5 Tips How to Write an Impressive Letter of Recommendation (LOR)
While some universities provide templates for writing recommendation letters, these templates do not reveal much about what the commission will focus on and how they will evaluate it.
What is the difference between a letter of recommendation and a letter of reference?
In the application requirements, you will be asked to provide either a letter of recommendation or a letter of reference. You might think they are one and the same. Sometimes universities think so too. But, in principle, the two are very different.
- A "letter of recommendation" is explicitly required by an academic program and must be sent directly to the university by the professor or employer without being seen. The document should be 300-400 words long and present your character, achievements, and abilities from an objective perspective.
- A "reference letter" is often given directly to you by the referee and you can keep it for future use. Such a letter is usually addressed as "To whom it may concern" or "Dear Sir/Madam".
What is the structure of the recommendation letter?
A recommendation letter is a formal letter, so it is not the type of document to be constructive. Your recommender should respect the following structure:
- Introduction - Your referee will explain himself and his relationship with you (eg professor, employer, etc.) as well as their general perception of you and the time they have known you.
- Content - Your referee will argue why they think you are the best candidate for that Master's program, mentioning your educational background, activities, and relevant personality traits.
- Closing – Your referee needs to add a strong closing statement that vouches for your application, followed by a standard closing phrase and his or her name, contact details, and signature.
So, what are the secrets to an impressive recommendation letter?
1. Get Your Recommenders to Mention Miscellaneous Achievements
If you must provide 2 or more recommendation letters, it's smart to prompt people to write about two different aspects of your personality, achievements, and academic potential. For example, one letter might focus on your research abilities, while another might focus on class performance.
2. Help Your Recommenders With Relevant Information
Even if the person knows you, chances are they don't keep records of all your academic test scores and achievements (this would be very strange). That's why you should make it easier for them to write it by giving them the information to work with:
- your cv
- A list of your academic achievements and grade point average (GPA)
- List of your extracurricular/volunteer activities
- the date by which they should submit the letter
3. The letter should always include examples of what you have done
The person mentoring you should not only list your skills but also provide examples of how and when you used them. It doesn't help to say that you have good research skills if they don't give an example of a research project you did.
4. The letter should show how you improved over time
Because admissions officers are well versed and have seen thousands of applications, a letter that only praises you will seem unrealistic to them. That's why it's so important that your recommender also talks about how you've improved over time. Perhaps when you started graduation you were shy and not very active in class, but that has changed over the years and you are now a great debater with a positive attitude.
5. The tone of the letter should not be too harsh
As we said, a recommendation letter is a formal document. But you should not confuse formality with dryness. Admissions commissions appreciate when recommendations are formal but personal. So a strong letter should really talk about you and avoid clichés that can be used to talk about any student.
If you do get admitted, make sure you thank your referees with a formal note. Who knows, one day you might need his help again!
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