PCEF Scholarship Application Essay GUIDELINES & TIPS – 2022
The PCEF scholarship application has two required essays that all applicants must complete. Additionally, there are other scholarship essays required by specific scholarships.
If you wish, you may choose to submit video essays on certain essay prompts. If submitting a video is an option, you will see (W) for written and (V) for video next to the essay prompt.
Generally speaking, effective essays are emotionally honest and give insight into who the applicant is as a person. They illustrate genuine motivation and goals, rather than superficial or heavy-handed interest in issues or accomplishments that students THINK we want them to care about.
Scholarship essays are used to help the selection committee get to know you better, and to further prove your eligibility for the award. You don’t have to be the best writer to receive a scholarship award. Crafting a thoughtful and honest essay is possible if you take the time to reflect on how the essay question relates to you.
If you wish, you may choose to submit video essays on certain essay prompts. If submitting a video is an option, you will see (W) for written and (V) for video next to the essay prompt.
Generally speaking, effective essays are emotionally honest and give insight into who the applicant is as a person. They illustrate genuine motivation and goals, rather than superficial or heavy-handed interest in issues or accomplishments that students THINK we want them to care about.
Scholarship essays are used to help the selection committee get to know you better, and to further prove your eligibility for the award. You don’t have to be the best writer to receive a scholarship award. Crafting a thoughtful and honest essay is possible if you take the time to reflect on how the essay question relates to you.
PCEF ESSAY GUIDELINES
Written Essays - Must be written by the applicant!
Video Essays – Must be at least 30 seconds and no longer than 2 minutes per essay video.
Consider these tips as you work on this section of your application:
Video Essays – Must be at least 30 seconds and no longer than 2 minutes per essay video.
Consider these tips as you work on this section of your application:
- As you begin working on the essays, thoughtfully consider what the essay question is asking.
- Develop an outline about what you plan to discuss. Consider an introduction, body with main points, and conclusions.
- Use your voice and be honest. Help the committee feel like they can get to know you.
- Aim to showcase your strengths, passions, and personality. Your GPA and extracurriculars are well-documented elsewhere. Essays are your opportunity to go in-depth on one or two of your accomplishments.
- Watch your word choice. Big words don’t impress a scholarship committee. They’re more concerned with content, spelling, and grammar than word choice. This includes eliminating any buzzwords or slang.
- PROOFREAD – ask a friend, teacher, parent, anyone! Rewrite and revise as needed. Make sure your essay is free of any grammatical or spelling errors.