Getting rejected for a scholarship can be disappointing. But don’t give up hope just yet! Writing an effective scholarship appeal letter gives you another chance to make your case and potentially win the funding you need to achieve your academic dreams.
This comprehensive guide explains everything you need to know about crafting a compelling appeal that gets results. Follow these tips and significantly increase your odds of overturning the initial decision.
What is a Scholarship Appeal Letter?
A scholarship appeal letter asks the selection committee to reconsider their decision to deny you a scholarship It’s your opportunity to explain why you deserve the award, provide additional information, and correct any potential errors or misconceptions
Think of it as a formal request that the committee re-evaluate your original application with new supplemental details that address weaknesses and demonstrate your merit. A thoughtful, well-written appeal can absolutely make the difference between rejection and acceptance.
When to Write a Scholarship Appeal Letter
Don’t waste your time appealing every scholarship denial. Write an appeal when:
- Your qualifications closely match the scholarship criteria but got overlooked somehow
- Extenuating circumstances beyond your control affected your original application
- You have new academic, athletic, or extracurricular achievements since applying
- You can provide clarification about misleading or inaccurate information
Focus on cases where an appeal is reasonable and has a legitimate chance of changing the outcome
How to Write an Effective Scholarship Appeal Letter
Follow these key steps to craft an appeal that gets results:
1. Request the appeal requirements
Many scholarships provide instructions on their website for submitting an appeal. Contact the selection committee to request formal appeal guidelines if none are published.
This ensures you meet all requirements and include the necessary information they want to see. Failing to follow appeal instructions will immediately disqualify you.
2. Highlight your strengths and achievements
Briefly reiterate your academic credentials, test scores, GPA, extracurriculars, and other qualifications that make you a strong applicant. Emphasize key achievements in areas related to the scholarship criteria.
Back up claims about your merits with specific examples. This quickly reminds the committee why you deserve reconsideration.
3. Address weaknesses in your original application
Carefully review your initial application and pinpoint any weaknesses the selection committee may have focused on. Common issues include:
- Weak letters of recommendation that fail to illustrate your abilities
- Unclear or disorganized personal statement
- Insufficient descriptions about extracurriculars and leadership experience
- Mistakes in the application form itself
Explain how you’ve improved in those areas since originally applying. Provide updated documents that highlight your strengths if possible.
4. Explain special circumstances
Relevant extenuating circumstances around the time you applied sometimes impact scholarships decisions. Consider mentioning issues like:
- Family emergencies that affected your academics
- Serious illness or injury
- Natural disaster damage
- Death of a close family member
- Other personal challenges outside your control
Explain the situation compassionately yet concisely, focusing only on truly relevant details. Take accountability for the issues without making excuses. Demonstrate how you persevered through adversity.
5. Showcase recent achievements
Highlight new accomplishments you’ve achieved since the original application deadline. Examples include:
- Improved grades or test scores
- New leadership positions and extracurricular awards
- Getting accepted to prestigious academic programs
- Publish research papers or creative works
- Receiving other scholarships and grants
Emphasize achievements that demonstrate continued progress in areas directly related to the scholarship you’re appealing.
6. Provide additional information
Consider what supplemental materials would strengthen your case for reconsideration. Possibilities include:
- Updated academic transcripts and test scores
- New glowing letter(s) of recommendation
- Writing samples that showcase your talents
- Portfolio materials like artwork and publications
- Proof of financial need like tuition bills and tax returns
Only include documents that directly support your appeal. Follow all formatting requirements specified in the appeal guidelines.
7. Thank the selection committee
Express sincere gratitude to the scholarship committee for their time reviewing your appeal. Avoid sounding entitled to the scholarship or upset about the initial rejection.
Be respectful, gracious, and appreciative whether the appeal succeeds or not. Remember, the committee wants to award deserving students like you. Your thoughtful letter provides them with more information to make their decision.
8. Proofread your appeal letter
Carefully proofread your scholarship appeal letter before sending it. Check for errors in spelling, grammar, punctuation, and formatting. Ensure you followed all provided instructions precisely.
Ask teachers, parents, and mentors to review the appeal as well. Their feedback can catch issues you may have overlooked. A polished letter free of mistakes creates the best impression.
9. Submit by the appeal deadline
Finally, pay attention to the appeal deadline, whether sent by email or regular mail. Send your letter early to prevent unexpected delays. Late appeals almost always get rejected regardless of merit.
Follow up with the selection committee after a couple weeks if you don’t receive confirmation of delivery. Politely ask about the status of your appeal.
Scholarship Appeal Letter Template
Use this template as a model to craft your own compelling appeal letter:
Date
Scholarship Committee Name
Committee Address
City, State, Zip Code
Dear Scholarship Committee Members:
Opening paragraph: Express interest in the scholarship and provide your full name. Mention being denied and desire to appeal decision.
Next 2-3 paragraphs: Succinctly explain your qualifications for the scholarship. Highlight key achievements, test scores, leadership experiences, and academic accomplishments. Address any weaknesses from original application. Mention relevant new achievements and personal growth since applying.
Next 1-2 paragraphs: Describe any special circumstances impacting your application if applicable. Provide appropriate context compassionately yet concisely.
Final paragraph: Thank the committee sincerely for their consideration. Express hope the supplemental information provided makes you a stronger candidate. Conclude by reiterating your enthusiasm for the scholarship and future academic plans.
Sincerely,
[Your full name and signature]
Enclosed: List any supplemental materials included, if required
Scholarship Appeal Letter Sample
See a real-world appeal letter sample below:
April 15, 2020
Local University Alumni Scholarship Committee
123 University Way
Hometown, CA 90210
Dear Local University Alumni Scholarship Committee:
My name is Jane Smith, and I was recently denied the Local University Alumni Scholarship. I wish to formally appeal this decision due to my continued academic achievements and leadership activities since originally applying last fall. I sincerely appreciate you taking the time to reconsider my application.
As my transcripts show, I have maintained a 3.95 GPA while taking several advanced honors and AP courses. My SAT score improved from 1280 to 1340 as well. Extracurricularly, I now serve as Captain of the varsity soccer team and Vice President of the National Honor Society chapter. I believe these new accomplishments demonstrate my strong candidacy for the Alumni Scholarship, especially considering your criteria relating to academic merit and leadership potential.
In my original application, my personal statement lacked focus, and I did not sufficiently describe my role in organizing a tutoring program. However, I have grown tremendously as a writer and leader since then. If given the opportunity, I would be able to better illustrate my qualifications and passion in a revised statement.
Thank you for reconsidering my application. I hope to attend Local University upon graduation and would be honored to represent the school as an Alumni Scholarship recipient. Please contact me if you need any additional information. I look forward to hearing from you soon.
Sincerely,
Jane Smith
Enclosed: Updated transcript, SAT score report, soccer team awards certificate
Key Takeaways
The effort required to submit a compelling appeal is well worth the possibility of overturning an initial denial. With focus, attention to detail, and perseverance, you can significantly increase your chances of still winning a scholarship.
Just remember these tips when crafting your letter:
- Follow all appeal format instructions precisely
- Emphasize achievements related to the scholarship
- Explain special circumstances concisely
- Highlight new accomplishments since applying
- Provide supplemental documents that support your appeal
- Proofread thoroughly and submit by the deadline
Don’t get discouraged by rejection. A thoughtful appeal letter gives you another shot to show your merit and potentially earn the crucial funding you deserve to fulfill your academic dreams.
What Should Your Letter Include?
Tone
In your letter, you need to ask for help without getting overly emotional to the scholarship committee.
Instead, you should make a good argument as to why you deserve the scholarship. A successful letter does this without complaining or demanding, or being overly defensive.
Don’t beat around the bush in your letter; be upfront. There’s a reason why you’re appealing the committee’s decision. Not being clear about your reasons won’t help your case.
Attach Documents
If you have documents that you can attach to your letter, they will help to validate your case. The more supporting information you can give to the committee, the more it will help the scholarship committee reconsider your case.
Find the right person
Finally, try and find a direct contact of a person in the scholarship committee or aid office. Make sure to address them by name: Mr. Davis, Mrs. Stevenson, etc. At the end of your letter, thank the person you’re writing for considering your appeal.
Find and follow guidelines
Many scholarships already have guidelines for appealing. If you can’t find where they are written, contact the scholarship committee and ask.
If you have a good case, you could end up winning the scholarship and reversing their decision.
Remember, be polite and respectful in your letter, even if you’re angry. Finally, make sure to review your letter. It should be free of grammar and spelling mistakes.
When to Write an Appeal Letter
There are a few situations when it would be appropriate to write an appeal letter.
For example, if there was a change in your financial situation since applying for the scholarship. In this case, writing an appeal letter could help you get more assistance.
Simplify and focus your application process with the one-stop platform for vetted scholarships.
A second reason that warrants writing an appeal is if your scholarship has been revoked.
Scholarships can be taken away for a variety of reasons. If you have a good reason for not meeting a scholarship requirement, then an appeal letter can help you get it back.
For example, a scholarship may be taken away if a student’s GPA falls below the minimum requirement. If this happens for a valid reason, like an illness or the death of an immediate family member, then expressing this in an appeal letter could help you get your scholarship back.
A final reason for writing an appeal letter would be if you made a mistake on the FAFSA. If you believe that this had an impact on your award, you could address this in a letter.
How To Write Your Financial Aid Appeal Letter
How do I write a scholarship appeal letter?
Here’s a template scholarship appeal letter you can use as a guide when writing your own: Dear [Name of financial aid staff member], I hope this letter finds you well. I’m a prospective student hoping to enroll at [name of college or university] for the [season, year] semester.
How do you write a financial aid appeal letter?
Craft your financial aid appeal letter. If the school requests a letter, keep it to one page. Be as specific as possible, and focus on concrete incidents that affected your family’s finances. In your appeal letter for financial aid, explain to the university that you were accepted to the school and are eager to attend.
How do I appeal a college financial aid package?
How to Get the Most Generous Financial Aid Package From Your College. An appeal letter should include other information beyond specific examples of financial changes or hardships. A parent should thank the financial aid office for its consideration, and write briefly about the student’s excitement to attend the institution.
When should I write an appeal letter?
We’ll also include a sample appeal letter that can be used as a template, in a worst-case scenario. There are a few situations when it would be appropriate to write an appeal letter. For example, if there was a change in your financial situation since applying for the scholarship.
