When applying for a scholarship, your motivation letter is what sets you apart from the competition. A strong motivation letter has assisted us in not only obtaining academic and professional practice scholarships, but also in obtaining jobs with significant corporations. Now we’ll go over all you need to know about writing a motivation letter for a scholarship. We’ll show you how to create your own template so you may apply to various calls and increase your chances of obtaining international scholarships.
A motivation letter for a scholarship might assist determine whether your application will be accepted or rejected. This is a chance for students to demonstrate their knowledge prior to an in-person interview, even if he does not read their curriculum vitae. A motivation letter is similar to a cover letter in that it is not required for all applications. They are, however, vital when they are required.
In this lesson, we’ll go through how to write a motivation letter for a scholarship application, how to write a motivation letter and how to write a motivation letter for a scholarship.
Scholarships provide students with the opportunity to study without breaking the bank, as well as the opportunity to continue their education in a learning institution if they perform well. It is true that you should not let a lack of financial resources prevent you from obtaining an education.
A motivation letter for a scholarship can make or break your application. This is your chance to demonstrate your expertise before an in-person interview. Every application does not necessitate a motivation letter. They are, however, vital when they are required. We’ll go over how to write a scholarship motivation letter in this post.
A motivation letter is similar to a cover letter that you could include to a job application or résumé. The letter’s purpose is to explain:
Why do you think you’d be a good fit for the scholarship?
What you intend to do with the knowledge you’ve gained.
Motivation letters are frequently used by review committees to filter down their application pool. After that, they evaluate the rest of the application from the candidates they like the most.
For graduate-level scholarships, motivation letters are frequently required. You may also be required to write one for bachelor’s level speciality programs. Take advantage of the opportunity to add a motivation letter with your scholarship application. This could be your only chance to impress the review committee.
Why Motivation Letter Are Important
If you can effectively pique the reader’s interest with an effective and eye-catching motivation letter, you’ve accomplished a lot. You were taught that the initial impression on the reviewing panel is made through your previous academic results and awards while drafting a scholarship application. A motivation letter gives the panel a second and more lasting impression. It represents your future goals for transformation more accurately than anyone else. It shows your potential, goals, and a synopsis of the execution plan to persuade the evaluating authorities to choose you.
Plus, a motivation letter is your only chance to sway the selection committee. Motivation letters are regularly used by selection panels to narrow the field of candidates. The best candidates are then chosen to participate in the program. The most important aspect of your application is your motivation letter. The motivation letter is crucial to the success of your application.
Length of A Motivation Letter
The length of a motivation letter is usually not regulated. It can’t, however, be too long or too short. The goal is to present the best arguments in the shortest amount of time possible. It’s also not a good idea to overlook minor things. Small details can sometimes make a big difference. The most important educational achievements, information of your resume, skills, and long-term ambitions must all be included in the motivation letter. You must divide them into paragraphs as you write, just like you would in a conventional 500-word essay, so that you can read them effortlessly.
How to Go About Writing Your Motivation Letter
A motivation letter should tie your future intentions to the scholarship’s objectives. How would continuing your education in this field benefit you? How will you put this knowledge to work in support of the scholarship provider’s mission?
Assume the scholarship is from a wildlife protection organization. Explain how you want to use your degree to pursue a profession in that field in your letter.
Your academic achievements should be included in a scholarship motivation letter.
It should explain why you are the best candidate for the job. What contribution do your skills and abilities provide to the university or the country? You should demonstrate a desire to learn and provide fresh information.
You must also demonstrate why you are more deserving of this application than other applicants. What unique experiences do you have now that distinguish you from the crowd? What particular plans do you have in place to solve a current global issue? Even if you only have a rudimentary understanding of the subject, make the most of it. Explain how you could benefit from greater schooling in the future and solve even more difficulties.
Brainstorm: Before you begin writing, it is a good idea to brainstorm. Spider diagrams are ideal for this since you can start with the core issue and add supporting facts and arguments as you go. After you’ve completed this to the best of your ability, it’ll be easier to organize your thoughts into an essay outline. While you’re at it, check the scholarship website (particularly their objective) to make sure you understand what they require of you. Using relatives and friends as sounding boards is usually a smart idea. When deciding what to include in your letter, consider discussing your extracurricular activities and strong personality attributes.
Keep It Original: Being original when writing is quite beneficial. Keep in mind that you will be competing against a large number of other applications for the same scholarship, so being unique will help you stand out. Be sincere in your writing and allow the reader to sense your personality. It may be beneficial to mention a relevant aspect of your life, as this will make the letter more personal. You can give examples of times when you’ve shown relevant abilities or personality traits. When it comes to personal examples, stay away from the sob stories. Scholarship committees aren’t interested in how difficult your life has been; they’re interested in how you’ve overcome obstacles and what you’ve accomplished despite them. Ascertain that the reader gets a sense of your upbeat outlook on life.
Sell Yourself: Sit down and consider what it is about you that makes you special. What makes you think you’ll be accepted? How do you set yourself apart from the crowd? It is critical to emphasize that you are a quick learner who works hard. Inform them about your strong work ethic. Assume you are a happy and upbeat person.
Continue by telling them about the last time you assisted or volunteered at the church. Hundreds, if not thousands, of these letters are read and filtered by the admissions office. So, before moving on to the next letter, you want them to read everything about you.
Be Professional: You must also be conscious of the tone in which you write. Yes, the letter is about you, but it is intended for a business audience. Consider who will be reading your letter and write it as if you’re writing to someone you’ve just met, someone you admire, and someone with whom you’d like to share your experience. Keep in mind that the individual reading your letter is unfamiliar with you! This may assist you in determining a target audience.
Do Proofreading: It’s best if you can get as many people to proofread your letter as possible. They are able to detect minor errors as well as provide you with new ideas. Keep in mind that spell check is helpful, but it does not catch all errors. Ascertain that the people reading your message believe that each sentence is critical to the letter’s success. It’s also a good idea to ask them whether your letter’s theme was clear, if there were any obvious clichés, what the letter’s worst portion was, and if they think anybody else could have written a letter precisely like yours. If they say yes to the last question, you’re missing out on your personality, which is an important aspect of a good scholarship letter.
A Scholarship Motivation Letter’s Structure
Structures matter the very same way how you write matters. Any of the two can’t be underemphasized.
In most often and standardized times, the following are the 7 items that are included in a scholarship motivation letter:
1. Your full name and contact information (best way to contact you)
2. The name and address of the university to which you are applying.
3. The time and date
4. Dear Sir/Madame (if known, address directly to the person/manager/hiring manager)
5. The paper’s body
6. Acknowledgement and dismissal
7. Signature
While in general overview, they usually have three components:
- A brief overview
- Three paragraphs in the body
- Final thoughts
A brief overview: You begin by introducing yourself, which includes giving your name, educational background, and degree program.
Typically, you must begin by introducing yourself.
You briefly tell the reader about yourself and the reason for your application in the introduction section. It contains your name as well as your educational background. Furthermore, you must specify the program for which you are applying. Don’t forget to include your contact information at the top of the letter.
Include a brief introduction in the beginning of your scholarship motivation letter, stating the program you want to apply for and why you choose it.
It must express the goals of your future initiatives and career clearly.
The most vital thing to include in your introduction is your name and highest educational qualification to date.
The Body: The body of your motivational letter is the most crucial part of it. The manner you write it will impact whether or not you are given the scholarship. Remember that this is an official letter, and you must write in a formal tone. In addition, you must guarantee that your writing is professional.
Your objective is to convince the recruiter or scholarship committee that you are the best contender for the prize.
Any work-related experience you have should be mentioned in the first body paragraph. Internships, both paid and unpaid, fall under this category. You should illustrate your career progression in chronological order. Finally, speculate on where your professional’s education will take him or her in the future.
The second paragraph of your body should describe what you intend to achieve from your schooling. Consider the issues you want to address or find.
The final paragraph of your body should clarify your long-term goals. Also, the body of the motivation letter is the most important component. It’s a lengthy remark that highlights your abilities, accomplishments, and capabilities. It details your work experience, both paid and unpaid. Shows what field you want to work in and why you wish to do so. Demonstrates your desire to have a positive impact on society.
Final Thoughts: Try to restate your wish to be awarded a scholarship in your final paragraph. After that, politely express your appreciation for the scholarship board’s efforts and attention before closing and signing your letter.
You create a conclusion to bring the story to a close. You might summarize your main points and comment on your career goals in this section. Reiterate why you’re a good fit for the program. Finally, thank you for your time and consideration and close the letter.
The goal is to sum up the points you’ve been making since you started writing. Thank the reader for their time and consideration, then sign your message with your complete name.
Demonstrate your drive to learn and provide new information. “I am really motivated by…”, “it would be an honor and the beginning of a journey full of…”, and so on.
Mention the impact of your study/studies on your life, research field, and society at large in your conclusion.
Explain how your selection as a candidate for the program will benefit the scientific community and the university.
Furthermore, say that you are aware of the program’s competitive character and how you will contribute to it.
More importantly, it must reaffirm why you are the best candidate for the job and why the selection committee should choose you over other candidates.
Common Mistakes To Avoid When Writing A Scholarship Motivation Letter
Your scholarship motivation letter will most likely be the first criterion used to evaluate you. As a result, you should be meticulous in your writing and, eventually, in your submission. Be aware of the following typical letter mistakes to avoid:
1. It must be well-written, with no faults in grammar or spelling
2. Maintain a formal tone throughout the letter.
3. Avoid jargon, slang, clichés, and colloquialisms.
4. Vague generalizations should be avoided at all costs.
5. Stay away from irrelevant information.
6. Don’t add any fictitious accomplishments.
7. Don’t exaggerate your praise for the university.
8. Do not force humor
Below are scholarship motivation samples provided by Pickascholarship.com to aid your motivation letter writing
SAMPLE 1
February 21, 2020
Ms. Liza Wideman
Recruiting Coordinator
Great Strategy Consulting Firm
200 Shell Fish Blvd, Suite 199
San Francisco, CA 94080
Dear Ms. Wideman:
I am writing to express my interest in securing an Associate position at Great Strategy Consulting Firm. I am a Master of Liberal Arts degree candidate at Harvard Extension School, specializing in Information Technology. I come from a solid technical background with a strong interest in business and a passion towards strategy. My area of focus and interest varies from quantitative analysis to project management. I have maintained a 3.95 GPA through a well-balanced program of study, which is not only very analytical and technical by nature but also helps to build leadership and team building qualities. I am extremely impressed with Great Strategy’s approach to strategy consulting, especially within the Business Development and Innovation practice areas. I believe my academic background, business knowledge and industry experiences have provided me with the credentials needed to thrive as an Associate.
Prior to Harvard, I worked as a technology professional, primarily resolving strategic issues related to technology process improvement. I gained solid research, analytical and problem solving skills while working in Fortune 500 companies. My background in generating innovative ideas and strategies to improve processes has provided me with a deeper understanding of multifaceted problems that companies encounter in their daily operations. Moreover, because of my work experiences, I fully understand how important it is to have great team dynamics in today’s multi-disciplinary business environment.
To date, my experience as an IT professional has been extremely rewarding and productive. However, it is through strategy consulting that I can use my analytical aptitude and creative problem solving skills to their fullest. I strongly believe that consulting is a discipline that will force me to view problems not only from the client’s standpoint but also from a marketplace, best practices and “think out of the box” point of views.
I would appreciate the opportunity to interview with Great Strategy Consulting Firm for the Associate position. Please find enclosed my resume for your review. I can be reached via email at [email protected] or by phone at (617) 555-3456. I enthusiastically look forward to hearing from you soon.
Thank you for your time and consideration.
Sincerely,
SAMPLE 2
Jacob A. McLean
Macdonald Walter
9876 Estate
Stillwater, OK 74074
The Scholarship Committee
123 Learning Rd. Suite 4A
Australia, OK 73127
To Whom It May Concern:
My name is Macdonald Walter, a Fourth-year student at Conevant University. I am currently pursuing a five-year Bachelor of Business Administration and Management Degree, and I plan to follow up with a one-year master’s degree after I graduate.
While in high school, I worked extensively with my a reputable oil company in Human Resource department to help build manage their affairs and resource. Am well-grounded in the area of management Functions and proper utilization of resources to achieve a significant result.
I wanted to become a manager to create synergy between the management department and the production unit.
Also, I would like to work with the Human Resource department again, this time as a Human Resource manager and not a lower cadre staff. I believe firmly in their mission to build “a world where everyone has a decent place to live.”
I appreciate your consideration. With your assistance, I can continue my Business Administration and management schooling to bring accessible homes to those in need.
Sincerely,
SAMPLE 3
June 24, 2013
Recruiter’s Name
Campus Recruiter
Company Name
Company Address
Boston, MA 02116
Dear Campus Recruiter:
I am a senior at MIT majoring in biology with a concentration in management from Sloan Business School. I was extremely impressed with Deloitte’s approach to consulting after speaking with Yelena Shklovskaya. Deloitte is unique in having the ability to form diverse teams to tackle all the problems a client may have. As a member of the Strategy & Operations group, I may have the opportunity to meet and work with a variety of people in this consulting group, in other areas of consulting, and outside of consulting as well. In particular, I like the amount of attention and dedication that Deloitte puts into working with its clients, not only by devising effective strategies to address the clients’ problems, but also by often implementing the recommendations on-site. Therefore, I am writing to request an invitation to interview for a Business Analyst position with Deloitte.
In the past two years, I have been involved in strategy consulting, and government affairs for a non-profit healthcare organization. This summer, I worked in strategy consulting for Putnam Associates. My 6-member team evaluated the marketing efforts for a major company’s organ transplant drug. Through my management of recruitment and interviews with 98 physicians, I obtained primary research and analyzed it on national and regional levels to recommend and help implement improvements in the client’s marketing plan. I learned how to work in a deadline-oriented environment, held responsibility for large segments of a team project, and enhanced my quantitative skills through analysis of primary and secondary research data. In addition, I conducted independent research to form recommendations when launching a drug that follows a related product, and I presented these key considerations to all Putnam employees.
I have been a volunteer in public policy for 7 years with the March of Dimes Birth Defects Foundation. I lobbied Senators at both the Massachusetts and California State Capitols, as well as on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. Lobbying has taught me negotiation skills, the need for contingency plans, and the ability to make quick yet innovative decisions. Two years ago, I was appointed Director of Massachusetts Youth Public Affairs and asked to be a member of the state’s Public Affairs Council. My responsibilities include developing, organizing, and implementing the Foundation’s annual public policy objectives in an ultimately results-driven environment.
Through my experience with Putnam Associates and the March of Dimes, along with my modeling work in the MIT Sloan Business School, I used my management skills to negotiate and consult with others, analytically design a successful plan, and execute my ideas. I am confident that I can bring my strong, diverse technical and business background to best fit the current needs and future ventures of Deloitte.
I welcome the opportunity to speak with you about my qualifications and ways that I can contribute to Deloitte. Thank you and I look forward to hearing from you soon.
Sincerely,
In conclusion, time and dedication are required while writing a cover letter for a scholarship application. Plan out what you’ll say ahead of time, and give yourself at least three days to write, check, delete, and modify the letter. This extra time will give your application the best chance of success.
Your motivation letter should address the themes in a thoughtful and objective manner. Also, pay attention to grammar and spelling; errors will reflect poorly on your application. Make sure your motivation letter is error-free. Request feedback from friends or coworkers. Finally, we hope that the motivation letter samples encourage you to write a scholarship-winning motivation letter.
I hope that these suggestions and examples will assist you in writing a strong Motivation Letter for Scholarships and winning scholarships.
Thank you for taking the time to read this, and best wishes for your future endeavors!
