Kentucky Higher Education Assistance Authority
Financial Aid Tip of the Month, September 2010

Writing a top-notch admissions essay may not only help you get into the school of your choice. It may also help you win scholarship money from that school.

 To make your essay stand out, follow these tips from the Kentucky Higher Education Assistance Authority (KHEAA), the agency that administers the Kentucky Educational Excellence Scholarship (KEES) and other state student aid programs.

Many private colleges require essays, and they are not meant to be just busy work. The more selective the college, the more likely the essay will affect whether you are admitted and how much aid you receive.

From the essay, the college is looking for insight into your personality and information that sets you apart from other applicants. The application itself often does not tell an admissions officer what you are like as a person. The essay gives you a chance to do just that.

Don’t just dash off an essay and send it in. Proofread and revise it and ask a counselor or teacher to look it over. You may not be satisfied with it until you’ve done several drafts, so don’t put it off until the last minute.

Above all, follow directions when you write your essay. Many students do not pay attention to guidelines and deadlines, and that may cost them the chance to attend the school of their dreams.

To find links to other useful education websites, go to www.gotocollegeky.gov. For more information about Kentucky scholarships and grants, write KHEAA, P.O. Box 798, Frankfort, KY 40602-0798; or call (800) 928-8926, ext. 6-7372.

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