Thank you notes show our appreciation for various acts of kindness, whether it’s a note for a birthday present or graduation gift. However, most students don’t realize the importance of thank you notes for scholarships – probably because scholarships seem less personal than gifts from someone you know.
Writing a thank you letter for a scholarship can lead to other opportunities and make a lasting impact for future recipients. In this article, we’ll discuss tips for writing a good scholarship thank you note.
Step one: Who are you writing to?
The first step in writing a well-written thank you note is to figure out who provided the scholarship. Some scholarships aren’t named after the person or institution that sponsored them, so this may require some research. Many times, the sponsor is included on the scholarship letter, which makes them easier to find.
Knowing who provided the money for your scholarship is important because the last thing you want is to submit a thank you note to the wrong person. For example, if you get an art scholarship from a certain university and you just send the letter to the art department, the person who provided the award may never know how thankful you actually were to receive it.
Step two: Decide how you will write it.
Another important step is to decide if you will send a handwritten note or type a thank you letter. If your handwriting is illegible, typing your letter is best. You want to make your note easy to read. On the other hand, if you have great penmanship, as well as some cool stationary or a post card, feel free to handwrite your note.
Handwritten notes are staples when it comes to sending thank you notes, but they are not a requirement in today’s world. However, if you decide to type your note, remember to sign it, as it adds a personal touch.
Step three: Consider why you are thankful for the scholarship.
Before you write, create an outline that lists all the reasons why you’re thankful for the scholarship. This is important because most people tend to simply say thank you and then repeat this in different ways in the thank you note. While the message isn’t lost per se, it doesn’t accomplish as much as it can. An outline provides a checklist for your writing process.
Step four: Grammar, grammar, grammar.
Just because you received a scholarship doesn’t mean you can skimp on grammar. One of the most important steps is to edit your thank you note. You don’t want to send a note full of spelling and grammatical mistakes because it looks unprofessional.
Also, if you received an academic scholarship and your letter has grammatical mistakes, it can make you seem undeserving of the honor. It is now easier than ever to ensure that your letter is free of grammatical mistakes, thanks to websites that check for errors and even suggest ways to improve them. You can also give your letter to an English teacher for them to proofread.
Takeaway.
Writing a thank you letter for your scholarship is extremely important, despite the fact that most students don’t do it. Your thank you note can encourage donors to continue sponsoring others for the scholarship in the future. The scholarship money didn’t come from thin air, and thanking the donor makes them aware of the impact.