How to Write a Letter of Recommendation for a Scholarship (Guides, Samples, Template)
In several scholarship calls and admissions procedures for international study programs, academic and professional letters of recommendation are crucial. I will therefore offer you the best guidance that has enabled me and my clients to pursue their studies and obtain international scholarships.
What is a scholarship recommendation letter?
In academic processes and scholarship applications, letters of recommendation or references are documents in which a third person explains himself, how he came to know you, and why he believes you are a good fit for the study or scholarship program in question.
By doing this, the organization or scholarship sponsor gets a second perspective on your proposal and may confirm your performance and character. To put it another way, the primary purpose of the recommendation letter is to gather more details about your profile and to support the information you have provided in other documents (such the motivation letter and CV).
You might also want to know How to Write a Scholarship Motivation Letter: Five Samples
Who is responsible for writing the scholarship recommendation letter?
Contrary to popular belief, “important people,” like the general manager of the company you have worked for or the dean of the college, are not required to write letters of recommendation.
Organizations like letters from individuals who have interacted with you directly and are familiar with your character and abilities. Consequently, it is recommended to choose professors, thesis advisors, supervisors, or, in certain situations, coworkers as references.
NOTE: These persons could not have the time to write a letter, don’t know how to write one, or want to make sure they offer you what you need. As a result, you will be requested to advise them and, in certain situations, write a letter of recommendation for them to read and sign later. Thus, the following advice can be shared and/or considered:
Header Advice for Letters of Recommendation
Current date: Don’t deliver generic letters that you have already asked for prior calls.
Title or purpose: “Reference” or “Letter of Recommendation”
Specifically directed at the scholarship provider or program: The recommendation letter needs to make it clear to whom it is showing priority and uniqueness. For this reason, phrases like “To whom it may concern” should be avoided. “Colleagues of the Faculty of Economic Sciences…” is one such example.
• “Admissions committee members…”
• The “University of…”
Content Advice for Letters of Recommendation
The following components should be included in your letter of recommendation:
Reason: The individual who is suggesting you gives you a detailed explanation of your motivations and specifically names the program.
How he knows you and who he is: The individual who is recommending you ought to discuss his role, the organization he works for, and his relationship with you. For instance:
- “As an instructor in the National University’s International Relations course…”
- “I had David as a student in the class of…”
An explanation of the work or program: It is critical that the reference informs the reader about the program’s nature or the job done by the individual he recommends. Give it the respect it merits in this way. For instance:
• “Approximately 20 hours of study are required for the Mechanical Engineering program.”
• “To develop these activities, teamwork is essential.”
• “It’s a role with a lot of responsibility because…”
He suggests you for the following reasons: Similar to the last one, the person recommending you here explains your character, academic background, and/or professional abilities that make you the best fit for the program you’re applying to. For instance:
- “Pepe demonstrated… and good handling of…”
• “Juana stood out for herself during the time she worked with me. Y ….”
• “I acknowledge Pepe as an individual….,…. Y…..”
• “Joan handled…”
Reinforcement of recommendations: The letter’s last section should highlight your suitability for the program you’re applying to, using phrases like: • “I’m sure Pepe will bring great value to the program of … … and university x.”
• “I am convinced that Juana…
• “He is … and … as well.”
For additional details and dismissal: The person who recommends you should indicate at the end of the letter that they are willing to answer questions from the selection committee. Examples of this include: • “For more questions, do not hesitate to contact me.”
• “I’ll be happy to answer any questions you might have.”
How to obtain excellent reference letters for scholarships
Request them as soon as possible: The individuals who will compose your recommendation letter will probably have a lot on their plates, so it will take them at least a month to produce your letter of encouragement. To ensure that you submit all of the necessary paperwork on time, keep that time and the application deadline in mind.
Give these individuals a copy of your resume and motivation letter: Your letter of reference should ideally be written by someone who is familiar with your background and your reasons for applying to the program. It is therefore strongly advised that you meet with them to discuss your aims and experience, as well as to present supporting documentation such your motivation letter and curriculum vitae.
Academic recommendation letters: You should be extremely cautious about who you choose to serve as a reference and how you approach him to request one if you graduated more than two years ago and haven’t stayed in contact with your professors.
To make it easier for them to remember you when you call them and identify yourself, you can think about professors who you stood out with or with whom you had the most contact.
I advise you to establish some first contact in order to reestablish the friendship before making any requests. You can accomplish this by sending them an email, giving them a call, or even paying them a visit to give them an update on your activities over the past few months, inform them of your plans to continue your education, and get their feedback.
Formatting Advice for Letters of Recommendation for Scholarships
It conforms with the instructions you have been given: For instance, the school could occasionally request that the recommendation letter follow a predetermined structure, be authored by particular individuals, and/or be enclosed in a sealed envelope. In that case, adhere to those guidelines as they are application requirements that, if not fulfilled, may result in your instant disqualification.
Language: If it’s for an English-language program, it’s best if it’s written in that language and the reference person can respond to inquiries in that language. However, since you can provide an official translation with your recommendation letter, it is not required that it be handled this manner.
Size: It is advised that the recommendation letter be one to one and a half pages long, in Times New Roman, Arial, or Calibri font, with standard margins and spacing. In this manner, you may ensure that it is sufficiently descriptive but concrete.
Letterhead: Ideally, the letter should be printed on the letterhead of the company your boss works for or the institution the teacher is affiliated with. As a result, the document gains confidence and formality.
Contact details: The person who recommended you must be clearly identified in the letter with their phone number, mailing address, and email address. This gives the evaluating organization the chance to get in touch with the individual who suggested you in order to confirm the details.
Letter of Recommendation Template
To Whom It May Concern:
It is my pleasure to strongly recommend [Applicant Name] for [position with Company Name or acceptance to Institution Name].
I am [Your Name], a [your position] at [Institution or Company]. I have [number] years of experience working in [your industry or academic focus] and have seen many young professionals come and go. [Applicant Name] is one individual I have worked with who uniquely stands out.
During our time together, [Applicant Name] displayed great talents in [skill, trait, experience, class, etc.]. When we first met, I was immediately impressed with [Applicant’s Name], but during the time we worked together, her understanding of [key topic] grew far more than that of her peers.
[Insert personal story elaborating on key skills, trait, experience].
It’s not just her technical skills that impress me, however. [Applicant Name] was a joy to work with because of her amazingly positive attitude and [positive trait]. Her [positive trait] and [positive trait] were also necessary and valued not just by myself, but by her peers, who often relied on her to get the job done.
I am absolutely confident that [Applicant Name] would be a great fit for your [Institution/Company]. Not only will she bring the kind of skills and experiences you’re looking for in an applicant, but she will also quickly become an asset and help your [Institution/Company] grow in any way she can.
If you need more information or specific examples, please do not hesitate to contact me at [contact information]. As a recommendation letter likely only provides a snapshot of her talents and achievements, I would be happy to further elaborate on my time working with her.
Sincerely,
[Your Name, Company, and Title]
Recommendation Letter Example
March 17, 2021
College Scholars Program
University of Tennessee
123 Business Rd.
Business City, NY 54321
To Whom It May Concern:
I wholeheartedly endorse Joe Bloom for enrollment in the University of Tennessee’s College Scholars Program.
During Joe’s four years at Morristown-Hamblen High School, I taught him several English courses, including AP English in his junior year. Joe demonstrated a degree of originality, humor, and critical thinking in our classes that is extremely uncommon among high school students.
His research and writing abilities are genuinely amazing; for his main essay project in AP English, he conducted an impressive investigation and composed an outstanding analysis on Edgar Allan Poe’s use of visual imagery.
Most Liberal Arts classes at the freshmen and sophomore levels would bore Joe due to his broad knowledge. He has the self-motivation to successfully design and carry out an autonomous honors study program, and he is prepared to take on and perform well in upper division coursework.
Joe’s leadership abilities, which include serving as our band’s drum major for two years, vice president of the student council, and editor of our high school yearbook, compliment his academic accomplishments. He is also quite involved in the Sierra Student Coalition and his church.
If there is anything further I can do to support Joe’s College Scholars Program application, kindly let me know.
He has a very special spark, and I trust he will go far in making our world a better place.
Sincerely,
Jane Evans (signature hard copy letter)
Jane Evans
