Author: Mariann Roberts

Letters of recommendation are an essential part of many scholarship applications.  They provide a way for the scholarship award committee to learn about you from people who know you personally, and can vouch for your academic abilities and your suitability for your chosen college or university program.

Recommendation letters, also known as reference letters, can have a significant effect on your chances of winning a scholarship, so it’s important to understand how to get the best letter you possibly can.

These four tips will help ensure you receive a great recommendation letter:

Ask Someone Who Knows You Well

You want to be sure and ask for recommendation letters from people who know you well.  However, you should not ask family members or close friends, since a scholarship committee will not consider these letters to be impartial.

Your best option is to ask teachers, employers, the leader of your church/temple/mosque, or another community organization.  You want someone who can speak to your academic skills and how they will relate to your studies, and who can talk about your personal qualities that make you a deserving recipient of the scholarship.

Give Them Lots of Time to Write

Chances are, anyone you ask for a letter will be busy, and might even have multiple letter requests, so it’s important to give them at least 3-4 weeks notice before the scholarship deadline when you ask for your letter.

This ensures that they will have lots of time to complete the letter and either send it directly to the scholarship committee, or return it to you. This is also to make sure they don’t have to rush and can take the time to write a positive and detailed letter.

Provide All the Details of the Scholarship

Asking someone to write you a letter isn’t enough on its own.  To get a letter that best demonstrates why you’re ideal for the scholarship, it’s vital to provide all the details the letter writer will need to know.

The information you should provide your letter writer includes details of the scholarship and its requirements, info about your school and program of study, as well as a sample of your writing or other work, depending on the scholarship.

This way, the letter writer will be able to highlight the right aspects of your qualifications.

Remember to Express Your Thanks

Always follow up with your letter providers to express your thanks for their willingness to give you a recommendation.  Not only is this polite, but it will leave things on a good note that can be useful if you ever need to ask them for another letter or reference in the future.

Handwritten thank you notes are the best way to let them know, as it is personal and shows that you value their help.  It’s also a nice touch for you to update them after receiving the scholarships you applied for.

Sources:

https://www.petersons.com/college-search/letter-recommendation-how-ask.aspx

http://financialaid.ucdavis.edu/scholarships/tips/recommendations.html

https://www.usnews.com/education/blogs/the-scholarship-coach/2013/03/07/6-ways-to-get-great-scholarship-recommendation-letters

Post-secondary education is not cheap, and unfortunately many students do not have the funding to go throughout their educational careers without going into debt. In Canada, an average post-secondary education can total to around $80,000, which is extremely daunting. But luckily, government loans and bank student loans are not too complicated to apply for. Interest premiums are not too bad with these compared to other types of loans. Some students tend to approach the subject of bank student loans when they are having difficulty acquiring government student loans, have hit their limit with them, or need more money than the government can allocate. But this entirely depends on the individual.

The basics

Bank loans offer flexible credit limits, which come in handy when unexpected expenses come up: Dental surprises…extra expensive textbooks…travel expenses…it’s a rough side effect of getting an education. Student bank loans have lower interest rates than credit card accounts, in fact some people open these types of accounts in order to work through credit card debt. Some rates are determined based on programs of study, qualification and budget—this is something you work out with your bank advisor and also your parents if needed.

Bank student loans usually have decent repayment plans—you will have more time to pay back a bank loan than your typical government student loan. Although, some government student loans provide repayment assistance plans for those who can’t make payments right away. More time to repay helps graduates to enter more smoothly into the work force and work through any post-university complications. Back to bank student loans, once you have finished school you usually have up to two years before you must start making payments, depending on which Canadian bank you use.

What you will need to apply

When applying for a bank student loan you must first provide confirmation that you are enrolled at a post-secondary educational institution in Canada. Usually banks require an estimate of your education costs. This will include tuition for the year, supplies, housing rent costs, fees, food, and travel fees for when you visit family for the holidays. You will also need to present a list of your financial resources—this includes scholarships or bursaries you might have won, any government funding you currently have and any employment you currently have. Banks require proof that you are a Canadian citizen or a permanent resident.

Unlike the government student loan process, banks give credit checks. This is one issue that comes up for students with not-so-great-credit, or limited credit history. So, prepare to have a co-signer—that is someone with good credit that signs to take responsibility and vouch for the student.

Other options

It is always good to consider your options when making the serious decision to go into debt for the sake of education, and one of those options is government student loans. The federal government provides loans for post-secondary education, and has grants available for those from low-income families.

Sources: www.rbcroyalbank.com, www.cibc.com

There is a difference between being smart and being ambitious. A lot of people in high school think that being smart means being academic. That is not the case. Everyone has their talent, from science, to art, to trades, to sports to nature-related skills. There are scholarships out there for every kind of individual. The main thing to keep in mind is that scholarships are about more than grades. Those who give these scholarships to prospective post-secondary students want the whole package—they want students that are more than just good grades. Therefore, being ‘smart’ isn’t a core part of the deal.

Writing a good letter

Scholarship applications require a letter of intent—a chance to explain yourself, your goals and what is at the core of your drive. The key is to appear to be relentless in the search for success. Having good references is important, but they do not have to be teachers, although one teacher is always good, so work on building relationship with a teacher at school that you look up to. Other references could be professionals you have worked for or people you have volunteered for—anyone who can attest to your character. Therefore, being “smart” isn’t what is important. Being driven is, and people must believe that you can achieve something great with that ambition.

Depth of character

Depth of character refers to volunteering and jobs—showing that you’re willing to give your time to meaningful events and causes. Those who offer scholarships want that money to go to special students. You need to first believe that you are special, and show why you are special in your profile and application. Learn how to sell yourself and, most importantly, sell the positive impact that you will have on the future.

All about timing

A lot of students wait until their senior year to start looking into scholarships, but actually it’s wiser to start looking in sophomore year. Many scholarships consider GPAs, and that is traditionally what students think scholarships are all about. But actually, many scholarships consider GPAs as low as 2.5. It is good to try to keep your grades up, but there are scholarships for those who excel in other areas, like being involved and working hard. Still, by considering scholarships earlier than senior year, you give yourself time to assess the situation and work on your GPA if it’s too low and gain work experience that could qualify you for the scholarships you find early on.

Getting online

A lot of scholarships must be applied for online though scholarship websites—it is very important to be thorough when filling out your profile on the site. Include accolades, volunteer work, any heritage information that could match you to specific scholarships, and sports and music electives. Be as prepared as possible when filling out your profile on a scholarship site to ensure you receive the most appropriate matches. A lot about finding scholarships is about being systematic—make sure you consider smaller scholarships as well as large ones. The smaller ones do not have as many applicants and have little to do with “smarts” and more to do with references. Make sure that you have many different versions of cover letters and résumés ready to do that adapt to different scholarships. Be proactive and set aside time to work on scholarship applications. Make it a top priority—this is not about being smart, it’s about being goal-orientated. And you will find that that is smartness in itself.

Source: www.scholarships.com