Red Kite Blog

10 Tips for Writing Your College Essay

By Jane Cooper

Welcome back! This is a continuation of my Essay Analysis blog series. Last time around, we took an in-depth look at my personal college essay. I highlighted the strategies I used, why they worked, and how they could’ve been stronger. My essay won me a cumulative $406,000 in scholarships (💅).

I wanted to put together a list of highlights from that analysis in order to form a general article of things to keep in mind while writing your own personal college essay. This is part one of two, so there’s more tips to come!

And I know that your brain is bursting from information overload at this point – there’s so many stressful variables to encounter while applying to college. For this reason, I chose to break up this article with cute photos of my cat. Her government name is Mrs. Kisses, but you can address her as Her Majesty The Queen Sovereign.

Let’s hit the highlights!

1. You are selling the idea of yourself.

This is the number one thing to keep in mind. Everybody’s a marketing major in their college essay, but the good news is that you’ve got the easiest thing in the world to sell: you!

And of course, we’ve all seen those scammy ads where somebody’s trying to convince you that you can get paid to play mobile games. So when you’re selling yourself, you don’t want to come off as dishonest or otherwise shady. That’s why the other nonnegotiable strategy for your essay is:

2. Tell the truth.

Mom Jane is stepping in for a sec to tell you this: if you go through life honestly, you’ll have nothing to reproach yourself about, even if the worst comes to pass.

For example, when it comes to your college essay, you might feel the urge to stretch the truth and say that you’ve got more experience than you actually have. Because when you’re the product that you’re trying to sell, you’ll naturally want to gas yourself up.

But you must remember that admissions staff sit at their desks and read hundreds of college essays. They know that you’re not superhuman, so if you pretend that’s the case, they’ll know you’re being dishonest.

Now, this is the key: you need to be honest, but don’t overshare. We’ll cover this a bit more in my “anti-pity-party” bullet point (#13 in part 2), but if you waltz in like, “I have no idea what I’m doing, but I really want to join your college!”… that’s a strike against yourself (or an “ick”).

Because you do know what you’re doing, whether you believe that or not. You’ve had 12 years of school to prepare yourself for college. Be confident, and be genuine!

3. Talk to them like people.

I know you’ve written a research essay where you feel like you’re speaking to a robot. “The American Civil War took place in the 6th decade of the 19th century.” (Yes, I had to Google that.)

You’re trying to meet word counts; you’re bored to tears; you hate writing essays. And I know this because even I hate writing essays, even though I’m an English Major who reads a book a week (and obviously writes blogs for a living). The difference is in the passion. I’m passionate about your success, not the Civil War, so let me give you a surefire way into admission: write to a human, because you are.

There is a real person reading this college essay that you’re writing. And they’re not this scary decision-maker who holds your future in your hands, either, even though it feels that way! It’s some caffeine-addicted employee who’s looking at your essay in between twenty others, and you know what they’ll appreciate? Your honesty and consideration.

“PLEASE LET ME INTO YOUR PROGRAM BESTIE I’M SO COOL AND I KNOW YOU’RE SO SMART-” let me stop you right there, because that’s not what I meant. There’s a way to be both professional and thoughtful. All the best bosses are like that: they know how to get stuff done, and they’re also considerate of their employees.

So when you’re writing with the person in the admissions office in mind, you want to be that boss. You’re respectful of your reader’s time while also being firmly confident in yourself and your accomplishments. “This is a good product, and you want this product at your school.”

4. Hook ’em like a fish.

That all being said, it’s time to capture the admission office’s attention. And you can’t do that with the ole “When I was in first grade, I decided to become a doctor.” Be bold! Slap them in the face! (Metaphorically, of course…) Take the best line in your essay, and stick it right at the top.

And because this is a personal essay, I can’t give you an exact formula for a compelling opening, because that’ll be specific to you. Your hook sets up the rest of your essay, so it has to be relevant and encompassing. By that, I mean that you can’t just say: “I murdered three people. Just kidding! Here are five reasons why I want to study birds in college.”

Let’s go back to the first line of my own essay as an example. Not to say that this is the greatest opener in the history of time and space, but objectively, there’s a lot to unpack here:

While I was creating each of my novels, I had to think to myself, “how do I make people who don’t know me care about my work, even if they have no reason to?”

This is about my accomplishments (my novels), my anxieties (how, even if they have no reason to?), my goals (to make people care), my passion (I had to think to myself), and my purpose (writing)… all wrapped into one sentence.

Now, that’s a pretty ambitious task to ask of any 17-year-old, even one with a lot of writing experience. So I’ll just say this – the best hooks in any piece of writing have to be:

Engaging
Condensed (no word salad or filler)
Comprehensive
Unique and personal (there you are, you beautiful individual!)

I’ll give you another example of a fantastic essay hook I’ve seen, so you don’t just have my (random Southern gal) first line for your strategy:

From “Threatened By ISIS” by an anonymous author:

In 8th grade while doing a school project I Googled my dad’s name and it came up in US military documents posted on the Snowden/NSA documents on WikiLeaks.

Me after reading that:

Now, because this is an anonymous author, I couldn’t find out whether or not this was actually written by a real college student for a real college essay. You gotta verify your sources, people!

Regardless, I don’t care: that’s a punch in the gut right there, baby! That line crams in so much information. After reading that first line, you want to keep reading, and that’s the key.

5. Craft your essay around your goal.

Alright, my Kitelings. You’ve got your strategy, and you’re brainstorming an opening hook that’s so strong, it’ll knock me out of my cubicle. What next? Your outline, of course! (Unless you’re a pantser, like me, in which case your outline becomes part of your internal process. But you need an outline regardless. 🤪)

What school are you applying to? What major do you have in mind? If you don’t have an answer to either of these questions, that’s totally fine, which I expand further upon in #9. But even if you’re writing a general Common App essay, a personal paper can get sidetracked if it doesn’t have an end goal.

Part of having confidence in your essay is having direction. Your essay is about how much you want to get into college, point blank period, and it’s also about why. Who are you? Why are you at my doorstep? And why should I let you in – to college, specifically?

And now, for those of you that do have a direction, your end goal needs to be more refined and clear, whether it be about your passion for theater, AI technology, business management, or birds.¹ I think I about covered all the existing majors right there.

Anyways, your essay needs to be not only about why you deserve to go to college, but also about how you’ll be an asset to your field. Where did your passion come from, and what steps have you made towards pursuing it?

6. You are you, and nobody else.

Here’s the biggest advantage you have over your fellow applicants. It’s time to capitalize off your individuality and emphasize your uniqueness. This is not along the vein of “I’m so quirky and different”, but more so about how you being you will benefit your college.

And you don’t have to put down your competition, either. Being yourself is enough, as cheesy as it sounds – why waste words on why you’re better than everybody else? That’s not the team-player mentality that admissions offices are looking for, because college is not about competing (I’m obviously not referring to sports, clubs, or betting your bestie that you can eat more mini Doritos than her). Everybody in your class can get an A.

Also, you want to be specific about your you-ness. You’ve got distinctive qualities that come together to paint a vivid picture of your gorgeous ethic. So none of that “I am a very nice person :)”, and you don’t even want to jazz it up: “I have often been regarded as possessing a most amiable disposition.” You want to indirectly brag about how great you are via the age-old writing rule: “Don’t tell it to us, show it to us.”

That is not to say that you can’t be confident – remember how my own essay ended with “I know my future is full of greatness”? (By the way, I was fully convinced otherwise, but I faked it ’til I made it!) But I felt like the rest of my essay had set itself up to earn that line by showing my capabilities.

7. You don’t have to start from the very beginning.

As I mentioned in the analysis of my own essay, the overwhelming majority of applicants will structure their college essay in chronological order. Now, this isn’t a dealbreaker; maybe when you were born, you had 10 legs, and that’s why you wanna study squids, or something. I don’t know. But seriously, if you want to be different, throw your audience right into the excitement!

Remember our friend who Googled his father’s name and Wikileaks came up? That’s the good stuff, and it came from a memory in 8th grade. If you’re trying to meet the word count by describing the plants that grew on your childhood lawn (unless, of course, you’re a botany major), the admissions office will smell that kind of filler from a mile away.

What’s the most impactful thing that’s ever happened to you? How did it shape the person you are today, and how did it affect your decision to go to college? Don’t reach for it – there should be a clear line between that event and your college career. So if one memory doesn’t work, try something else. Then after that, you can go back – or jump forward – to another relevant period of your life. Play around with time in your essay. Passion is nonlinear, so why should your essay be?

8. Keep your audience invested in the idea of your success.

By highlighting your uniqueness, you’re now well on your way to convincing your audience to care about you. You need your reader to be invested in you and your success, and thereby, you must keep them interested.

College campuses are made up of open-minded individuals who have worked hard to get there. Prove that you can fit in to a community like that by explaining why you deserve to succeed, and how that success can only be achieved through college.

9. It’s okay if you don’t have everything figured out.

Breathe! If you’ve got no idea what you’re doing or where you’re going, and all you know is that you want to go to college, you’re not alone. It’s a big ask to have anyone decide which direction to take their future in, let alone a high schooler (or even a grad student… heyyyyy).

Being undecided can be a strength, because it means you’re open and flexible. College is about evolving minds and preparing people for a bright future, and it may take you a while longer to discover what you’re interested in. One common denominator of all successful applicants is that they’re hard working.

Show the admissions office that whatever direction you’ll be going in, you’ll work hard at it. The best way to do that? ↓↓↓↓↓

10. Be committed and responsible.

Clearly, the common denominator of all of these strategies is that regardless of who you are and what you want to study, you want to write about your commitment.

Whether it’s taking care of your siblings, volunteering at a local animal shelter, or working at the mall to pay for your car, your life is your responsibility.

Let’s be honest, nothing screams “college-ready” than being a little all over the place, but you made it this far, and that’s more than a lot of people can say. (I mean, you read a whole blog alternating between scarily-philosophical advice, cat photos, and bird-related tangents, and that’s something to be proud of in itself.)

In Texas, 1 of every 5 students fail to graduate, so in the words of my guru Kris Jenner:

When you’re writing your essay, it’s crucial to show that you take your commitments seriously and that you can be trusted to handle the challenges that come with higher education. After all, college isn’t just about hitting the books—it’s about managing your time, your tasks, and occasionally, the tendency to binge-watch 4 seasons of Ted Lasso.

The point is, you are more than just bullet points on a resume—you are a story, and a story is made up of characters. (I am not about to say that this essay is your main character moment, although it’s on the tip of my tongue). Your true self is enough to get you into college. Now you’ve just got to sell it.

Here you’ve got a few key strategies to keep in mind for your application. Your future college self will thank you for it—probably while juggling three Hydro Flasks of coffee, your laptop, and an overflowing laundry basket.

I say this at the end of part 2, but just remember, the only tip you need for your college essay is to believe in yourself. That goes for life, too!

¹”Birds” will be Mrs. Kisses’s major – of course, she decided to attend higher ed after finding a scholarship on Red Kite! Right now, she’s only two years old.

Share this:

My Experience Being a First-Generation College Student

Kite Writer Jane Cooper interviews Lesley Ann Bello, a first-generation college student who balances working three jobs with attending graduate school. This is part one of two.

A Love Letter to Lesley Ann

There’s someone out in California who knows what I ate for breakfast this morning. She’s on her way to class in her heather-gray Nissan, blasting the new Zayn album at top volume.

As a grad student working three jobs, her schedule’s pretty packed, but she still manages to find time to drive 20 miles to visit her mom in Fontana. She also bakes – blondies and brownies are her specialty.

Lesley Ann Bello and I met in a Class of 2023 group chat that was created the summer before our freshman year. And when the COVID-19 pandemic hit when we were sophomores, our online friendship was solidified.

As seniors, we roomed together in the dorms – our University requires its undergraduates to live on-campus for all 4 years – and we often talk about that year as if we spent it abroad in Paris, instead of a 200-square-foot closet.

“If only we could go back,” I texted one day.

“Going to call the University and ask them to rent the dorm out to us for 10 years,” she responded.

I wanted to sit down and interview her about what it was like to be a first-generation student at our university. Neither of Lesley’s parents attended college, and coming from a Mexican immigrant family, she faced struggles and pressures unique only to first-gens.

In Part 2 of this article, we explore her experience applying to scholarships and financial aid, including FAFSA difficulty, her transition into graduate school, and the college application process that left her with little guidance.

For now, let’s get to know Lesley Ann Bello, the hardest worker I know.

“Ann is not my middle name,” she clarifies. “I have two first names and one last name. Lesley Ann… Bello.”

Introduction

Where are you from?
I’m from San Bernadino, California.

Where are your parents from?
My parents are from Veracruz, Mexico.

When did they move to the US?
In 1998, so about 26 years ago.

How many siblings did your parents have?
My mom had four siblings, and my dad had 7.

Did your parents attend college?
They did not attend college. My mom has a middle school education level, and my dad has a high school education level. However, in Mexico they have their version of a vocational/trade school, and my mom received an informational secretary education. My dad graduated high school on track to be an engineer.

How many siblings do you have? Are they in college?
I have a younger brother (19), who is studying Computer Science at a Californian university.

What degree(s) did you graduate with?
I graduated with a BA in Psychology and a minor in Studio Art.

The First-Generation Experience

What does it mean to you to be a first-generation college student? How has that affected your time in college?
I realized early on that I had to stand up for myself, because no one else would; especially in the education system that sets POC (people of color) up to fail. Being first-gen means being an advocate for both myself and those coming after me. I want to set an example that we are not just a statistic – we can do this, and we will be something in life.

First-gens are not just numbers or faces on a brochure. We have something to give to this world. It means we need to work harder than others, because we don’t have things handed to us. During college, this made me question if I could really do it. But I knew my family was relying on me to set the example for my younger brother and our family friends.

How closely is your culture tied to your identity?
This is something that I have been thinking about a lot more as an adult. It has taken me a long time to be comfortable with who I am and where I come from. Growing up, I would say my culture was not tied to my identity. If anything, I tried to stay away from my culture. I didn’t really want to be associated with that. I hated my brown, tan skin.

I didn’t want to engage/participate in Mexican related activities. Like being in Folklorico dance classes, or wearing Mexican-related attire. I don’t know where that came from, because I grew up in a primarily Hispanic-dominant town. I didn’t have many white friends or relationships. But being Mexican-American was all I knew.

Now, as an adult, I try really hard to incorporate it into my life and my identity. I take pride in my culture. Not many people can say that their Mexican parents made a life of their own here, all by themselves. So this is a mixed-feelings response.

What struggles did you have because you’re a first-gen college student?
I had no support system that could help or guide me when navigating college, both as an undergraduate and now as a grad student. I relied heavily on the support system I created on campus. Without that, I would have probably dropped out.

I would not be who I am today without my mentors, who helped me tremendously – and still do. They assisted me with so much – doing professional interviews, helping me with applications, etc. I didn’t know how to do any of that. I didn’t even know what to expect, and they prepared me for that. None of my family or family friends have attended college, so I was/am on my own for the majority of this journey.

Privilege was something I did not have to witness until I attended college and was exposed to different things. As the oldest in a Mexican household, I did everything on my own. I had to become independent very early on. But to see other students with so much privilege was astonishing.

I had to remind people so often that things were different for me; that I couldn’t do everything they did. I didn’t have the financial stability many had. Having to explain that was so difficult and repetitive. It was annoying. It made me frustrated with who I was, and why this had to be my life. I wanted what other people had, and it was a feeling that stuck with me for so long.

I also still had the responsibility of my family, even if I was living on campus. I was still tied to my parents. Most of the time, I had to be the parent. Not everyone understood that. Eventually I realized this was called imposter syndrome, which is something common among many first-gen students.

Did you work during college? How difficult was it to find the balance between school,

family, and work?
Yes. I started off with one job during college, but then ended up with 2 jobs during my junior year all the way until I graduated. I definitely struggled more than I would like to say with balancing work, school, and family. No one taught me how to have a balance, so it was unhealthy.

I still am learning how to have a healthy balance. I had a lot of sleepless nights, because I didn’t prioritize and I procrastinated a lot. I definitely used work as an excuse as to why I would fall behind, when all I needed was better organizational and scheduling skills.

What does your family think about you going to college? How do they support you or
make things more difficult?
Oof. I think my mom is proud – she doesn’t really say that, so I will speak for her. However, she is supportive in her own ways. It has taken me a while to realize that. My brother is in school, so he knows that education is important. I hope this makes him go to graduate school as well. However, they sometimes do make this journey difficult.

Boundaries is something they struggle with, so it makes it hard to concentrate on school when I also need to be present with family. My dad views this as just me going to school so I can receive a bigger check when I start my career. He doesn’t realize that I am in this to help other people and to assist those who need it. That’s the major difference in the support I get from my parents. My mom understands the importance of what I want to do, but my dad doesn’t.

Do you feel that some universities capitalize off of their first-generation students for marketing/diversity purposes?
It is so frustrating. Like, yes, it’s great that we get exposure, but also… not. Half the time, it isn’t even that diverse – it’s just a lie. The funny part is that when the photographers are around, they go looking for the POC first-gen kids. It’s like they can smell you. We would always stay away from them.

What elements of your culture did you bring to school?
My mom’s cooking. Almost everyone would eat it or know about it. It was nice to have that aspect of my culture on campus. Especially seeing my friends eat it, or when I would bring them home. I would also teach some friends certain sayings in Spanish. Sometimes our cultures would overlap, or they would be curious and I would teach them something about my traditions. That was always fun.

Is there anything else you’ve learned from your experiences and/or from other
first-generation students?
Having a support system and community is so important, and I am so thankful for mine. Without this, I would not have survived college. I have learned that being first-gen can mean many different things, and that we need to come together rather than trying to be better than each other. All we really want is to belong and, to feel wanted, heard, and welcomed. We are stronger and bigger than what people think.

Stay tuned for Part 2, in which we explore Lesley’s perspective on the first-generation financial aid process.

Share this:

8 Goofy Scholarships

Bestie gang, it’s summer season, which means my brain has officially left the building. But the scholarship grind doesn’t stop!

I’m on the waitlist for grad school, doing research for Red Kite, and figuring out how to budget. Surprise, surprise: the world is expensive these days.

But this is the absolute best time to start applying to scholarships. We all need to go into our next year of school with a little extra cash, so I’ve complied a list of some fun, easy scholarships that made me giggle.

If you’re reading this after June, be sure to check to see if these scholarships are annual/recurring, because there’s always a chance of applying next time. And get this: some of them are open to high school students, too!

1. Ice Cream Scholarship – $1,500

Link: https://myredkite.com/finaid/flavor-of-the-month-scholarship

Y’all know that this scholarship had to be my #1. Also, July is apparently National Ice Cream Month, as if that isn’t every month… Anyways, say hello to the Flavor of the Month Scholarship!

Now, when I first came across this scholarship, I assumed that they wanted me to create a new type of ice cream, which felt a little daunting. Baskin-Robins has 31… like, how many more can there be? Turns out, it’s even easier than that!

All you have to do is write about your favorite flavor, and why it reflects your personality. $1500 to ramble about my obsession with birthday cake ice cream? Say less. (Is it because my love language is gift giving?)

Deadline: July 31

Age requirement: 14+

2. Zombie Apocalypse Scholarship – $2,000

Link: https://myredkite.com/finaid/zombie-apocalypse-scholarship

Picture me waking up in bed, gasping for air. Immediate call to the boyfriend.

“What happened?” he asked.

“I had a dream,” I said, breathless. “I was in the dorms, and the lights went out, and then zombies came in through the windows, and-”

“Jane, it’s 6 AM.”

True story. And now, here’s an opportunity to yap for cash. All you have to do is imagine what would happen to your school or college if zombies suddenly started running amok. Class is cancelled: the apocalypse is here, and people want to hear your survival plan!

P.S. If there’s a Target near your campus, you’re set. And you’ve got cute succulents.

Deadline: October 31

Age requirement: 14+

3. Taylor Swift Scholarship – $1,989

Link: https://myredkite.com/finaid/1989-taylors-version

I’ve mentioned Beyonce in almost every blog post on this website, but I’ve gotta look out for my Swifties, too!

This scholarship offers funds to one diehard fan that writes 400-600 words about a song from Taylor Swift’s album “1989 (Taylor’s Version).” I literally wrote a 30-page journal entry after Cowboy Carter dropped, so if y’all are anything like me, I know you’ll knock this one out of the park.

Deadline: July 1

Education level: Any

4. Comedian Scholarship – $1,500

Link: https://myredkite.com/finaid/make-me-laugh-scholarship

The Make Me Laugh Scholarship is targeted at anyone who’s got a funny story to share. Even if you can’t think of anything that happened to you personally, maybe your friends or family can come in clutch!

I used to work in a suit store, and one time, I was helping a Spanish-speaking customer find a new shirt. I wanted to tell him that he needed a bigger collar size, right? Unfortunately, my Spanish brain chose that exact moment to exit the building, and this is what I told a real person directly to his face: “Your neck is upstairs.”

Now, that horrifying moment no longer has to live just in my mind! (I facepalm at least twice a day over it.) This is your chance to put your standup-worthy moments onto paper.

Deadline: August 31

Age Requirement: 14+

5. Potato Scholarship – $10,000

Link: https://myredkite.com/finaid/potato-industry-scholarship

If you’re still considering which graduate path to pursue, consider this: potato.

I had to throw this one in for my fellow grad students. First of all, I had no idea The National Potato Council was even a thing. Second of all, based on the amount of Jack-in-the-Box curly fries I eat every week, how do I run for chairwoman?

They’re offering an annual scholarship to a grad student “conducting research for the benefit of the potato industry.” I mean, this is an industry that everybody’s passionate about, people.

Deadline: June 14

Age requirement: Graduate student

6. Rodeo Scholarship – $500

Link: https://myredkite.com/finaid/rodeo-ticket-student-scholarship

Yeehaw! Whether you grew up in the rodeo life or you’ve only ever been to one rodeo, all you have to do is write a short essay breaking down your experience.

Saddle up, partners, because the Rodeo Ticket Scholarship wants to hear from you. Did you try to ride a bull and realize you should probably stick to mechanical ones at the county fair? Did you fall in love with a cowboy from afar and write 3 follow-up journal entries about him? (Just me? Okay…)

Apart from the obvious $500 to help with college expenses, this scholarship is a fantastic opportunity to share your unique rodeo story with a wider audience. At the Texas Rodeo, I ate a table-sized turkey leg off the bone and got to pet some alpacas. There’s no easier way to this ole Southern gal’s heart than that. Time to dust off your boots and get to work!

Deadline: August 15

Age requirement: College-enrolled

7. Scholarship for Sewers/Knitters/Crocheters/Felters/Designers

Link: https://myredkite.com/finaid/national-make-it-with-wool

Ever dreamt of weaving your way to the top? (Sorry.) The National Make It With Wool competition is held annually by the American Sheep Industry.

And this is serious business, besties. There are several divisions – including college students – and most US States have their own local competition. So, the deadlines and cash prizes vary, but if you’re a designer that can work with wool, this one’s for you!

Do I run to my mom every time a button falls off my pants? Maybe. But I’m sure we’ve got some crafty Kitelings in need of funds for their wool-based passion.

8. Science Fiction/Fantasy Art Scholarship – $5,000

Link: https://myredkite.com/finaid/l-ron-hubbard-s-illustrators-of-the-future-contes

And for my amateur artists that dabble in sketching dragons and spaceships, you could win $500 for the Illustrators of the Future quarterly contest. After that, you’re automatically enrolled in their grand prize contest, with a first-place award of $5,000… rich.

But the best part is that you get to have your art judged by professional artists. This is the ultimate opportunity to make a name for yourself within the highly-competitive art industry! I mean, I’m already making fanart of Legolas from The Lord of the Rings in my spare time anyway, so why not get paid for it? (I’m kidding – your work needs to be original. Not about the Legolas part. That’s very meaningful to me.)

Deadline: June 30, 2024

Age requirement: Any

So there’s a few fun, goofy scholarships to kick off your summer 2024 search. While you’re here, be sure to submit your scholarship-winning essays to our Essay Analysis blog series.

And for more about Red Kite’s $25 BILLION in financial aid opportunities, you can sign up to our site (www.myredkite.com).

Follow our socials for more Jane content! I’m off to write about some zombies, and I hope to see you there!

Share this:

Understanding Targeted Scholarships

We explain the different types of targeted scholarships and how you can find and apply for them using Red Kite.

Financial aid awards occupy a diverse spectrum of specificity. General scholarships are open to a broad pool of applicants, and targeted scholarships are designed for students who meet certain criteria, including ethnicity, gender, field of study, location, or other unique circumstances.

Targeted scholarships limit their eligibility requirements in order to support underrepresented or disadvantaged groups.

Like all other financial aid, targeted scholarships are offered by various sources, including government agencies, corporations, non-profit organizations, universities, and private foundations.

They often cover tuition fees, books, living expenses, or other educational costs, helping students pursue higher education in order to achieve their academic and career goals.

Types of Targeted Scholarships

Minority Scholarships

Minority scholarships are aimed at students from racial and ethnic minority groups. These include individuals from African American descent, Hispanic/Latino, Native American, Asian American, Pacific Islander, and more.

They may also include scholarships for disabled students, LGBTQ+ POC (people of color), or other students belonging to marginalized communities.

The intention behind these scholarships is to promote on-campus diversity and inclusion. The Union University Minority Scholarship is available to students who are Black, American Indian, Asian, or Hispanic, but this is just one scholarship for one particular university.

There are many nationwide minority scholarships, such as the Hubertus W. V. Willems Scholarship by the NAACP (National Association for the Advancement of Colored People).

Gender-Based Scholarships

These scholarships focus on addressing gender imbalances in certain fields. Gender-based scholarships are financial aid opportunities specifically aimed at supporting individuals of a particular gender, including and especially female-identifying and/or transgender students.

Such scholarships may be designed to address historical inequalities and underrepresentation, or to encourage more participation from a specific gender in certain academic disciplines and professions.

Gender-based targeted scholarships can encompass a wide range of criteria, including scholarships for women in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) fields, which is traditionally a male-dominated sphere.

One example is the Bradley University Women in Engineering Scholarship, which recognizes women who enroll in the Caterpillar College of Engineering and Technology.

We have also seen an explosion of scholarships for transgender or non-binary individuals, such as the LEAGUE Foundation Scholarship, which is a nationwide financial resource for LGBTQ+ students.

Field of Study Scholarships

Designed for students pursuing specific fields, Field of Study Scholarships encourage expertise and innovation in various disciplines. Whether it’s STEM, humanities, business, or the arts, these scholarships provide a pathway for individuals to pursue their academic aspirations with financial support.

Field of study scholarships fuel innovation by providing resources and support to budding researchers, scientists, artists, and entrepreneurs. They enable students to delve deep into their chosen fields, pursue groundbreaking research, and develop solutions to complex challenges.

On the rise right now are AI-based scholarships, a new and evolving technology field. Spokeo (a search website) offers a $5,000 scholarship to a winning student who submits an essay on the topic of artificial intelligence.

Special Circumstances Scholarships

These scholarships cater to students with unique backgrounds or experiences, such as veterans, first-generation college students, or individuals with disabilities.

Diversity does not only encompass race, ethnicity, or gender. It also includes a wide range of backgrounds, experiences, and circumstances. Special circumstances scholarships promote diversity and inclusion by recognizing the unique challenges faced by students from diverse backgrounds and providing targeted support to address their needs.

The Study.com Scholarship for First Generation Students and the Children of Veterans Tuition Grant are both excellent examples of special circumstances scholarships.

How to Find and Apply for Targeted Scholarships

Research Thoroughly: Start by exploring scholarship databases and online resources. Our website, www.myredkite.com, offers comprehensive, step-by-step assistance for connecting you to financial aid opportunities. Red Kite provides instant access to over $25 billion in financial aid.
Recommendations: Reach out to school counselors, community organizations, and professional associations related to your field of interest. They often have information about scholarships that might not be widely advertised, which is also our main goal here at Red Kite.
Tailor Your Application: Ensure that your application materials – including essays and recommendation letters -align with the specific criteria of the targeted scholarship. Highlight your unique qualifications and experiences that make you an ideal candidate. Our blog has an essay analysis series to help give you tips for writing your essays.
Seek Feedback: Before submitting your application, ask your mentors, teachers, or peers to review your essay. Constructive feedback can help increase your chances of success.

Targeted scholarships are a powerful tool in creating equitable educational opportunities for students from diverse backgrounds. By helping our students understand the various types of targeted scholarships – and showing them how to find and apply for financial aid – Red Kite aims to help students unlock the support they need to pursue their academic dreams.

Share this:

Analysis of My $406,000 Essay

Kite Writer Jane Cooper breaks down her scholarship-winning essay and gives students tips on how to approach their own college applications.

Last time around, I introduced you to my own college journey, including the fact that I didn’t have the best GPA at the end of my high school career. And yet, thanks to my college counselor taking advantage of services like Red Kite – in combination with my college essay – I was offered a cumulative $406,000 by three different universities (quick flex).

Now let’s take an up close and personal look at my essay, paragraph-by-paragraph. As a reminder, we’re going to be starting a series on this blog of analyzing successful college essays. That way, our applying students can form their own strategies and ideas.

Many kids aren’t as fortunate to have the support and resources that I did, let alone a second chance after a bum GPA in an ever-competitive world. Whether you’re navigating this process on your own, with your family, or otherwise, be sure to check out myredkite.com for access to our Red Kite Matching Engine, which compiles over $25 billion in scholarships and financial aid. Everybody likes free money!

Away we go!

High school graduation (2019).

While I was creating each of my novels, I had to think to myself, “how do I make people who don’t know me care about my work, even if they have no reason to?”

This is a subtle and noninvasive way to introduce the fact that I had already written full-length projects before applying to college. You want your essay to be forward-thinking, but it’s important to mention your past achievements without sounding like you’re bragging. Remember, above all, you are selling the idea of yourself to colleges. Put on your marketing hat and advertise!

Another thing about this paragraph is its honesty. I was straight-up spelling out my thought process, because I realized there would be another person on the other side of this essay. The admissions office is made up of real people, not just this scary idea of decision-makers who hold your future in their hands. Talk to them like people. They’ll appreciate it.

The same goes for personal essays like this. Anyone can talk up and down about all the things they had to overcome and their accomplishments in their life, but the difference is how it is told. The answer has unequivocally always been to embellish, exaggerate, and create sympathy. This is not what I plan to do here.

Here in the creative writing world, we refer to this as a “hook.” I am setting up the structure for the rest of my essay while simultaneously keeping my audience intrigued. “This is what I don’t plan to do, so stay tuned to find out what I do plan to do.” There’s a difference between this and filler, which is where you divert from the central subject at hand by talking around it, not about it. It’s the same as any basic essay outline: beginning/introduction, middle/support, and end/conclusion.

And again: I am speaking to the admissions office on a personal, human level, and I’m doing it by acknowledging the thin strategies many writers use when trying to convince colleges to admit them into their program. There’s nothing wrong with embellishing, exaggerating, and creating sympathy – especially when it’s yourself that you’re trying to sell – but I was applying to writing programs. You want to craft your essay around whichever type of program you’re seeking to get into. Not only am I referring to my own story in this section, but I am speaking to the art of storytelling as a whole.

Instead, I would like to introduce the truth of my own story, as raw and unbiased as I can manage. I hope to symbolize the confidence I have that the truth alone is enough to set me apart from other essay writers, applicants, and authors.

Truth, people, truth! If your essay reads as anything less than genuine, it’ll only hurt your chances. Be vulnerable and “raw,” as I put it here. You don’t need to overshare, but you can’t grow without risk. If you feel like you’re holding back or watering yourself down, remember that you are unique. There are other people out there who have similar life experiences and circumstances, but you are you, and nobody else. Not only do you want to acknowledge your individuality, but this essay is actually an opportunity to capitalize off of it. Let ’em know your struggle and your strength!

I was born in Austin, Texas to a mother who earned a Bachelor’s in Journalism at the University of Texas and self-published a book of autobiographical columns. My father also dabbled in poetry, and we like to joke that I took their flairs for writing and multiplied them exponentially.

We’re starting from day one – literally – and this isn’t always a bad thing, but I do want to acknowledge that the overwhelming majority of college applicants will structure their essays in this way. Going through your life in chronological order is an easy-to-follow method of detailing your story, but if you want to be different, throw your audience right in the middle.

For example, now that I’m applying to graduate school, I would probably restructure this essay to begin with the social media disaster that I detail at the very end of this essay. Not because I’m trying to create sympathy, but because I want to emphasize a unique, writing-specific experience I had, which then convinces my audience to care about me. You need your reader to be invested in you and your success, and thereby, you must keep them interested.

This structure worked well with setting up my own personal passion and personality, because I have possessed a near-compulsive (and sometimes annoying) enthusiasm for writing since I was born. But that isn’t always the case for applicants. In fact, more often than not, students will still be figuring out their passions by the time the college applying process comes around. And that’s totally fine! If you’re a student who’s still unsure about their path forward, that’s a strength as well. You’re open and flexible, but not uncommitted.

Clearly, the common denominator of this essay is that I am committed to my art. Write about whatever it is you are most passionate about. Whether it’s taking care of your siblings, volunteering at a local animal shelter, or working at the mall to pay for your car, your life is your responsibility. And if colleges see that you are committed and responsible, you have a surefire way into admission.

I wanted to be a writer before I could write. When I was two, I would scribble nonsense in notebooks, then read them out loud as if they were actual books. It has always been a deep passion ingrained within me to the point where it feels as natural as breathing or eating. During my childhood, I had so many ideas that I never ended up completing anything I wrote, because I would too quickly move on to the next one. Eventually, I had thousands of unfinished books, ranging from 2 to 250 pages.

As I mentioned, this is supporting my assertion that I was born to write. Now, I want you to know that if you were born to sit on your couch and watch YouTube, that’s fine! (Thank goodness we exist in the same world as Jenna Marbles.) Focus on what you want to do at college. What you want to explore, what you’ve already explored, and how you’ve already proven yourself as a capable student.

While writing any essay, you want to have support for whatever idea you’re trying to explain. In retrospect, I would probably cut this section down, and make reference to how my personality will shine at college. “Because I am such a dedicated writer, I want to bring my skills to reputable programs” type of vibe.

After my family moved to New York when I was in elementary school, I faced abuse at the hands of teachers and family members, suicidal tendencies, and crippling anxiety that would go on to take almost a decade to overcome. I began to slow down, and I finished a 45 thousand word book when I was 12, my first ever novel. It allowed for the confidence that I was actually able to complete my ideas, but more than that, it set the tone for the next five books that I would go on to write.

This goes back to our vulnerability motif. You are not made up of a bunch of strengths, and it is actually your struggles that make you strong. If you go into your essay intending to emphasize your accomplishments as a selling point, your voice will be lost in what will be the most competitive applicant pool of all time.

Not to sound like a weird therapist mom, but from an objective strategy point, you can’t pretend to be bulletproof. Admissions offices read essays all day about capable, accomplished students just like you, but rarely will teenagers dare to open themselves up. They know you’re not perfect, because they aren’t, either. Nobody is, but you know that already from everything you’ve already had to overcome. And the fact that you overcame struggle at all is something to celebrate.

You’ll notice that my essay is a balanced mix of my mistakes and failures as well as my successes. It feels like a risk to not only admit that you have made mistakes, but to detail than explicitly. But if this is done right, your flawed history will highlight your bright future. You might picture this essay like a U shape: a confident hook, a vulnerable middle, and a triumphant end. You want to transition from one to the next smoothly, like the curve of a U.

My dorm plants: Mr. Meander and his son, Meanderling.

I joined a website for writers in 2013. It took another 2 years, but eventually, my work began to take off on the site, and in 2018, I had over 100,000 followers, and I’d racked up above 70 million views across my various books. Because I was still a minor, the site placed advertisements on my work, and never paid me for them. Eventually, they deleted my profile and all of my writing over this money dispute, and I was back to square one. I had spent 4 years of my life creating on this site, and now had nothing to show for it except for screenshots and memories.

This paragraph is arranged oppositely of the last one – I switched from describing a low point and then a high point to a high point and then a low point. This way, I’m creating sympathy without overwhelming my reader.

Describing my social media arc also demonstrates forward-thinking, because social media authorship is a new, fast-growing industry. This shows that I’m already taking steps to explore the future of writing, beyond just traditional art forms.

After moving back to Texas and going through 3 high schools in 3 years, I finally found God and began meditating, effectively curing the anxiety that had crippled me since my childhood. Now, I am a straight-A student about to publish a second novel to Amazon, and my comedy-based YouTube channel has almost 1,500 subscribers. I also volunteer at a local organization teaching creative writing to underprivileged 2nd graders once a week. It’s small compared to what I achieved on the writing site, but I’m proud of it, and most importantly, I’m happy.

Hooray! I wanted to give a brief, surface-level explanation for my poor GPA, but quickly soften that with the momentum of my later high school years. I’m laying out the fact that although I struggled in school, I got my act together towards the end, and I’m coming to college as a capable, responsible student.

Another thing about this section is it’s diversity. I touched on a broad variety of accomplishments that I figured would appeal to colleges: my ascending grades, my extracurricular writing, my social media, and my volunteer work. On their own, they might not be as compelling, but when put all together, this clearly stands out as an applicant who is hard working in a variety of fields.

Only a year ago I had lost so much, and although I’m still suffering from certain aftereffects of that loss, I now firmly know I am strong enough to face anything. Nobody and nothing can take away my potential, my determination, and my talent.

I ended the previous paragraph on a very non-academic note: I’m happy. Obviously, this has little to do with college, but this follow-up paragraph expands on an idea that programs find desirable: growing confidence.

They want their community to be made up of independent thinkers who can come together and change the world. Find your happy, acknowledge your faults, and relentlessly pursue your own excellence. (Yes, that’s a link to an article about Beyoncé. Nobody can be Beyoncé except for Beyoncé, just like nobody can be you except for you. But we can all learn a thing or two from the greats.)

My name is Jane Cooper. It took some time for me to see it, but I know my future is full of greatness.

Mic drop! Don’t be afraid of your name. Take that name to the bank! You want your reader to leave your essay with your name in their mind. There’s no better way to end on a high note than with what you’ve been talking about this whole time: you!

Vice President of Sigma Tau Delta (The International English Honor Society) with the Lending Library our club installed on campus.

Friends, this is just one example of one college essay, and you need to structure your essay whichever way fits you best. You can’t expect to copy my essay and get the same results, because you’re a different person with a different background applying to different programs for different reasons. But if nothing else, I hope my essay gave you some ideas for your own.

We’ll be posting a recap with some general takeaways from this essay before we launch our new series. That way, you know who I am, and how I got to this point. And if you have a scholarship-winning essay you’d like analyzed, feel free to email it to us!

I’m not a college professor, nor an admissions expert. I’m just a kid from Texas who somehow still managed to go to college, despite my many mistakes and setbacks. But if you want my advice, be brave, be honest, and believe in yourself.

Share this:

The Future of Scholarships

We explore emerging trends in scholarship opportunities.

Technology is shaping the landscape of scholarships. Ever since the COVID-19 pandemic – along with the recent rise of AI innovation – college applicants might feel overwhelmed by the enormous amount of available online resources.

However, through platforms like Red Kite, access to financial aid has been completely streamlined. We’re here to break down just a few ways the financial aid scene has developed, and how it may look in the future.

Utilizing online scholarship platforms like Red Kite.

Websites and mobile apps have been revolutionizing the scholarship search process for decades. It is now easier than ever for students to discover and apply for scholarships tailored to their interests, qualifications, and unique circumstances.

Red Kite’s Search Engine provides access to over $25 billion in available scholarships and financial aid. Our features include personalized recommendations based on students’ profiles, notifications for new scholarship opportunities, and career connection and advice.

Through our blog, we also explore tips for writing your college essay, and are launching an essay review series, where Kite Writer Jane Cooper will be analyzing successful, scholarship-winning essays. Our blog and social media are informationally diverse – we want to cover all aspects of preparing for college, including informative articles such as this one.

Alternative funding models (GoFundMe).

Crowdfunding platforms allow students to create campaigns to raise funds for their education, tapping into their social networks and beyond. One of the best-known companies is GoFundMe, where users create donation pages on behalf of their own personal causes.

But it’s important to remember that GoFundMe is a for-profit company. It applies a 2.9% payment-processing fee for each donation, and an additional 30 cents per donation. For example, if a campaign raises $1,000 through ten donations of $100 each, GoFundMe would collect approximately $32.

On the other hand, we have also seen a rise of employer-sponsored scholarships, which are offered by companies to support employees and their families. These provide opportunities for career advancement while pursuing higher education.

One specific example on Red Kite is the the Dependent Children of Texas A&M Employee Scholarship, which is designed to recognize the contributions of TAMU employees by rewarding their children based on need and academic achievement.

Then we have community-based initiatives. These involve collaborations between local businesses, organizations, and educational institutions to establish scholarship funds tailored to the needs of the community. Sticking to the Texan theme, the Brian Morris College Gateway Scholarship Fund assists graduating high school seniors from San Antonio, with preference to students who demonstrate good citizenship and community involvement.

Post-COVID impact and innovation

The economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic has greatly exacerbated financial stresses for students and their families. Job losses, reduced income, and unexpected remote learning expenses have strained household budgets, making scholarships and financial aid more crucial than ever. Many students who might not have considered applying for financial aid before the pandemic now find themselves seeking assistance.

In response to the immediate economic distress caused by the pandemic, many institutions and organizations established emergency funds and relief grants. The HOPE In Action Scholarship was launched to target Louisianan students who have lost a parent or parents to COVID-19.

These days, we’re seeing a rise of non-tuition-related scholarships for this very same reason. The Triangle Community Foundation offers their Student Assistance Fund, which provides one-time cash assistance to eligible students to assist with needs that would otherwise hinder them from completing their academic program, such as dormitories, food pantries, and mental health services that they are unable to access.

Virtual scholarship fairs, online application portals, and remote interview processes have also become more common, allowing students to access scholarship opportunities from anywhere with an internet connection.

Continued focus on diversity and inclusion.

Scholarship programs are increasingly emphasizing diversity, equity, and inclusion, with a growing number of awards targeting underrepresented minority groups. These include LGBTQ+ students, students with disabilities, first-generation college students, and much more.

These scholarships aim to address systemic barriers and provide equal access to education and opportunities for all students. The Minority Teaching Fellows Program, intended to encourage talented students to enter the teaching field in Tennessee, awards $5,000 per year for POC (people of color) who pursue a teacher certification at an eligible Tennessee college or university.

Regardless of what adversity or discrimination you may be facing, you can be a part of the most diverse college class of all time.

Future skills and career pathways

Red Kite now offers a comprehensive Career section, where our aim is to continue to assist students beyond college. We help you explore your dream career, discover employment opportunities, and even manage your deadlines.

Scholarships are also increasingly focused on preparing students for the jobs of tomorrow. Fields such as STEM, healthcare, sustainability, renewable energy, artificial intelligence, and cybersecurity are experiencing high demand for skilled professionals.

By embracing these future trends, the financial aid sphere is adapting to the evolving needs of students and the workforce, ensuring that education remains accessible and relevant in an increasingly digital and interconnected world.

Your future is bright, and Red Kite is here to help you navigate this complicated, ever-changing world. Students are the most invaluable resource for the world’s future. You don’t have to grow alone.

Share this:

Debunking Scholarship Myths: What You Really Need to Know

We break down common misconceptions about scholarships and financial aid.

Applying to college can feel complicated and overwhelming. Here at Red Kite, our goal is to simplify the process and streamline your access to financial aid.

Both students and parents alike have many understandable questions and concerns about scholarships. Here are just a few examples of widespread financial aid myths, and why your chances at college are much higher than you may realize.

Myth #1: You can’t afford college.

Many students don’t even apply to the university of their dreams because they know they won’t be able to afford the tuition. Additional fees also add up: living in the dorms, textbooks, meal plans… The average cost of college has more than doubled in the 21st century, with in-state tuition averaging at $9,678; out-of-state tuition averages $27,091.

Scholarships and financial aid help to alleviate this financial burden in a variety of ways. By offsetting college expenses, resources like Red Kite help students graduate with less or no debt. High levels of student loan debt can have long-term financial consequences, but small loans combined with scholarships mitigate these risks and help students start their post-graduation lives on stronger financial footing. Over 83% of full-time, first-time undergraduate students receive at least some form of financial aid to help make college more affordable.

Our Red Kite Search Engine provides instant access to the Red Kite Database, which complies over $25 billion in financial aid. These include no-essay scholarships, fun scholarships (like the Taylor Swift Fan Scholarship), and much more. Through financial aid, any college becomes more affordable, even if you don’t have the best GPA.

Myth #2: Scholarships are only for straight-A students.

While academic achievement can certainly help with your chances of receiving scholarships, many programs consider various factors beyond your grades. Extracurricular activities, community service, leadership roles, and unique talents or skills are all excellent advantages.

Scholarships are also intended to diversify the educational sphere and grant access to marginalized groups. There are plenty of targeted scholarships for underprivileged individuals, such as the Single Parent Household Scholarship, which targets exceptional students raised in a single-parent household, or students who are single parents themselves and pursuing a degree in education.

Kite Writer Jane Cooper had a 2.7 GPA at the beginning of her junior year of high school. By the end of her senior year, she had been offered a cumulative $406,000 in scholarships. A high GPA is far from the only route to scholarships and financial aid.

Myth #3: Scholarships are only for incoming freshmen.

While there are indeed many financial aid opportunities aimed at incoming freshmen, there are also scholarships available for current college students, graduate students, and even adult learners returning to school. It’s never too late to search for and apply to scholarships.

Myth #4: You have to be a U.S. citizen to receive financial aid.

While some federal financial aid programs require U.S. citizenship or eligible noncitizen status, many scholarships and state-funded financial aid programs are available to eligible noncitizen students, including DACA recipients and certain categories of undocumented immigrants. Additionally, some colleges offer institutional aid to international students.

Myth #5: Once you get a scholarship, you’re set for all four years of college.

Many scholarships are renewable, meaning you can receive them for multiple years, but they often come with conditions – such as maintaining a certain GPA or participating in specific activities. Additionally, some scholarships are one-time awards, so it’s essential to plan for funding for all four years of college.

Now that you have a more clear understanding of the financial aid process, be sure to check out myredkite.com to continue your college pursuit. We are here to help – and to debunk!

Share this:

5 Fun College Summer Activities

You made it through another semester at college! Now it’s time to kick back, relax, and take a break from your busy undergrad life.

Even if you’re stuck taking a summer semester, it’s important to make some time for yourself. If I didn’t treat myself to a $7 iced coffee every day of the hot season, I think I would literally collapse.

There’s a lot to prepare for the fall, and I’m sure you’re trying to get organized. Summer jobs and volunteering are also great ways to boost your resume, but if you’re wondering how to maximize your fun, ya girl is here with all my favorite ways to kick off the summer. And spoiler alert… they’re cheap!

1. Make a time capsule.

Four years from now, you’ll be looking back on this summer with a totally new perspective. When I was a freshman, I wrote a letter to senior Jane, and it was so interesting to see how much I had changed!

Write to your future self and ask questions. Tell yourself what your biggest hopes for college are, and be sure to refresh them on how your current life is going. Your best friends, your favorite hobbies, your go-to YouTuber… trust, your grad self will LOVE to look back on your time right now.

Some other things you can include in your time capsule are:

Photographs (friends, family, pets).
A mood board of what you think your life will look like in a few years.
A current newspaper (or, ya know, the top Twitter headline).
The last movie ticket you bought.
The receipt from the last time you went shopping.

You can also list your favorite things, and then see if they’ve changed by the end of college. Here are a few ideas for lists you can include in your time capsule:

Your favorite foods.
Your favorite musicians.
Your favorite movies.
Your favorite memories.
Your favorite teachers.
Your favorite video games, board games, and card games.
Your favorite restaurants/fast food places.
The current funniest memes.
Who you follow on social media right now.

And why not spice it up with some drama? Tell your future self what your biggest worries and problems are right now. Maybe later on, they’ll look a little less scary!

2. Have a presentation night with your friends.

One of my favorite things that my friends and I have ever done was a slideshow night. Each of us prepared a PowerPoint, then presented it in front of the group. Mine was book-themed… are we surprised?

There are so many different ideas for your presentation theme. A few of the funniest ones I’ve found:

There’s also a “poll” themed night, where the group is asked a question, and everyone votes their answers. They can be friend-related – like, “Who’s the grandma of the friend group?” – or just general, fun polls.

You can use Instagram to collect everybody’s answers. Otherwise, there are plenty of free-to-use poll apps and websites out there, like Pollie.

3. Movie binge.

We’ll get into the great outdoors in a moment, but for now, here are some classic film series to watch! Don’t forget your Beyonce Renaissance Tour Popcorn Bucket. (Just me? Okay…)

The Lord of the Rings (my personal favorite).
All of the Studio Ghibli movies.
Star Wars.
Pirates of the Caribbean (I recently rewatched these, and… are you kidding? They’re SO good!)
Harry Potter.
The Hunger Games.
The Dark Knight trilogy.
The Despicable Me/Minions franchise (don’t judge… I’m obsessed with these).
The Jurassic Park movies.
The Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). (Skip over The Hulk…)
The Godzilla franchise (see above).

4. Camping.

Camping is one of the best ways to bond with your friends. There are plenty of cheap (or even free) campsites all over the place, even if it’s a little bit of a drive.

During my senior summer, I went beach camping with my best friend, and waking up to the sound of the ocean is such a vibe. (Be sure to watch high tide, though…) One tip for beach camping with long hair is that my best friend braided hers, and mine ended up looking like a rat’s nest.

Sunrise at beach camping. (Not my RV. I wish, tho…)

Here are a few of the most essential items to pack for camping, but there are a lot of more comprehensive lists out there!

Bug spray (trust me. This needs to be #1).
Sunscreen.
Extra clothes.
Flashlights.
Sleeping bags and pillows.

And make sure your tent is waterproof! You never know when it’s gonna rain…

5. Learn a new skill.

From skateboarding to knitting, there are so many fun skills you can spend your summer perfecting! As Brittany Broski says, “Never stop learning. Always be a student of life.”

I recently went down an art history rabbit hole. I never understood Vincent Van Gogh until I found this amazing YouTube channel: Great Art Explained!

1. Cooking.

You’ll probably have a meal plan at college, but it never hurts to have some quick and easy recipes on hand. We’ll be posting a blog post about fun recipes to make in your dorm, and we’ll update this article with the link.

2. Learn a new language.

Being multilingual is one of the most valuable skills a person can possess in this world. It makes it easier to connect with people, travel to new places, and learn about other cultures. One of my college roommates was Mexican, and I was always so jealous of her ability to speak Spanish with other people.

You’ll need a language credit during college anyway, so might as well get a head start!

3. Juggling.

This will drive the college kids wild, guaranteed… we’re very easily entertained.

4. Learn how to dance.

I would mention that there are a bazillion cheap and fun dance classes out there, but you’ve got one right in your house: social media!

Punch in a type of dance into the search bar of any social media platform, and enjoy the thousands of creators with dance tutorials posted to their profiles. TikTok dances are easy and short, but it might also be fun to try more traditional dance forms.

I’m currently trying to teach myself how to salsa… there’s a reason why I’m a writer, and not a salsa queen. Yet.

5. Meditate.

That college stress is coming, so it’s always good to have a few mental health strategies in your toolkit! Meditating is an easy way to feel grounded in your body and self. And the best part: you can do it anywhere, at any time! (Maybe not while you’re driving, but you get what I mean.)

So, there you have it. Just a few fun and simple ways to spend your college summer. Leave us a comment with any other ideas y’all have!

Share this:

The Essay that Won Me $406,000

Jane introduces us to her multi-scholarship-winning essay.

Jane Cooper: Red Kite writer, YouTuber, and mom to a belligerent silver tabby.

Sitting pretty with a 2.7 GPA in your junior year of high school doesn’t exactly scream “scholarship.” The year before, my older sister – who aspired to be a rocket scientist (no, literally) – had gotten rejected from 3 of the colleges she’d applied to. And she had a 4.0. No pressure, right?

And yet, in December of my senior year, I found myself gut sobbing on my mother’s kitchen floor, clutching a book-sized envelope to my chest. The highest one of them all – a $112,000/year scholarship offer. I suppose that you’re now wondering the exact same thing as I was in that moment: how in the world did this happen?

I won’t keep you hanging, but it’s important for me to note that we live in an ever-evolving, ever-competitive world, and it took a dedicated support system to pull me up by my whiny bootstraps.

Of course, I give full credit to my college counselor and my lovely parents (with their saintlike patience) for connecting me to where I needed to go. They also used resources like Red Kite (heyyyyy) to narrow down the application pool to schools with reputations for being generous with scholarships.

Before applying, I had never heard of any of the three schools that extended scholarship offers to me, but their writing programs were reputable, and my amazing counselor correctly guessed that they’d be a good fit for me.

But there’s only so much anyone can do to help you out, especially when you’re a moody teenage girl convinced that her prospects of getting into college at all are pretty much nonexistent. You have to want it, and want it bad. And the best way you can show colleges just how much you want to be there is through your essay.

Christmas diploma – BA in English Literature and Creative Writing (with Emphases in Fiction and Nonfiction) and a minor in Women’s studies.

I lucked out by having so many supportive people around me, and although I recognize that privilege, I also know that these days, there are so many resources available for kids who are navigating this process all on their own. Red Kite – our free, personalized scholarship-finding platform – is one of them.

Another foolproof strategy is the ole learn-by-example, which is a recurring theme we want to offer on this blog. Watch people who succeed, learn how they did it, and incorporate their strategy into your own. No gatekeeping around here!

I don’t pretend to be the greatest writer in the world, nor that my college essay is perfect. Honestly, the first thing that comes to mind when I read back on this – along with a whole wave of cringe – is somewhere along the “bruh… you’re kidding” spectrum. But, facts are facts: this essay won me a cumulative $406,000 in scholarships.

We’ll dissect this essay more in-depth next week, where we’ll get our experts’ opinions on what exactly went right here – and what could’ve been better. We’ll update this page with a link to our analysis then.

For now, here’s my $406,000 college application essay.

Jane Cooper

College Essay for CommonApp

While I was creating each of my novels, I had to think to myself, “how do I make people who don’t know me care about my work, even if they have no reason to?” The same goes for personal essays like this. Anyone can talk up and down about all the things they had to overcome and their accomplishments in their life, but the difference is how it is told. The answer has unequivocally always been to embellish, exaggerate, and create sympathy. This is not what I plan to do here.

Instead, I would like to introduce the truth of my own story, as raw and unbiased as I can manage. I hope to symbolize the confidence I have that the truth alone is enough to set me apart from other essay writers, applicants, and authors.

I was born in Austin, Texas to a mother who earned a Bachelor’s in Journalism at the University of Texas and self-published a book of autobiographical columns. My father also dabbled in poetry, and we like to joke that I took their flairs for writing and multiplied them exponentially.

I wanted to be a writer before I could write. When I was two, I would scribble nonsense in notebooks, then read them out loud as if they were actual books. It has always been a deep passion ingrained within me to the point where it feels as natural as breathing or eating. During my childhood, I had so many ideas that I never ended up completing anything I wrote, because I would too quickly move on to the next one. Eventually, I had thousands of unfinished books, ranging from 2 to 250 pages.

After my family moved to New York when I was in elementary school, I faced abuse at the hands of teachers and family members, suicidal tendencies, and crippling anxiety that would go on to take almost a decade to overcome. I began to slow down, and I finished a 45 thousand word book when I was 12, my first ever novel. It allowed for the confidence that I was actually able to complete my ideas, but more than that, it set the tone for the next five books that I would go on to write.

I joined a website for writers in 2013. It took another 2 years, but eventually, my work began to take off on the site, and in 2018, I had over 100,000 followers, and I’d racked up above 70 million views across my various books. Because I was still a minor, the site placed advertisements on my work, and never paid me for them. Eventually, they deleted my profile and all of my writing over this money dispute, and I was back to square one. I had spent 4 years of my life creating on this site, and now had nothing to show for it except for screenshots and memories.

After moving back to Texas and going through 3 high schools in 3 years, I finally found God and began meditating, effectively curing the anxiety that had crippled me since my childhood. Now, I am a straight-A student about to publish a second novel to Amazon, and my comedy-based YouTube channel has almost 1,500 subscribers. I also volunteer at a local organization teaching creative writing to underprivileged 2nd graders once a week. It’s small compared to what I achieved on the writing site, but I’m proud of it, and most importantly, I’m happy.

Only a year ago I had lost so much, and although I’m still suffering from certain aftereffects of that loss, I now firmly know I am strong enough to face anything. Nobody and nothing can take away my potential, my determination, and my talent.

My name is Jane Cooper. It took some time for me to see it, but I know my future is full of greatness.

Share this:

How To Financially Prepare For After College Graduation

COVID-19 has turned everything upside down, including college graduation. These uncertain times make it more important than ever to make sure you are financially prepared for whatever lies ahead. Graduating college and starting your career comes with additional expenses and responsibilities, so making sure you are financially set for the future is crucial. Plus, ensuring financial preparedness can help ease some of the anxiety that comes with graduating. Here are just a few ways you can ensure greater financial stability post-graduation.

Set up a plan to pay off your student loans

According to Forbes, there are 45 million people who have taken out student loans. If you are one of those students, it’s crucial to set yourself up for success to ensure you are able to pay off your loans as soon as you can! This will allow you to save more of your money and live debt-free. Some best practices that will put you on the path to success include:

Creating a strict budget.
Paying over the minimum payment to avoid accumulating interest.
Starting with the smallest loan first and working your way up (often called the debt snowball method).

Seeing that balance drop to zero will not only be a huge weight lifted off your shoulders, but it will also leave you better prepared to tackle future big purchases such as buying a house or a car.

Open up a checking account with direct deposit

Once you’ve landed your first job out of college, it’s time to open up a checking account and set up direct deposit. This will allow you to get your paychecks paperless and automatically deposited into your account, making payday much easier on you and your employer! Many checking accounts also provide you with a debit card, making it easy to access your money and make everyday purchases.

There are many options available when choosing the right financial institution to set up an account with. If you don’t already have yourself set up with a checking account, consider signing up with a financial service that will directly deposit your paychecks in advance! This can ease some of the stress between pay periods and get you your money days earlier than most would.

Begin contributing to a retirement plan

Besides saving for your emergency fund, it’s important to make contributions to a retirement fund such as an IRA as early as you can. It can be easy to focus on the short term goals like paying off rent and keeping up with your student loans, but it’s never too early to begin planning for retirement.

Even if you are only able to contribute a small portion of your income, every little bit counts! Check with your employer to see their options. Many employers will have a 401(k) plan and may even match some of your contributions! If you’re unfamiliar with these types of plans or where to start, check out these key points.

Build your credit

Lastly, you’ll want to make sure you’re focusing on building up your credit. Applying for a credit card and making small purchases can help you to slowly increase your credit score.

Building or improving your credit score can help you get approved for future purchases such as a new car or mortgage on a house. Finding a credit card that’s right for you can be a challenge for some, so make sure to do your research and ask about these questions to yourself:

Is there an Annual Fee?
What is the APR?
Do they offer benefits such as cash back or travel miles?
What kind of fees do they have?
Do they have a credit score requirement?

If you are not sure where to begin your search, be sure to check out these student credit cards to start your journey student credit cards to start your journey.

Being proactive about maintaining your finances is a crucial habit to get into, so starting off your college graduation on the right foot will be key. Given the circumstances we are in right now, it’s more important than ever to be conscious of your finances and start off on the right path. Now it’s time to finish off the semester strong!

Share this: