Don't Get it Wrong! This is The Difference Between Essay and Motivattion Letter Scholarship

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Many scholarship applicants are still confused about the difference between an essay and a motivation letter. Both are required in the selection process and look similar because they are both about yourself. But make no mistake, even though they look similar, they have different focuses, structures, and purposes. If you can understand the differences, your chances of getting a scholarship will increase. Let's read this article.

1. Different Writing Objectives

The striking difference between the two lies in the purpose of the writing. A scholarship essay aims to explore a particular theme more broadly such as environmental, educational, social, or academic topics related to your field of study. The motivation letter, on the other hand, is more personal, as it emphasizes a narrative about your background, experiences, motivations and compelling reasons why you applied for the scholarship and why you chose the program/university.

2. Writing Style and Tone

Scholarship essays usually tend to be formal, analytical in tone. It is also accompanied by your opinion and can involve data or references. For, motivation letters because the purpose is different, they are usually more personal, but still professional. Because in this motivation letter, it's time for you to highlight your life story, values, and goals. But remember, even though it is personal, avoid too much irrelevant venting.

Also Read: Keep How to Write an Auto Stand Out Scholarship CV!

3. Writing Structure

Scholarship essays usually consist of an introduction, main body/argument, and conclusion. You need to focus on building logical and coherent ideas with facts or examples. Meanwhile, for a motivation letter, you can compose a strong narrative about your background, motivation, and future goals so that it is not too argumentative, more of a persuasive/personal statement.

Essay and motivation letter may look similar, but they serve very different purposes in the scholarship selection process. By understanding this difference, you can write each document appropriately so that you can show your critical thinking skills through an essay or show your passion and readiness through a motivation letter. So, before applying for a scholarship, make sure you write both in the appropriate style!

If you need a visual overview of this, you can watch the video from the following channel @BerawalDariSini!