If you want to dodge the worst of the dreaded student debt, getting a decent scholarship is a good place to start. Most universities offer significant contributions to first year accommodation, with larger multi-year scholarships up for grabs for top achievers. In general, the biggest scholarships are available for exceptional academic achievement, however sporting, cultural and community contributions are also well-recognised by most universities.

Unlike with academic achievement, success in other areas can’t always be easily read from formal records. It’s up to the applicant to sell themselves and their achievements to the scholarship panel. Some panels may hold in person interviews, but most will make decisions purely based on the strength of the written application.

As a young person applying for a scholarship, it can be difficult to know what to include and in what style your personal statement should be. The team at momentum have compiled some handy tips to help make the process a little easier.

1.) Start the process early

Starting early, perhaps a few weeks before the due date is important because it gives you lots of time to come back and review what you’ve written. Things written hurriedly are seldom error-free and are less likely to represent you to the level you would like.

2.) Don’t let any errors slip through

This may sound obvious, but the vast majority of scholarship applications will have some sort of spelling mistake, typo or punctuation error. Don’t worry about split infinitives or archaic rules, but do follow modern grammar conventions, and proofread extremely carefully. Reading what you’ve written aloud can also help. Presentation can often hold back and otherwise exceptional application.

3.) Don’t repeat what’s in your other documents

Often scholarship applications will ask for a CV or a table of your involvement in various disciplines. Don’t make the mistake of using precious words in your personal statement to rehash what you’ve already told the panel. Instead, use the personal statement to expand upon what your supporting documentation tells them. Use it to explain how you reached your achievements, what you learned, and how it made you who you are today. It’s also useful to use your concrete achievements to support what you’re saying about yourself in your personal statement, instead of just making an unsupported assertion about your own good character.

4.) Do exactly what the application asks

If you get asked to write 500 words on why you want the scholarship, do just that. Stick to the word count, and the subject. Don’t start writing about yourself and your achievements, unless that’s what’s asked of your, or unless you can weave it into your answer. It’s generally a good idea to reference who you are as a person and what you have learned from you successes, but not unless it’s relevant to what the panel has asked you to do.

As with many things, applying for a scholarship is more of an art than a science. If you take care and provide what’s asked, you’ll give yourself the best chance of success.