Write a Meaningful Letter of Recommendation

Letters of recommendation are the most important component to an application, next to the essays written by the candidates. Referees are advised to provide as much relevant detail as possible. Specific examples and concrete comparisons with other students make a stronger case for our best candidates.

What does a scholarship recipient look like?

In general, scholarship committees give preference to candidates who combine high academic ability, personal integrity, an ongoing commitment to community service and the potential to make a significant contribution to their discipline and professional career. Candidates also must demonstrate the potential and desire to play an active role in their communities. See our How to Win Scholarships: Five Steps to Secure Funding page to learn more about what our winners look like.

Preparing to Write the Letter

  • Familiarize yourself with the scholarship. Letters of recommendation should be customized to each student and each scholarship. It is essential to know exactly what is important to the scholarship committee to write an impactful letter.
  • Review the candidate's other materials. Review the candidate's resume, personal statement, application and any other materials that will be submitted. The letter should complement what the student has written.
  • Consider how well you know the candidate to decide what you are most qualified to address. Since letters of recommendation are so crucial to an application package, you should ask yourself if you know the candidate well enough to write a genuine and meaningful recommendation. Consider how you know the candidate (are you a mentor, a friend, an employer, etc.) and how long you have known the candidate. If you feel that you are unable to write a substantial letter, don't write a letter at all. A letter that appears impersonal or uninformed could hurt the candidate's chances at success.

What to Include in a Letter of Recommendation

When writing letters of recommendation, consider the following:

  • Begin with your credentials and experience and your familiarity with the candidate. 
  • Back up your statements with specific stories that only you could have written about the student.
  • Set the student up as a colleague and collaborator. What have you figured out together?
  • Honestly compare this student to others you have worked with, using language such as "within the top _%" or "among the top _ students."
  • Less-successful letters tend to have more positive statements and feelings expressed, but contain more tentative statements about student potential.
  • Discuss the student's leadership and potential for success in their chosen field and how this scholarship fits with their goals and interests.

Try not to rely solely on a summary of the candidate’s performance in a class or a cursory review of their transcripts and/or resume. Rather, seek a balanced, detailed, honest yet favorable portrait of the candidate from your perspective that addresses the criteria desired by the particular fellowship. Feel free to ask the candidate if there is anything that they would like you to mention in your letter.

Letters of recommendation should be frank and devoid of hyperbole. Avoid pro forma letters at all costs.

Writing a letter?

Review our referee guidelines for our most prestigious awards.

Additional Resources

  • , The Chronicle of Higher Education
  • , The Pennsylvania State University