Just found out about this scholarship and wow… it’s a lot. Anyone got advice for the personal essay? Especially the parts about family circumstances and personal goals? Feels kinda broad, not sure how to start.
I’m a finalist for the Hagan Scholarship and totally get what you mean. Biggest thing—FOLLOW THE RULES. They are super specific about what they want.For family circumstances, I wrote about financial struggles and how they shaped me. For personal goals, I used it as a way to tie everything together and show how my plans make sense based on my life so far.Oh, and don’t rush the 4-year plan. I know it’s crazy to expect 17-18-year-olds to map out their whole college life, but try to make it personal and realistic. You can update it later if you get the scholarship.Good luck! The writing part almost made me lose my mind (I did most of it in one day—don’t do that). But it’s a huge opportunity.
@Ainsley
First off, congrats! Quick question about the 4-year plan… how much should be realistic vs. ambitious? Like, if someone wants to intern at a really competitive company, should they put that in or keep it more general?
@Hadden
I’d suggest making it a ‘work your way up’ kind of thing. It’d be weird to say ‘I’ll land this super competitive internship in my first year.’ Maybe put it as a goal for year 3 or 4 and show how you’ll build up to it.Also, I mentioned basic life stuff like budgeting and doing chores (cooking, laundry). Just to show I’m thinking about the bigger picture.
@Ainsley
Got it, thanks! This really helps.
READ THE RULES. Every little detail matters—how you name documents, how you format dates, what exactly they want in each section. They cut people out instantly if they don’t follow instructions. If you end up getting the scholarship, there are more rules, and only about 50% of winners keep it all four years.My son spent almost 3 weeks on his application. It’s a lot, but the money and support are worth it.For the essays, be honest and clear. If you make it to the finalist round, you’ll have to prove your financial situation, so don’t exaggerate.
@Zander
Just to add some details—As a finalist, I had to send in tax records for 2022 and 2023, plus other paperwork.My personal essay ended up being about 1,000 words. Took a lot of thinking and effort, but it’s worth it. Each paragraph had about 7 sentences.For family circumstances, I talked about hours getting cut at work. Just be real about your situation.
@Dana
Thanks! Wasn’t sure how specific to get with family circumstances. Would it be okay to go into detail about financial struggles and responsibilities? There’s also a separate section for ‘adverse family circumstances’—should I put it there instead?Also, do the paragraphs need to flow like an essay, or can they just be numbered responses?
@Hadden
I’d say focus on unique financial responsibilities your family deals with. For ‘adverse circumstances,’ mine was blank, and I still made it as a finalist. Only fill it out if you have something big to mention.My paragraphs didn’t really flow like a full essay. Making them connect might be nice, but it’s not required.