Asking for a Recommendation
Applying to colleges and for scholarships is an exciting time—and nerve-wracking too. Most applications will ask for letters of recommendation, whether for a college application or a scholarship. When filling out the Rural Gone Urban Foundation scholarship, it will ask you to include the names and email addresses of those you wish to include for a recommendation. Before hitting submit, it’s best to reach out to them beforehand—so they aren’t surprised to see a cold inquiry in their inbox. Here are a few tips to get you started.
Choose Who to Ask
Make a list of several people you can ask. You’ll want to have several options, and you’ll want the people to be able to speak about your character on a personal level. For example, if you’re looking for a recommendation for a college application, it’s a good idea to include a teacher and your high school counselor. Choose a teacher that you did well in their class and that you had a good relationship with.
For scholarships, some people to ask are teachers, employers, volunteer work supervisors, and mentors.
Prep Your RÉsumÉ
When you reach out to the people you are asking for recommendations, you want to have a copy of your transcripts and an updated résumé to send to them. The easier you make your request, the more likely you will get a strong recommendation letter. And having your resume—with your accomplishments and personal strengths—in front of them is the easiest way for them to write you the best letter.
Don’t have a resume? Check out this résumé building tutorial, this is also a good step-by-step tutorial, and this one for examples. And your high school counselor is a good resource too.
Make Your Ask
If possible, it’s best to ask in person. Prepare ahead of time so you feel less stressed and confident. Tell them what you’re applying for and why you think they would be able to make a good recommendation. If you’re not able to talk in person, give them a call.
Send Your Request
Once you have your “yeses” from your list—make your formal requests. Send them an email detailing what you’re applying for, your résumé, and what you need from them. Some applications may request they email a letter of recommendation, so be sure to share the correct email address, who to address it to, and the deadline.
If an email request is sent to the person through an application software program, let them know to expect the request via email and when the deadline is.
Pro tip: when you share your résumé make sure it’s in an uneditable format like .pdf so the layout and design you worked so hard on isn’t compromised.
Follow Up
A week or two before the application deadline, send a polite reminder (unless you know they’ve already done it!) and thank them again for their time.
Send a Final Thank You
Once they’ve sent their letter, sending them a handwritten thank you note or an email is a good idea. Thank them for their support, and be sure to keep them updated when you find out about the scholarship or application!
Good luck!
