The scholarship application process can feel overwhelming, especially when it requires a resume. A scholarship resume is an important document that showcases your academic excellence, achievements, and potential to the scholarship committee. If you are curious about crafting a resume that stands out, we’ve created the perfect guide for you. Read through this article to learn how to write a good scholarship resume, which will increase your chances of winning a scholarship award.
What is a Scholarship Resume?
A scholarship resume, also known as a scholarship CV (Curriculum Vitae) , is a concise document that highlights your academic achievements, skills, and experiences relevant to the scholarship criteria. This kind of resume focuses more on academic excellence and showcases your fit for the scholarship's objectives.
What to Include in a Scholarship Resume
Here are some important information to include in your scholarship resume:
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Contact Information: Your name, email, phone number, and city should be prominently displayed on your scholarship resume.
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Objective Statement: Include a short paragraph that describes your academic objectives and career goals.
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Education/Academic experience: List the schools you attended, degrees earned, and graduation dates (or expected graduation dates). Include any relevant coursework, awards, or distinctions.
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Experience: Professional work experience, volunteer work, internships, or research projects should all appear in your scholarship resume. Mention the organization, position held, dates, and key contributions. Also, emphasize on your impact whenever possible (e.g., "I managed a team of 10 volunteers").
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Skills: Highlight your technical and soft skills relevant to the scholarship and your field of study. Ensure that you use strong action verbs and specific skills in your description (e.g., "proficient in Python programming," "excellent communication and leadership skills").
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Awards & Achievements: Academic awards, scholarships, competitions, or achievements outside academics all deserve recognition. Hence, you should highlight them and briefly explain their significance.
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Activities & Affiliations: Participation in clubs, sports teams, or community service demonstrates well-roundedness and initiative. Highlight your active participation in different clubs (if any).
How to Write a Good Scholarship Resume
Here’s a detailed guide on how to write a good scholarship resume:
1. Understand the Purpose
A scholarship resume is not the same as a job resume. You have to tailor it to highlight your academic achievements, extracurricular activities, leadership roles, and community involvement. Your goal should be to prove your suitability for the scholarship and your potential to contribute positively to the academic community.
2. Start with Contact Information
Start by writing your contact details at the top of the resume. This should include:
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Your full name
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City
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Phone number
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Email address
Make sure your email address is a professional one. Avoid using casual or humorous addresses.
3. Craft a Strong Objective Statement
Write a brief objective statement that clearly expresses your academic goals and how the scholarship will help you achieve them. This section should be a few sentences long and should reflect your enthusiasm and dedication to your goals.
4. Highlight Your Academic Achievements
Provide a list of your educational background, starting with the most recent institution attended. Include this information:
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School name
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Dates attended
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Degree or diploma received
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GPA (if impressive)
You can also include notable academic achievements such as:
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Honour roll mentions
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Dean's list
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Scholarships received
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Special projects or research work
5. Highlight Extracurricular Activities
Scholarship committees look for well-rounded individuals and the best way to prove that you are well-rounded is through your engagement in extracurricular activities. Include a section that highlights your extracurricular activities, such as:
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Sports
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Clubs
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Arts
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Volunteer work
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Any other related activities
Ensure that you describe your role and any leadership positions you held.
6. Emphasize Leadership Experience
It shouldn't come as a surprise that scholarship committees highly value leadership qualities. Dedicate a section to highlighting leadership roles and responsibilities. Also, highlight how your leadership made a positive impact.
7. Include Work Experience
If you have relevant work experience, make sure you include it in your resume. This could be part-time jobs, internships, or even volunteer work. Highlight any skills or responsibilities that align with the scholarship's mission and goals.
9. Skills and Abilities
List any special skills or abilities you have that are relevant to the scholarship. This can include:
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Languages spoken
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Technical skills (e.g., coding, software proficiency)
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Soft skills (e.g., communication, teamwork)
10. Proofread and Format Carefully
Your resume should be free from grammatical errors and typos. Also, use a clean, professional format and bullet points for easy reading. You could also give someone your resume to proofread for you.
Finally, tailor your resume for each scholarship application. List the experiences and achievements you have that are most relevant to the specific scholarship you're applying for. This personalized approach will tell the committee that you've put thought into your application.
Scholarship Resume Template
Click here to download our Scholarship Resume Template
Remember, this is just a template. Use it as a guide to crafting your resume based on your unique experiences and the scholarship requirements.
Scholarship Resume Example
Click here to see a sample of a scholarship resume
Click here to see a sample of a scholarship resume for postgraduate studies
Remember to customize your resume with your own information and additional relevant details.
Important Tips for Writing a Scholarship Resume
Here are some important tips to keep in mind while crafting your scholarship resume:
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Keep It Concise: Aim for a one-page resume, especially if you are still in high school. Prioritize the most relevant experiences and awards.
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Proofread & Edit: Typos and grammatical errors make you look careless. Proofread meticulously and ask someone to review your resume for better clarity.
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Action Verbs & Formatting: Use strong action verbs to describe your achievements. Also, use bullet points for clear and easy-to-read formatting.
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Be Honest: Always be truthful in your resume. Authenticity makes your resume more compelling.
Final Thoughts
Writing a good scholarship resume takes time and attention to detail. By following the tips above and using our carefully crafted template, you can craft a scholarship CV that stands out and increases your chances of winning the award. Lastly, always remember to proofread carefully and tailor your resume for each application.