I will teach you how to bring your life stories to essays faster with F1GMAT's essay guides. Download below or subscribe to F1GMAT's Service and work with me - Atul Jose, Author/Editor/Founding Consultant, F1GMAT(16 Years of helping applicants gain admissions to M7 and Top 30 schools) The Kennedy Memorial Trust, established in 1964, honors the legacy of US President John F. Kennedy through a series of transformative Kennedy Scholarships for British postgraduates to attend prestigious institutions such as Harvard University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).
Since their inception in 1965, these scholarships have empowered over 570 scholars to pursue their academic and professional goals.
In this in-depth analysis of Kennedy Trust Scholarship Essay Analysis and Strategies, we cover:
• Background Information
• Mission, Goals, and Values
• Eligibility and Funding
• Ideal Candidate – Personality Types and Traits
• What to Highlight
• What Not to Highlight
• How to Stand Out
• Essay Analysis and Strategies
Background Information of the Fund – Why the Fund Was Developed
The decision to create a British memorial for President Kennedy stemmed from the profound grief and admiration felt in the UK following his assassination.
Influential figures, including Prime Minister Harold Macmillan and Her Majesty the Queen, highlighted Kennedy’s unique ability to bridge divides and inspire hope for a better world. The dual nature of the memorial—comprising a physical tribute and the living legacy of scholarships—reflects Kennedy’s vision for global unity and public service, encouraging young minds to engage in transformative studies.
Mission, Goals, and Values
The Kennedy Memorial Trust’s mission is to foster transatlantic relations through education, echoing President Kennedy’s ideals of peace, service, and progress.
The scholarships aim to cultivate a new generation of leaders by supporting students in their pursuit of knowledge and innovation at renowned universities.
The Trust values commitment to public service, intellectual curiosity, and the ability to contribute to the common good through diverse academic disciplines.
President Kennedy's Vision for Public Service: The scholarship honors President John F. Kennedy’s commitment to public service and social justice. His famous quote, “Ask not what your country can do for you—ask what you can do for your country,” underscores the scholarship’s aim of fostering leaders dedicated to serving society and making impactful contributions.
Focus on International Understanding: The scholarship emphasizes the importance of international cooperation and understanding. This is rooted in Kennedy's initiatives during his presidency, such as the establishment of the Peace Corps in 1961, which aimed to promote peace and friendship worldwide through community service. The Trust encourages scholars to engage with diverse cultures and address global challenges, reflecting this foundational value.
Commitment to Education and Leadership: The Kennedy Trust supports candidates who demonstrate leadership potential, reflecting Kennedy’s belief in the power of education to drive social change. The establishment of the Harvard Institute of Politics in 1966 further illustrates this commitment, aiming to inspire young people to engage in public service and leadership.
Dedication to Democratic Values: The Trust upholds democratic ideals and encourages candidates to advocate for social justice, equality, and civil rights. This is exemplified in events like the Civil Rights Movement during the 1960s, which Kennedy supported, emphasizing his dedication to civil rights and the role of individuals in promoting equality.
Fostering Innovation and Progress: The Kennedy administration's focus on the space race and scientific advancement, epitomized by the Apollo program, illustrates the Trust's value of innovation and progress. The scholarship seeks candidates who are not only academically proficient but also creative thinkers capable of addressing complex global issues.
Encouraging Civic Engagement: The Kennedy Trust promotes civic engagement as a vital component of democracy. Kennedy’s establishment of the Alliance for Progress, aimed at fostering better relations between the U.S. and Latin America, reflects the scholarship’s mission to support leaders who are dedicated to strengthening community ties and fostering understanding among nations.
Eligibility and Funding
Kennedy Scholarships are awarded annually to British citizens who are ordinarily resident in the UK and have been educated primarily in the UK. Applicants must hold an undergraduate degree from a UK university and apply for postgraduate study at Harvard or MIT. The scholarship funds a range of academic programs and can also support general study without pursuing a degree.
Ideal Candidate – Personality Types and Traits
The ideal candidate for the Kennedy Scholarship embodies several key traits:
- Commitment to Public Service: A strong desire to contribute to society and make a positive impact.
- Intellectual Curiosity: A genuine interest in academic pursuits and a passion for learning.
- Resilience: The ability to overcome challenges and adversity in pursuit of their goals.
- Originality of Mind: Creative thinking and innovative ideas that challenge conventional wisdom.
- Leadership Potential: A demonstrated capacity for leadership and the ambition to excel in public life.
- Cultural Awareness: An appreciation for diversity and a desire to engage with different cultures.
Work with Atul Jose - Founding Consultant and Essay Specialist
With the word limit typically in the 500 to 1500 range, it is not easy to structure the essay without losing momentum.
I, Atul Jose - F1GMAT’s Lead Consultant and Essay Specialist, will help you structure the scholarship essay by:
1) Shortlisting relevant life stories
I will help you find unique life experiences that would differentiate you from the highly competitive scholarship application pool.
2) Structuring the Essay
I have developed a keen sense of storytelling from over a decade and a half of editing essays and writing essay examples for F1GMAT’s Essay Guides.
The skills that a writer/editor brings to the table are different from what a former admissions officer or a consultant who has limited writing skills brings
Review Skills # Writing Skills
Movie Critics # Movie Directors
It is easy to comment, but it is tough to structure the essay from the perspective of the applicant and turn the essay into a winning scholarship essay.
3) Aligning with the Mission of the Fund
A big part of editing and guiding applicants is in educating them about the mission of the fund.
Some funds have very ‘specific’ traits that they are looking for in an applicant.
If you don’t highlight them and lean towards general leadership narratives, the essay won’t work.
I will guide you through the writing process.
I will also iteratively edit the essays without losing your original voice.
Subscribe to F1GMAT's Scholarship/Fellowship Essay Editing Service for help
For any questions about the service, email me, Atul Jose, at editor@f1gmat.com
What to Highlight
Commitment to Public Service
Emphasize your dedication to serving the community or society at large. Mention any volunteer work, internships, or projects where you made a positive impact. Demonstrating a passion for public service aligns with President Kennedy's ideals and the Trust's emphasis on candidates committed to contributing to the common good.
Intellectual Curiosity and Achievements
Discuss your academic pursuits, research projects, or any initiatives that showcase your drive for knowledge and innovation. The scholarship values original thinking and the potential for candidates to make significant contributions in their respective fields.
Adaptability and Cultural Engagement
Highlight any experiences you have that demonstrate your willingness to engage with diverse cultures, particularly in the U.S. Discuss language skills, travel experiences, or involvement in multicultural activities that reflect your openness to new experiences and perspectives.
Long-Term Vision
Articulate your future plans and how the scholarship will help you achieve them. Connect your goals to the Trust’s values by showing how your aspirations align with promoting understanding and cooperation across cultures, which were central to President Kennedy's vision.
What Not to Highlight
Purely Academic Achievements
While academic excellence is important, avoid focusing solely on grades or test scores. The Trust looks for well-rounded candidates, so emphasizing life experiences, leadership roles, and contributions to society is more impactful.
Overly Personal Narratives
Avoid sharing personal struggles or hardships without a clear connection to your motivations or future goals. While personal stories can be powerful, they should enhance your narrative and not detract from your professional and academic aspirations.
Generic Statements or Clichés
Steer clear of using vague statements that lack specificity. Instead, focus on unique experiences that distinguish you from other candidates. Tailor your essay to reflect the specific values and history of the Kennedy Trust.
How to Stand Out
Incorporate Historical Reference
Integrate references to President Kennedy's speeches or actions that resonate with your personal experiences or goals. This connection will demonstrate your understanding of the scholarship's historical significance and how it inspires your journey.
Demonstrate Collaborative Spirit
Showcase instances where you have collaborated with others to achieve a common goal. The Kennedy Trust values candidates who can build bridges between different communities and foster understanding, reflecting Kennedy's vision for unity.
Engage with Current Affairs
Discuss how your studies at Harvard or MIT will enable you to address contemporary global challenges. Reference specific issues that matter to you and explain how your academic pursuits will equip you to contribute meaningfully to public life.
Highlight Unique Experiences
If you have had experiences that are rare or particularly transformative—such as working in international settings or engaging with leaders in your field—make these the centerpiece of your essay. These experiences can illustrate your suitability for the scholarship and your alignment with the Trust's mission.
Essay Analysis and Strategies
Please submit a personal essay which must not exceed 1,000 words. This should give an account of your academic pursuits, general activities and intellectual interests, your reasons for wishing to study in the US at this point in your career and for your choice of course and institution, and your plans for the future.
As suggested in the essay prompt, focus on six factors: Academic Pursuits, General Activities, Intellectual interests, Reasons for studying in the US, Choice of courses and institutions, and Plans for the future.
Academic Pursuits
While writing about academic pursuits, try to bring a personal narrative into the motivation behind the choices. Connect the career transitions with logic, even for career transitioners with widely different skillset. You can always find a thread.
For one applicant from Engineering, transitioning to a VC role, and then going back to product development with the support of a Master’s program was essential for the most transformative technology era since the advent of internet.
An applicant’s curiosity about numbers and its application in the real-world, turned into an academic pursuit in Math, Economics and finally a career in policy with a strong affinity to use quant models to suggest policy interventions.
Storytelling is the foundation for all essays. Use them even for your motivations.
General Activities
General Activities should not be general when you are writing a scholarship essay. It should have some themes.
For an accountant with interest in mountaineering, the weekly trips were a plan to reconnect with nature and rekindle his passion for collecting leaves of rare plants. He used special chemicals to store them. The scrapbook had collections going back as far as 20 years.
When such diverse interests are introduced in a scholarship essay, you are sharing an aspect of your personality that cannot be captured in any part of the essay.
The applicant could also use that experience to show his motivation for green energy and conserving nature.
Intellectual Interests
Every intellectual interests and pursuits need a skill or an exposure gap to demonstrate motivation for studying in the US.
When you cite experiences, you must be 100% certain that a university in the UK cannot offer similar exposure.
In the first draft for one applicant, he was narrating the importance of FinTech and the value of an MBA in the US without realizing that the UK is equally good for his goals. I had to brainstorm and suggest other examples to build a coherent narrative.
Reasons for Studying in the US
If you are choosing schools in cities/regions known for certain industries (Silicon Valley – Technology, New York – Investment Banking), reiterate the importance of such exposure in filling the exposure gap.
What is currently lacking in the UK that you plan to overcome with a study in the US? This question needs the utmost importance.
Don’t just limit the narrative to the city’s strengths.
Reiterate America’s strengths – democratic values, civil rights, innovation, and the power of individuals in changing the world.
Choice of Courses and Institutions
This is where your research on curriculum will have a huge impact on your chance for scholarship.
Don’t just cite courses without understanding the utility of the course for your immediate goals.
What is the legacy of the institutions?
MIT has clearly pivoted hard to embracing AI and technological innovation whereas Harvard has a more holistic approach.
If your skill gap is in AI or a technology that the MIT research team is developing or embracing, make it the foundational skill/exposure gap narrative.
If you are looking to access the funding ecosystem through PE peers or gain a general management perspective, Harvard’s learning experience is better suited for you.
Customize your narrative according to the institution’s strengths.
Plans for the Future
For scholarship essays, the plans for the future should be balanced with personal and societal milestones.
While narrating societal milestones, a focus on a global challenge that affects both British and American citizens will have a better impression on the selection committee over a highly localized issue.
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