How Do I write a scholarship thank you letter? What should be included in a scholarship thank you letter and what are the Dos and Don’ts of Writing a Scholarship Thank You Letter?
If you have been fortunate enough to win any awards or scholarships, one of the last things you will have to do before enjoying your new-found wealth (or adding it to an already existing scholarship) will be writing thank-you letters.
It can be difficult to know what you should and should not include when thanking someone who has given you money, so we have put together this guide on the dos and don’ts of writing scholarship thank-you letters.
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The Dos of Writing a Scholarship Thank You Letter
Without further ado let us start with the Dos.
1. Reference the initial correspondence
It is important to follow up with the scholarship committee after they have notified you that you have been chosen for their award.
If you don’t, it may seem like you are uninterested in the scholarship or that it isn’t meaningful to you. You want them to know how much this opportunity means to you, so take the time to send an email or letter thanking them for their consideration.
Be sure to reference the initial correspondence and express your gratitude for the opportunity. It is also a good idea to include some information about your school/college plans or future goals as well as any information about yourself which may not be readily available on your application.
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2. Include personal information:
In addition to just referencing the correspondence and expressing gratitude, you should also tell them what has motivated you in life. What drives you? What did someone do for you that made all the difference?
3. Explain your interest in the field:
Many students believe that writing a scholarship thank you letter is the same as writing any other cover letter. This couldn’t be further from the truth!
A scholarship thank you letter should be more personal in nature, showcasing your gratitude, interest, and knowledge in the field. When applying for scholarships, it is important to think about what makes you stand out as an applicant.
Why are you interested in this specific field? What do you plan on doing if given the opportunity? Be sure to mention these things within your letter so that the scholarship committee can see why they should award their funds towards funding your education.
Explain your interest in the field, but don’t spend too much time going into detail. It’s not necessary to write a novel explaining why you deserve this scholarship-the brief introduction is all that’s needed.
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4. Share your plans for the future
One way to help the committee know your motivations for applying is to share your plans for the future. Talk about how you want to use the scholarship, what career field you’re interested in, and what your long-term goals are.
Highlight any skills or experiences that would be relevant to that field, like voluntwitheer work or internships. Finally, reassure them that you’ll continue your education even if you don’t receive this particular scholarship. Showing confidence will show them that they should have confidence in you.
You might also mention anything else special about yourself, like an important family member who has inspired you (maybe they are one of your reasons for applying).
It’s always good to try and personalize the thank you letter with something unique to who you are as an individual!
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The Don’ts of Writing a Scholarship Thank You Letter
1. (Don’t) Wait until the last minute
It is important to not wait until the last minute to write your letter. It takes time to think about your favorite part of the experience, what made it meaningful for you, and why you want them to know about it.
Remember that this is the moment where you have a chance to make an impact on their decision-making process, so take advantage! A personal story can go a long way in helping to sway the opinion of someone who may be on the fence.
Be honest with yourself when thinking about whether or not you are qualified for this scholarship and then share your honest thoughts in the thank you letter. When writing the letter, try to spend at least one paragraph talking about your best memory from the experience and how it has impacted you.
Don’t forget to mention any other schools or scholarships that they should consider if they do not offer assistance with financial needs! They will appreciate knowing that you went out of your way to include these things for them! Lastly, don’t forget to sign off with gratitude and appreciation for being chosen as the recipient of their generous award.
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2. (Don’t) Forget Congratulate yourself on being chosen as a winner
Congratulating yourself on being chosen is important to keep your motivation up. Remember that this took hard work and determination, so you should be proud of yourself! This is the first step in achieving your goal.
It is not just about winning the scholarship; it is also about how well you can articulate what you’re passionate about. So congratulations on being chosen as one of the recipients!
The next step in writing your thank-you letter are:
- Don’t use formal language.
- Your thank-you letter should sound conversational and less like a standard cover letter.
- Do mention the specific award or grant that you received.
- Mentioning what you received will make it clear to them which award or grant they have given to you and let them know why it is meaningful for you personally.
- Thanking the donor
- For considering you for a scholarship before asking them to donate. It will make you sound desperate, which may turn them off.
- Don’t write a long letter telling the donor all about your life story. Keep it short and sweet by focusing on one or two of your top achievements.
- Don’t forget to mention how much you appreciate their support or any other assistance they’ve given you in the past that contributed to your success.
They deserve to know just how much their generosity has helped you succeed! And last but not least, don’t forget to say thank you! Not only is this courteous and polite, but it also shows the donor how grateful you are for their help.
After all, without their help you might never have been able to achieve what you did. A sincere thank you can go a long way with donors and show them that the money they donated was worth every penny!
Conclusion
Thank you letters are an important part of the scholarship process. They show that you are grateful for the opportunity, and they can help you stand out from other applicants. Keep these dos and don’ts in mind when writing your letter to put your best foot forward.
