How to Write a Letter of Recommendation (LOR):

A good LOR or letter of recommendation increases the chances of getting admission to a desired college for any student. Here are some writing tips which will help to write a perfect LOR.

• It is important to be very specific about why the student deserves the chance of studying in that specific college. Right examples of work experience or research experiences can be used for it.

• The tone of the letter should be positive, should have an honest enthusiasm, and avoid any comments that could be construed in a negative light.

• The letter should be written in a formal manner. Formal English, twelve-point font size in either Arial or Times New Roman, letterhead of the organization, and concise statement help in making it more acceptable.  Remember, there is no need for extra words. Aim for at least one page but no more than two.

What is the format of a Letter of Recommendation:

You can follow this format for Write LOR: 

Introduction

Body paragraph 1

Body paragraph 2

Body paragraph 3

Conclusion

The writer of the LOR can say some stuff about the student in the introduction and in the body paragraphs the focus should be on the abilities of the student, academic skills or research skills of the student, previous experiences, etc. The letter can be ended by stating why the student deserves the chance to study in the specific institution.

How to write a good LOR:

A good LOR or letter of recommendation should be concise, positive, and should be filled with honest enthusiasm. It should highlight & endorse the abilities and excellence of the student which makes him/her suitable to study in that institute. It should use adjectives such as intelligent, organized, logical, committed, etc. and a good LOR should have a letterhead too.

Some tips to write LOR:

Here are some detailed tips for writing a good LOR or letter of recommendation

The writer needs to introduce himself/herself in the introduction part of the letter. This will help the authority to have a clear idea. At the same time, do not forget to mention the tenure of knowing the student directly. For example, he/she has worked/researched under my supervision for 5 years, etc. The best endorsements highlight your key characteristics and demonstrate those traits through specific anecdotes and observations.

Bullet points can be used. Bullet points help in stating the main fact with a professional & straightforward approach.

Always write in an active voice & keep it concise.

Have a list of qualities (obviously related to that specific course) of the students before start writing the LOR. Do not forget to discuss their abilities such as the ability to work as part of a team, ability to work independently, strengths, skills, and talents you believe will position them for future success.

Skills to be Highlighted in LOR:

There are some specific skills that need to be highlighted to make it more appealing. The skills For a professional LOR:

•   Decision-making skills
•   Leadership ability
•   Teamwork skills
•   Strengths and skills regarding management
•   Time management and multitasking
•   Summary of job responsibilities and diligence
•   Initiative and dedication
•   Creative and innovative ideas
•   Integrity and reliability
•   Hard work and ability to work independently

For an academic LOR:

•   Leadership ability
•   Teamwork skills
•   Academic performance
•   Passion
•   Highlight awards and recognition
•   Hardworking and initiative
•   Research skills

Sample Format for LOR or Letter of Recommendation:

Here a sample format for LOR or Letter of Recommendation which you can follow when you write your LOR:

With great pleasure,

I am writing this reference letter in support of (Student’s name) who is applying to the Master’s program at your esteemed University. I have known (Student’s name) in my capacity as his/her Professor for over three years now, respectively. I taught him ( subject/s). Through my observation, I would like to say that he/she is attentive and studious and possesses a positive attitude towards academics.

Throughout his course of study, (Student’s name)has shown great interest in practical aided learning techniques. We engaged in several courses and research-related discussions in which, he/she confidently talked about his/her aspirations toward higher education.

As a person he/she is always ready to take up responsibility, he/she carries out his/her duties with immense dedication.

Throughout the year (Student’s name) was an active participant in our discussions, and he/she always supported his/her peers. I am certain that (Student’s name) is going to continue to do great and creative things in the future and stand out as an individual at your school.

I have the deepest personal and professional respect for him/her and sincerely believe (Student’s name) will bring his/her unique energy, optimism, passion, and tireless creativity to your class and the University as a whole. Thus, he/she has my highest endorsement for admission into his/her desired course at your University. If you have any questions about this recommendation, please do not hesitate to contact me for I will gladly try to help.

Yours sincerely,

Full name of the recommender

Designation-Department?

College, City

E-mail ID:

Contact No:

Please note that it is just a sample Format for LOR or Letter of Recommendation and it needs to be written separately for every student. Consider it as a format only. If you need further information then Contact Get My Study By Confair Global.

If you search online for a decent format for a Letter of Recommendation, there are various formats available on the internet. However, the number of formats and document styles can lead to confusion. Often students end up using an incorrect or haphazard format, which can hamper the whole application. Hence, Shiksha Study Abroad has a set of guidelines for all application-related documents that students can use without any confusion and without it affecting their overall application.

Following are the guidelines for a generic LOR which students can follow to draft their LORs for any course (UG, MS, MBA or PhD). To help you understand it better, we have divided the LOR into sections for your convenience:

First Paragraph: Introduction

The Introduction of a LOR consists of a brief description of the recommender’s credentials, such as the name, title, college/company name, city, and his relationship with the student. Also, include details of how long and in what capacity the recommender has known the student. Highlight the student’s stand. In this case, the recommender can compare the client’s status as against any other persons (in the student’s batch), whom he has supervised or taught. The recommender should identify responsibilities including a number of people supervised/ class strength etc. End this paragraph with the client’s outstanding qualities that motivate the recommender to recommend the client. This line should give an overview of the qualities and attributes that the recommender is going to discuss in the following paragraphs.

Second Paragraph: Discuss one Quality

Start the paragraph stating one key quality or skill of the student, such as academic prowess, research aptitude, ability to think out of the box, leadership, organizational ability, team skills, ability to take initiatives, work ethic and/or maturity. You can choose any one of these or some other quality that relates to the student, and then provide a substantial and impressive example/ instance, where the recommender observed this particular quality in the student. This is an important aspect of the LOR as it showcases that the student indeed possesses that quality. Thus, in a LOR the examples are the most important aspect where the skills or qualities mentioned, are demonstrated/proved. The idea is to ‘show’, rather than ‘tell’.