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Letters of Recommendation Advice

Part of cultivating relationships with people involved in your educational journey is intentionally maintaining those relationships. Even when a course, research, community project, or internship with them is over, remain in touch with them! You don’t want to ask a person for a letter when you haven’t contacted them since your first semester... and you are now a graduating senior. 

Remember, early planning means your award/scholarship application may be a year or two in the future. If you want them to be part of your team, communicate with them at least once a semester.  

  • Most scholarship applications require multiple letters of recommendation. They are looking for letters from people who know you and can speak knowledgeably about your talents and abilities, academic firepower, leadership, future potential, and even your personality.
  • Determine your list of potential recommenders and determine which combination will work best for the award you are applying for. Different applications may be best served by different combinations of recommenders.
  • When approaching potential recommenders, ask early and go armed with information about yourself! Share information with them about the award you are applying for, why you are applying, your resume, and what you are hoping they might be able to write about. Give them the opportunity to say no–this is better than getting a bad or vague letter!
  • Don’t agree to write your own letter. Not only is it unethical to do so, but you will not be able to write as good a letter about yourself as your mentors can. They have perspective and context that you lack.
  • Follow up with your recommenders throughout the application process. Share essay drafts with them both to keep them informed and to get valuable feedback! Remind them of upcoming deadlines.
  • For even more pointers, check out this article from the Chronicle of Higher Education.

How to Help Your Recommender Write a Strong Letter 

Strong letters of recommendation are primary to the success of scholarship applications. Provide your references with a letter of recommendation packet to help them write strong letters about you.  Sharing this packet with them also demonstrates that you respect their time. 

The ideal packet includes the following:

  • A concise description of the award;
  • A brief explanation of why you are a strong candidate;
  • Your goals and what you hope to achieve through the award/scholarship;
  • The specific reason(s) you are asking them to write a letter for the award/scholarship;
  • The submission deadline for the recommendation;
  • Any submission instructions for recommenders;
  • The semester/year (period of time) you worked/took a class with them;
  • Details of your work with them: course names, projects and results, papers and assignments, grades, accomplishments, contributions, etc.;
  • A list of items that would be ideal for them to discuss/include in your letter, e.g., your growth and development—what you learned with them; responsibilities and tasks you had under them; topics of conversations or discussions you’ve had; and other interactions (they need to be reminded!) that would be relevant to the award;
  • The URL of the award/scholarship webpage;
  • Your updated resume; and
  • Your unofficial transcript.
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