Tips for Writing an Effective Scholarship Thank You Letter
June 5, 2023
Many students attending college receive financial aid. Of those millions of students every year who receive financial aid either from their institution of choice or through the federal government, a significant portion also receive scholarships to supplement the financial burden of school. Most of the time, these scholarships are part of the college's programming, either based on a disciple or via financial hardship verification. Regardless of where the money comes from, students should always try to take the time to thank those individuals who provide the support. Below are a few tips for writing an effective thank you letter (as a bonus, these tips can be used if you receive a grant or simply want to thank someone in your life anyway).
Write Properly:
This first step is not to bash anyone who is not a talented writer. There is no call for flowery language in these thank you letters, only that utilizing proper spelling, grammar, and punctuation are must-haves. Short, declarative sentences are usually preferred over run-ons anyways, no matter the style of writing. What matters most is the reader. If the reader has difficulty figuring out what you are trying to say, and a simple fix like expanded punctuation or correcting spelling mistakes will solve the problem, it is expected that you, the student receiving the money that they, the funder, are providing, will fix the issues at hand. It is common courtesy. If possible, have a friend or trusted professor read over your work. That is usually the best practice anyway, no matter the writing project. As so many scholarships and financial aid receivers are individuals who learn English as a second language, it is not essential that everything be perfect, what matters most is that you give it the best effort you can.On a side note, this includes writing all the traditionally included portions of a letter, like a salutation, body, and closing. The most important of these is probably the salutation. Make sure you know who you are writing to. Signing off on a letter addressed to "Whom It May Concern" can be cold and sound ungrateful, which is not what you want to convey in a letter like this. Know the person or organization's full and proper name before you send off the letter.
What Does the Support Mean to You?
We write to convey information — that is the basic form and reason for writing. Here is a question, however: how do people (usually) best retain information? People usually best retain information through stories. The people who will read your thank you letter are likely no different. The best way you can show your appreciation for their support is by telling them how much their help means to you. Because they provided you with this scholarship, were you able to work less at your part (or full) time role, focusing more on your schooling? If so, or if something similar, tell the reader. Explain to the reader why and how this funding has reduced the financial burden you or your family has to carry from here on out. Focus on what the support means to you — chances are, if you provide the reader with a heartfelt explanation about this topic, they can overlook whatever grammatical mistakes or odd punctuation you may sprinkle throughout your letter.Look to the Future:
Now that you have written your letter clearly and spoken about how their support will help you financially, consider writing a bit about how their help will support you in your future endeavors. What are you studying in school? What do you want to do after graduation? Regardless of if you have your life all planned out or are flying by the seat of your pants, or if you want to enter the workforce straight away or go to graduate school, tell the reader. After establishing how the financial support has helped you, tell them why they should continue to support you. Maybe you will find something the granter is particularly passionate about in your conversation, and who knows where that could lead. You will not know until you try.Be Personable:
Though it may not seem as important to your cause as thanking the funder for supporting you, being personable can really make a difference in a lot of thank you letters. Tell the reader about your family, about where you grew up or currently live, or about your hobbies or interests outside of your academic or professional life. By doing this, you give life to the money the funder provides. It shows that you are more than a student or more than a scholarship recipient — it shows that you are a person, first and foremost. Chances are you will never meet the benefactor that makes your scholarship possible, so by saying that individual a little more about you, perhaps you can brighten the day for someone else.By implementing some of these tips, you can make a letter more meaningful for the reader. While these tips are geared more towards thanking someone for a scholarship, they can be used to express gratitude for any number of things to a wide variety of people. By doing this good work, to thank those who have supported you along the way, you can make an impact on someone else's day and help revitalize the lost art of letter writing. Be the difference in another person's life, like they were in yours.
Al Dickenson
Al Dickenson graduated from Wisconsin Lutheran College with bachelor’s degrees in history, communication, and English. He currently serves as an editor for an international equine practitioners’ magazine in and around Milwaukee, Wisconsin, his hometown, where he lives with his wife. He also works as a freelance journalist, photographer, archivist, and historian, and he enjoys hiking and reading, particularly about history.View all posts
