How to Write a Scholarship Thank You Letter was originally published on Resume.io.
How to Write a Scholarship Thank You Letter
When you receive that long-coveted scholarship it is easy to lose yourself in a haze of relief and celebration, but before your thoughts turn towards college or university preparations there is one last part of the process.
You should formally thank the scholarship committee or awarding body.
Their deliberations will have likely been painstaking, so let them know that you wanted it just as much as they sensed. These academics chose you over many other applicants and they may well become vital supporters or mentors during your studies, so begin the relationship on the right foot. Thank them and let them know what it means to you.
Getting the tone of a scholarship thank you letter is no easy matter.
They will have received hundreds of generic thank-you notes and emails through the course of their academic careers, so it is refreshing when they sense that someone has put some thought into their gratitude. Of course, a generic letter is better than no letter, but this scholarship could change the course of your life, so sit down and give the contents some thought. If nothing else, to start off your studies with a dose of positivity and gratitude.
Whether the financial assistance was based on academic merit, sporting prowess, financial need or other personal qualities, use the letter to show that their decision was sound.
Three reasons to write a scholarship thank-you letter
Common courtesy. Saying thank you costs nothing, but you never know just how needed those two little words might be for the recipient. The formal nature of a scholarship demands a formal response of thanks – a verbal “cheers” when you meet them won’t cut it.
Pay it forward. Financial aid does not appear out of fresh air. There have likely been tens or hundreds of scholars before you, so pay homage to the incredible altruism of the benefactor and ensure that they feel that the scholarship continues to be worthwhile for the future.
Make connections. You never know who knows who in academia, so while before your scholarship you were one of many applicants, now you have the opportunity to establish connections with the benefactor / people on the awards committee.
How to write a scholarship thank-you letter
Firstly (after correctly addressing the letter), let them know just how grateful you are for the scholarship. Consider sharing a sentence or two about your background – remind them about what you said during the interview. Don’t be too gushing, but feel free to share a degree of emotion – it means a lot to you, after all.
It is then important for a scholarship thank-you letter to outline exactly how the scholarship will make a difference to you. Maybe it will help you to buy books, sports equipment or afford transport or accommodation fees. Be specific in terms of the benefit as they will be more likely to remember your personal circumstances and feel good about their decision.
The next section of the letter is not essential, but their role in your overall journey may be of interest to the scholarship committee (or individuals). If you share how the scholarship will contribute to your future goals, it will involve them in your story that little bit more. If you are likely to require a scholarship for future years, it is particularly important to be a little more expansive on your plans and ambitions for the coming academic year.
Finish the letter with one last expression of gratitude and make sure to include your email and phone at the bottom of the letter. The letter will likely be sent via email, but you never quite know who else could read it who may wish to get in touch with you.
If you really want to go the extra mile you can hand deliver the thank you note in person, but make sure that you do not go over the top and buy any gifts. This could prove embarrassing as it could hint that the process was not entirely fair. Do not put the scholarship committee in a position that there are any doubts as to their impartiality.
Then all you need to do is get yourself onto the online bookstore and buy all those textbooks. Those scholarship funds will definitely help with that. If you are still sitting there and pondering what to write, this detailed guide can offer further inspiration.
