Application Tips6 min read

How to Get Recommendation Letters That Actually Help You Win

A weak letter of recommendation, even from a famous professor, can sink your application. Here is how to get letters that selection committees remember.

ScholaMatched Editorial

Scholarship Research Team · April 08, 2025

Why Most Recommendation Letters Are Useless

Scholarship committees read thousands of letters per cycle. The majority are generic ('She was an excellent student in my class…'), short, and tell the committee nothing they cannot infer from the transcript. Studies of admissions processes consistently show that only letters that provide specific, unexpected, and credible evidence of a candidate's abilities move the needle. Letters from very famous professors that are clearly written by an assistant are regularly discounted.

Choosing the Right Recommenders

The best recommender is not necessarily the most senior or well-known. Choose someone who:

Knows your work closely and can speak to specific projects, papers, or contributions.
Has seen you under pressure or in a leadership context.
Is credible in a field relevant to the scholarship's focus.
Has time to write a substantive letter, a rushed letter from a Nobel laureate is worse than a thoughtful one from an associate professor.
Is genuinely enthusiastic about your application. Do not ask someone who seems hesitant.

How to Ask for a Letter

Request letters at least six weeks before the deadline. Send a professional email that includes:

A brief reminder of your relationship and the specific work they supervised.
The scholarship name, deadline, and what qualities it values.
A short summary of your application narrative and career goals.
Your updated CV and any relevant work samples.
An explicit ask: 'Would you be willing and able to write a strong letter on my behalf?'

Pro tip

The phrase 'strong letter' is important. It gives the recommender permission to decline gracefully if they cannot write enthusiastically, which is better than a lukewarm letter.

The Recommender Briefing Package

Once a recommender agrees, send them a briefing package. This is the most important step most applicants skip. Include:

A one-page summary of your application: the scholarship, your goals, and why you are applying.
Three to five specific stories from your time working with them that they could highlight.
The qualities the scholarship explicitly values (pull these from the scholarship website).
The submission deadline and instructions for how to submit.
A draft outline (not a full draft) if they ask for it, some recommenders appreciate scaffolding.

What the Best Letters Actually Say

Based on guidance from Chevening, Rhodes, and Gates admissions staff, the strongest letters share these characteristics:

Open with a specific, memorable anecdote, not 'I have known X for Y years.'
Use concrete comparisons: 'In 15 years of teaching, she is among the top 5% of students I have encountered.'
Address a specific weakness in the application proactively and reframe it as a strength.
Demonstrate knowledge of the scholarship's values and connect the candidate to them explicitly.
Close with an unambiguous recommendation, 'I endorse her application without reservation.'

Following Up

Send a gentle reminder two weeks before the deadline if you have not received confirmation of submission. After the letter is submitted, send a thank-you note, regardless of the outcome. If you win the scholarship, inform your recommender. This relationship is long-term.

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