Best Personal Essay Writing Scholarships in 2025

Each year we award one $1,000 scholarship to an upperclass student at the University of Oklahoma. Applicants should be enrolled full-time during the current school year in a journalism, communication, advertising or equivalent degree program, with plans to pursue a newspaper career upon graduation. Applicants must attach resumé and describe why you are eligible for this need-based scholarship.

Not every gift has to be expensive or extravagant. In fact, sometimes it's the sweet and simple things that make a real difference in our lives. Think back and tell us about something you received as a gift and why it meant so much to you. Response should be limited to 250 words or less.

Thirty ethnic minority students are eligible for TLF undergraduate scholarships in the amount of $2,500 each. Applicants must be majoring in a field of study with an emphasis on advertising, marketing or public relations, and should include a 1-2 page essay outlining their career goals.

Applicants must demonstrate passion for creative writing, and be a graduating high school senior or graduate of a public or private high school in San Mateo County or Santa Clara County

At the Better Business Bureau (BBB), we believe it is never too early to introduce and emphasize the importance of ethics. Students will write essays on an ethical issue that they faced and how they handled it. Essays should analyze what ethics has taught the students and themselves. The most engaging essays often reflect on a meaningful experience or lesson learned in one’s life that focuses on an ethical reflection.

The Rosa Parks Scholarship Foundation is dedicated to awarding scholarships to Michigan high school seniors who represent Mrs. Parks' ideals while demonstrating academic skills, community involvement and economic need. The Foundation awards approximately forty $2,000 non-renewable scholarships annually. Students must submit a completed application form and essay by March of each year.

Mainely Character Scholarships are awarded to individuals who demonstrate, through a written character statement, these four core principles of exemplary character: concern, responsibility, integrity, and courage. To apply, students must live and be graduating from high school in Maine.

HIAS Immigration & Citizenship Scholarships are offered in multiple categories for both undergrad and graduate students. Applicants must identify as Jewish and have a connection to the Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society of Chicago. Each application involves three essay questions on topics including volunteerism, Jewish community engagement, and your/your family's immigration history.

Life Happens sponsors the annual Life Lessons Scholarship Program for college students and college-bound high school seniors. Qualified entrants who submit essays or videos about how the death of a parent impacted their lives are eligible for scholarship money. The total of scholarships for this year's program is $200,000.

Teachers of Accounting at Two Year Colleges (TACTYC) is pleased to announce several scholarships in the amount of $1,000 each for students majoring in Accounting. Applicants must provide a 1-2 page self-description, which includes academic and professional goals, and a 1-2 page essay answering the required question for the given case study.

The Vegetarian Resource Group each year will award $30,000 in college scholarship money to graduating U.S. high school students who have promoted vegetarianism in their schools and/or communities. To apply, please submit an essay addressing how you promoted vegetarianism in your high school and/or community, including your successes, challenges, etc.

Each year, DCAPHA awards scholarships for the following academic year, usually two scholarships in the amount of $1,000 each. Scholarship recipients will be chosen at the Association’s discretion, based on a combination of the quality of the application, short essay, and recommendation.

For this year's competition, please write a personal essay (400-600 words) about why you are not religious and its benefits. Be sure to explain why you reject religion. The David Hudak Essay Competition is open to freethinking students of color ages 17-21, who are either high school seniors graduating in spring or who are currently enrolled in a college or university in North America.

For this year's competition, please write a persuasive, personal essay (300-350 words) about why you reject religion and think others would be better off doing so too. The William J. Schulz Essay Competition is open to all North American high school seniors graduating this spring and attending college or university in the fall.

At Caring.com, we understand the demanding lifestyle of student-caregivers and the challenges they may face. This scholarship provides financial assistance to students who are caring for an adult relative while enrolled in college. Two scholarships of $1,500 are awarded each year to student-caregivers to help cover costs of tuition and books.