Paying for college takes a lot of planning. Every year, tuition costs increase, and graduates are drowning in loan debt. Because of the high cost of higher education, many gifted students are forced to abandon their aspirations. Scholarships can make getting a degree more affordable. Students are eligible based on their academic standing, extracurricular interests, or financial needs. Here is a list of sample recommendation letters for scholarship applications that best suit your students’ needs, in case you’ve been asked to assist with the process.
How to write a recommendation letter for a scholarship
Here are some guidelines to remember as you draft a letter of recommendation for a student seeking a scholarship:
1. Review the scholarship requirements
Different scholarships may prioritize different types of candidates. An academic or merit scholarship, for instance, might place a high value on rigor and academic achievement. When composing a letter of recommendation for this kind of scholarship, a mentor may concentrate on the applicant’s academic successes and provide concrete examples to highlight their commitment to their academic goals. In contrast, the selection committee for an athletic scholarship might be more intrigued by the applicants’ athletic prowess and sense of teamwork.
There are also a lot of very specialized scholarships available for people with very specific backgrounds or experiences. Sometimes, even more general scholarships will have additional categories or requirements. This is why it’s helpful to research the specific scholarships involved before writing your scholarship letter in order to figure out what those specifics might be and how to best describe how your candidate fits into them.
2. Begin with an introductory paragraph
An introduction paragraph at the start of your letter can help you clarify your goals and give the review committee any background information they might need to understand your letter. You can introduce the student, the scholarship, and your relationship with the student in this paragraph. You can mention the school where you first met the student if you did so, as well as share some additional information about your own background there. For instance, you could mention that you’re a teacher who has been instructing math to students in the 10th grade at a specific school for the past six years.
This paragraph can also contain additional introductory information about the applicant, such as a summary of their educational background or a description of the qualities that might make them a strong contender for the scholarship. Additionally, it can be beneficial to speak in a passionate manner when praising this student. This may contribute to the emergence of an authentic sense of excitement, which may have a favorable impact on the review committee’s enthusiasm.
3. Describe the candidate in the context of the scholarship
You can talk about the reasons you believe the applicant might be a good fit for the scholarship after introducing yourself and the applicant. This is a crucial step because it can show the scholarship committee that you are aware of the kind of applicant they are seeking and have carefully considered how the student about whom you are writing might meet those criteria. It might be beneficial to offer thorough illustrations of accomplishments or situations to back up your support. Past accomplishments could be another effective way to show a candidate’s capacity to put their ideas and principles into practice.
4. Describe other achievements, qualities or skills
There may be additional accomplishments, traits, or abilities that you feel are crucial to the committee’s comprehension of this candidate. You can start your discussion by bringing up these additional admirable qualities after discussing those that are required for the scholarship. Facts like grade point averages, honors, or athletic statistics are one type of accomplishment you could mention. If you can relate these to the requirements for scholarships, that could be helpful as well.
You can also discuss the student’s character traits that you may have observed as a result of your interactions with them as a teacher or in other contexts. These can be beneficial to include as they might give the reviewing committee a better understanding of the applicant’s character and the reasons why they might be especially deserving of the scholarship.
5. End with a conclusion
You can restate your endorsement of the candidate and briefly review the factors the committee should take into account when making its scholarship decision in your conclusion. The committee members can then get in touch with you if they want to talk about the issue more. It can sometimes be beneficial for the committee to know that you’re willing to act as a resource to support the candidate, especially when there are concerns about the candidate or there is a lot of competition.
6. Proofread carefully
You should carefully read your letter after you’ve finished it to check for any areas where your spelling, grammar, or readability could be improved. It’s important to keep in mind that you are accountable for representing your student to the review committee as the person the student chooses to recommend them. This implies that the effectiveness of your letter could influence the committee’s assessment of the candidate. It is crucial to produce a carefully polished final draft because of this.
You could also ask a friend or coworker to review your writing for errors. This is useful because it can sometimes be simpler for a different person to spot minor grammatical or spelling errors. Additionally, they might comment on how persuasive your letter was and what could use improvement. This can be especially useful if you’re writing your first recommendation letter for a scholarship. If you decide to ask a friend or coworker for help, think about temporarily omitting the candidate’s name to respect their privacy.
7. Deliver in a timely manner
Some teachers have a large number of students for whom they write letters of recommendation. Maintaining a calendar or schedule can be helpful so that you are aware of the dates on which certain due dates fall and how to submit your recommendation. Making sure the review committee takes your letter into account along with the other candidates’ application materials by adhering to these guidelines and meeting these deadlines can help.
What is a recommendation letter for a scholarship?
A trustworthy mentor, teacher, or other trusted figure creates a recommendation letter for a scholarship to attest to the merit of the applicant. Although the specifics of these letters may change depending on the type of scholarship, they emphasize the traits and competencies that meet the requirements for the scholarship. Detailed examples of prior accomplishments and how those accomplishments may represent the candidates’ abilities may also be included in a recommendation letter.
Template recommendation letter for a scholarship
A sample recommendation letter for a scholarship is provided below:
[Name]
[Location]
[Phone number]
[Email address]
[Date]
[Name of scholarship reviewer]
[Organization name]
[Organization location]
Dear Scholarship Committee,
I’m writing to you with great pleasure to recommend [student’s full name] for the [name of scholarship]. I have an academic relationship with [first name of student] that dates back [amount of time]. They are an extraordinary young person who possesses [personal quality important to scholarship]. They are a superb candidate for this opportunity, in my opinion.
Traditionally, students who meet the [scholarship criteria] are given the [name of scholarship]. [Name of student] has demonstrated these qualities on numerous occasions. For example, [provide example].
[Name of student] is also [list other relevant qualities]. As [academic relationship] I noticed [skill, ability or quality]. They have accomplished so much in the few years since joining the [current school] community as a result of these qualities.
As a result, I am pleased to endorse [name of student] as a deserving applicant for the [name of scholarship]. They’re a [review prime qualities] student who I think is very deserving of this recognition and might use the opportunity provided by this scholarship to continue a career in academia characterized by commitment and excellence. Please feel free to contact me by phone or email if you have any additional questions.
Sincerely,
[Your name]
Example recommendation letter for a scholarship
Here is an example of a scholarship recommendation letter that you can use as inspiration when writing your own letter:
Joan Jay
San Francisco, California
(555) 900-4444
[email protected]
December 15, 2021
Beckford Leaders Scholarship Committee
Banesville University
Banesville, Colorado
Dear Scholarship Committee,
I am writing to you with great pleasure to recommend Dawn Harris for the Beckford Leaders Scholarship. Dawn and I have been working together as academic advisors for six months; I was also her biology teacher before that. She is an extraordinary young woman who is driven to learn and has the innate ability to turn ideas into action. She is a standout candidate for this opportunity, in my opinion.
Banesville University has a tradition of awarding the Beckford Scholarship to students who exhibit outstanding academic commitment along with a strong commitment to leadership in their communities. Dawn has demonstrated both qualities. On campus, Dawn has served as team captain for the debate team for three years in a row and guided them to victory. Dawn was one of the first members of Students for Change, a group that worked to advance diversity initiatives in specialized sports and activities throughout the Banesville School district. While many students may have rejoiced, Dawn chose to focus on the lack of diversity she had observed at the competition during her first year.
Dawn is a dedicated student who consistently earns As in her classes. Her ability to rally her classmates before tests or significant projects, inspiring them to assist and support one another, caught my attention as her teacher. I have had the chance to observe this same tendency toward teamwork, camaraderie, and encouragement outside of my own class as her current adviser. She has accomplished so much in the few years since moving to the Banesville community thanks to these qualities.
As a result, I’m delighted to endorse Dawn Harris as a deserving recipient of the Beckford Leaders Scholarship. She is an excellent leader and student who I believe is very deserving of this honor. She may use the opportunity of this scholarship to continue a career in academia characterized by commitment and excellence. Please get in touch with me by phone or email if you have any additional questions.
Sincerely,
Joan Jay
Scholarship Recommendation Letter EXPLAINED
FAQ
How do you write a letter of recommendation for a scholarship?
- a brief introduction outlining your identity, your connection to the student, and how long you’ve known them
- Your general impressions and ideas regarding the student’s academic prowess, character traits, and college readiness
Is recommendation letter important for scholarship?
- Teachers and professors.
- Former or current employers.
- Clergy members (preachers, pastors, rabbis, imams, etc.)
- Coaches.
- School counselors and advisers.
- Leaders of an organization you are associated with.
Who is a good reference for a scholarship?
A recommendation letter is part of most scholarship applications. In addition to the student’s grades and test results, admissions officers are interested in learning about the student’s character. Recommendation letters are crucial because they frequently don’t get the chance to meet the student in person.
