Are you planning on applying for a scholarship? Writing an application letter is essential if you want to be considered for the scholarship. This article will tell you how to write a cover letter for a scholarship that’s sure to grab the reader’s attention and convince them that you’re the right candidate for the award.
A cover letter is not a mere exercise in good manners. Writing a cover letter is one of the most important steps to securing a scholarship because it demonstrates your writing skills, reasoning abilities and knowledge. In it, you can convey your interest in the subject of the scholarship, relate your skills and past experiences to it, prove your commitment to furthering your studies and touch on any other qualities that make you a good candidate for the award.
Tips to Write a Cover Letter to Apply for a Scholarship
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Understand the requirements of scholarship
Before you begin writing a cover letter for a scholarship, familiarize yourself with what’s required. The person or organization offering the award usually gives detailed information regarding the type of letter they require, their preferred length and the specific subject they’d like covered or the areas of knowledge they want you to address. Knowing what’s needed allows you to tailor your letter accordingly and make it more effective.
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Mention your academic accomplishments
In addition to explaining why you’re applying for the scholarship and how it will benefit you, talk about any achievements and experience that make you a good candidate for the award. For example, if the scholarship is for hardworking students, your extra-curricular activities, leadership roles, volunteering and community service should all be included, as well as your academic performance, extracurricular activities and any other relevant information that supports how hard you’ve worked. If the scholarship is for a particular area of knowledge, include classes you’ve taken or that you’re presently taking and mention any relevant projects or papers.
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Use a formal tone
When writing a letter to apply for a scholarship, use an appropriate tone. You don’t want to start off on the wrong foot with your reader by providing information that’s clearly not relevant. While your letter should remain professional and formal, it should also be conversational and informal in tone. Keep things conversational by explaining why you’re applying for the scholarship and how it will help you in the future no matter where you go. You can also mention how you’ve been an active member of the contributor’s organization or community, or how you’ve helped them in the past. This will show that your willingness to help others stems from the fact that you want to pursue a scholarship that might assist you.
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Highlight your post-graduate plans
If the scholarship you’re applying for is for a specific field or it’s offered by a particular school, talk about how much you enjoy that field and why your long-term goals and plans revolve around it. You can also mention how hard you’re willing to work towards those goals and how such a scholarship will allow you to focus more of your energy on them. If you’re applying for a scholarship for a specific area of knowledge, talk about your future plans and how that scholarship will help you achieve them.
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Mention your credentials and goals
If the letter is to be used for an undergraduate scholarship, make sure you highlight your achievements in that area of study. If it’s a graduate scholarship, you can discuss your research interests, publications and other accomplishments in that field. As far as areas of knowledge are concerned, highlight your interests or experiences with their focus so the reader can understand where you stand and why you’re applying for the award.
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Conclusion
These tips on how to write a cover letter for a scholarship will show you how to convey the most information about yourself in the shortest possible space. When writing it, keep in mind that your letter should be professional and formal but conversational. Make sure to proofread the letter carefully to ensure that all spelling and grammar are correct.
