How important is a reference letter to get a scholarship?

William Temple Franklin, American diplomat, wrote in April 1777:

“Dear Sir,

The bearer of this letter, who is going to America, urges me to give him a letter of recommendation, though I know nothing of him, not even his name. This may seem extraordinary, but I assure you it is not uncommon here. Sometimes indeed one unknown person brings me another equally unknown to recommend; and sometimes they recommend each other! As to this gentleman, I must refer you to himself as to his character and merits, which he certainly knows better than I can; I recommend him, however, to those civilities which every stranger, whose evil you know not, is entitled to have, and I beg you to do him all the good offices and show him all the favours which, on further acquaintance, you will find he deserves.”

Writing reference letters for recommend people for others it is therefore not an exclusively contemporary custom: in history one can find numerous examples of these documents, addressed to influential figures in various fields.

For example, one letter of reference for university It can be helpful in increasing your chances of getting a scholarship or other type of educational funding.

The university reference letter is a precious ally

In our daily life, the perception that others have of us plays a fundamental role.

Every day, we are faced with different situations in which the image we project to others can determine our personal and professional success.

Whether it's accessing a scholarship or aresearch opportunities university or being introduced for a job interview, the first impression usually makes the difference.

The reference letter, if written by people who know us in an academic or professional context, can turn into a powerful ally in our career.

For this, the choice of contact person It is certainly the most relevant step to influence the success of our candidacy for theuniversity.

A respected professor who can express positive opinions about us can enhance our technical skills and other important aspects that concern our personality, motivations for improvement and those character traits that make us the ideal candidate.

Let's see some advantages of a college reference letter:

• Increased credibility

When a high-profile professional or recognized expert expresses their support for a candidate, this not only validates their skills and experience, but also creates an immediate positive association between the candidate himself and the contact person.

In fact, if an authoritative figure recommends a person, others are more inclined to consider her competent, reliable and worthy, simply because it was presented by someone of recognized value.

• Enhancement of skills

The person writing the reference letter has the opportunity to provide specific examples on skills candidate's practices, thus enriching the information contained in the curriculum vitae.

This allows you to highlight technical skills (hard skills), such as digital skills or linguistic, and transversal ones (soft skills), such as the ability to work in a team, or resistance to stress or creativity, and also offers an opportunity to give more value to professional experiences.

In fact, selectors may have a more concrete vision of the candidate's skills through specific cases. For example, if a candidate describes how he or she collaborated with a team to solve a complex problem, we can deduce his teamwork attitude and his communication skills.

• Networking

When a professor, an employer or even an important professional writes a reference letter, not only certifies the skills and the candidate's qualities, but also activates its own network of contacts.

This is very advantageous, because having a lot of knowledge not only enriches your personal and professional background, but also represents a key element to build strong and trusting relationships, which can lead to meaningful collaborations over time.

Conclusions

In general, a reference letter is a document that offers a authoritative testimony and can positively influence those who have the decision-making power to hire a person or are part of a selection committee.

A well-written reference letter it is not limited to highlight technical skills, but also underlines the candidate's practical experiences and fundamental aspects, such as his/her relational and behavioral skills.

Therefore, it is essential that the writer of the letter know in depth the person he is writing about, thus being able to provide concrete examples that demonstrate his value.

A letter of reference for the university can therefore significantly enhance the candidate's skills and personal characteristics, and is therefore very important to access funding and opportunities such as scholarships and internships.