Sample Scholarship Recommendation Letter

Are you interested in finding a sample scholarship recommendation letter or wondering how to figure out the best person to ask for a recommendation? As is often the case with college recommendations, it can be difficult to figure out who is best suited to write a similar letter for a scholarship. If this is a problem you have been having, keep reading to find a sample scholarship recommendation letter and some advice on who to ask for one.

You'll need a letter of recommendation for programs like the Oprah Winfrey scholarship.

One of the hardest parts of the scholarship hunt is figuring out who is best suited to write a recommendation letter for you. After all, there are dozens of letters that each teacher has to write and the scholarship committee must read them all, so you want yours to stand out. It's hard sometimes to figure out how you can find someone to make your letter superior to the rest. A few ideas for people to ask for letters include:

• Cater to the nature of the scholarship. Perhaps the scholarship is for community service outreach. If that's the case, see if your volunteer coordinator would write a letter for you. Is the scholarship for music? Ask your music teacher or personal instructor. If the nature of the scholarship is academic, ask one of your teachers--but be sure to ask the teacher you know best. If there is a teacher whom you work with often and knows how diligent you are with your work, but you only get B's in her class, her recommendation will probably be more valuable than one from a teacher who has given you an A but barely knows your name.
• Church staff, such as nuns, are often more than willing to help members of their parish with a scholarship recommendation letter. Their unique perspective on your life can also sometimes help your recommendation stand out.
• If you have a part-time or summer job, consider asking your employer. Sometimes bosses can write excellent recommendation letters detailing your hard work on the job. This can be especially true with smaller businesses, where employees work more closely with their supervisors.

A good rule of thumb is to be sure not to ask anyone who you don't know well (such as a substitute teacher you've only had once or twice), anyone who isn't in a position to rate you adequately (such as a close friend) or anyone who does not have you in their good graces (such as a teacher who failed you).

Sometimes when you ask people for recommendation letters, they know exactly what to say--either they have written several before or know exactly what they would like to tell the scholarship-granting organization about you. However, this isn't always the case, so it's best to highlight the information that you will want in your recommendation.

• If the scholarship you are applying for asks you to submit your recommendations on a special form, be sure to do so. Often, the form includes special instructions or questions that can help lead to a well-rounded recommendation.
• If the scholarship you're applying for does not come with a special form for recommendations, be sure to do your research before asking someone to write a letter. Know what the scholarship is looking for. For example, if you are applying for a writing scholarship, you wouldn't necessarily want the teacher recommending you to praise your math abilities without ever mentioning how well you write. Be sure to let recommenders know what angle your letter requires--this will help them focus the letter for your benefit!
• Sometimes, it can be helpful to provide the person recommending you with a recap of who you are. For example, if you have asked an English teacher for a recommendation, be sure that when providing the information for the scholarship you're applying for that you also outline your accolades. Mention that you have been in his 10 a.m. English course for the past two years (complete with your grades) and try to mention a few of your major papers. If the course is especially large, consider attaching a copy of your best paper to remind him of the quality of your work.

If you're looking to see a few samples of recommendations for scholarships, consider the examples below:

• Example One. Although this letter is for an upper-level college scholarship, many of the highlights of the letter apply to all levels of education.
• Example Two

Now use this knowledge to obtain some stellar scholarship recommendations!

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