Write Your Own Epic Scholarship Recommendation Letter (2022-2023)

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A recommendation letter may be requested when applying to colleges, applying to scholarships, or when applying for jobs. Having strong recommendation letters can make a big difference, so it’s important to understand how to ensure that your letters stand out.

In the ideal scenario, your recommender should write the letter themselves. Yet, you might discover that the professors and mentors who you relate to the most are ALSO the ones with the least time. As a result, they may ask you to write the first draft yourself.

In this post, we’ll go over some tips for writing a stellar letter of recommendation for yourself.

Step 1: Find the right person

So, if you’ve developed a great relationship with your professor, mentor or supervisor, it’s time to ask for a letter of recommendation. Ideally, it’s best to ask for a recommendation from someone who knows you well and would be excited to support your higher education plans.

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Hopefully, this person will be able to take the time to write you a custom letter, tailored to showcase your talents, passions, intellect, compassion, and more. But sometimes, your chosen recommender might ask you to write the first draft yourself. This not only saves your recommender’s time, but it also can help ensure that your letter covers everything you want to highlight about yourself.

Step 2: Brainstorm ideas

The idea of writing your own letter of recommendation might be a bit scary. Yet, it gives you the opportunity to ensure that the letter showcases everything you want an admission or scholarship reviewer to know about you.

A good place to start is creating an outline for your letter. Divide it into sections – the introduction, body and conclusion, and make a list of bullet points you will cover in each section. Make sure not to include anything your recommender wouldn’t reasonably know about you based on your relationship.

Step 3: Preparing to write your first draft

One of the hardest parts about writing your own letter is that it feels uncomfortable to “toot your own horn.” To help with this, show your outline to your parents or other adults who know you well. Ask for input, as that person might notice that you have “undersold” yourself.

Being modest and humble are positive traits. Still, in a letter this important, you must say enough to convince the readers that you are a deserving candidate.

Step 4: First paragraph – how they know you

In the first paragraph of your letter, you’ll need to convey your relationship with your recommender to set the stage for the rest of the letter. You’ll also want to be sure to incorporate a positive statement about how or why that person feels you are the right candidate for admission or for the scholarship.

Step 5: Qualities and examples

In the next section of the letter, you’ll want to expand on your recommender’s experience with you. It would be helpful to incorporate meaningful events that happened as they taught you. Did you seek extra help when you didn’t understand a concept? Did you show any leadership qualities? This is the place to include that information as long as it’s a truthful reflection of your relationship with your recommender.

Step 6: Write the conclusion

This final step can show the admissions officers or scholarship review committee that the recommender believes in your abilities and fully endorses you, which may influence their decision to select you.

Step 7: Submit first draft to recommender

When you submit your draft to your recommender, let them know that this is truly a “first draft,” and encourage them to change the letter as needed. This will allow them to understand that their input is welcomed, and give them the opportunity to adjust the content if needed. You may discover that your recommender wants to add even more glowing commentary about you, which will definitely go in your favor.

Finally, you should instruct the reference on how to submit the letter. Be sure to tell them about all the requirements, including correct format, and where and when to send it. In some cases, they will need to submit the letter through a recommender portal that is part of the application process.

A sample scholarship recommendation letter

To Whom It May Concern,

It is my great pleasure to recommend Maria for the HENAAC Scholarship. I got to know Maria as her 11th grade AP biology teacher at Mark Twain High School. Maria was also a member of the science club which I am the head of, during her sophomore, junior, and senior year.

From the first day of class, Maria impressed me greatly with her focus and determination. She never hesitated to ask for help when the course material wasn’t clear and would stay after school for additional assistance. She showed great interest in the course and her passion for the field of science is evident.

I was also very impressed by the way she worked with her classmates. Maria got along well with everyone. She is both caring, respectful, and patient. She often sat with other students who needed extra help and explained to them the concepts they didn’t understand.

Maria is enrolled at the University of Michigan and will be starting in the fall of 2022. She plans to major in biology. It is her hopes and dreams to go to medical school following her undergraduate degree.

There is no doubt in my mind that Maria will succeed in whatever she path she chooses to take. She was one of my most motivated students who never succumbed to the pressure of school work and external commitments.

Maria comes from a family of immigrants and will be the first one in her family to get a college degree. Her parents work very hard to support the family, but finances are a big strain on her family. Maria worked at a coffee shop during all four years of high school as well as babysat to help her parents out. She also helped take care of her brother who is 6 years younger than her.

Maria is very proud of her Hispanic roots. She was a member of the Hispanic club for all four years of high school. She hopes to encourage other Hispanic students to go to college and enter the field of science.

Her hard work and effort will get her very far in life and there is no doubt in my mind that she will succeed. She is very deserving of this scholarship and will greatly contribute to any community that she’s a part of.

Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions at example@email.com.

Sincerely,

Julie Randalls

Takeaway

Admissions officers and scholarship review committees are looking for students with impressive academic, personal, and social skills who will succeed in college and beyond. A strong recommendation letter may tip the scales in your favor when it comes to getting admitted or getting the scholarship you are applying for.

If you are asked to write the first draft yourself, it may feel a bit uncomfortable, but remember that by doing so, you’ll have better control over exactly what you would like your letter to communicate. And that might be exactly what you need to boost your chances of getting into your desired college and/or receiving a scholarship!