Introduction
For more than 50 years, the Mensa Foundation has advanced its mission to nurture and support intelligence for the benefit of humanity through awards, research, and community programs. Our scholarship program is one way we help students take their next step.
Each year, thousands of applicants share their goals and stories. A dedicated team of volunteer judges—many of them Mensa members themselves—reads and scores every submission before making recommendations to the Foundation’s scholarship committee. These judges are passionate about helping students succeed, and they know what makes an essay stand out.
We asked them to share their best advice, and their insights ranged from practical to inspiring. While every essay is unique, the strongest ones share some common qualities. Here are the top 10 tips from our judges.
1. Address the Prompt Clearly and Early
Make sure your essay directly answers the question you’re being asked. Don’t make the reader dig for it—state your answer clearly by the end of your introduction. Great writing can’t save an essay that doesn’t answer the prompt.
2. Be Specific About Your Goals and Accomplishments
Generalities don’t impress. Specifics do. Instead of saying you want to “help people,” explain how: “I plan to become a Special Education teacher, building on my child development coursework, my volunteer work in adaptive swim lessons, and my leadership in the Best Buddies club.”
3. Make It Personal and Authentic
Judges read hundreds of essays, and the ones that feel human rise to the top. Share moments that shaped your path, whether big or small. Avoid writing what you think a “perfect” essay should sound like—let your real voice come through.
4. Think Deeply and Reflect
Don’t just tell us what you did—tell us why it mattered. What did you learn? How did it change your perspective or shape your future plans? Essays that connect actions to meaning leave a lasting impression.
5. Use a Clear Structure
Keep it organized. Introduce your main idea, use body paragraphs to tell your story, and finish with a conclusion that ties it all together. Paragraph breaks are essential—nobody wants to read a wall of text.
6. Follow Every Instructio
Brilliant essays get tossed if they break the rules. Stick to the word limit, respect formatting requirements, and avoid including your name or identifying details if anonymity is required. Every instruction matters.
7. Proofread (Then Proofread Again)
Even small typos can distract from your message. Read your essay out loud. Print it out. Ask multiple people to review it—maybe a supportive teacher, a critical reader, and someone who doesn’t know you well. Fresh eyes catch mistakes you might miss.
8. Keep It Focused
Don’t try to cram your entire life story into one page. Choose one main goal or theme and stick with it. A focused essay is stronger than a scattered one.
9. Be Careful When Reusing Essays
Scholarship prompts may look similar, but reusing essays without editing is risky. If your essay doesn’t fit the new prompt perfectly, it will feel generic and insincere. Take time to revise—or start fresh.
10. Show Confidence (Not Desperation)
Judges want to support students who have a clear plan, a sense of purpose, and the drive to follow through. Confidence is compelling; desperation is not. Focus on your path forward, not just your obstacles.
Bonus Tip: Don’t Use AI to Write Your Essay
AI can’t replace your voice. Judges can tell when an essay isn’t human-written—it feels flat and impersonal. Scholarship essays should reflect your authentic thoughts, experiences, and goals. Use your own words, always.
Conclusion
If you’ve made it this far, you’re already showing the care and effort that set strong essays apart. As you prepare your scholarship application, remember:
- Start early.
- Prepare diligently.
- Write honestly.
- Proofread relentlessly.
- Follow every instruction.
- Keep going, even if you don’t win right away.
The Mensa Foundation’s scholarship program thrives thanks to the passion and generosity of our community. If you’re a student, we encourage you to apply. If you’re inspired by the process, consider volunteering as a judge or donating to support the Foundation’s mission of investing in intelligence, education, and opportunity.
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