What is a letter of recommendation for scholarship?

One of documents that are requested by many scholarship providers is the letter of recommendation included in the scholarship applications. The letter of recommendation for scholarship is a letter from a teacher/lecturer, employers, co-colleagues or other non-personal acquaintances. You should always avoid to have the letters from personal acquaintances like family and friends.

The letter of recommendation for scholarship is a great way to present your talents and abilities to the scholarship selection panel. Normally the referees will write about his/her relationships to you, for how long they have known you, your strengths, why you deserve the scholarships and samples of your achievements. Many scholarship providers require referees to seal the letters so that only them can know what are written inside the envelopes.

 

When should you send request for a letter of recommendation?

You should give your referees plenty of time to prepare the letter. Normally, 2-3 weeks in advance are sufficient to give teachers time to prepare because they are busy and you also want to have a high quality letter from them. You should also ask for recommendation before completion of your class while teachers/professors still remember you and your achievement clearly.

 

What to send to your referees?

It’s best to provide as much information as possible to your recommendation letter writer. The list includes:

1. A written request (e.g. email)
2. Updated resume Scholarship application form
3. Recommendation letter form with date, to whom, from whom Scholarship summary and deadline
4. Tip sheet.
5. Do not forget to include a thank you note to your referees.

The recommendation letter can be the determining factor that make your scholarship application stand out above other candidates. So it is one of the best investment you can make in your scholarship hunting path.