EXCITING NEWS! The 2026 versions of the How to Win College Scholarships ebooks are now available!
This post contains affiliate links, and I may be compensated a tiny bit if you make a purchase after clicking on the links. The Savor Summer College Scholarship winners thank you! Get monthly scholarship lists and tips emailed to you at no cost by signing up here.
Parents, please join my private Facebook group, Scholarship Help and College Talk for Parents, found here.
Write a Great College Scholarship Essay by Sharing Personal Details
Anyone can write an essay, but learning how to write a GREAT college scholarship essay is KEY to winning more money for school!

Let’s go into greater detail about this, starting with the S = Share Personal Details.
Scholarship judges greatly desire to learn more about each applicant, and the essay is usually the only chance a student has to share personal details that are not included when filling out the boxes on each application.
They want to know precisely why the student would be the best choice in representing their organization as their final choice for a winner.
Be sure to read: 10 Epic Tips Straight from a College Scholarship Judge
Students should view the college scholarship essay as an opportunity to set themselves apart from other applicants.
Their goal should be to prove to the judges that they are the best choice and deserve to win the scholarship.
To do this, students can tell a story in their writing about how they have overcome personal obstacles in their lives, making sure to share specific details, including feelings, lessons learned, and life changes made.
Every effort should be made to avoid turning personal details into a sob story; however, this can have a negative effect.
Students need to write from their hearts and use their personal stories to answer the college scholarship essay question completely, keeping it relevant to the prompt provided.
Sharing personal details in the college scholarship essay is something that each student trying to win money for college must do.
The applying strategies in my ebooks teach parents and their students how to apply SMART to impress the judges and win more money for school.
What are experts in the college industry saying about the How to Win College Scholarships ebooks?
“Monica is ‘THE’ Scholarship Expert. Her intimate experience as a college parent has given her the edge and subtle techniques that only a true expert would know. Her approach to scholarship submission is unique and precisely what any parent needs to know in order to effectively execute and win scholarships!” K.M., GenerationYM CEO
How about parents?

Open to High School Freshmen, Sophomores, Juniors, and Seniors! APPLY NOW HERE
“Monica’s recommendations are far-reaching and things I never thought of. No doubt…Monica has helped me tremendously to maneuver the minefield of scholarship applications. In addition, she has responded to my plethora of questions I have posed to her. The e-books were an incredible investment.“
Learn how to download the ebooks here:
BONUS: Get your FREE download of my 10 BEST COLLEGE SCHOLARSHIP TIPS that will show you how to find and win more money for school right here >>PIN IT!
Write a Great College Scholarship Essay by Sharing Personal Details Share on X
Monica Matthews is the author of How to Win College Scholarships. She helped her own son win over $100,000 in college scholarships and now shares her expertise with other parents and their students. She truly has “been there, done that” in regard to helping parents and students navigate the scholarship process.
Her method of helping students in finding college scholarships, writing unique and compelling scholarship essays, creating amazing scholarship application packets, and more have taught desperate parents to help their own students win thousands of scholarship dollars. She teaches them how to apply S.M.A.R.T. with outstanding results.
Monica’s scholarship tips have been featured on many prominent websites, and she has been dubbed the “Go-To” expert on college scholarships.























This is the kind of help students really can use!
Thanks, Carol!
Actually that’s smart advice! I think the personal aspect make you more human!!
Right, Jodie, and those essays are much more interesting for the judges to read. 🙂
This is such useful advice! This can apply to so many other areas too – we don’t necessarily have the same thing over here but I know a number of people who are looking to apply for things…
Thank you so much, Suzie! 🙂
This is really helpful. I know I could suggest this to my child, but I would get an eye roll because they thought I was being silly. Now I have expert advice!
Great idea, Christina!
That’s a good idea. These things must get quite repetitive and impersonal for the people reading them, with everyone trying to give standard, formulaic answers they think people want – I’m sure the more personal ones stand out.
Thank you!
Your posts are always so helpful, Monica
Thanks so much, Sue! 🙂
Great advice. The essay is one of the hardest things for students to master when searching for scholarships.
You are exactly right. Once students let go of the fear of writing the essay, applying for scholarships is much easier.