How to Get the Best Scholarship Letter of Recommendation

As your student applies for scholarships, they are almost guaranteed to find some scholarship programs that require a letter of recommendation as part of the application process. Getting a scholarship letter of recommendation can feel like a challenge, especially if your student doesn’t know who they should ask to supply this important document. With this guide, we will help you and your student ensure they get the best letter of recommendation for scholarships possible!

To help you both become more familiar with the scholarship letter of recommendation requirement, here’s what you need to know.

If you and your student would like to learn more about uncovering and winning scholarships for college and our course, sign up for our free college scholarship webinar. It’s a great way to learn about the process and see how scholarships can help your student graduate from college debt-free.

What is a Scholarship Letter of Recommendation?

Letters of recommendation for scholarships are similar to those your student may have acquired as part of the college admissions process. Typically, these documents – normally submitted alongside a scholarship application – provide the scholarship committees with valuable insight regarding your student’s qualities, character, and accomplishments. They are usually written by someone who knows your student well, as people close to them can best speak to their attributes and future goals or answer any identified questions the scholarship committee may have.

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Who Can Write the Letter?

Often, one of the hardest parts about acquiring a scholarship letter of recommendation is determining who should actually write the letter. In some cases, the instructions for students applying will specify who the committee wants to hear from, making this part of the process somewhat easier. However, when they don’t provide explicit guidance, your student will have to make this determination on their own.

The most common sources for a scholarship letter of recommendation are teachers, employers, volunteer work supervisors, and mentors.

At times, coworkers may also be suitable options, depending on the nature of the relationship.

It helps to have multiple options when it comes to writing a letter for your student. This helps avoid overwhelming one person with a ton of requests.

Furthermore, ensuring these various recommendation letters are from people in different areas is best to share a well-rounded view. For example, suppose the scholarship allows 2 or 3 letters of recommendation. In that case, we suggest getting one from a left-brain activity or subject (science or math, for example), one from a right-brain activity or subject (creative tasks), and/or one from an extracurricular activity. This isn’t a hard rule, but the idea is to use the opportunity to submit multiple letters to share a well-rounded picture.

Scholarship Recommendation: How To Find a Good Recommender & Get A Strong Letter from Them

The most important part in deciding who to ask is to choose someone who can provide the committee with the most valuable information. However, even though they may know your student better than anyone else, family members and friends aren’t usually the best sources in the eyes of the committee (unless the instructions specifically request their input).

Students should avoid using family members or friends for letters of recommendation to accompany their scholarship application since the committee knows those people are potentially biased. They may have an incentive to skew the truth to put the student in a better position, so many committees are inherently skeptical of letters from family members or friends. There’s less concern about bias if the letter comes from another type of party, so a teacher, manager, club advisor, or similar person is usually a better choice.

Is a Scholarship Letter of Recommendation Necessary?

Whether or not a scholarship letter of recommendation is considered a requirement is based on the scholarship application’s instructions provided by the committee. If one is listed as a must-have portion of the application, then, yes, it is always necessary.

In cases where one isn’t requested, your student may still want to submit one, as long as the instructions allow for supplemental documents. At times, your student will have the flexibility to provide additional information that helps demonstrate why they should be considered for the award, and a scholarship letter of recommendation is a wonderful addition. But, other applications are a bit more limiting, and they don’t want anything added that isn’t spelled out on the requirements list.

How Many Letters Does Your Child Need?

The answer to this question depends on the scholarships to which your student is applying. Certain committees will only request a single letter of recommendation, while others may want two or three. In some cases, the same document can be used in multiple applications, as long as the content is applicable to each of the scholarships, but that isn’t always an option depending on the topics that need to be covered by the writer.

Ultimately, there is no hard and fast rule about the number of scholarship letters of recommendation your student should gather, though having a few that can be applied to various situation is always handy.

How to Ask for a Scholarship Letter of Recommendation

From your student’s perspective, the actual act of asking for a scholarship letter of recommendation may feel like the hardest part. But, it doesn’t have to be.

The first thing that needs to be mentioned is that it is almost always better to ask sooner rather than later. Writing a letter takes time, and if the person has a full schedule, giving them only one or two days notice isn’t going to fly, especially if you want the content of the positive letter to be thoughtful.

Typically, the best approach is to be very straightforward about the request. Your student should let the person know that they are applying for a scholarship and that a letter of recommendation is required. Then, they can simply ask the prospective writer if they would be willing to provide the document and see if the timeframe associated with the application deadline works for them.

Your student has options regarding how they make the request, though discussing it with the individual in person is always preferable. A phone call is also a strong choice if that isn’t possible. Then, after the initial communication, your student can send a follow-up email with additional details, such as the topics that must be covered and how the letter needs to be submitted.

One trick we also recommend is to send a resume or list of involvements, achievements and activities along with the request. Your student shouldn’t be afraid to provide recommenders with all the details they need to write an amazing letter. The more information they have, the better they can sell your student.

Should the Letter be Digital or Printed?

This is another point where referring to the instructions outlined in the application process is important. Some committees will want an original, hand-signed copy of the scholarship letter of recommendation sent separately, while others may prefer email. In some cases, it will need to be attached along with the rest of the materials being submitted by your student.

However, when possible, getting a hand-signed copy printed on official school or business letterhead is often ideal. That way, if a digital copy is required, your student just needs to scan the letter and save it as a PDF. But, if the original is needed, there is a copy available.

Make Paper Letters Easy to Send

Whenever an original, printed letter is required, make sure your student is ready to keep the process as simple as possible for the writer.

Always Say Thank You

Whenever someone writes a scholarship recommendation letter for your student, it should be viewed as a favor that is deserving of appreciation. In the end, the person who wrote the reference letter may be responsible for your student getting an award, so giving thanks is just the polite thing to do.

Ideally, the writer should be thanked at least twice, once when they agree to create the document and again when they provide the finished letter.

Saying “thank you,” or even sending a hand-signed thank you card, only takes a moment out of your student’s day, and making the effort is always worthwhile.

The scholarship letter of recommendation is just one topic we cover in-depth in our online course for students and parents. In our course, we cover exactly how to secure scholarships for college. Our goal is to help families secure millions in scholarships – and we are well on our way!

If you and your student would like to learn more about uncovering and winning scholarships for college and our course, sign up for our free college scholarship webinar. It’s a great way to learn about the process and see how scholarships can help your student graduate from college debt-free.

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FAQs

What makes a good scholarship letter of recommendation?

A good reference letter highlights the applicant’s achievements, character, and potential. It should come from someone who knows the applicant well, such as a teacher, coach, or club advisor.

The letter should provide specific examples of the applicant’s skills and experiences, showing why they are an ideal candidate for the scholarship program. Additionally, the letter’s contents should emphasize personal anecdotes and insights beyond the information included in the scholarship application, as that provides the scholarship committee with the most overall value.

How long should a letter of recommendation be?

A reference letter for a scholarship application should typically be one to two pages long. This length allows the writer to provide enough detail about the applicant’s qualifications and experiences without becoming too lengthy.

Overall, the letter should be concise and to the point, focusing on the most relevant aspects of the applicant’s abilities and achievements. If extending beyond one page causes the content to seem meandering or become repetitive, then it’s best to wrap it up near the end of a single page.

Can classmates write a letter of recommendation for a scholarship?

While classmates can offer support and share positive comments, it is generally not advisable for them to write recommendation letters for scholarships. Letters from teachers, mentors, or employers carry more weight because they come from individuals in positions of authority who can objectively assess the applicant’s qualifications and potential. A club advisor or a coach, for example, would be better suited to write a compelling recommendation.

However, there are potential exceptions. For example, if a student was a classmate’s peer mentor, that classmate’s perspective could prove valuable, as they could attest to the student’s coaching or leadership style. Similarly, if the student and classmate engaged in a significant project together, they may be a suitable candidate to write a recommendation letter.

How much advanced notice should you give the writer of a recommendation letter?

Giving the writer at least two weeks’ notice before the scholarship application deadline is essential, with four to six weeks being better. This timeframe allows them to thoughtfully consider your achievements and write a detailed and supportive letter of recommendation.

Providing ample notice also shows respect for their time, as they won’t feel rushed by the request. Finally, giving as much notice as possible increases the likelihood of receiving a well-crafted and thorough recommendation, as they can commit enough time to create a properly written letter.

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If you and your student would like to learn more about uncovering and winning scholarships for college and our course, sign up for our free college scholarship webinar. It’s a great way to learn about the process and see how scholarships can help your student graduate from college debt-free.