The Biggest Mistakes Students Make in Their Scholarship Essays (And How to Avoid Them)

You open the essay question.

Your brain: empty.

Suddenly you’re wondering if you’ve ever done anything impressive in your whole life — and if your English has always been this bad, or it just started now.

If that sounds familiar, you’re not alone.

Scholarship essays feel scary because they decide a lot: sometimes whether you study abroad at all. But the good news? Most essays fail for the same predictable reasons — and you can avoid them.

In this guide, we’ll walk through the most common mistakes students make in their scholarship essays, plus simple ideas for what to do instead.

Your goal is not to write “perfect” English. Your goal is to tell a clear, honest story that fits the question.

Why Scholarship Essays Matter More Than You Think

Scholarship committees usually see:

• Your grades
• Your CV / activities
• Your recommendations
• And your essay

Your essay is the only place where you can explain the why behind everything:

• Why you chose this field
• What you care about
• How you think and make decisions
• What you want to do with the opportunity

So if your essay is weak, generic, or confusing, you’re basically giving up your biggest chance to stand out.

Let’s fix that.

Mistake #1: Writing What You Think They Want to Hear

What it looks like

“Ever since I was a child, I have always dreamed of studying abroad and changing the world…”

You don’t really talk like that. And scholarship readers know it.

When you write what you think sounds “smart” or “ideal,” you end up with a very safe, very boring essay that could belong to anyone.

What to do instead

• Write your first draft like you’re telling a friend your story.
• Then clean up the language, but keep your voice.
• Be honest about your doubts, struggles, and real motivations.

Small test: Read a paragraph out loud. If it feels fake or embarrassing to say, rewrite it.

Mistake #2: Telling Your Whole Life Story

What it looks like

You start at childhood, move through every school change, every activity, every family challenge… and suddenly you’ve hit the word limit, but haven’t actually answered the question.

What to do instead

• Pick one main theme (for example: resilience, curiosity, leadership, community impact).
• Choose 2–3 key moments that show that theme clearly.
• Cut everything that doesn’t support your main message.

Ask yourself: If the reader remembers only one thing about me, what should it be?
Write your essay around that.

Mistake #3: Repeating Your CV

What it looks like

“In 2021, I participated in X competition. In 2022, I volunteered at Y. In 2023, I did an internship at Z…”

That’s what your CV is for. If your essay is just a list of activities, the committee doesn’t learn anything new.

What to do instead

Use your essay to tell the story behind the CV:

• Why did you choose those activities?
• What did you learn from them?
• How did they change what you want for your future?

Example shift

• CV: “Volunteered at a community center tutoring younger students.”
• Essay: “Every Wednesday after school, I sat with 12-year-old Amina, who was convinced she was ‘bad at math’. Watching her confidence grow over the year showed me how powerful patient teaching can be — and made me want to work on education access long-term.”

Mistake #4: Forgetting to Answer the Actual Question

This one is surprisingly common.

You write a beautiful story… but ignore what they asked.

What to do instead

• Underline the key words in the prompt:
  • “Describe a challenge you faced and how you overcame it.”
  • “Explain why you chose this field of study.”
  • “How will this scholarship help you reach your goals?”
• Check each paragraph: Does this answer part of the question?
• If not, cut or rewrite it.

A slightly less “perfect” story that answers the question will always score higher than a great story that doesn’t.

Mistake #5: Making It All About Hardship (With No Growth)

Many students think they have to share trauma or extreme suffering to be “worthy.”

Yes, your financial situation or personal challenges can be important to mention — especially in need-based scholarships. But if your whole essay is only about pain, with no growth or direction, committees can feel helpless instead of inspired.

What to do instead

If you share a difficult situation, always show:

• What you did despite it
• What you learned from it
• How it shaped your goals and values

Think: “this is what happened” → “this is how I responded” → “this is who I’m becoming because of it.”

Mistake #6: Using Overly Formal or Complicated Language

Students sometimes think “more academic = more impressive,” so they fill their essays with:

“Utilize,” “therefore,” “moreover,” “aforementioned,” “in conclusion I would like to state…”

The result? A stiff, tiring essay that hides your personality.

What to do instead

• Use simple, clear sentences.
• Prefer everyday words: “use” instead of “utilize,” “help” instead of “assist.”
• Mix short and medium-length sentences so the text flows naturally.

If a younger sibling or friend can read your essay and understand it easily, you’re on the right track.

Mistake #7: Writing a Wall of Text

Big paragraphs with no structure are hard to read — and remember, committees go through hundreds of essays.

What to do instead

• Break your essay into short paragraphs (3–6 lines).
• Use a clear structure: intro → 2–3 body sections → conclusion.
• If allowed, use line breaks to separate different ideas or examples.

You’re not only telling a story; you’re also making the reader’s job easier.

Mistake #8: Being Too Vague (No Specific Examples)

What it looks like

“I am passionate about helping people.”
“I am a hard-working and motivated student.”

Anyone can claim that. The question is: Where is the proof?

What to do instead

Back up your claims with specific moments:

• Instead of “I’m responsible,” show a time you handled something alone.
• Instead of “I care about my community,” describe a concrete action you took.
• Instead of “I love science,” mention a project, experiment, or topic you explored on your own.

A single clear example is stronger than five big adjectives.

Mistake #9: Ignoring Instructions and Not Proofreading

Yes, committees notice:

• Going over the word limit
• Using the wrong file type or font
• Submitting with typos, wrong scholarship name, or “Dear Sir/Madam” when the name was given

These things don’t automatically disqualify you, but they never help.

What to do instead

Before submitting, always:

• Check the word / page limit and format rules
• Make sure the scholarship name, university, and program are correct
• Use a spell-check tool
• Ask one person to read your essay only for clarity (not to rewrite it)

Final Thoughts: You Don’t Need a “Perfect” Story

You don’t need to have started a company at 16, cured a disease, or won 10 international competitions.

Committees are looking for real students:

• Who know what they want (even roughly)
• Who take initiative in their own life
• Who can reflect on their experiences
• Who will use the opportunity well

Your job is simply to show that person on the page.