Scholarship Essay Format: Copy Paste Template

Scholarship Essay Format Template

Copy this template and replace the bracketed text with your information.

Scholarship Essay Structure (Standard Format)

Not sure how to organize your content? Here's the standard structure most scholarship committees expect.

1. Header Section

What to include:

• Your full name
• Complete mailing address 
• Professional email address (firstname.lastname@email.com format) 
• Phone number with area code 
• Current date 
• Scholarship name and organization (if required)

Formatting:

• Left aligned or centered (check guidelines)
• Single spaced within the header 
• One blank line between the header and title

2. Title (Optional but Recommended)

When to include:

• Essay exceeds 500 words
• Multiple essays submitted together 
• Scholarship doesn't prohibit titles

How to format:

• Centered on the page
• Same font as body text 
• Not bolded or italicized (unless guideline specifies) 
• One blank line between the title and the first paragraph

Example titles: 

• "From Barista to Biochemist: My Path to Medical School"
• "Why Engineering Matters: Building Bridges in My Community" 
• "The Scholarship That Changes Everything"

3. Body Text

Paragraph structure:

• Introduction: 10-15% of the total length
• Body: 70-80% of total length
•  Conclusion: 10-15% of total length

For a 500-word essay:

• Introduction: 50-75 words (1 paragraph)
• Body: 350-400 words (2-3 paragraphs) 
• Conclusion: 50-75 words (1 paragraph)

For a 1,000-word essay:

• Introduction: 100-150 words (1-2 paragraphs)
• Body: 700-800 words (4-5 paragraphs) 
• Conclusion: 100-150 words (1 paragraph)

4. Word Count

Always include your word count at the end if the scholarship specifies a limit. Format it as:

Word Count: 497

Place it on its own line, left aligned, after your conclusion.

Scholarship Essay Structure for Length & Word Count

Scholarship committees are strict about word limits. Here's how to stay within bounds while maximizing impact.

1. Common Length Requirements

250 word scholarships:

• Very tight constraint
• Focus on one strong example 
• Skip backstory, get to the point 
• ~3-4 short paragraphs

500 word scholarships:

• Most common length
• Introduction + 2-3 body paragraphs + conclusion 
• Room for one detailed example or two brief ones

650 word scholarships:

• Common App length
• Introduction + 3-4 body paragraphs + conclusion 
• Can develop a narrative with depth

1,000+ word scholarships:

• Less common, often for graduate students
• Full narrative arc possible 
• Multiple examples and deeper reflection

2. Staying Within Word Limits

If you're over the limit:

• Cut unnecessary adjectives and adverbs 
• Remove redundant examples 
• Condense multi sentence explanations 
• Eliminate filler phrases ("in order to" becomes "to")

If you're under the limit:

• Add specific details to existing examples
• Expand on impact and outcomes 
• Include more reflection on what you learned 
• Develop your conclusion more fully

Never exceed the maximum. Committees often use word count as a first screening tool. Going over = automatic disqualification at many organizations.

Scholarship Essay Structure for Heading & Title

The scholarship application guidelines trump everything. Always check first. But if they don't specify, use these standards.

Standard Heading Format

Full heading (when required):

Minimal heading (when space is tight):

Title Guidelines

When to use a title:

• Essay exceeds 500 words
• You're submitting multiple essays
• Your essay tells a story that deserves a title

When to skip the title:

• Word count is extremely tight (250 words)
• Guidelines say "no title"
• Your essay is purely academic/formal

Good title characteristics:

• Descriptive, not generic
• 5-12 words maximum 
• No "My Scholarship Essay" or "Why I Deserve This Scholarship" 
• Captures the essence of your story

Weak: "My Journey"
Strong: "From Undocumented Immigrant to Software Engineer"

Weak: "Why I Need This Scholarship"
Strong: "Breaking the Cycle: First Generation College Dreams"

Scholarship Essay Format for Font, Spacing & Margins

These technical details matter. Committees read hundreds of essays; proper formatting makes yours easier to read.

1. Font Requirements

Acceptable fonts:

• Times New Roman (most common)
•  Arial (clean, modern) 
•  Calibri (professional) 
•  Georgia (readable serif alternative)

Font size:

• Body text: 12 point (standard)
•  Header: 12 point (same as body) 
•  Title: 12 point or 14 point maximum

Never use:

• Comic Sans
• Script/cursive fonts
• Fonts smaller than 11 point 
• Fonts larger than 12 point (body text)

2. Spacing

Line spacing:

• Double spacing (standard for most scholarships)
•  1.5 spacing (if guidelines specify or word count is tight) 
•  Single spacing (only if explicitly required)

Paragraph spacing:

• No extra space between paragraphs if double spaced
• One blank line between paragraphs if single spaced 
• Indent first line 0.5 inches OR use block format (no indent + blank line)

Choose one:

• Indented paragraphs + no blank lines
• Block paragraphs + blank lines

Don't mix both.

3. Margins

Standard margins: 1 inch on all sides (top, bottom, left, right)

When to adjust:

• Only if you're 10-20 words over the limit, and cutting content is impossible
• Reduce to 0.9 inches minimum 
• Never go below 0.75 inches

Committee's notice:

• Margins smaller than 0.75 inches
• Different margins on different sides
• Attempts to squeeze in extra words

Format Styles: MLA, APA, or Chicago?

Most scholarship essays don't require formal citation styles, but some do, especially for graduate scholarships or research based awards.

1. When Citation Format Matters

You need MLA/APA/Chicago when:

• Guidelines explicitly require it
• You're citing sources in your essay 
• It's a research scholarship 
• You're a graduate student

You don't need it when:

• It's a personal narrative 
• Guidelines don't mention citations 
• It's about your story and achievements 
• No sources are referenced

2. MLA Format for Scholarship Essays

Header: 

• Your name, instructor name, course, and date in the upper left
• Last name + page number in upper right

Used for:

• Humanities scholarships
• English/Literature awards 
• Liberal arts programs

Example:

3. APA Format for Scholarship Essays

Header:

• Running head (shortened title) in upper left
• Page number in upper right 
• Title page with title, name, institution

Used for:

• Psychology scholarships
• Social sciences 
• Education programs

Example:

4. Chicago Format for Scholarship Essays

Header:

• No special header required
• Page numbers in the upper right or the bottom center

Used for:

• History scholarships
• Some humanities awards 
• Graduate level essays

File Format & Submission Guidelines

You've written and formatted your essay. Now you need to submit it correctly.

1. File Format Requirements

PDF (Preferred):

• Preserves formatting across devices
• Can't be accidentally edited 
• Professional standard 
• Works on all systems

Word Document (.docx):

• Allows review with track changes
• The committee can check the word count 
• Required by some systems

Never submit:

• .pages (Mac only format)
• Google Docs link (unless specifically allowed) 
• .txt files (lose formatting)

How to convert:

• Go to Word, then File, then Save As, and select PDF
• In Google Docs, go to File, then Download, and select PDF

2. File Naming Convention

Good file names:

• LastName_FirstName_ScholarshipName.pdf
• Smith_John_MeritScholarship2026.pdf
• JohnSmith_Essay.pdf

Bad file names:

• pdf final_final_version2.pdf
• Scholarship Essay (1).pdf
• untitled.docx

3. Pre Submission Checklist

Before you hit submit:

Formatting:

• Correct font (12 point Times New Roman/Arial/Calibri)
• Proper spacing (double spaced unless specified) 
• 1 inch margins on all sides 
• Header with contact information (if required) 
• Title (if using one)

Content:

• Within the word count limit
• Word count included at the end (if required) 
• No spelling or grammar errors 
• Specific to THIS scholarship (removed other scholarship names)

Technical:

• Saved as PDF (unless Word required)
• File name includes your name 
• File opens correctly
• Text is selectable (not a scanned image)

Final check:

• Uploaded to the correct portal
• Confirmation email received 
• The deadline has not yet passed

Downloadable Scholarship Essay Templates

Get these ready to use templates for your scholarship essays.

Download these templates:

Bottom Line

Now you've got the format. Professional margins, proper font, correct spacing, all the technical stuff is handled. The hard part is crafting a compelling story that makes committees want to invest in you. We can help you with more of that with our scholarship essay guide. Good luck, and remember we're here if you need backup.