The Scholarship Application Process

Who Should I Ask for a Letter of Recommendation?

Many college scholarship statements require at least one letter of recommendation from either an instructor that is teaching/taught you, a counselor, or an employer. Because scholarships ask for letters of recommendations to try to get a better sense of who you are (as oppose to what’s only in your personal statement), it is important to ask someone who knows you well.  Ideally, you would want to ask someone who could give an informed and detailed opinion of you. If you are unable to find a recommender that fits this description, you may want to provide the recommender with a detailed resume that informs them of your work experience, the extracurricular activities you participate in, any awards you have received, and any part you may have taken in community service.  You may also want to provide the recommender with your personal statement, if complete.

The Two Weeks Courtesy Notice

When requesting a letter of recommendation it is important to be considerate of timing and prepared. Be gracious to your recommenders in terms of timing. You should notify the person whom you would like a recommendation from at least two weeks before the deadline of the scholarship. It is unprofessional to do so any later. If the person agrees to write you a recommendation, make sure you provide the recommender with all the appropriate forms and supplies necessary to complete it. If the scholarship requires your letter of recommendation to be mailed from the recommender, for example, provide the recommender with a stamped envelope.

Import Things to Mention in Your Personal Statement

• Who you are
• Where you are from
• What your professional  goals are
• Family background
• Any Financial needs
• Activities you participate in

Personal Statement

The personal statement portion of a college scholarship is the most important. This is the section of a scholarship that can make it or break it. Remember that the goal of your personal statement is to give the scholarship reader a general sense of who you are. Although you want give a general outline of the different activities you participate in, you want to place emphasis on parts of your resume relevant to the scholarship you are applying to. Before writing your personal statement you may want to outline a resume listing, as mentioned before, your work experience, the extracurricular activities you participate in, any awards you have received, and any part you may have taken in community service. Once you have this general outline, evaluate which parts of your resume the scholarship committee may be especially interested in. If you are applying for a scholarship provided by the Volunteers Society of America, for example, you may want to highlight your volunteer experiences in your personal statement. Tailor your personal statement to the scholarship you are applying to and show the scholarship committee why you are their best candidate.

Related Posts

1. Relax During The College Application Process

2. 5 Best Ways To Land A College Scholarship

3. A Tour of the College Admissions Process

4. College Scholarships Awarded By FISCA

5. Finding Your College Scholarships Early

Tags: apply for scholarships, college scholarships, College Scholarships And Grants, Letters of Rec, Letters of Recommendation, Personal Statement, Scholarship, scholarship application, Scholarship Application Process, Scholarship Essay, Scholarship guidance, scholarships, scholarships and grants, scholarships for college

2 Responses to “The Scholarship Application Process”

1. A Tour of the College Admissions Process | College To Careers says:

   July 20, 2010 at 9:21 am

   [...] Letters of Recommendation: Most public schools do not require letters of recommendation. Private schools, on the other hand, generally require two letters of recommendation from a teacher and/or a counselor. You want to ask your desired recommenders to write your letters of recommendation as soon as possible. Remember that there are other students also requesting recommendations. When you get two recommenders to agree to write your letters of recommendation, it is important to provide them with all the materials they will need to write you your letters (i.e required forms, pre-addressed envelopes, stamps, etc.) [...]
2. Advanced Placement - AP Exams and New Changes | College To Careers says:

   July 28, 2010 at 1:17 pm

   [...] and exams, you can not only earn college credit, but stand out in the college admissions process, college scholarship applications and learn from some of the best instructors in the [...]