Crafting Your Essay for the Freddi L. Greenberg Scholarship

Brainstorming Across the Four Buckets

Organize your thoughts by considering the four material buckets:

• Background: Reflect on your personal history, family influences, and formative experiences that shaped your educational journey. What challenges have you faced, and how have they influenced your goals?
• Achievements: Identify key accomplishments in academics, extracurricular activities, or community service. Use specific metrics or outcomes to illustrate your impact, such as leadership roles or projects you spearheaded.
• The Gap: Assess what you currently lack in your educational or professional journey. Why is further study at Loyola University Chicago essential for you? Be honest about your aspirations and how this scholarship will help bridge the gap.
• Personality: Share personal anecdotes that reveal your values, interests, and motivations. This is your chance to humanize your application and connect with the committee on a personal level.

Creating an Outline

Once you have gathered your material, create a structured outline. Each section of your essay should focus on a specific idea, progressing logically through your narrative:

1. Introduction: Start with a compelling moment or scene that captures your reader's attention.
2. Background: Provide context about your journey and the influences that have shaped you.
3. Achievements: Highlight your key accomplishments, using specific examples and metrics.
4. The Gap: Discuss your educational and professional goals, and explain how the scholarship will help you achieve them.
5. Personality: Conclude with insights into your character, values, and future aspirations.

Drafting Voice and Style

When drafting your essay, maintain an active voice and focus on clarity. Avoid clichés and vague statements; instead, provide concrete details that illustrate your points. Each paragraph should convey one main idea, with clear transitions that guide the reader through your narrative.

Revision & “So What?”

After drafting, take a break before revising. As you edit, ask yourself, “So what?” for each section. Ensure that your reflections convey personal growth and insight. This is your opportunity to demonstrate why your experiences matter and how they have prepared you for future challenges.

Common Pitfalls to Avoid

Be mindful of these common mistakes:

• Avoid starting with generic statements or clichés. Instead, engage the reader with a specific moment.
• Steer clear of vague expressions of passion. Instead, provide evidence of your commitment through specific examples.
• Do not use passive voice when an active subject exists. This will strengthen your writing and make it more engaging.