MSHQ Premed Scholarship Essay Contest
It has been a goal of mine since I started the Medical School Headquarters to give and support those students who may be close to giving up because of a lack of funds. While this premed scholarship isn’t just for those with need, it’s my hope that we can make an impact on everyone’s life.
We thought long and hard about how to best implement a scholarship here at the Medical School Headquarters. We determined that doing an essay contest twice a year would allow you to complete the application when you have time throughout the year, and it would give us some flexibility in reviewing the applications. Our initial thought was monthly, and we launched the scholarship thinking it was going to be quarterly, but we quickly realized how much reading that was going to be!
The essays will be similar to secondary essay prompts that you may see, so entering to win the scholarship will actually be helping you prepare for your applications!
Our Late 2019 Scholarship contest is now open and all entries must be submitted by Dec 31th, 2019 at 11:59 pm PDT. Unlike most medical school admissions, these will not be scored on a rolling admissions basis, so take your time!
Rules/FAQ
Winners
We will select 3 (three) winners out of the submissions. The essays will be judged by a panel of judges to determine who the winners are.
- 1st Place: $4,000
- 2nd Place $1,500
- 3rd Place: $500
Who can apply?
At this point in time, it’s open to U.S. students only (those with an SSN for tax purposes). You need to be on your way to medical school, either in undergrad, a postbac, on your way to more classes, or applying to medical school. We’ll talk with our accountants and figure out if we can open it up to Canada and those who may not have SSNs.
What’s the topic?
Late 2019 essay topic:
- Talk about a time when you had to work closely with someone whose personality was very different from yours. What were the challenges you encountered, and what did you learn from the situation?
Maximum length: 5,000 characters.
Previous Topics
- Late 2018 (3 topics):
- What challenges have you overcome and what did you learn from them?
- How does medicine impact your life and you as a person?
- Who is the most influential person you have met? What did they teach you?
- Early 2019 (1 topic):
- What are the biggest challenges facing physicians and the U.S. healthcare system, and how do you plan on addressing those challenges?
Do Grammar and Spelling Matter?
Grammar, punctuation, and spelling definitely matter. You’re trying to enter a professional career. Just because doctors don’t have legible handwriting doesn’t mean you can get away with poor writing skills.
Check out my favorite tool Grammarly to help with your grammar, spelling, and overall structure. I recommend upgrading to premium for the amazing features. It helps when emailing your professors and medical school admissions offices, too! (I used it to check this page before I pushed it live, and it caught several errors!)
Check out Grammarly to help submit your essay error-free!
When Can I Submit?
You can submit your application anytime between now and Dec 31st, 2019 at 11:59 pm PDT. Google Forms tracks entry stamps. If your stamp is past that time, it will not be considered.
Where Can I Submit?
Submit your essay here: https://premedscholarship.com/submit
What Makes a Good Essay?
The essays that previously won were free of errors, had compelling stories, and answered the prompt well. Check out my book, The Premed Playbook: Guide to the Medical School Personal Statement, which will help you understand how to write a good essay (not just a personal statement).
Will the scholarship amount be taxable?
Yes, the scholarship awards are taxable. The winners will all receive 1099s at the beginning of the year after you receive the scholarship money. For example, if the contest you’re entering is in late 2019, you won’t get your prize money until 2020 and therefore won’t receive a 1099 until early 2021.
The scholarship amount will be considered “earned income” to you, and you’ll have to pay taxes on it based on your income for the year. Many of you may not have to pay any; some may have to pay a little. You should save some of the money and put it aside for tax purposes. Prior to receiving your cash award, you’re going to need to send us an IRS Form W-9—this is why you need a U.S. Social Security Number.
Links and Other Resources
- Check out my Premed Playbook series of books (available on Amazon), with installments on the personal statement, the medical school interview, and the MCAT.
- Related post: Medical School Scholarships: Get Paid to Study.
- Related episode: How Much Does It Cost to Apply to Medical School?
- Need MCAT Prep? Save on tutoring, classes, and full-length practice tests by using promo code “MSHQ” or “MSHQTOC” at Blueprint MCAT (formerly Next Step Test Prep)!