How to Get Recommendation Letters that Are Strong Enough for Scholarships. A compelling recommendation letter can have a big impact on your scholarship application. A well-written recommendation gives the scholarship committee with an outside view on your achievements, character, and prospects, and it can support the claims you’ve made in your application. We will look at how to get powerful recommendation letters in this tutorial, which will make you stand out.
1. Select the Appropriate Referrals
Selecting the appropriate individuals to compose the recommendation letters is crucial for obtaining a great recommendation. People who are familiar with you and can vouch for your accomplishments in school, the workplace, or your personal life should ideally serve as your recommenders. Depending on the criteria for the scholarship, the following people usually make the best recommenders:
- Teachers or Professors: They can vouch for your academic abilities and intellectual curiosity.
- Employers or Supervisors: If you’ve worked or interned, a boss or supervisor can provide insight into your work ethic, leadership, and problem-solving skills.
- Mentors: Mentors from extracurricular activities or volunteer programmes can attest to your dedication, leadership, and character.
Make sure to select recommenders who are familiar with your work and achievements, as a generic recommendation letter will not carry much weight. The better the recommender knows you, the more personalised and compelling the letter will be.
2. Ask Early
It’s essential to give your recommenders plenty of time to write a thoughtful and detailed letter. Asking them at the last minute not only increases the likelihood of receiving a weaker letter, but it also adds unnecessary pressure on them.
- Ask at least 2-4 weeks in advance: Giving your recommenders enough time shows that you respect their busy schedules, and it allows them to write a well-considered letter.
- Follow up politely: If you haven’t received the letter by the time you need it, send a gentle reminder a week or so before the deadline to ensure everything is on track.
Asking early also gives you time to ask someone else if your first choice is unable to commit.
3. Provide All Necessary Information
Help your recommenders write the best letter possible by providing them with everything they need. This will ensure that their recommendation highlights the qualities and achievements that align with the scholarship’s goals.
- Provide a copy of your resume or CV. This will remind your recommenders of your achievements, skills, and qualifications.
- Include the scholarship details: Make sure they understand the purpose of the scholarship, what the committee is looking for, and how your qualifications meet those criteria.
- Explain your goals: Let your recommenders know why you’re applying for the scholarship and how it fits into your academic or career aspirations.
- List deadlines and submission instructions: Be clear about when and how the letter needs to be submitted. Some scholarships require letters to be sent directly from the recommender, while others allow you to upload them yourself.
Providing all of this information upfront ensures that your recommender can write a focused and relevant letter that will strengthen your application.
4. Personalise the Request
When asking for a recommendation, don’t send a generic email or message. Instead, personalise your request to show why you value this person’s endorsement and how their insights will benefit your application.
- Acknowledge their expertise: Let them know why you think they’re the best person to write your recommendation. Highlight specific experiences you shared together and how they’ve positively impacted you.
- Express gratitude: Acknowledge that writing a recommendation letter is time-consuming and express genuine appreciation for their willingness to help.
For example, instead of simply saying, “Can you write me a letter of recommendation?” try saying, “I deeply value the time we spent working together during the community project, and I believe your insight into my leadership skills and dedication would be incredibly helpful for my scholarship application.”
5. Emphasise Key Points You Want Highlighted
You know best which of your qualities or achievements you want to emphasise in your scholarship application. Communicate these to your recommender to ensure they focus on aspects that will strengthen your case.
- Specify your strengths: Let your recommender know if you want them to emphasise qualities like leadership, teamwork, academic performance, or community service.
- Relate it to the scholarship: If the scholarship is looking for students with specific qualities (e.g., leadership, innovation, community service), make sure your recommender knows to highlight those areas in the letter.
For example, if the scholarship is based on community service, ask your recommender to focus on the volunteer work you’ve done and how it has impacted others. This alignment will make the recommendation more persuasive.
6. Follow Up and Say Thank You
After your recommender has submitted the letter, follow up with a thank-you note to express your appreciation for their help. This is not only courteous but also keeps the relationship positive if you need their help again in the future.
- Send a thank-you email or handwritten note: Acknowledge the time and effort they put into writing the letter and how much you appreciate their support.
- Update them on the outcome: If you win the scholarship, let your recommender know! Sharing the good news shows that their effort made a difference.
Gratitude goes a long way, and it encourages recommenders to continue helping others in the future.
7. Follow the Submission Process
Make sure that the recommendation letter is submitted according to the scholarship’s instructions. Some scholarships will require the letter to be uploaded by the recommender directly, while others might ask you to submit it as part of your application package.
- Ensure timely submission: Double-check that your recommender has submitted the letter before the deadline.
- Verify delivery: Some scholarships offer confirmation when letters of recommendation are submitted. If this is the case, ensure that you receive confirmation to avoid any issues.
Always make sure to leave ample time for corrections in case of technical issues or delays.
8. Avoid Overloading Your Recomander
If you’re applying for multiple scholarships, it’s tempting to ask your recommender to write several letters. However, avoid overloading them with too many requests. If necessary, spread your requests across different recommenders to ease the burden on one person.
- Group similar requests: If multiple scholarships require similar recommendation letters, you can ask your recommender to adapt a single letter for each scholarship instead of writing entirely new ones.
- Be considerate of their time. Limit your requests and be mindful of their schedule to ensure that each letter is well-written and not rushed.
Conclusion
A strong recommendation letter is an essential part of a well-executed scholarship application. You can obtain recommendations that really showcase your skills and qualifications if you carefully choose the appropriate referees, give them the information they need, and keep lines of communication open throughout the process. Do not forget to be specific, make your request seem unique, and thank them for their support. You will significantly increase your chances of being noticed by scholarship committees if your letters of recommendation are well organised.
