How to Win Scholarships - 2.4 What Will You Contribute?
What will you contribute? Another common mistake is for applicants to tell the reader about why the award is such a great opportunity for them and what they will gain from it.
The granting body wants to know what you will contribute if given this award. Don’t focus on yourself by writing something like: I will have the opportunity to meet new people while I develop a new skillset. Instead, tell the reader how your skills will help you make valuable contributions to the program.
For example: I will draw on my group communication skills that I developed as a camp counsellor to ensure all recipients are able to make valuable contributions. Or, you could explain what you will gain from the program or award, but build on that to show how this will be of benefit to others: The Leaders of Tomorrow award will give me the opportunity to develop my leadership skills so that I am able to return to the Great Start Program with the tools to guide participants.
The granting body wants to know how their funds will benefit the broader community going forward. For them, giving money to you is a stepping stone to this broader goal.