Ask your school’s college counselor for sample scholarship letters. Many high school counselors help students draft scholarship letters to colleges and have copies of past letters that helped students receive college scholarships. If your counselor doesn’t have letters drafted by past students, ask them for a sample scholarship letter from one of their resource books that you don’t have access to.
Visit government websites, like the U.S. Department of Education's ed.gov and studentaid.ed.gov, and private sites, like CollegeScholarships.org and FinAid.org, to view free sample scholarship letters and financial aid request forms. CollegeScholarships.org and FinAid.org also provide other valuable advice about applying for scholarships and financial aid. Personal sites and blogs may provide useful information, but there's a chance it could be incorrect or out-of-date. Therefore, it's always a good idea to talk to your college counselor about the information you gather from personal sites to confirm their accuracy and usefulness for your given situation.
Check to see if the school you are applying to offers sample scholarship letters or templates for prospective students on their website. You might be surprised how many colleges and universities offer this information as a public service. If a particular college or university doesn’t offer sample scholarship letters or templates, use the samples received from your school counselor, other educational institutions and financial aid sites as guides to help you draft your letter.
Purchase or borrow books from your school or public library that contain information about scholarships and include sample scholarship letters and templates. Examples include: “The Scholarship Book” by Daniel J. Cassidy and Ellen Schneid Coleman and “The Ultimate Scholarship Book” by Gen and Kelly Tanabe. Look for the newest edition of any book you use. Avoid reference books that are more than a few years old. Older books may contain out-of-date information and advice that is no longer helpful or beneficial.