Intro
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. We believe that supporting intelligence at every stage of life fosters both personal and professional growth, and we’re committed to creating opportunities to make that possible.
Our scholarship program is one way we help students take that next step. Each year, thousands of applicants share their goals and stories, and a team of volunteer judges reads and scores every submission before making recommendations to the Mensa Foundation’s scholarship committee. Our judges, many of them Mensa members themselves, are passionate about helping students succeed, and in keeping with the Foundation’s mission, we asked them to reflect on what makes a scholarship essay stand out.
Unsurprisingly they had a lot to say, and their advice ranged from the practical to the inspiring. Some common themes emerged: the best essays, our judges say, show care in their work and authenticity in their voice. They tell a concise yet cohesive story that makes a judge excited to give them an award. Read on for their top 10 tips to make your scholarship essay stand out.
Address the essay prompt clearly and early
Make sure your essay actually answers the question you’re being asked. Don’t make the reader dig for it. Spell it out early and directly, ideally by the end of your introduction. You can always build from there, but your answer should be crystal clear right away. “Great writing can’t save an essay that doesn’t answer the question.”
Be specific about your goals and accomplishments
“Everyone wants to save the world. Be specific.” Tell us how, where, and why. If your goal is to be a Special Education teacher, mention the child development classes you’ve taken, your volunteer work with the adaptive swim lessons at your local YMCA, and how you’ve already joined the Best Buddies club at your college. Not only does this show you’ve given serious thought to your area of study, but it also makes for a more compelling read as well.
Make your essay personal and authentic
Scholarship judges read a lot of essays, and the ones that feel human are the ones that stand out. We’re not looking for a laundry list of accomplishments or a dramatic life story. “We want to know the real you, not your resume in disguise.” Think about moments, big or small, that helped shape how you see your future and include them in your essay. Don’t just write what you think a “smart” essay should sound like – let your voice and personality shine through.
Think deeply, and reflect that in your writing
“Help me understand your thought process, not just your accomplishments.” Judges want to see not just what you’ve done, but why it mattered to you. What did you learn from that volunteer experience, leadership role, or challenge you faced? How did it shape your thinking, your values, or your future plans? Strong essays connect actions to meaning and show that you’ve taken time to reflect. That depth of thought is powerful (and memorable).
Use a clear structure
You don’t need to be fancy, but you should be organized. The five-paragraph essay is a classic for a reason. Start with an introduction that addresses the essay prompt, use the body to tell your story, and finish with a conclusion that ties it all together. Make sure each part supports your main idea. And definitely use paragraphs – “a wall of text is an automatic red flag,” one of our judges said.
Follow every instruction, every time
“Brilliant essays get tossed simply because they don’t follow the rules.” It sounds basic, but it’s critical. A strong essay that breaks a rule, even a small one, can be disqualified. Our scholarship program, for example, requires all essays to be anonymous, and our judges reject hundreds of essays every year because the writer included their name or other identifying information. Stick to the word limit, answer all parts of the prompt, and follow every instruction exactly.
Proofread (then proofread again)
Even a single typo or grammar slip can distract from your message. Clean, polished writing makes a strong impression and shows you take this seriously. Remember, spell-check won’t catch everything. True story: I once reviewed an essay where the writer said their goal was to immolate (not emulate) Gandhi. Print your essay out. Read it out loud. In fact, one of our judges suggests giving your essay to three proofreaders: “an English teacher who likes you, an English teacher who hates you, and a complete stranger.”
Keep it focused
“Trying to cram your whole life story into one page usually means none of it sticks.” Limit yourself to one clear goal and one main story or theme that supports it. Rambling essays lose impact. Stay on message, and make every sentence earn its place. If something you’ve included doesn’t connect to your goal or show us something important about you, it probably doesn’t belong in the essay. If you’re struggling to identify threads or themes to use in your essays, try brainstorming with tools like the College Essay Guy’s Values Exercise, Essence Objects, Feelings and Needs, 21 Details, or 100 Brave and Interesting Questions.
Exercise caution when reusing an essay
It’s common to see similar prompts across scholarships and college applications, and it can be tempting to reuse the same essay. It may save you time to recycle an essay you’ve already written, but you’ll be wasting your time if you don’t edit your paper to fit the requirements for each scholarship. If your essay doesn’t clearly match the prompt, skips required information, or feels too generic, it sends a message: you didn’t take the submission seriously. Always read the instructions closely. Reflect on what’s being asked, review what you’ve written, and revise accordingly. If it’s not a great fit, write something new.
Show you’re serious (but not desperate)
“Confidence is more compelling than desperation.” Explain how the scholarship will help you, not why you’re hopeless without it. Judges want to support students with a plan, a purpose, and the drive to follow through, whether they win or not. Focus on what you’ve done, where you’re headed, and how this scholarship will support your journey.
Don’t use AI to write your essay
If you can’t be bothered to write something, don’t expect judges to read it. And when you read hundreds or thousands of essays, it becomes clear pretty quickly which ones were actually written by humans. “AI writing feels like CGI,” one of our judges wrote. “It looks right, but it has no soul.” Worse, unedited AI content can include errors, weird phrasing, and leftover prompts. Scholarship essays are supposed to be personal and reflective, so use your own thoughts and words.
Conclusion
If you’ve made it this far, you care about doing this well, and that already sets you apart. As you get ready to write your scholarship essay, keep these essentials in mind:
- Start early. You’ll write a better essay when you’re not racing the clock.
- Prepare diligently. Read the prompt. Outline your thoughts. Know your message.
- Write honestly. Be real. Tell your story in your voice. Help your reader feel great about awarding you.
- Proofread relentlessly. Then have someone else proofread. And maybe one or two more people after that.
- Follow every instruction. Every detail matters. Don’t risk disqualification over something avoidable.
- Don’t give up. As one judge put it:
“Even if you didn’t win this year, you’re building the skills that will carry you far. Keep trying. We’re rooting for you.”
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 for a scholarship. If you’re inspired by the process, consider signing up to judge essays and play a part in shaping the future. And if you’d like to make a lasting impact, we invite you to donate to support the Foundation’s mission of investing in intelligence, education, and opportunity.
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