Reusable Materials 2: Sources of Letters of Recommendation

Thursday we discuss how reusable materials WOW committees & Save time applying
Renee attended one of our workshops in July and sent us this email in October :“I am going to school at BYU-Idaho  and am majoring in Vocal Performance. I have been awarded $7,068 in scholarship and grant money! Thank you so much for helping me! My schooling is paid for for both semesters and I even had money left over to pay for my housing. Thanks again!”

Identify People to Write Letters of Recommendation

Most scholarship applications require that you submit several letters of recommendation. Many students, both youth and adult, gather letters of recommendation as they prepare the application. This can cause delays and reduce the number of applications you submit.
Sometimes students struggle to find people to write letters of recommendation. We offer these ideas to help you select appropriate letter writers. First, pick a person who knows you well. Pick one person from each of the groups listed below:

• School Leaders
  • School teachers from your favorite or best classes
  • Coaches that worked with you in athletics, academic, or drama
  • Principals, vice-principals, or guidance counselors
• Community leaders
  • Directors of community organizations that received your service or finances
  • Leaders of civic clubs or institutions you belong to
  • Elected legislators, mayors, city Councils, department heads
• Church Leaders
  • Pastor, Reverend, Priest, Bishop, Deacon, Mullah, Rabbi
  • Sunday School teacher, advisors, youth leaders
  • Church sports’ coaches
• Employers
  • Supervisor, manager, or director
  • Co-workers, colleagues, peers
  • Clients, customers, vendors, suppliers
• Others
  • Influential civic, business, and charitable leaders
  • Prestigious family and friends that the committee may know

Preparing the Letter Writers

Letters of recommendation provide scholarship committees with validation to the character and achievements of the applicant. Letters, therefore, become more influential when they confirm things you submitted in your application. You can prepare the letter writer by:

• Offering to draft the letter for their review and editing
• Provide them with your home run statements applicable to what you did for them
• Ask for an electronic and hardcopy

Saturday we will share a caution about responding to surveys listed in scholarships