Welcome! Scholarships can help fund your education and relieve financial stress, so it’s worth taking the time to craft a thoughtful cover letter. This guide will walk you through the key components of an effective cover letter and provide examples to inspire your own. B
Understanding the Purpose and Format
A cover letter introduces you to the scholarship committee and serves as the first impression of your application. Its purpose is to briefly highlight your most pertinent qualifications and convince the committee your academic and personal goals align well with the goals of the scholarship.
Keep the letter to one-page maximum using a standard business letter format with three paragraphs:
Introduction – State which scholarship you are applying for, where you learned about it, your intended major/career goals, and your expected graduation year. This frames the context for the rest of the letter.
Body – Discuss one or two qualifications or experiences most relevant to the criteria of the scholarship. Expand on how these demonstrate your suitability and commitment. Provide concrete examples and numeric/quantitative data when possible.
Conclusion – Thank the committee for their consideration and reaffirm your enthusiasm and fit for the scholarship. You may also restate your intended field of study and campus involvement if relevant. End with a call to action requesting an interview.
Use 12-point font, one-inch margins, and put your name and contact information at the top like a cover page. Proofread thoroughly for typos and grammar issues. Now, let’s delve into crafting each section effectively.
Writing an Engaging Introduction
The introduction is short but important for grabbing attention. Lead with something intriguing beyond just stating the scholarship’s name. Consider opening with an impactful statistic in your field, a thought-provoking quote, or a personal anecdote that highlights your passion and motivates reading more.
For example:
“As a future nursing student, I am deeply committed to improving health outcomes for rural communities. According to the Department of Health, over 60% of counties in my state are designated as medically underserved areas. Through this scholarship, I hope to be part of the solution by serving vulnerable populations after graduation.”
This sets an ambitious yet relatable tone from the start. Mention the scholarship’s name second after drawing the reader in. State your major, career aspirations aligned with the scholarship’s mission and expected graduation timeframe. Keep it concise at 3-4 sentences maximum.
Highlighting Qualifications in the Body Paragraph
This is where you can distinguish yourself from other applicants by emphasizing top qualifications that exemplify your suitability. Choose one or two of the most relevant experiences to discuss in slightly more depth over a single succinct paragraph.
For a teaching scholarship, you may write:
“As president of the campus education association, I developed after-school tutoring programs that have supported over 50 at-risk elementary students annually. Witnessing the positive impact of these programs on pupils’ confidence and grades has strengthened my resolve to become an educator. I also gained valuable experience mentoring peers through difficult coursework, demonstrating my skills in curriculum development and instruction techniques.”
Quantify your achievements when possible and use action verbs to showcase your contributions vividly. Keep wording enthusiastic yet professional. Connect demonstrated strengths directly back to how they align you with scholarship requirements and intended field of study.
Closing with Gratitude and Reasserting Fit
The conclusion should thank the committee for taking time to review applications and reiterate why you are the ideal candidate. Summarize how selected experiences discussed showcase your qualifications concisely. Express appreciation for the scholarship’s support of students in your intended program.
For instance:
“Thank you for your consideration and for your support of aspiring nurses. My leadership as president of the pre-med society and clinical experiences have reinforced my passion for serving rural communities through healthcare. I believe this scholarship would allow me to fully dedicate my talents to the nursing program at your esteemed university. I appreciate your time and consideration as I pursue my goal of becoming a family nurse practitioner.”
End by respectfully requesting an interview if contemplated in the selection process. This shows eagerness to further discuss your fit without seeming overbearing. Now, the cover letter convinces the reader to delve deeper into your full application.
Crafting Meaningful Content for Diverse Fields of Study
The principles of an engaging introduction, highlighting qualifications, and expressing gratitude remain constant regardless of the intended major or career. However, the specific experiences and examples you feature will naturally vary. Here are some suggestions tailored to different academic fields:
For STEM Scholarships
Emphasize lab work, research projects, academic awards, and honors in science/math courses that demonstrate aptitude. Quantify lab hours and publications. Discuss relevant internships, conferences attended, and leadership roles in STEM organizations.
For Arts/Humanities Scholarships
Showcase theatrical/musical performances, gallery shows, publications/essays written, translation projects, and awards or honors received for creative works. Highlight volunteer roles coordinating campus arts events, tutoring peers in philosophy/literature, or positions on cultural awareness committees.
For Business/Economics Scholarships
Profile pertinent business internships, case competitions won, entrepreneurial ventures launched, leadership roles in professional organizations, and published articles/reports on industry trends. Quantify the financial impacts of projects or duties while managing budgets/events.
For Law/Political Science Scholarships
Discuss honors moot court/mock trial experiences, model UN/student government roles, published op-eds, and internships in legal/political offices. Analyze pivotal courtroom observations or important bills passed expanding access to justice.
The key is aligning relevant qualifications with the values of each specific scholarship to demonstrate fit irrespective of concentration. With thoughtful tailoring, one cover letter template can work for multiple scholarship types. Now, let’s address some common questions.
FAQ Section 1: How Long Should It Be?
As stated earlier, keep the cover letter under one-page maximum using a standard 12-point font and 1-inch margins on all sides. Aim for 3-4 concise paragraphs totaling 3/4 of a page. Longer than a page risks overwhelming the reviewer and loses impact.
However, for highly competitive major scholarships, you may opt for a longer 800-1000 word supplementary “statement of purpose.” Here, you can expand further on experiences, academic interests, and career goals beyond what fits in the cover letter. Check submission guidelines to see if this is an option.
FAQ Section 2: What if I Don’t Meet All Criteria?
No applicant meets every single criterion specified, so focus on aligning with the bulk rather than stressing what you lack. Emphasize the top 2-3 qualifications that reflect the strongest requirements instead of trying to list everything. Highlight the overall fit rather than claim to be perfect.
If GPA falls slightly below requirements, own it briefly but pivot fast to strengths proven through leadership, awards, and extracurricular involvement bolstering your candidacy overall. Confidence and passion can compensate, so remain positive highlighting how scholarship would help maximize your potential.
FAQ Section 3: Can Someone Else Read it?
Absolutely, have 2-3 people proofread as a final check – but choose readers wisely. Peers in your intended field can best evaluate if content and examples project your fit and merit for the scholarship. Ask an advisor, professor, or career counselor to ensure it is coherent, compelling, and free of errors for non-experts.
Incorporate all feedback strengthening focus on relevance and impact. Reread yourself one last time before submitting, you know yourself best so trust your own instincts too. Done right, multiple perspectives improve without confusion. Just be selective who you ask to avoid unnecessary layers slowing process.
FAQ Section 4: Do I Need to Mention My Background?
Unless you have a specific diversity, low-income, or first-gen student scholarship, avoid leaning too heavily on your background story, which is covered elsewhere. One brief mention of how the scholarship would help you fulfill your career potential despite obstacles is fine, but focus on qualifications alone.
Emphasize your merit demonstrated through academic achievements, leadership roles and how you stand out regardless of background constraints mentioned in personal statement. Let achievements shine through versus relying predominantly on story of hardships overcome which cover letter does not need to reiterate.
FAQ Section 5: Can I Reuse it for Other Scholarships?
Yes, absolutely! Tailor examples and content to directly relate to each individual scholarship’s priorities as discussed. But the overall structure, tone and many components can remain consistent with minor tweaks reflecting varied focus.
Update the opening to name particular scholarship. Tweak the middle paragraph showcasing 1-2 new relevant experiences best addressing that opportunity’s values. Adjust conclusion to again thank specific program and reaffirm fit for its mission. Light edits make it customized versus generic. Reusing a strong framework saves valuable time and effort.
