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Are Scholarship Thank-You Letters Necessary?

The digital age has changed the way we communicate with everyone. Gone are the days of handwritten letters delivered by snail mail. People now send text messages, connect through social media, or shoot off an email.

Scholarship providers have also taken advantage of technology. Most now require students to apply online, but what happens if you’re lucky enough to win an award? Are scholarship thank-you letters even necessary? And, if so, how should you convey your gratitude?

Scholarship Thank-You Letters Are a Must

You don’t want to be that person who gets free money from a complete stranger and just walks away without saying anything. No matter what amount you’ve won, whether it’s $50 or $50,000, a scholarship thank-you letter is an absolute must. Scholarship donors graciously donate money to help students and rarely ask for anything in return. A well-written letter or card is the very least you can do to show them that you appreciate the money and will not let it go to waste.

The question is, do you send a handwritten letter or an email? It really depends on the provider. If the scholarship provider required you to submit materials through the mail, you should send a handwritten or typed thank-you letter by postal mail, as well. For scholarship programs that only allow online submissions, an email will suffice. You can either write out the letter in the body of the email or use an attachment. To avoid formatting issues, we suggest using a PDF.

Tips for Writing a Scholarship Thank-You Letter

When it comes to writing thank-you letters for scholarship awards, many of the rules you followed for your scholarship applications will also apply, like:

  1. Make sure the letter is clear and concise. It’s important to include the name of the scholarship the amount of the award, and how you intend to use the funds.
  2. Check for grammatical errors and typos. Don’t make the scholarship provider rethink their decision by sending them a letter that is sloppy and riddled with mistakes.
  3. Verify that you are addressing the correct scholarship provider. Nothing is worse than receiving a letter that is meant for someone else.

The provider has invested in you. This is your opportunity to let them know how grateful you are for their support. The letter should be professional, sincere, and no longer than one page.

Sample Scholarship Thank-You Letters

Not sure how to draft a scholarship thank-you note? Need a little inspiration? No problem. We’ve created a few thank-you letter templates to help get you started:

Of course, you won’t need one of these letters unless you win, and you can’t win if you don’t put in the effort to apply for scholarships.

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