by Melissa Brock | Jan 5, 2020 | Ask the admission office |
You’re ready to take the ACT — that all-important test can determine your future college options. So exciting! A little knowledge and prep work can go a long way toward securing your future dreams. You might be curious about a couple of the most basic questions such as what is a good ACT score? And how long is the ACT?
Put simply, the ACT is two hours and 55 minutes — if you don’t take the writing test. But there are a few more details you may want to know ahead of time about the length of each test. (Hint: You’ll want to know this ahead of time. Each test is a different amount of time.) Two other factors could change your situation:
- You might decide to take the writing test.
- You might opt to take an extended time test due to a learning disability or other qualification.
Let’s break it all down. You’re racing the clock (in a controlled manner, of course!) when you take the ACT. Here’s what you need to know.
What Time Does the ACT Test Start and When Does it End?
First, check your email instructions for your assigned reporting time. Your assigned test center reporting time is usually going to be 8 a.m.
Your testing center might not be the familiar halls of your high school or your comfy English classroom. It might be at a nearby college or even another high school. Consider doing a practice drive to your testing center a few days early if you’re not quite sure where it is.
On the day of the test, you don’t wanna wake up at 7:54 a.m., blast through the kitchen (without breakfast) and blow six stop signs on your way to the testing center. Instead:
- Set your alarm (or three alarms, if you have to), eat a good breakfast and arrive by 8 a.m.
- Pat yourself on the back if you arrive earlier than 7:45 a.m., but know that if you do arrive early, you might have to wait outside until testing staff members get your room ready.
- Follow directions for checking in — a test administrator will tell you what to do once you arrive. You’ll officially start testing after 8 a.m. as soon as all examinees are checked in and seated.
You should be done with the standard-time ACT test (without writing) at about 12:35 p.m. — Just in time for lunch!
How Long is the ACT with Writing?
You can choose to take the ACT writing test. Some colleges and universities want to see how you write, but it’s not required for every college. Not sure whether you need to take the writing test? Ask your admission counselor at each college about that school’s admission requirements.
The ACT writing test tacks on a 40-minute essay test to the other four tests. The writing test is fairly simple to understand. You’ll get a prompt that describes an issue and three different perspectives on that issue. You must answer the prompt in pencil on the lined pages of an answer folder provided to you.
You’ll be dismissed about 1:35 p.m. if you take the ACT writing test.
How Long is the ACT with Extended Time?
The ACT offers National Extended Time, also called 50 percent extended time. In other words, you’ll get extended time on each section of the ACT and you’ll get a break after each section. You’ll need to be approved ahead of time for extended testing. Learn more about ACT accommodations.
Overall, the extended time ACT gives you:
- 70 minutes to complete Test 1 — English
- 90 minutes to complete Test 2 — Mathematics
- 55 minutes to complete Test 3 — Reading
- 55 minutes to complete Test 4 — Science
- 60 minutes to respond to the Writing test prompt (if you choose to take the writing test)
It may not take you every spare minute of extended time to finish each test. For example, let’s say there’s a group of extended time test takers who finish with the English test early. All examinees can move on to the next test (Mathematics) once everyone’s finished. However, all examinees in the room must work on the same test at the same time.
Parts of the ACT
There are four distinct subject tests on the ACT: English, mathematics, reading and science. Here’s an overview of each type of test you’ll take during the ACT test and how long each section lasts.
English
The English test on the ACT is 45 minutes long and contains 75 questions.
You’ll be given writing passages on this test that will ask you to evaluate specific writing elements. For example, you might need to determine a passage’s tone or might simply need to select the correct English-appropriate answer. Take a look at specific underlined portions of the test and consider all answer choices before you choose the one that best responds to the question.
There’s a great English test prep example on ACT’s website. Check it out!
Mathematics
The Mathematics test on the ACT is 60 minutes long and contains 60 questions.
You’ll find the following types of math problems on the mathematics test:
- Pre-algebra
- Elementary algebra
- Intermediate algebra
- Coordinate geometry
- Plane geometry
- Trigonometry
All problems vary from straightforward “solve-for-x equations” to graphs and charts.
Planning to use a calculator? Be sure you check out the latest calculator policy so you know you’re using the right type of calculator. Make sure it works and that you know how to use it! (It’d be a shame if you borrowed someone’s ultra-powerful calculator on test day and then couldn’t figure out how to turn it on.)
You don’t technically need a calculator to solve any equations on the mathematics test. All problems can be solved without a calculator, but having one sure is handy.
Check out the helpful mathematics test prep example on ACT’s website.
Reading
The Reading test on the ACT is 35 minutes long and contains 40 questions.
As you might imagine, this test is stuffed with various reading passages about and tests your comprehension. Topic clusters include fiction, social science, natural science and the humanities. You’ll answer questions about how well you understand a particular passage. It’s important to:
- Read each passage carefully.
- Consider all of the answer choices (read those carefully, too!) Look back and forth from the passage to the questions as you answer them.
Here’s a great example of what you might find on the reading portion of the ACT.
Science
The Science test on the ACT is 35 minutes long and contains 40 questions.
Luckily, you don’t need to be a budding biologist to do well on the science portion of the ACT. You just need to be able to read charts and graphs and interpret the scientific information involved. Be sure you read each question carefully so you understand the scientific information included in each passage. scientific information in the passage when answering the question. There could be conflicting viewpoints in each passage, according to ACT, so be careful!
Here’s what to expect on the ACT Science test.
When to Take the ACT
The ACT (and SAT, for that matter) can be taken any time during high school. Most school counselors recommend taking at least one test by June of junior year, and, for good measure, another test soon after. Some states allow you to take the test for free. Check with your school counselor to find out whether your state allows you to take the ACT for free.
Think you might want to take the ACT as a sophomore? Or maybe you’re not ready as a junior and think it’s better to wait till senior year. Take into account your desired level of preparation, readiness for the test and college deadlines and goals.
Get Ready for the ACT Now!
Now that you know how much time you’ll have for each individual portion of the test, it’s time to practice. Get a feel for how much time you have on each question by going through timed tests.
It really is a “timing” thing. Your ability to move swiftly and accurately through the test and check it consistently against the rest of the time you have allotted is the key — whether you’re on standard or extended time.
by Melissa Brock | Dec 20, 2019 | College Money Tips |
How to save money in college?! The title of this post might seem laughable to you. Especially since you’re probably praying that your holey underwear will last till Christmas. (Thank goodness for your mama’s yearly Hanes stocking stuffer.)
But you can save money in college, and there are smart ways to do it. And those savings can even benefit you beyond your college years. Let’s explore how you can save money in college.
Step 1: Understand your goals.
First of all, what are you saving for? Maybe you’d like to propose to your girlfriend at the end of senior year or purchase a car once you graduate. Know what you’re saving for and why.
Zoom in on your immediate short-term goals. These might be anything you want to accomplish in the next week or over the next three months (or more), like:
- Pay your brother back the $50 you owe him.
- Save for textbooks for next semester.
- Have $1,000 in the bank for the next time your car’s alternator decides to crap out.
You may also want to identify some long-term savings goals, which could be six months away or up to retirement. These could be:
- Pay off student loans and credit card debt.
- Save for a down payment for a small condo after graduation if you’re really opposed to renting.
- Plan a special vacation after you graduate.
Be sure to write it down! There’s huge power in writing down your goals. Do a thorough exercise in jotting down your goals and be very specific. It can look something like this:
- Goal: Save $5,000 for a spring break trip by March 2020.
- Goal: Pay off $30,000 in student loans by December 2025.
Finally, post those goals somewhere where you’ll see them every single day — on your bathroom mirror, on the refrigerator — wherever you can see it.
Step 2: Seek scholarships and grants.
Scholarships and grants are an excellent way to save money because you don’t have to pay them back. This is less money you’ll have to funnel toward college tuition. That might equal fewer loans to repay later, too.
Scholarships and grants are more accessible than you think. Visit your school’s financial aid office and talk to a financial aid professional in person. They are good resources to help you investigate available and upcoming opportunities. You’ll also learn more about your school’s application requirements and deadlines.
Step 3: Set a budget.
Budgeting can be a groan-worthy endeavor… spreadsheets and subtraction… blech! But mapping out your goals will help you set a budget so you can get to the gold. In fact, track your spending to see where you’re spending your money.
Don’t alter your spending habits for one week. If you normally buy a latte and croissant from the coffee shop every morning, do it. Then decide which part of your budget you really can give up. Is that delicious breakfast costing you too much money? You could be eating yogurt and brewing your own coffee for $1 in your dorm room.
Set your budget so you know where you should be spending. And you can schedule that occasional professional brew as a reward for saving.
Can’t stand putting pen to paper? If that’s not your thing, it’s time to join the 21st century and use a budgeting tool. You can plan a budget and track your spending from the comfort of your smartphone. You can even increase your accountability by budgeting with a friend.
Step 4: Make money — and save it
You have so many resources at your fingertips. There are a gazillion ways to make money in college and save it.
Internet money-making opportunities are plentiful. Do you have a knack for marketing? Social media managing? Photography? Blogging? Some other undiscovered skill you can hone? Use the internet to your advantage.
You might even want to save more than you spend so that with the excess money you’ve banked, you can pay your tuition down. Why not start early? Let’s say you land an incredible sales job between classes and make extra in commissions. Why not apply that toward your tuition?
Invest while in college
So, that money you save has to go somewhere. Why not invest it? Stuffing your money under your mattress won’t benefit you. Your money can (and should) be making money. A penny saved truly can be two pennies earned.
There are lots of different ways you can invest when you have some serious savings built up — or even if your savings only fills a backpack pocket.
Sometimes it’s a good idea to look for a reputable financial advisor or broker near campus who can help with your investment plans. They can introduce you to options, explain terms and guide you through selecting the best path for your savings goals. If you are more familiar with investing, you can find online brokers that offer services as well. Do your research carefully and ask financial advisors how much they charge.
Investment Options
Have you determined how much you have left over at the end of the month? Great! Put that money to work for you into an investment account. The amount you can invest per month might vary but at least you’ll have an idea of a general amount you’re able to contribute.
Do you have a short-term investing goal? You could always sling your money into a savings account. However, you might not be too into a savings account’s lackluster return. In that case, here are a few more options for short-term savings vehicles.
Short-Term Bond Funds
Short-term bond funds are safer investments because they usually mature in one to three years. They’re less volatile and invest in high-quality bond holdings across various issuers and industries. They’re a great option if you don’t want to risk your money.
Money Market Accounts
A money market account is like the hybrid cousin of a checking and savings account. You can make debit purchases and write checks. Best of all, you’ll earn a higher interest rate than you would through a checking or savings account.
Certificates of deposit (CDs)
CDs are fixed income investments that pay a set interest rate over a specific (fixed) time period. For example, you may be able to put money into a CD and take it out after three months and earn 1.75 percent interest on it. Typically, the longer you keep your CD in the bank or with your broker, the higher your interest rate will be.
Thinking way, way ahead? In that case, here are some great opportunities.
Roth or Traditional IRAs
Roth and Traditional IRAs are both good choices if you want to earmark money for retirement — even if it’s 40 or more years away! A Roth IRA offers excellent tax-free advantages, which means you don’t have to pay taxes on the money during retirement. For 2020, your total contribution to all traditional and Roth IRAs cannot be more than $6,000.
Index Funds
ndex funds can offer more risk, which is what you want when you have a longer time horizon. Index funds offer you a hands-off, diversified, low-cost method of long-term investing.
Exchange-Traded Funds (ETFs)
An ETF is a basket of securities you buy or sell through a brokerage firm on a stock exchange. Exchange-traded funds (ETFs) track an index and usually offer low expense ratios. This means you’ll get plenty of diversification. In other words, your money will be spread out instead of exposed to risk like you would be when your money is invested in a single stock. ETFs trade like a stock and cover all asset classes, ranging from traditional investments to alternative assets like commodities or currencies.
Mutual Funds
A mutual fund is a professionally managed investment fund that pools money from many investors to purchase securities. Mutual funds also offer diversification. A disadvantage of mutual funds is that they’re typically more expensive to invest in because they’re professionally managed. You can end up paying a fund manager a lot of money to manage those mutual funds over a number of years!
Stocks
Stocks are securities that represent an ownership share in a company. They’re much riskier than funds that are bundled together.
Parent tip: Consider offering match your student’s money in an investment account if you want to motivate your college-aged kiddo!
Save Money in College Like a Pro
Being successful in college is about more than getting the grades you need for graduate school. We’ve given you some ways for how to save money in college. Obviously, you need a way to start your savings. Whether you get a part-time job, an internship, search for a work-study job, dive into a creative side gig or sell some of your stuff online, there are lots of ways to make it happen.
Learn to be smart with your choices and multiply your resources. You can be financially savvy starting now. With a little know-how and determination — and planning ahead! — you can make saving money in college happen. You can even set your sights on post-college financial success. Your 60-year-old self will thank you!
by Melissa Brock | Nov 9, 2019 | Ask the admission office |
What is a good ACT score? That’s a great question! You might’ve asked your admission counselor, your school counselor, your best friend. Moms and dads, it’s a question that you might ask at every single college fair you attend with your son or daughter.
As you might imagine, whether you’ve achieved a “good” score is a bit subjective. Different people have different expectations for their score — and various colleges have specific admission guidelines, too. For example, a less selective college might prefer a 20 ACT, while a more selective institution might only admit students who have a 26.
Your best bet is to ask each school you’re applying to what ACT score to aim for. How important ACT scores are in the college application process varies from school to school — some schools might not require the ACT (or SAT, ACT’s counterpart) at all.
What is the ACT?
The ACT is a college entrance exam that’s used by colleges and universities to make decisions about whether to admit students to their respective institutions. It’s a four-section test with an optional writing portion that measures your readiness for college.
The components include four tests: English, math, reading, science reasoning and an optional writing section. The ACT also includes high school grade and course information, a student profile section and a career interest inventory.
The higher your ACT score, the more competitive schools you can place on your radar. A higher ACT will also affect your ability to get merit-based scholarships.
What is an Average ACT Score?
You might wonder how your score fit in with the thousands of other students who have taken the ACT. Here’s a crash course on how ACT scores work, according to ACT.org.
- First, the ACT scans and counts the number of questions that you answer correctly. There is no penalty for choosing incorrect answers. (In other words, if you have to guess on the ACT, that’s okay.)
- The ACT then transitions your raw scores (the number of correct answers on each test) to scores that are called scale scores.
- These scores are all added together, then divided by four to get your composite score.
- You’ll get an official score report which will show your composite score, which can range from 1 – 36. You’ll also see the results of each of the four test scores, and each test score can also range from 1 – 36.
Let’s say you take the test and get the following scores:
English: 26
Mathematics: 30
Reading: 22
Science Reasoning: 27
Average composite score: 26
So, 26+30+22+27 = 105, and 105/4 = 26.25, which gives you an ACT score of 26.
Your composite equates to a percentile that shows how you did in comparison to all other test takers. Your ACT score report will compare your scores to the approximate percentages of recent high school graduates in the U.S. and your state, too. A higher percentile means you scored higher than that percent of students. (In other words, a rank of 45 for your composite score means that 45 percent of students earned that composite or lower.)
Of the over 1.9 million students tested on the ACT in 2018, the average composite ACT score was 20.8. To break it down a little more, here are the averages for the four tests in 2018:
English: 20.2
Mathematics: 20.5
Reading: 21.3
Science Reasoning: 20.7
Average composite score: 20.8
What is the Highest ACT Score?
The highest ACT score is a 36. Less than one percent of all students achieve that extraordinary score. A 20 is an average ACT score and nestles right in at the 50th percentile. On the other hand, a 24 ACT score means you’ve scored better than about 75 percent of students. An ACT score of 29 means you’ve scored better than 90 percent of students, and finally, a score of 31 means you’ve scored better than 95 percent of students.
If you score anything above a 35, pat yourself on the back. You’ve scored higher than 99 percent of all test takers. It doesn’t get better than that!
Here’s a quick breakdown:
- ACT score < 16: Bottom 25 percent
- 21 ACT: Middle/average score
- 24+ ACT: Top 25 percent
- 29+ ACT: Top 10 percent
- 31+ ACT: Top five percent
- ACT score of 35 or 36: Top one percent
How to Superscore the ACT
Some colleges and universities allow you to superscore the ACT, which means that you average your best subjects from all four testing areas. It’s different than a composite score because you take the best of what could be several tests and create a superscore.
It’s easy to do: You simply round up your score reports, find your highest score from the English, math, reading and science tests and add these scores together. Next, divide by four and round your score up to the nearest whole number.
For example, let’s say you took the test twice and got the following scores:
Test date 1:
English 20
Mathematics 20
Reading 25
Science reasoning 25
Test date 2:
English 25
Mathematics 19
Reading 20
Science reasoning 26
Average all the bold scores (25, 20, 25 and 26) and divide by four and that equals a superscore of 24.
You might be wondering whether the writing score counts toward a superscore — it doesn’t.
You will receive a total of five scores for the essay test: a single subject-level writing score reported on a range of 2-12 and four domain scores, which are also 2-12, according to ACT.org. These scores are based on an analytic scoring rubric. The subject-level score will be the rounded average of the four domain scores: Ideas and Analysis, Development and Support, Organization and Language Use and Conventions.
Do all Colleges Superscore the ACT?
Many, but not all, colleges superscore, but the number has increased in recent years, according to ACT.org. Learn more about the admission requirements by contacting the various admission counselors at schools you’re looking at.
When the September 2020 ACT rolls around, you’ll be able to send your individual superscores to various colleges.
How to Improve Your ACT score
Let’s say you’re not happy with your ACT score. You can take the test again or superscore the test. In September 2020, you’ll have even more options. You’ll be able to do ACT section retesting and also report your superscores to individual colleges.
You can take the ACT as many times as you want. Some colleges also offer residual testing, which means they can give the ACT through the admission office at any time — but the score will only count for that particular school. Ask the admission offices of colleges if you can do a residual test, which will not occur on a national test date.
Choose the Right Fit
Think you’re ready for this all-important test? Or maybe you’ve already taken it, you even know what it stands for and you’re curious to know how you compare among national ACT test-takers.
Even if you do know what percentile you fall into and every detail of your ACT score, that doesn’t matter as much as knowing which college is the best fit for you.
ACT scores are just one indicator for a college of whether you’re an excellent candidate for admission. Other factors, such your grades, letters of recommendation, alumni interviews and more will also help a college — and you — determine the right fit. Luckily, there are so many college choices out there. The right combination of ACT score, filing the FAFSA and more will get you ever closer to making a college decision.
by Melissa Brock | Nov 3, 2019 | Ask the admission office |
What does ACT stand for? Here’s the answer for those trivia seekers! The ACT originally stood for American College Test, but now it’s just called by its three letters — A–C–T.
Kind of like deciding on a major, it’s a big deal. Here’s what your child needs to know to get ready for this all-important test.
What is the ACT?
The ACT is a multiple-choice entrance exam used by most colleges and universities — from liberal arts colleges to large state universities. This test is one component of your entire profile that admission committees use to make admission decisions.
The test, administered by ACT Inc., simply measures your college readiness. It also provides colleges with a yardstick to compare all students who apply to their school.
But don’t worry, your ACT isn’t the only factor. College admission committees review your high school GPA, the classes you take in high school, letters of recommendation from teachers or mentors, extracurricular activities, admission interviews and personal essays.
This can be a tad confusing: Various schools put a different weight on the ACT. Some schools might not consider the ACT for admission at all. Generally, the higher you score on the ACT, the more options you’ll have for attending and paying for college.
What is the History of the ACT?
Everet Franklin Lindquist, professor of education at the University of Iowa, launched the American College Testing Program in 1959. He designed the ACT to test students’ general educational development. In other words, Lindquist wanted to test practical knowledge — academic achievement over intelligence. The ACT’s rival, the SAT, tested mainly theory-based reasoning skills.
The first ACT was a four-part exam. It included 45-minute sections for English, mathematics, social studies and natural science. Lindquist’s test was scored using a 36-point system — and that scoring system is still used today.
Many of the 75,000 students who took the test in 1959 were Midwesterners. The SAT is still more popular on the coasts and the ACT is still taken more heavily in the middle of the country.
ACT Changes Over the Years
The ACT has changed a bit over the years:
- The ACT underwent a makeover in 1989. It swapped out the social studies and natural science sections and replaced them with reading and science reasoning.
- ACT added a writing section in 2005. This was a clear countermove in response to the SAT’s writing section.
ACT recently unrolled some new options — but they won’t be officially available until September 2020:
- Single section retesting: You will be able to retest just one, two or three section(s) without having to take the whole test again. For example, let’s say you take the full test on one of the national test dates. You’re not crazy about your math score, so you take only the math test at a later date and try to achieve a higher score the second time.
- You can report your superscore: Superscoring means that you average your four best individual subject scores from each individual ACT test. For example, let’s say you take the ACT once and get a 24 on the math test and a 32 on the English test. Let’s say you take it again. This time, you get a 25 on the math test and a 30 on the English test. You can send colleges two of your best scores from these two different test dates — the 25 on the math test and the 32 on the English test. You will also be able to submit these ACT superscores directly to colleges and universities. Just make sure the colleges you’re applying to accept superscores — not all of them do.
- You can opt for online testing: Bye-bye, traditional paper testing — if you choose. You can now take every ACT online during national test dates. Traditional paper testing is still available if you’re more comfortable with that method. The advantage to online testing? You’ll get your scores back much more quickly — in as little as two days.
What is on the ACT?
The ACT is divided into four specific testing areas, with an optional writing section. The tests are in this order: English, mathematics, reading and science.
English
The first test on the ACT is the English test. The English test is 45 minutes long and contains 75 questions. You get to edit the text — the ACT tests you on grammar, sentence structure and punctuation. In other words, you’ll need to insert where you think a passage needs a semicolon or a period, for example. It’ll also test your ability to critically understand how a passage flows and more.
Mathematics
Next, you’ll take the mathematics test. The mathematics test is 60 minutes long and contains 60 questions. It’s roughly divided into these types of math problems:
- Pre-algebra: About 20 percent
- Elementary algebra: About 20 percent
- Intermediate algebra: About 20 percent
- Coordinate geometry: About 15 percent
- Plane geometry: About 20 percent
- Trigonometry: About five percent
The ACT math section requires you to answer various word problems and others are straightforward math problems. Some have graphs or charts.
They range from easy to hard. The first 1-20 questions are easy, questions 21-40 are somewhat challenging and questions 41-60 are difficult. You might need to budget more time on the more challenging questions toward the end of the test.
Reading
Next, you’ll take the reading test — but not before you get a break! There’s a 10- to 15-minute break between the math and reading tests. The reading test is 35 minutes long and contains 40 questions. Specifically, you’ll read and answer questions about themes, tone and purpose. Overall, you’ll answer questions about how well you understand a particular passage. Specific topics include:
- Prose fiction/literary narrative: This section involves fiction passages and literary memoirs. You’ll be asked to read and then answer these multiple-choice questions.
- Social science: You’ll also answer questions about passages in psychology, sociology and education.
- Humanities: You’ll be asked to read and answer questions in the humanities — including essays and memoirs, plus nonfiction pieces on philosophy, literature and the arts.
- Natural science: This section involves science topics like biology, chemistry, physics and medicine.
Note: You will not need to be a subject matter expert in any of these topics. You should be able to read (quickly, though!) and use your reading comprehension skills to answer any of the questions involved.
Science Reasoning
Science reasoning is the last required section. The science section is 35 minutes long and contains 40 questions. The science section doesn’t actually test your specific science knowledge — it tests your ability to interpret scientific information using charts and graphs.
Writing
Finally, the ACT writing test is a 40-minute essay test that measures your writing skills. Many colleges and universities don’t require you to take the writing test — that’s good news for those of you who really don’t like to write! You can decide whether to sign up for the writing test after you ask the admission offices at the schools you’re applying to whether you should take the writing test.
Here’s how it works:
You’ll get a prompt that describes a complicated issue and which presents three different perspectives on that issue. You must write your answer in pencil on the lined pages of an answer folder. Students with a disability who cannot handwrite the essay will not have to write it by hand. (Check out information for students with disabilities on ACT’s website.)
When is the ACT Offered?
The ACT is always offered during the following months:
- February
- April
- June
- July (Note: The ACT is not offered in New York state in July.)
- September
- October
- December
Don’t forget to sign up for the ACT by the registration deadline. The registration deadline is usually during the month preceding the test date, but if you don’t manage to sign up on time, there’s always a late registration deadline.
Visit ACT for more information about test dates and learn how to register for a test.
Take the ACT
Knowing what’s on the ACT and what it stands for is great — but don’t forget to practice! Go through a few practice tests online or get a tutorial book from your local library.
Ask about the ACT when you’re on college campuses. You might already be asking, “What is the FAFSA?” and “What is rolling admission?” during your college visits. But don’t forget to ask each admission counselor when you should take the ACT.
Even more importantly, ask your admission counselor what ACT score each college requires. It’ll give you something to shoot for.
by Melissa Brock | Oct 26, 2019 | Build relationships |
Good for you for wanting to write a scholarship letter — or, if you’re a parent who wants your kiddo to write a letter — good job on asking him or her to write a scholarship thank you.
Scholarships can be a saving grace — in some cases, college, trade school grad school — might be impossible without one (or two or three).
Here’s how to pen the perfect message.
Why Write a Scholarship Thank You Letter?
Lots of companies, organizations and other entities give scholarships — and individuals do, too. You might not think that a faceless corporation would get a kick out of receiving a scholarship letter, but that’s just not true.
Let’s say you write to the board of directors and profusely thank them for your generosity, and you just might earn yourself more scholarships in the future. Maybe you find that a particular scholarship is renewable.
But it’s more than that. It’s more than just about what’s in it for you — it’s about building relationships with people and making a real human connection with someone or a group of people who has (excitedly!) proven their generosity.
When to write a scholarship thank you letter
You might think you only need to write a scholarship letter once you receive a scholarship. However, it’s a good idea to write a scholarship letter during any part of the scholarship process:
- Immediately after you interview for a scholarship
- After you do alumni interviews for admission to a particular college
- Once you audition for a scholarship (music, theatre, etc.)
- Once you’re evaluated in any way for a scholarship
In other words, anytime you actively do something to try to nab a scholarship, you need to thank someone for it.
Here’s a quick scenario. You interview for a business scholarship at a college with a professor that you know you’ll have in class someday. You send a thank you note and the professor sends an email back. The professor remembers you from the interview and gives you the scholarship because of your stellar interview — and who knows? Maybe because of your thank you note, too.
Furthermore, let’s say a college gives you a giant merit-based scholarship. Sure, it might seem like they give those to lots of students (liberal arts colleges often give out large merit-based scholarships to bring down their tuition costs) but consider this. Maybe you send a hand-written note to the admission counselor and lo and behold, another scholarship is available later — and since you’re such a kind, caring student, they recommend you for the scholarship first.
How Should My Scholarship Letter Sound?
Your letter should take on a formal tone. The type of letter you send will convey how formal it is — a typed letter is way more formal than a hand-written card or email. It’s a good idea to err on the side of formal when you’re writing a scholarship thank you letter.
You may want to consider a formal letter once you’ve interviewed for a scholarship or when you’ve received a scholarship. On the other hand, you might want to pen a handwritten thank you note to an admission counselor for your visit to campus (this is another great thank you opportunity!).
Steps to Write a Formal Scholarship Thank You Letter
Let’s walk through the steps so you’ll know exactly what you’ll need to do — but don’t copy the one we include below word-for-word. Add your own touch — and maybe even a little pizzazz.
Step 1: Check the name of the recipients, write the salutation and first paragraph.
Here’s what you’ll need to collect before you get started:
- The first and last name of the donor or organization that’s giving you a scholarship. Double-check — no, triple-check! — the spelling of any names. Quadruple check!
- The name of the scholarship. Again, make sure you’re spelling it right.
- The address, city, state and zip code of the scholarship donors.
Your salutation should start with “Dear” — no ifs, ands or buts. If you feel at all the desire to write “Hey” or “Whazzup” at the beginning of a scholarship letter, squish it immediately. You’re writing a formal thank you.
Your intro doesn’t have to be boring, though most letters you’ll see start with, “I’m writing to thank you for your generous scholarship.” Bland, huh? You can get a bit more creative than that, but remember — always start with the purpose of your letter.
Step 2: Write the second paragraph.
Get a little friendly here — if you didn’t in the first paragraph. First, talk about yourself a little more. Maybe you’re into martial arts or dance. Maybe you play the bari sax in your school band — scholarship donors are real people who want to know who you are. Explain why the donor’s investment means so much to you.
Can you think of other things to add? Of course you can. Make it memorable. If you did an interview with that person, add a personal touch, such as “I really enjoyed hearing you talk about your love of Shakespeare in my interview. We recently performed Hamlet at the community little theatre and I played Ophelia.”
Step 3: Write the conclusion.
Finally, you’ll want to end with a robust thank you and a promise to honor the donor’s or donors’ investments. This is the time to make your donor feel good and laud them with phrases like, “I wouldn’t be able to continue my education without you.”
Step 4: Add the closing and sign your name.
You’ll also need a complimentary close to sign off your letter. Use “Sincerely,” “Best wishes” or “All the best” for the closing. “Thanks a bunch,” probably doesn’t strike quite the right vibe.
Next, actually sign your letter — don’t just type your name. You’ll type your name under your signature.
Put it All Together
Now that you’ve digested all of that, let’s put all the parts together.
[Date] — be sure to write this out like this: October 25, 2019
[Mr. or Mrs. First and Last Name of Donor or Name of Organization ]
[Name of Scholarship]
[Address]
[City, State, Zip]
Dear [Donor Name or Organization Name],
First paragraph: Explain why you’re writing your letter.
Thanks so much for choosing me to be your [Name of scholarship] scholarship recipient. I was so excited when I got your letter in the mail!
Second paragraph: Talk a little bit about yourself and explain why the letter means so much to you.
I’m a ballet dancer and a travel enthusiast (my grandparents have taken me to 26 countries around the world). My love of travel has spurred me to learn two other languages — French and Spanish.
I’m planning to major in English and get either a business management or a communication studies minor. I really want to be a journalist someday — and my major goal is to write for The New York Times. I plan to write for my college newspaper, but I’m not quite sure which school I’m attending yet. I’ll be sure to make a decision soon, after I wrap up a couple more college visits.
Third paragraph: Wrap it up and thank the person or organization again and explain that you’re going to “take good care of” the donor’s investment.
This scholarship helps me achieve my dreams of becoming a journalist and I’m so thankful to you to help make that happen. I hope one day I’ll be able to pay it forward and help another student in need.
Sincerely,
[Sign your name here]
[Your name]
[City, State, Zip]
Wait — What About the Envelope?
Put your letter in a #10 business envelope with a Z-fold (YouTube it if you’re not sure what that means — it means that you’ll fold your letter once and then back again), and if you want a polished look, you can was design one using tools like Canva’s envelope maker.
Write your address in the upper left-hand corner. You might be wondering if it’s okay to handwrite this part. It sure is.
Put your recipient’s name, the name of the organization and address in the center of the envelope. Finally, put a stamp in the upper right-hand corner. Your letter shouldn’t be overly thick because it’ll just have one sheet of paper in it — so you should only need one Forever stamp.
Write the Best Possible Scholarship Letter
One question you might be wondering: How long does this thing have to be? Luckily, not long. A scholarship letter can be just three short paragraphs like the one above — but make an effort to be sincerely thankful and try your hardest to make a connection, just like you would if you were sharing a handshake and thanking the donor in person.
You might not know your donor’s name right off the bat if the scholarship is coming from an organization. However, do your best to find the name of the person in charge, such as the CEO of the organization that’s giving you the scholarship. It’s much better to put a person’s name on the letter rather than sending it to a large corporation — you wouldn’t want your efforts to be wasted.
