Winning Motivation Letter for Scholarship Format | Format |
---|---|
Your Street Address City, State, Zip CodeDate of Letter | |
Use complete title and address. | Contact Name Contact Title Company Name Street Address City, State, Zip Code |
Address to a particular person if possible and remember to use a colon | Dear _________: Begin your letter by stating why you’re writing. Mention the job title or type of work you’re interested in. If relevant, share how you found out about the person or organization. |
Make the addressee want to read your resume. Be brief, but specific. | Middle paragraph(s): Share why you’re interested in the employer and the type of work. Use a couple of key examples from your school or work experience to highlight relevant skills, but avoid repeating your entire resume. Confidently emphasize skills that match the job, keeping in mind that your letter reflects your writing abilities. |
Ask for a meeting and remember to follow up. | Closing paragraph: Express once again your interest in the position and your excitement to contribute your skills to the organization. Thank the reader for considering your application and express your anticipation of discussing the position further in the future. |
Always sign letters | Sincerely, Your name typed |
Many students want to apply for several scholarships and win them too, but become skeptical knowing they need to write a motivational letter that will help them stand out. That’s why we have provided you with a simple template above to help you write a winning Motivation Letter for a Scholarship. The template will help you adapt to several types of motivational letters for scholarship. We encourage you to read this article to the end to learn how to write a good scholarship motivational letter yourself.
For A Start Use the Format Above to Write Your Motivation Letter for a Scholarship
A motivation letter for a scholarship is an opportunity to weave a description that will grab the attention of the scholarship committee and prove to them that you’re a good fit for the scholarship program you covet. Hence, it’s a critical part of a scholarship application. Therefore, if a motivation letter is among the requirements for the scholarship you’re applying for, you need to take it very seriously because it can determine your chances of receiving the award.
Furthermore, a motivation letter is not just about showcasing academic excellence. It’s about painting a vivid portrait of your character, your determination, and the unique perspective you’ll bring to the academic table. Moreover, scholarship evaluation committees often use motivation letters to narrow down their pool of applicants. Hence, knowing how to craft a motivation letter for a scholarship will you stand out from a large pool of applicants.
Whether you’re an undergraduate student or a postgraduate student who wants to write a motivation letter for a scholarship program, you’ve come to the right place. In this piece, you learn about everything you need to know to write an appealing scholarship motivation letter. Thus, ensure you read every line so you don’t miss any vital information.
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What Is a Motivation Letter?
A motivation letter is an essay that indicates your interest in an academic program or scholarship. This letter is critical to receiving a scholarship award since it allows you to make a positive impression on the minds of your readers. Typically, a motivation letter introduces you, your background and academic history, your achievements, and your aspirations to the selection committee.
In other words, the motivation letter will persuade the scholarship selection committee that you are an ideal candidate. Hence, it highlights your relevant experience, strengths, and future work to demonstrate to the reader why you are a deserving candidate for the scholarship. This will be your opportunity to describe your goals, clarify what you want to do, and demonstrate your unique potential.
Moreover, the letter is usually short, captivating, and concise. As a result, it ranges from 500 to 8000 words. Likewise, it is organized into three sections: the introduction, the body of the letter, and the conclusion. Read on to learn more about how you can craft an appealing motivation letter for a scholarship.
Why Do You Need a Motivation Letter for Scholarship?
Typically, a motivational letter allows you to highlight your strengths and accomplishments in ways that a resume cannot. Hence, it’s an opportunity to demonstrate your unique characteristics and why you’re a good fit for a scholarship program. Below are more reasons why you need to craft a motivation letter for a scholarship.
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What Should You Include in Your Motivation Letter?
Although each letter is unique, however, all scholarship motivations are supposed to follow a specific structure. Hence, you should format your scholarship motivation letter with an introduction, body, and conclusion.
Introduction: In your introductory paragraph, you should:
Body of the letter: Here you have to establish that you are the right candidate for the scholarship. In your body paragraphs, you should write about:
Conclusion: For your conclusion, you can:
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How to Write a Motivation Letter for a Scholarship
Time Needed : 2 hours 0 minutes
Writing a stellar motivation letter takes time, it'll often require thorough writing, review, and editing. To write a motivation letter that properly convinces your audience of your passion and drive for a scholarship program, here are the steps you should take:
<strong><strong><strong><strong><strong><strong><strong><strong><strong><strong><strong><strong><strong><strong><strong><strong><strong><strong><strong><strong><strong><strong><strong>Research Scholarships</strong></strong></strong></strong></strong></strong></strong></strong></strong></strong></strong></strong></strong></strong></strong></strong></strong></strong></strong></strong></strong></strong></strong>
Before you start thinking about what you’re going to write, research the institution offering the scholarship, its values, goals, and what it looks for in candidates. This will guide your essay, connect your experiences, and make sure every sentence you write demonstrates that you are an ideal candidate for the institution.
<strong><strong><strong><strong><strong><strong><strong><strong><strong><strong><strong><strong><strong><strong><strong><strong><strong><strong>Outline your information </strong></strong></strong></strong></strong></strong></strong></strong></strong></strong></strong></strong></strong></strong></strong></strong></strong></strong>
Once you know what’s expected of you, craft an outline of the information you would like to include in the letter. Typically, your outline serves as the foundation for your letter, giving you the space to organize your information to craft a masterpiece that best showcases your achievements. Thus, your outline should include the relevant experiences, qualifications, skills, and unique qualities that match the institutions and scholarships that you want to apply for. Remember, your motivation letter aims to convince your recipient of your value, so use compelling facts to make it persuasive.
<strong><strong><strong><strong><strong><strong><strong><strong><strong><strong><strong><strong><strong><strong><strong><strong><strong><strong><strong><strong><strong><strong><strong><strong><strong><strong><strong><strong>Write your letter </strong></strong></strong></strong></strong></strong></strong></strong></strong></strong></strong></strong></strong></strong></strong></strong></strong></strong></strong></strong></strong></strong></strong></strong></strong></strong></strong></strong>
After outlining your information, the next step is to write your scholarship motivation letter. Generally, the information in your letter should follow what you established in your outline, with summaries of your experiences and relevant connections to the values you share with the institution you are applying to. Additionally, your writing should be fluent, concise, and easy to read with short, and active sentences. This contributes to an easier reading experience while also making sure the actual content of your letter is clear.
<strong><strong><strong><strong>Conclude your letter </strong></strong></strong></strong>
Generally, the conclusion always comes after writing your letter. Hence, your conclusion should summarize your goal and leave a positive final impression. Likewise, you should thank your recipient for considering your application and encourage them to contact you if they have any questions.
<strong>Proofread your letter </strong>
This is where you get to scan for any inconsistencies, fluency, spelling, or grammatical errors. To get the best result, write your letter earlier than the submission period, and leave it for a few days before you proofread. Then, your mind might have decluttered, refreshed, and opened to easily spot errors, inconsistencies, and poorly structured sentences that you can remove for clarity. Also, to ensure your letter has professional grammar and spelling, you can use online software like Grammarly to scan for errors and inconsistencies. Likewise, you can ask a trusted friend or family member to proofread your motivation letter after you.
Tools
- Laptop or mobile phone
Materials
- Online Application
What NOT to Include When Writing a Scholarship Motivation Letter
You have to ensure you carefully write your scholarship motivation letter with no grammar or spelling errors. Hence, use a professional tone and advanced phrasing to avoid using any slang. Ensure to provide specific examples about your past, present, and future. Stay away from vague generalizations. Vagueness shows a lack of care or knowledge of what you are writing. Neither of these are impressive to a scholarship review committee.
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How to Revise Your Motivation Letter
Generally, you can never be too careful when writing a motivation letter. Also, your first draft is just the beginning of the journey so, don’t assume your essay will come out perfect after your first draft. Therefore, you need to spend as much time reviewing your essay as you spent writing it. Ideally, you would start writing it at least a few months or weeks before the deadline.
After you’ve written your first draft, take a break by leaving it for a few days or even weeks. This will provide a mental break, allowing you to approach the editing process with a clearer perspective. Similarly, this distance will help you identify areas for improvement, catch errors, and refine your ideas more effectively than if you were to edit immediately after writing.
Moreover, ensure to keep on editing while you come back to your letter regularly. Your draft will gradually take on its final form, and within a couple of weeks, it will be much better than the first version. Additionally, you can ask your friends or family to review your essay and share their thoughts. In addition, if you’re close with a professor, you can ask them to review it and give you feedback. They will help you catch any grammar errors and give you fresh ideas for improving your essay.
Tips for Writing a Motivation Letter for Scholarship
A well-crafted motivation letter can significantly impact your chances of securing a scholarship. So, here are a few tips to consider when preparing a motivation letter for scholarship:
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Motivation Letter for Scholarship Samples
Our group of professionals at Scholarafrika.com has compiled a list of motivation letters for scholarship samples from the world’s top university websites. We hope this list will help and properly guide you in writing an effective and winning motivation letter for a scholarship.
Sample
February 21, 2020
Ms. Liza Wideman Recruiting Coordinator
Great Strategy Consulting Firm
200 Shell Fish Blvd, Suite 199
San Francisco, CA 94080
Dear Ms. Peterson,
I am eager to express my interest in the Associate position at Great Strategy Consulting Firm. Currently pursuing a Master of Liberal Arts degree in Information Technology at Harvard Extension School, I bring a robust technical background complemented by a passion for business and a keen interest in strategy.
My academic journey has consistently demonstrated my commitment, maintaining a 3.95 GPA in a well-rounded program that blends analytical and technical proficiency with the development of leadership and teamwork skills. I am particularly drawn to Great Strategy’s innovative approach to strategy consulting, especially in the realms of Business Development and Innovation. I believe my academic grounding, coupled with practical industry experience, positions me well to excel as an Associate.
Before my time at Harvard, I worked as a technology professional addressing strategic issues related to process improvement. This experience in Fortune 500 companies honed my research, analytical, and problem-solving abilities. My role in generating inventive ideas and strategies for process enhancement has deepened my understanding of the multifaceted challenges companies face in their day-to-day operations. Additionally, my professional background underscores the significance of effective team dynamics in today’s diverse business landscape.
While my experience in IT has been fulfilling, I am now eager to channel my analytical and creative problem-solving skills into the field of strategy consulting. I see consulting as a discipline that will challenge me to view problems not just through the client’s lens but also from the marketplace, best practices, and “out of the box” perspectives.
I would be grateful for the opportunity to interview with Great Strategy Consulting Firm for the Associate position. Enclosed is my resume for your review, and I can be reached via email at [email protected] or by phone at (617) 555-3456. I look forward to the possibility of connecting soon.
Thank you for your time and consideration.
Sincerely,
Xander E. Okpara
Frequently Asked Questions About How to Write a Motivation Letter for a Scholarship
How do I start a motivation letter for a scholarship?
You can begin your scholarship motivation letter with a strong and engaging introduction. Start by introducing yourself by adding your personal information and contact details in a header as well as explaining why you are applying for the scholarship.
How many words should a motivation letter for a scholarship be?
Your application letter should be concise, appealing, and impactful within the range of 500 to 8000 words.
How do you end a motivational letter?
In concluding your scholarship motivational letter, express gratitude for the opportunity, restate your enthusiasm, and convey confidence in your ability to contribute. End with a polite closing, such as “Sincerely” or “Best regards,” followed by your name.
Conclusion
Finally, keep in mind that a motivation letter is it’s about demonstrating your goals and unique qualities and not just about showcasing academic proficiency. Moreover, it is an opportunity to win the heart of the scholarship panel and improve your odds of receiving any scholarship award. So, if the scholarship you’re applying for demands a motivation letter, we hope this post has given you a head start on how you can craft a beautiful and compelling motivation letter for your scholarship.