Hi, I’m Mirabelle from carcodereader.store, and like many aspiring scholars, you’re probably wondering how to write a compelling “How Will This Program Help Your Career Development Essay” for the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program. It’s a question I get asked frequently, especially as application season approaches. Having navigated this process myself as a Mastercard Foundation Scholar at the University of Edinburgh, I’ve put together a detailed guide to help you craft an essay that truly stands out.
Remember, while specific application processes might evolve, the core principles of a strong essay, particularly one focused on your career trajectory and how the program aligns with it, remain constant. Think of this guide as a flexible framework you can adapt, not just for the Mastercard Foundation Scholarship, but for other opportunities as well. For those who prefer visual learning, remember there are various online resources available to supplement this guide.
Understanding the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program
The Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at the University of Edinburgh offers a transformative opportunity for postgraduate study, both on-campus in Edinburgh and online. This program is designed to nurture the next generation of African leaders. For on-campus scholars, it’s a one-year master’s program, while online scholars can pursue master’s degrees part-time over three years or postgraduate diplomas part-time for approximately two years. Currently, the scholarships are focused on Master’s degrees, and my personal experience is rooted in my time as an on-campus scholar in Edinburgh, where I pursued an MSc in Entrepreneurship and Innovation.
What Awaits You as a Mastercard Foundation Scholar?
My insights here are primarily drawn from my on-campus experience, offering the most direct context.
“All Mastercard Foundation Scholars at the University of Edinburgh will participate in a Climate Leadership Program and the scholarship as a whole is dedicated to nurturing a community of talented, entrepreneurial and compassionate leaders from across Sub-Saharan Africa.”
As a scholar, the program provides comprehensive support. This includes full tuition coverage, round-trip flights, TOEFL and visa application fees, and assistance with visa appointments and on-ground transportation. Upon arrival in Edinburgh, scholars receive accommodation, living and study stipends, access to regular events and seminars, and retreats to the Scottish Highlands. The program also prioritizes well-being with robust pastoral care for mental health and regular check-ins with the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program team. Furthermore, scholars are provided with a laptop, participate in a summer school in South Africa at the University of Witwatersrand, and have opportunities to engage in monthly business idea competitions. As one of the on-campus scholar representatives, I had the privilege of attending a Scholars Council Meeting in Kigali, Rwanda, in early 2024, connecting with Mastercard Foundation Scholars from across the globe.
My master’s dissertation focused on a business capstone project, allowing me to develop a real business venture. The Foundation supported my travel to Nigeria for market research, covering all associated costs.
My experience, like every scholar’s, is unique. Some of my peers participated in study trips to Peru with their departments, while others secured company-based dissertation placements in Mexico. The University of Edinburgh team is deeply committed to ensuring every scholar thrives, offering exceptional support and opportunities for personal and professional growth.
Preparing Your Application: Focusing on Your Career Essay
Now, let’s delve into the crucial aspect of your application: crafting a compelling essay, particularly the “how will this program help your career development essay.” While the acceptance rate for on-campus scholars is competitive, your essay is your opportunity to shine.
Who Gets In? And Does Online Presence Matter?
While showcasing your work online is beneficial in today’s digital age, it’s not a strict requirement. The program recognizes that exceptional talent exists in diverse contexts. I know scholars who built their LinkedIn profiles only after receiving the scholarship. Some prefer private lives, and their applications and interviews spoke volumes. The selection process values your potential and experiences, understanding that not everyone has equal access to online platforms or chooses to build a public online presence. The program actively seeks candidates from diverse backgrounds, including refugees, who demonstrate ambition and meet the core requirements. I’ve met scholars who have made significant impact in their communities through various means, highlighting that your achievements and potential extend beyond online visibility.
Eligibility and Requirements
Always refer to the official program website for the most up-to-date requirements. Generally, eligibility includes:
- Facing barriers to education or early career progression.
- Holding an undergraduate degree with a degree certificate and official transcript.
- Being a citizen or holding refugee status in a Sub-Saharan African country.
- Demonstrating a track record of leadership and community service.
- Being under 35 years of age.
- Demonstrating experience or ambition to address the climate crisis.
- Not having previously completed a postgraduate degree (when applying for a Master’s program).
Available Programs and Choosing the Right Fit for Your Career
The University of Edinburgh offers a range of Master’s programs under the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program. For on-campus studies, programs typically include:
- Africa and International Development
- Food Security
- Sustainable Energy Systems
- Entrepreneurship and Innovation
- Data, Inequality and Society
- Operational Research
- Environmental Sustainability
- Climate Change Finance and Investment
- Planetary Health
- Environment and Development
Online studies offer a mix of Master’s and Diploma programs, such as:
- International Development
- Global Food Security and Nutrition
- Global Challenges
- Carbon Management
- One Health
- Circular Economy
- Sustainable Lands and Cities
- Social Justice and Community Action
If your desired field of study isn’t listed at the University of Edinburgh, explore the global Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program website to find partner universities worldwide offering scholarships in various disciplines.
Writing Your Essays: Connecting Your “Why” to Your Career Development
When you’ve identified a course that genuinely aligns with your background, aspirations, and the program’s eligibility criteria, the essay questions become your platform to articulate your “why.” This is where your “how will this program help your career development essay” takes center stage.
My decision to pursue Entrepreneurship and Innovation stemmed from a desire to understand how to build scalable and adaptable business systems. My years of experience building BlankPaperz Media, organizing workshops, volunteering, and leading GC Fund, which supports entrepreneurial training in Nigeria, provided a strong foundation. BlankPaperz had already achieved significant online reach and recognition from organizations like Ashoka, We Are Family Foundation, and the U.S. Department of State. My role as Communications Manager for the Social Enterprise World Forum (SEWF) further enriched my practical experience. I sought a Master’s program that blended practical experience with theoretical knowledge, a program that fostered social impact alongside business acumen, and a scholarship that emphasized community, leadership, and academic rigor.
It’s important to note that the program also welcomes scholars directly from undergraduate studies, demonstrating a balanced selection approach.
Therefore, ask yourself deeply: Why do you want this scholarship? Understanding your “why” is the most potent tool in crafting compelling essays and interview responses, especially when addressing “how will this program help your career development essay.”
Deconstructing the “How Will This Program Help Your Career Development Essay” Question
Let’s imagine a typical essay question:
“Reflecting on your life so far, tell us how you meet the key selection criteria for the Scholars Program. You should include information on your academic achievements and barriers to education you have faced. We are particularly welcoming applications from those who identify as women, refugees (or displaced), and/ or those with disabilities as we understand that these groups face barriers to education. If you identify with any of these characteristics, please reflect this in your answer, with as much detail as you are comfortable sharing.”
While this question is broad, it implicitly asks you to demonstrate how the program aligns with your career aspirations and how it will facilitate your career development. Here’s how to approach it:
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Time Management: Start early. Don’t rush your essays. While some might be able to write quickly, allowing ample time for reflection and refinement is generally advisable.
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Word Limits: Pay close attention to word limits. Even if a question seems extensive, concise and impactful writing is key.
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Unpacking the Question: Break down complex questions into smaller, manageable parts. In the example question, we can identify several sub-questions:
- How do you meet the key selection criteria? (Eligibility and fit)
- What are your academic achievements? (Past performance and potential)
- What barriers to education have you faced? (Resilience and context)
- (Implicitly) How will this program help you overcome these barriers and achieve your career goals?
Important Note: Avoid generic narratives or fabricated sob stories. Authenticity is paramount. Instead of focusing on hardship for hardship’s sake, emphasize resilience, resourcefulness, and how you’ve turned challenges into learning experiences that have shaped your career aspirations. In my essay, I took a different approach, acknowledging my privileged access to education and highlighting how this privilege motivated me to create BlankPaperz Media to empower others through education.
Digging Deeper to Connect Program to Career Development
To effectively answer “how will this program help your career development essay,” go beyond the surface. Thoroughly research the Mastercard Foundation, its mission, vision, and impact. Watch videos featuring the CEO or alumni to understand the program’s ethos and what they value in scholars. Explore the University of Edinburgh’s mission and values as well.
By understanding the program’s deep-rooted values and goals, you can better articulate how your career aspirations align with the scholarship’s objectives. This alignment is crucial for demonstrating why this program is the ideal catalyst for your career development.
When structuring your essay, consider using the STAR or CARL frameworks to provide structured and compelling answers. Initially, focus on brainstorming and writing down all your thoughts and experiences without self-editing. Let your passion and genuine voice come through.
STAR and CARL Frameworks for Essay Structure
- STAR: (Situation, Task, Action, Result) – Ideal for showcasing specific experiences and achievements relevant to your career development and leadership potential.
- CARL: (Context, Action, Result, Learning) – Useful for reflecting on experiences and emphasizing personal and professional growth, highlighting how you learn and adapt, crucial for demonstrating career progression potential.
Refining Your Essay: Mirabelle’s Example and Key Strategies for “How Will This Program Help Your Career Development Essay”
After drafting your initial essay, you might find yourself exceeding word limits. This is where refinement becomes essential. Revisit your essay with fresh eyes and apply the STAR or CARL frameworks to sharpen your narrative. Ensure every sentence contributes to answering the core question, particularly “how will this program help your career development essay.”
Here’s an excerpt from my essay, demonstrating how to concisely address multiple aspects within a limited word count:
Mirabelle’s Example Excerpt:
“I was drawn to how new-media innovations and social entrepreneurship could change viewpoints, invariably, transforming systems, after reading Adichie’s “Purple Hibiscus” at 13. Because it fascinated me how someone in the business of storytelling could disrupt mindsets⏤positively! I became thrilled to find innovative solutions to pressing human needs that by my second undergraduate year, I volunteered as course representative for ‘Entrepreneurship Studies 1’, facilitating communication between professors and hundreds of undergraduates; then helped connect my university’s ENACTUS team to a local primary school⏤as the team’s media and publicity officer⏤on a project to provide water-resistant school bags from discarded billboard banners to low-income pupils. The banners were reused, books were shielded and a local artisan was employed to produce bags, applying circular and doughnut economy models which encouraged regenerative economic activities and reduced waste.” – Mirabelle Morah
In this excerpt, within just 133 words, I addressed:
- My inspiration and passion (reading “Purple Hibiscus” and interest in social impact).
- My early engagement with entrepreneurship and innovation (volunteering as course representative).
- Concrete actions and achievements (ENACTUS project, media and publicity role, circular economy application).
- Implicitly, my career interests in media, social entrepreneurship, and sustainable solutions.
This example demonstrates how to weave together your motivations, experiences, and skills to create a concise yet impactful narrative that implicitly addresses your career aspirations and program fit, key elements of a successful “how will this program help your career development essay.”
Deconstructing My Essay Example: Connecting the Dots for Your Essay
Let’s break down my example further to understand how it implicitly answers the “how will this program help your career development essay” question:
- Background: My undergraduate degree was in English and Literary Studies, a seemingly unconventional path to a Master’s in Entrepreneurship and Innovation.
- Connecting the Disciplines: I bridged this gap by highlighting my interest in storytelling and media, demonstrating how my humanities background could be leveraged in the business world, particularly in social entrepreneurship.
- Passion for Social Impact: I emphasized my interest in businesses that prioritize “people and planet,” aligning with the Mastercard Foundation’s focus on social impact and sustainable development. My experience with the Social Enterprise World Forum further reinforced this commitment.
- Practical Experience: I showcased my involvement with ENACTUS, highlighting my media and communications skills and my understanding of circular economy principles, demonstrating practical application of entrepreneurial thinking.
By connecting my seemingly disparate experiences and passions into a cohesive narrative, I implicitly showed how a Master’s in Entrepreneurship and Innovation would be the logical next step in my career journey, enabling me to further develop my skills and amplify my impact. This approach is crucial for crafting a compelling “how will this program help your career development essay.”
Piecing Together Your Own “How Will This Program Help Your Career Development Essay”
Now it’s your turn. Reflect on your own journey and apply these strategies to your essay:
- Conciseness: Cut down your answers to the most relevant points. Be brutal in your editing.
- Relevance: Ensure every point directly or indirectly addresses the essay question, particularly how the program will contribute to your career development.
- Specificity: Avoid generic statements. Provide concrete examples and quantify your impact whenever possible.
- Thematic Focus: Maintain a clear thematic focus throughout your essay. Avoid disjointed narratives. Your career aspirations should be clearly linked to the program and your past experiences.
For example, if storytelling is your passion, connect it to your chosen program and future career goals. Perhaps you want to use storytelling to amplify the impact of NGOs or create design services for social enterprises, as I did in my dissertation.
DON’T BE EVERYWHERE: Focus Your Narrative
A common mistake is trying to showcase too many unrelated interests. While versatility is valuable, your scholarship essay needs focus. Avoid presenting yourself as someone with scattered interests. Instead, demonstrate a clear career aim and how the program strategically fits into that aim.
Even if you feel your accomplishments are limited, focus on your ambition and potential. The program values demonstrated experience or ambition in addressing critical issues like the climate crisis. Highlight your past experiences (including internships and volunteer work) and articulate your ambitions for the future, focusing on specific problems you want to solve and how the program will equip you to do so.
Additional Tips for a Standout Essay
- Show, Don’t Tell: Use vivid language and specific examples to illustrate your points rather than simply stating them.
- Quantify Impact: Whenever possible, use numbers to demonstrate the impact of your actions.
- Incorporate Testimonials (Subtly): Consider including short, impactful quotes from others that support your narrative, if relevant and natural.
- Seek Feedback: Have trusted individuals review your essay for clarity, coherence, and impact.
- Authenticity is Key: Let your personality shine through. Focus on who you are and what drives you, not just on listing achievements. Explain the motivations and actions behind your accomplishments.
Words of Encouragement
“It always seems impossible until it is done.” Believe in yourself and your potential. Don’t disqualify yourself before you even apply.
I created this guide to provide comprehensive support, as answering individual messages can be repetitive. Remember, these are suggestions and insights based on my experience. Be unique! Develop your own authentic approach.
Explore online resources and attend information sessions to further enhance your application. If you reach out to me, I will gladly share this article and any relevant upcoming info sessions. For specific questions about the program, contact the University of Edinburgh team directly for the most up-to-date information.
In my view, the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program is exceptional, fostering transformational leadership, community engagement, knowledge exchange, and academic excellence among young African leaders.
Good luck! I hope to see you join the Mastercard Foundation Scholars community! Please share this guide with others who may find it helpful.
P.S. This guide was written with the same spirit of community and empowerment that defines the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program.
Hi, I’m Mirabelle, a content creator at carcodereader.store. I specialize in motion design and data-driven communication strategies for social enterprises and changemakers. Connect with me on my website www.mirabellemorah.com
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