Paying for college takes a lot of planning. The rising cost of tuition can put higher education out of reach for even the most talented students. College scholarships can help them follow their dreams without the burden of excessive debt. If you’re supporting a student’s application, our free bundle of 10 sample recommendation letters for scholarship applications offers practical, customizable examples for various types of scholarships. Use our tips to customize these scholarship recommendation letter templates and help show your students the money!

How To Write Scholarship Recommendation Letters

If you’re new to writing recommendation letters, it can feel a little overwhelming. Fortunately, our templates give you the overall structure you need to get going. But it’s your job to highlight what makes the student in question special and worthy of consideration. Use these tips to make your scholarship reference letters truly meaningful.

Start Early

Don’t wait until the last minute! Set aside time to reflect on the student’s accomplishments, personality, and general qualities. Make some notes before you begin, especially about your personal experiences with the student.

Understand the Scholarship

Most scholarships value specific qualities (leadership, service, academics, athletics, etc.), and your letter should address those qualities. For instance, it doesn’t make sense to focus on a student’s academic achievements if the scholarship rewards community service and leadership. Read over the scholarship description so you know what to emphasize as you craft your reference letter.

Ask for Background Info

It’s okay to talk about the letter with your student before you write it! Sit with them for a few minutes to learn more about why they think they deserve this particular scholarship. Ask for a list of relevant activities and accomplishments that you can use as you write. Find out if there’s anything specific they’d like you to mention too.

Know When To Say No

After learning more about the scholarship and comparing its requirements with what you know about the student, consider whether you can really give them a wholehearted, meaningful recommendation. Sometimes you may have to turn them down (gently, of course)—your reputation is on the line too. If possible, recommend alternative sources for the scholarship reference letter instead.

Use Letterhead and/or Your School Email Account

When you’re ready to start writing, use your school’s official letterhead for printed letters if possible, and use the standard business letter format. If you’re submitting the letter via email, you can create a scanned PDF of your letter and attach it, or simply write your letter in the body of the message itself. Be sure to send the email from your official school account.

Describe Your Relationship

State your relationship in a way that gives the reader confidence you know this student well enough to provide a trustworthy recommendation. How did you feel about them when you first met them? How have you seen them grow over time?

Highlight Unique, Relevant Strengths and Examples

What sets this student apart from others you’ve taught over the years? Emphasize traits and accomplishments that tie directly to the scholarship’s goals or values. Be sure to back those statements up with specific examples of how you’ve seen the student demonstrate those traits.

Personalize With Anecdotes

A strong scholarship recommendation letter should feel personal. After all, a scholarship review committee can look over the rest of the application to see GPAs, test scores, or a list of awards and achievements. Your letter is a chance to share the personal stories and experiences that make this student special and unique. Grab the committee’s attention and help them see what you see in this amazing student!

Be Positive, Sincere, and Concise

In most cases, you’ll want to keep your scholarship reference letter to one page. Use positive language, but don’t go overboard with praise. Highlight the most important and relevant information in a voice that feels sincere and personal. Avoid filler or repetition—just share your experiences and let the student’s accomplishments shine through.

Edit and Proofread Before Submitting

As with any important document, be sure to review your draft thoroughly. Try reading it out loud for flow and to catch any grammar or spelling errors that autocorrect might miss. You can even ask a peer to review it before you send it off.

Let the Student Know

Most scholarship applications request that recommendation letters be confidential, and students might have to indicate they did not the see the letter before it was sent. But it’s still good to let the student know you’ve sent the letter, so they can check that item off their application list.

Scholarship Recommendation Letter Templates

These 10 sample letters are fully customizable, so you can tailor them to meet your students’ needs. Remember: We’ve provided the general outline and format, but it’s up to you to make your student shine! Let your personal voice come through, and bring your student’s accomplishments to life. (See our advice above for more tips before you start.)

Get your free customizable scholarship letter templates!

Our free templates include examples of all the letters described above to help make writing scholarship recommendation letters for your students easier than ever. Just click the button below to to fill out the form on this page and grab your free Google Doc templates.

Plus, check out The Ultimate Guide to College Scholarships!