How to get a strong scholarship letter of recommendation?

I'm in the process of applying for several scholarships and I've heard that letters of recommendation can play a huge role in the decision process. I'm unsure about who to ask for a recommendation, and what information I should provide them to help them write a strong letter. Does anyone have tips on how to approach this process, and what makes a letter of recommendation effective? Any advice on what kind of teachers or mentors to ask would also be welcome!

Absolutely, a strong letter of recommendation can indeed make a big difference in the scholarship decision process. Having a recommendation that offers insight into your accomplishments, character, and potential can set your application apart from others.

Who to ask? The person writing your recommendation should be someone who knows you well and can speak in detail about your abilities, accomplishments, and character. This can be a teacher, coach, mentor, or employer, depending on the scholarship's requirements. Ideally, the recommender should be able to speak about you in the context relevant to the specific scholarship. For instance, if you're applying for a STEM scholarship, a science or math teacher would be a great pick.

As for what kind of information to provide your recommender, the more the better. You want to make the process as easy as possible for them.

1. Overview: Give them an overview of the scholarship, its purpose, and any specific characteristics or qualities the award values.

2. Accomplishments: Highlight the key accomplishments that are relevant to the scholarship. This could be academic achievements, leadership positions, community service roles, or other personal projects/initiatives you've been involved in.

3. Connection: Explain why you are particularly interested in this scholarship and how it aligns with your future goals.

4. Specifics: If the scholarship has provided you with any guidelines about what they want in the letter of recommendation, make sure to share these with your recommender. This might include the context or detail that the scholarship committee are particularly interested in.

Lastly don't forget, deadlines are important! Let your recommender know when the letter is due by, and consider asking them a few weeks before to provide plenty of time for them to write the letter. After they've submitted the letter, it's courteous to thank them for their time and effort.

By providing your recommender with ample information and time, you are setting them up to write a detailed and effective recommendation that could make a significant difference in your scholarship application.