The Scholarship Letter of Recommendation
Ask the Most Appropriate Person AvailableDon't ask your cousin or your parent's mechanic for a recommendation. Ask someone relevant to the scholarship for which you are applying. For example, if volunteer work is among the scholarship's criteria, ask your supervisor from the organization where you volunteered.
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Don't wait until the last minute and give the person helping you several days to complete the letter. As soon as you know you are going to apply for a scholarship that requires a recommendation, start putting the necessary documents together then select and ask your ideal author/supplier of this letter if they would be willing to help you out.
All But Write it For them.....OK.....Write it For Them
Give your author enough material about you so that it will be quick and easy for them to oblige. Alternately, you could just write it for them and ask them to sign their name to it. If you take this approach, just remember that they are not likely to sign anything they don't want to be associated with - so speak well of yourself but keep it realistic and create a well written letter with zero typos.
MRS. MURRAY ADDITION: I wholeheartedly agree that you should help your author by giving them plenty of facts to ease & speed the process, I do not feel you should write the letter yourself. You could provide the requirements for the scholarship, any questions the writer is supposed to cover, and a copy of "Requesting a Letter of Recommendation" form linked here. SAMPLE letter request of recommendation. For future reference, these are also available on my website.
Request the Letter is Printed on Your Recommender's Letterhead
Just to give your letterhead the authenticity the scholarship provider is likely to desire, have your recommender put the letter on their letterhead.
Bring Materials & Stamps
Whatever you do, don't make the person writing this letter for you hunt for stamps or an oversized envelope (much less buy them!!). Be appreciative of their time and effort and show it by being as prepared and gracious as possible.
Mind Your Manners
In addition to giving your recommender ample time to provide you with a good letter of recommendation, be sure to say thank you and realize this is a big favor they are doing for you that could save you from a lot of debt when you graduate college.
