What is a recommendation letter?

What to mention and what not to mention while writing an excellent LOR.

When applying to various universities, you've likely encountered the term "letter of recommendation." But what does it entail? Essentially, it's a letter that endorses a candidate for either employment or academic progress, also known as a letter of reference or LOR. When provided to a student, this letter helps the admissions panel gain deeper insights into the candidate, showcasing their strengths and key information from the viewpoint of a mentor, supervisor, advisor, or faculty member. It's an invaluable tool for highlighting the applicant's strengths and vital details.

To make a strong impression, the LOR should be concise, transparent, and straightforward. It should stand on its own, so including a resume is not recommended. This is a common reason for applications being rejected or denied.

However, what makes a good LOR?

How do I create a strong LOR?

Crafting a recommendation letter requires adhering to specific guidelines and considerations. These guidelines enable the admissions committee to gain deeper insights into the applicant and the relevance of the recommendations. Thus, ensure that the following elements are included in any recommendation letters you request:

1. A succinct description of their interaction with you. The letter should state how long they have known you and how you two have worked together, such as an advisor, mentor, member of the faculty or staff, a teacher, a supervisor, or a coworker.
2. A focus on whether the observation was direct or indirect. Direct observations always have a beneficial effect since they make it evident how much connection there is. For instance, working face-to-face is crucial and offers more value than being familiar with someone and having collaborated online. In this, the recommender only saw you working in a different group that was being directed by a different person than the one who is actually making the recommendation.
3. Your eligibility and suitability for the course, program, or study should be accurately assessed in the LOR. Instead of sounding more like an advocate, the recommender should place more emphasis on suitability. For instance, the recommender should include your academic performance in relation to a related course of interest and your rank position, such as top 3 or top 1% of the class/university.
4. A recommendation letter should never discuss grades or test results, unless it's necessary to interpret specific academic information. Repeating them in a LOR is a big no-no because you previously mentioned them in your application.
5. Private or sensitive information about you should only be presented if it is relevant or if it is deemed to be an essential need.
6. The recommendation letter should discuss the traits and distinctive contributions that you would bring to the university. It should also discuss the changes, impacts, and new knowledge that you could bring about. If comparison material is supported with instances of real-world context and a justification for the comparison, it strengthens your LOR. For instance, mentioning how you, the applicant, stood out among the "X" number of students in the recommender's class (with examples of initiatives taken by you.)

Never forget this!

In a word, the best recommendation letters come from people who willingly agree and aren’t under pressure. For example, what’s the point of asking someone who’s too busy and writes only 50 words instead of the required 200-250? A vague, sloppy, and hurried letter is the worst. The recommendation should come from someone with the necessary standing, lending the letter more authority.

Therefore, choose someone carefully when requesting a letter of recommendation. It's often better to ask someone with whom you have a good rapport and find easy to work with rather than a strict mentor who is challenging. Before formally asking for a recommendation letter, have a thorough conversation about your needs. The recommender should be aware of a brief remark, a course summary, and your areas of interest. Ensure that the dates of association are precise and easy to understand.

A strong recommendation letter can significantly boost your application. Reach out to our counselors for assistance with your letter of reference they are more than happy to help.