Comments on: Scholarship Screwup #9: Bore Me With Irrelevant Crap

By: JChaos76

JChaos76 — Tue, 22 Jun 2010 19:03:15 +0000

I am one who takes criticism with a grain of salt. I was raised by a cop, need I say more?
I realize many may be displeased with your sarcasm and ways of approaching things.
In an effort to not sound brutish to others, I want to say the following.
College is as serious is it will get in life. This is a huge step that costs thousands of dollars to take. As I count myself as being part of the majority of college students who are not in any position to fund my education with large sums of money laying around to my disposal, I must resort to financial aid, dreaded loans and the kindness of scholarship panels to fuel my educational endeavors.
People get rejected from colleges and scholarship programs all of the time because they lack the delicate skill of weaving words into a fine piece of artistic prose. Some write about things that mean nothing to the approving parties and judges, or don’t write about the things that actually make a difference.
If being honest and realistic is wrong; then, we are all in trouble.Unfortunately, reality is harsh. It’s a cruel world out there and competition is stiff. If a person wants to win a scholarship they have to STAND OUT among the many thousands of competitors that have applied for the same scholarship. If someone wants to get into a highly competitive graduate program like what MIT or Harvard offers and only accepts 12 students for a particular program of study, they have to, again, STAND OUT among even more competitors than they had for a scholarship.
If I intend to win any scholarship at all,or be accepted by a great graduate school, I can listen to someone tell me what I am doing wrong so I can fix it, or I can sit on my couch scratching my head and wondering why I continue to receive rejections.
I enjoy your posts and read them daily. I am sorry that you have some soured readers; but, as they say, you can please all of the people some of the time; but, not some of the people all of the time.
You provide valuable facts and insight into the minds of the very people we place our educational and financial futures in.I don’t find offense in what you say and find amusement in some of the postings. I prefer to be told the truth not a convoluted version of the truth designed to protect my feelings.
You are awesome thank you.

By: mosisa

mosisa — Thu, 17 Jun 2010 14:53:03 +0000

Thank you for your comment! But it is better for me if your comment is individually so that I can improve my self.
see you again!!

By: ultimatechocoholic

ultimatechocoholic — Thu, 15 Apr 2010 22:00:39 +0000

Hey,
I never use to read your comments section but I find them hilarious. I, for one, look forward to opening my inbox because I know that your email is in there and will be one of the highlights of my day!
For those of you who think he’s rude, then well, stuff it because thats how it really is.

By: Sue

Sue — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 06:54:09 +0000

I find the emails you’ve sent refreshing & some of them absolutely hilarious. At least they’re not boring!

By: DTP

DTP — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 18:14:35 +0000

I think some of you guys take Josh’s posts (and yourselves) too seriously. If I wanted to read some stuffy, boring self-help guide, I’d buy one. I love Josh’s sarcastic/witty delievery. I don’t have to try to figure out what he’s really saying, because he says it plainly.

If you’re offended by his language and writing style…it’s probably because your essays suck, and you took it personally. Just a point…

By: Carolyn

Carolyn — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 04:49:09 +0000

Okey-doky NO Irrelevant information, funny I never though of if as irrelevant till you said it like that. Thank you for putting it into perspective for me.

By: Enes

Enes — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 07:57:56 +0000

Well,
While I was browsing internet this webside got my attention.I have been trying to read nearly all comments on scholarship but I think almost everyone misses something so thin…There are people direct the students how to apply a scholarship but nearly noone says so what?
I disagree to judge applications by just seeking whats written in them.Its really nonsense.I see myself an example.Once I have applied for a scholarship in UK and I was accepted but I did changed my mind to go there .
I remember I began to write my essay by giving some main information about myself (name,GPA,schools,conferences etc) and they called me even invited me to the Univeristy and appriciated me.

What I am trying to say is that do write whatever you want to see in your letter.Because it doesnt make any sense to the only SENSIBLE COMMITTE.
They know how to judge with the idea of not juding people by just looking essays.
Thanks for everything…

By: michelle

michelle — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 07:48:46 +0000

while the tips are good as a whole, its hard to get past your insensitive remarks as if people cannot have hard lives. The “crack-addicted parents” line im assuming was suppose to be funny but is anything really funny about drug addiction and child abandonment? Not trying to be ultra sensitive but im just noticing a trend in your articles that can easily alienate a population of students who have come a long way to get to college and beat the odds. So when they look at your tips, they just see another person trying to look down on them by poking fun of serious situations that occurred in their lives.

By: ashley

ashley — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 14:48:14 +0000

LOL. I actually was awarded two scholarships before I came to your website looking for other scholarship information.
What I didn’t sign up for was your unprofessional approach. Derading indiviuals who as we know it, (and you have stated most of these people could never acheive scholarships,) simply because they are unable to articulate a proper essay worthy of your praise!
It’s almost like making fun of physically or mentally challanged people.
I am sure you won’t be swayed by any of this. I have unsubscribed, since my first post.
I appreciate your work and I support what you are meaning to do. But I hope you can see you are being rude and for those who are not able to succeed in many areas, constructive crisitsm is the best way to voice your dismay. Rather then saying their work is crap!
After all, these are still kids. Both in mind and emotional development.
Take care,
Yours truly,
Ashley W

By: Josh Barsch

Josh Barsch — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 14:27:57 +0000

It’s all me, Ashley, warts and all. I have no boss, but you are welcome to come around anytime and take all the helpful information you can handle and duck away from the monitor when you see a sign of oncoming sarcasm or coarse language. Thanks!

By: ashley

ashley — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 14:16:17 +0000

Scholarships tips are great and are appreciated. What I am tired of is Josh’s rude remarks. Highly unprofessional. As a subscriber I DON’T want to hear you being rude and sarcastic. It shows me as a reader your really tired of your job.
I am really just disgusted by your choice of words when sharing information with us. If there is someone higher above you in position then you, I hope they speak to you about your unprofessionalism!

By: yasir mahmood

yasir mahmood — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 13:18:51 +0000

Sir, i really need foer a scholership this year to fullfill my educational dues.
Thank You Sir

By: hamid

hamid — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 03:43:24 +0000

i studied industrial management and now studing mba
i want to countine thise studied untile phd in mba and work and research in thise field
i like researching and writting and i work hard

By: Salih

Salih — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 20:08:06 +0000

Much of people must know about the thing told on the paragraph, of course there are those who know nothing about. On the other hand,it was a probable state that must be realized as havig not known by any persons.But I wanted the committy have wroten something about who to write an assay to get a scholarship.

By: Rebekah

Rebekah — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 02:45:59 +0000

I say bravo on this one! In peer editing sessions in my writing classes, I always have to tell people to take out the useless junk (it is just “trick”/excuse to fill up the page) they just get marked down to 70 out of 100 when they do that and the points keep getting deducted from there. Keep in mind while writing your scholarship essays that the judges are judging you just like your teachers do. Only instead of just a grade hanging on the line, its the possibility of having help paying your way through college that’s hanging there.

By: Shiu Kong Ng

Shiu Kong Ng — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 01:55:47 +0000

It is not bad at all to give ones own biography if that person is going to publish a book. However to apply for scholarship a person may only do that in some other way such as a short passage about ones childhood or school days to help examination board understand the background of the applicant.

I was educated and brought up in Hong Kong so I know nothing about education here in North America. Last year I came across the term K12 and I wanted to understand what that can be so I asked the course teacher and he explained to me that was education from kindergarten to grade 12 senior high. I learn a lot of new words as I settle here.

Now I am trying to apply for scholarship to have fund for my doctoral study as I would like to continue my teaching life in another way. Before I taught in classroom and use simulator to illustate how something can happen if a person does not follow right procedure. Now I would like to use online learning instead. I do hope that I am able to prepare such a platform for teaching from my reseach so that I am able to continue with my career as I cannot walk around for teaching now.

By: Orara Fletcher

Orara Fletcher — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 01:03:12 +0000

I thought this was one of the more useful tips on getting scholarship money. All of them have real but sense-of-humor bits.

By: dawn

dawn — Fri, 07 Aug 2009 04:03:47 +0000

Unfortunately, I seem to have inherited a sarcasm gene, too… I’ve been wondering if judges are open to humor and sarcasm within an essay, or if it makes you look like too much of a cocky jerkhole to receive any money towards an education.

By: Jill Connolly

Jill Connolly — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 16:08:04 +0000

I love the pictures in the articles.

By: Josh Barsch

Josh Barsch — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 16:38:50 +0000

Sarah: Thanks!

Kim: Yes, sarcasm is definitely my brand. You’re right — scholarship apps definitely tip in the favor of strong writers. I would agree with you that a personal passion to succeed is at the top of the list of things that we look for in a good winner. Good luck to you!