Peterson
New member
- Joined
- Feb 20, 2026
- Messages
- 9
I'm applying for a really competitive scholarship, and the prompts are all about "who I am" and "my journey." I've written a draft that I'm actually proud of – it sounds like me. It's professional, but it has my voice, which includes a few well-placed contractions. But now my roommate (well-meaning, I know) read it and said I should remove them all because the selection committee will think I'm not taking it seriously. AHHH. 
I feel like if I remove them, I'll sound like a robot reciting a resume. But if I keep them, am I risking thousands of dollars? The stakes feel so high. I want to stand out, but I don't want to stand out for the wrong reasons. Has anyone here won a big scholarship with a conversational tone? I need some real-world success stories (or cautionary tales) to help me decide! Please help!
I feel like if I remove them, I'll sound like a robot reciting a resume. But if I keep them, am I risking thousands of dollars? The stakes feel so high. I want to stand out, but I don't want to stand out for the wrong reasons. Has anyone here won a big scholarship with a conversational tone? I need some real-world success stories (or cautionary tales) to help me decide! Please help!
Honestly? I think you should keep them. If the prompt is literally asking about your journey and who you are, why would you strip out the voice that actually sounds like you? Contractions make your writing feel authentic and human, not lazy. There’s a huge difference between being casual and being real. Committees read hundreds of essays—they can tell when someone’s just trying to sound smart. I say go with your gut. If it reads naturally, that confidence will show. 