Write A Scholarship Recommendation Letter - Beginner's Instructions For Reference Letters

Write A Scholarship Recommendation Letter

Be sure to remember to give your writers a well-organized, thorough packet of materials with all the elements clipped together or contained in a single large envelope.

Good sample reference letters will also ask you to extend yourself for further discussion about the person in question. This means giving your telephone number or e-mail address. If you really feel the person is worthy of your time, make sure you're available to answer questions a potential employer might have.


There has been a noticeable rise in lawsuits against employers and referral agencies for hiring and referring candidates who were unfit for their jobs and who also harmed innocent third parties. Sometimes, the basis of these negligent hiring and referral lawsuits is that the employer didn't do a complete reference check on the candidate or misrepresented the qualifications and characteristics of the candidate.

* State the best time and place the recipient can reach you.
* Explain what your role or position is how in your own experience this person ranks among other persons you've worked with.
* Ask for materials that will give you a good idea of the person's qualifications, interests, and future plans and goals. A good place to start is by asking for a current resume and cover letter, a list of the person's accomplishments or experience, an academic transcript, writing samples, and/or as complete a description as possible of the position or program to which the person is applying.
* When requesting a recommendation letter, it is helpful to provide the writer with a copy of your current resume and cover letter. Your resume should list your accomplishments and your other relevant experience that make you an ideal candidate for the position, a description of the job or program you are interested in, and/or a current transcript or list of relevant courses you have taken in your high school, undergraduate, or graduate career.


Below is a sample reference letter. Hopefully you find it useful.

Attn: Name
Re: Subject

Dear Mrs. Name:

I am writing this reference at the request of Name who is applying for Student Volunteer Program at Cougar School this summer.

She has also been my riding student, and assisted me with the many tasks required to run a thorough bred breeding facility. She has spent several summers working on the farm, as well as time during school vacations, after school, and weekends.

As a student in my class, Name has distinguished himself with consistency of preparation, obvious grasp of issues, clarity of reasoning, and an ability to express himself in front of his classmates. He was always keenly interested in subject matter, and was quick to initiate discussion of important topics. His examination results were consistent with his high class standing.

Name has compiled a remarkable record at the University. Scholastically, he has achieved the highest laurels. He has been extremely active in curricular and extracurricular affairs. He has achieved a status of renown among her peers and a reputation for excellence with the faculty and the administration.

Few predictions can be made with absolute assuredness. In this instance, I am absolutely certain that your choice of Name as your clerk will be a decision you will long cherish having made.

Write A Scholarship Recommendation Letter