Scholarship Recommendation Letter

A scholarship recommendation letter is an authorized document that reviews an individual’s work, attributes, achievements, or performance relevant when applying for a certain scholarship or grant program. Reference letters accompany a candidate’s applications, providing inherent support and complementing their portfolio. The free recommendation letter form is prepared by someone who possesses a higher social or employment status and has collaborated with or known the claimant personally.

Almost every sphere in life favors reference documents. Each type of letter pursues certain goals and reveals the applicant’s personality from different angles. You are likely to run into character reference letters for immigration or court, fraternity recommendation letters, internship, teacher, or professional reference letters, and many other varieties.

This review covers the peculiarities, purposes, and focal points of a recommendation letter for a scholarship. We will also walk you through the basic things to include in a scholarship letter and provide prepared scholarship letter samples to make it easier for you to construct the required paper.

Reference Letter Components and Composition

As an authorized form, a recommendation letter for a student scholarship should be tailored under certain expectations. Despite having a relatively free format of exposition, the document is still expected to possess the following contents:

  • Introduction or the heading, identifying the addressee and the author
  • Body where the essential information about the candidate is presented
  • Conclusion, comprising the author’s contact details and authorization

Compiling the letter is easy. Writers are welcome to follow the composition stem to unfurl each aspect:

1. Identification of the Person Providing the Reference

Scholarship recommendation letters are usually prepared by a professor or a program counselor who supervises the candidate’s work beyond the curriculum and performance during the academic year. So, save the heading part for the name and title. You may also wish to define the name and physical address of the teaching facility.

2. Addressee’s Name and Title

The author of a recommendation letter must enter the addressee’s details in the heading part of the letter. If you don’t have the exact receiver’s name, use the statement “To Whom This May Concern.”

3. Relationship with the Candidate

The author should use this section to explain how they relate to the scholarship applicant. Here, you are welcome to specify your title. You could be the candidate’s teacher, program counselor, or mentor.

4. Candidate’s Name, Characteristics, and Achievements

This section covers the most valuable information. Recommendation letters for scholarships anticipate exposing the candidate’s best qualities, performance, and key achievements as part of a certain discipline or a field of concern. Therefore, the author of the reference letter may divide this paragraph into two sections. The student’s outstanding qualifications might be recited first. In contrast, the second section might expose the examples of the candidate’s developments, scientific research or artworks, and other relevant models representing the student’s active position, genuine interest, and awards. The whole paragraph may cover up to 10-15 sentences. The focal aim of this section is to ensure the addressee that the candidate is the appropriate choice to get the scholarship privilege.

5. Calendar Date, Signature, and Contact Details

To conclude the recommendation letter, the author should submit their contact details, providing a business phone number or email, the current calendar date, and append a signature. If the addressee finds it important to contact the preparer, they can use the information to learn more details about the scholarship applicant.

Dos and Don’ts

As we have already mentioned above, reference letters for scholarships present a student as the perfect candidate for the privilege. The author should be informative and accurate in describing the student’s achievements, personality, and performance. Any careless statement may deny the candidate’s chances of getting the scholarship and making meaningful headway in research. Ensure you read the aspects below to understand the essential recommendations to preserve while composing a reference and things to avoid by any means.

What to Omit:

  • Delayed delivery. The last thing any candidate and their supervisor want to do is miss the final date of submitting the scholarship application. Reduce the stress by preparing all the documentation requested for the portfolio beforehand. The student should manage the application process, keep track of time, and respectfully remind the reference author of the submission dates.
  • False statements. Reputation in the academic or art world is everything. Make sure all achievements and qualifications provided are authentic and characterize the student’s personality. Obtaining a grant or scholarship is prestigious both to the applicant and the teaching facility. However, keep it real and true to facts. Award your candidate with credits but ensure that this is well-deserved praise.
  • Negative feedback. Recommendation letters focus on the applicant’s strengths and merits. The paper is created to reinforce the overall image and portfolio, so avoid any doubtful statements that may compromise the candidate’s authority and achievements.

Recommendations: 

  • Remain positive and informative. Scholarship reference letters should be consistent, well-structured, and positive, fortifying the overall image of the candidate and complimenting their portfolio. The applicants are welcome to write an example of what they expect to be included in the recommendation letter. In most cases, the author will rely on these characteristics to confirm the nominee’s creative or scientific background and achievements.
  • Stay in touch. The addressee may wish to reach the letter’s author for more details about the applicant. Keep an open mind to have a small chat regarding the information provided. It may assist in promoting the candidate’s image.

Scholarship Recommendation Letter: Samples

Our specialists have prepared two sample templates of a scholarship recommendation letter that you are welcome to use as guidelines. The first sample contains full example text with make-believe names and titles, while the second template is a ready-to-use document. You can generate a PDF file using our software and insert accurate information to complete the letter. Once you print out and sign the paper, the recommendation letter will be complete.

Sample 1

Recommendation Letter for Scholarship from a Mentor

 

Melanie Hills,

Ph.D., Head of the Playwright Master Program

New York Institute of Performing Arts

Green Street, 167

2347890, New York

US

mhillsmhills@pa.com

11/12/2020

To whom it may concern,

Recommendation Letter

I would like to provide a reference for Victoria Fouad, my graduate student. Victoria did her masters at the New York Institute of Performing Arts, at the “Project Performance/ Playwriting” Master Program, where I was the Head.

During her studies, Victoria has proven herself as a talented, creative, and extremely responsible person. Her commitment and interest in the selected field made her achieve success and graduate from the Institute with honors.

In the same way, Victoria brightly showed herself during practical training at the New York Theatre of Contemporary Arts. Her final project, an opera titled “The Bliss,” got the highest mark and became a centerpiece of our graduation performances. Moreover, it was Victoria herself who has coordinated the team for creating and performing her act.

Victoria was also found to be a good manager of an international project of our Institute and Amsterdam Drama High School—“Choice of Freedom” (2019). As a playwright, Victoria works successfully both in individual and group projects.

Victoria always sets high criteria for herself and follows her grand targets. She is open to critic and feedback and steadily improves her skills. Victoria is a real pleasure to talk to, and her optimism, compassion, sense of humor, and stress-management skills make her an incredible team member and a loyal friend.

Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions at mhillsmhills@pa.com.

Melanie Hills,

Ph.D., Head of the Playwright Master Program

New York Institute of Performing Arts

Sample 2

Recommendation Letter for Scholarship from the Employer

 

_____________, 20__ [enter date]

__________________ [author’s name]

_______________________________ [title]

_______________________________ [name of business]

_______________________________

_______________________________ [address]

__________________ [contact phone]

__________________ [email]

To whom this may concern,

I, _____________________ [the author’s name], am privileged to prepare this letter of recommendation to enounce my support for _____________________ [the applicant’s name] and their request for the _________________________ [grant program or scholarship].

It has been a pleasure to have ___________________ [the applicant’s name] as a valuable member of our business team at _____________________ [name of business] for the past _______ years.

 

My professional experience with ___________________ [the applicant’s name] was full of loyalty, respect, and understanding. My personal interaction with this reputable person has always prospered with mutual regard, confidence, a positive attitude, and commitment.

Moreover, _____________________ [the applicant’s name] has achieved the state-of-the-art results in their research and has had the honor of winning the below-listed awards:

________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

I am honored to reference _____________________ [the applicant’s name] as a nominee for this scholarship.

In case you need to learn more details about ____________________ [the applicant’s name] performance, do not hesitate to reach me by phone or email.

Kind Regards,

Signature _________________________

Date _____________

Published: Apr 4, 2022