Who to Ask and How to Do it - Scholarship Recommendation Letters
Your scholarship application up to this point has been written entirely by you. It includes your statistics, ranking, grade point average, standardized test scores and personal essay. But it does not give another person’s perspective on you, your personality, your strengths and weaknesses until you have included your letters of recommendation. The letters of recommendation are a vital part of the scholarship application because the writer is willing to advocate for your candidacy as a scholarship recipient and is further willing to put his or her reputation on the line in advocating for you by affixing his or her name and signature. The scholarship selection committee wants to hear about you from credible sources and one of the best ways to do that is to read the thoughts and opinions of those mentors and teachers who know you well.
Who Knows You Best?
When determining who the most appropriate person is to ask, keep in mind what that person knows of your strengths and weaknesses, in what capacity this person knows you and how well the person can write a recommendation for you. Keep in mind the goal of the scholarship committee. If the scholarship is aimed towards student leaders, you may want to ask your student council advisor for a recommendation or if you were the captain of your varsity sports team, your coach would be a great choice. Do not ask your Geometry teacher for a recommendation if the scholarship is geared towards volunteering and community service. Each scholarship has different requirements and goals. You may have to ask several different people for recommendations for several different scholarships.
Everyone Needs Time
Once you have determined who would be a good choice as a letter writer on your behalf, do not waste time in asking for your recommendation. Some people you may choose, such as a teacher or guidance counselor, may have several other students asking for recommendation letters as well. Be considerate of others and of the free time your letter writer is taking to write on your behalf. Give them plenty of time to write a letter for you and mail it in within the specified time frame. Be sure to give your writer all necessary documentation and information. Remember, it is your letter of recommendation and it is your responsibility to be sure your letter writer has all the tools necessary to complete the letter and deliver it to the proper source. Ask the letter writer to use letterhead when writing the recommendation and be sure to include all envelopes and stamps if your school does not already have a policy regarding recommendation letters. Check in occasionally with your letter writer to be sure everything is going smoothly and to make sure the letter will make it to the selection committee on time.
Minding Your Manners
Once your letters of recommendation have been written and mailed, don’t forget your manners. Your writers have taken their own personal time to help you and genuinely want to see you succeed in your quests. Make sure to write each a thank you note expressing your gratitude. Keep your letter writers updated on your scholarship status and let them know you appreciate their interest in your success. Their letters of recommendation may contribute significantly to a scholarship which could save you thousands of dollars in tuition bills.