between ambition and realism.