C-CAP Cooking Competition for Scholarships

Personal Essay Tips

Purpose: The personal essay is your chance to tell C-CAP your story and how things in your life have contributed to who you are today. The requirements are: Your essay must be at least 250 words, but could be longer. You must provide both a TYPED copy and a HANDWRITTEN copy of the final version of your essay. The typed copy of your essay must be printed on white unlined paper. The handwritten copy of your essay must be written on loose-leaf paper. It cannot be a page ripped out of a spiral-bound notebook. The content of the essay must include: Tell us about the person or people who have had a positive influence in helping you become the person you are today. Tell us about some of the events in your life that have inspired you to cook. Describe the experiences that have led you to want a career in the hospitality industry. Explain your professional goals. Describe your long-term goals and your immediate goals for after high school graduation. Explain how you plan to meet your goals. What we look for are: Multiple drafts. Well-written work. Thought, effort and time spent in writing the essay. Telling us your story in your own words. This is your opportunity to sell yourself in the application process, to let us know who you are, where youve been and where youre going. Be creative and specific. Questions to ask yourself before you write: 1. What's special, unique, distinctive, and/or impressive about you or your life story? 2. What details of your life (personal or family problems, history, people or events that have shaped you or influenced your goals) might help C-CAP better understand you or help set you apart from other applicants? 3. When did you become interested in cooking and what have you learned about it (and about yourself) that has further stimulated your interest and reinforced your belief that you will become a chef.

4. How have you learned about the Culinary Professionthrough classes, reading, work, family or other experiences? 5. If you have worked, what have you learned (leadership, for example), and how has that work contributed to your growth? 6. What are your career goals after you graduate from high school and college? Hotel, Restaurant, Catering, Front of the House? 7. Are there any gaps or discrepancies in your academic record that you should explain (Poor GPA or attendance, leaving school and attaining your GED and the reasons why this may have happened)? 8. Have you had to overcome any unusual obstacles or hardships (for example, economic, familial, or physical) in your life? 9. Why might you be a stronger candidate for the C-CAP scholarshipsand more successful than other applicants?

General advice:
1. Write about the topics that you are asked about: It is important to write about topics on the application. 2. Tell us your story - You can distinguish yourself through your story; your story is unique. Tell us what makes you- you. 3. Be specific - Give specific examples in your life; for example, dont just write that you love cooking. Tell us why, an instance in your life that influenced you to want to cook professionally. 4. Concentrate on your opening paragraph - The opening paragraph is generally the most important. It will grab the reader's attention or lose it. Concentrate on writing a strong introduction. If writing is not your strength, ask an English teacher to help you. 5. Write well and correctly - Type and proofread your essay very carefully. Have an English teacher in your school help you proofread. Spell check does not catch everything.
This document was adapted from: Purdue OWL. Last full revision by Jo Doran. Last edited by Allen Brizee on November 13th 2008 at 2:00PM available online at http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/642/01