Sample Letter of Recommendation for Graduate School From Family Friend

Graduate school recommendation letters are an essential part of every graduate schoolhouse application package–even in this (almost) post-COVID era of remote work and Zoom classes. Nearly all applications to graduate schoolhouse even so require at least two recommendation letters from individuals who can discuss your abilities, competencies, and personal grapheme in a coherent way and recommend you for admission to graduate schoolhouse. Many referees have difficulty writing these recommendations themselves (for language issues or just because they are busy) and some rely on the applicant to pen the draft of the letter and receive confirmation earlier submitting it to the graduate school. Simply regardless of who is writing the letter, there are a few central elements the recommender needs to include to craft a stellar recommendation for their graduate candidate.

Who would write the best letter of recommendation for graduate school?

Choosing which professors, supervisors, or advisors to request a graduate school recommendation alphabetic character from can be somewhat overwhelming. Should you cull someone who does not know y'all personally just who has connections to your target graduate school? If a famous professor writes you a grad school recommendation letter of the alphabet, will this automatically give yous an advantage with the admissions committee?

In general, graduate recommendation messages should come from people who know you well, who respect yous plenty to say glowing things virtually you lot equally a student and researcher, and who hold positions in school or work that are above your own. At least one letter of recommendation should be submitted from a by or current professor or academic advisor.

Some other could exist from someone in a slightly different role, including an employer, a enquiry adviser, a senior colleague, or a professor from a different department or kind of class (due east.k., a word class professor instead of a lecturer). No affair who information technology is, the recommender should know the bidder and recognize their accomplishments. It also helps if the recommender understands some details about the program to which their candidate is applying.

Here are some guidelines to follow when choosing who to ask for letters of recommendation for graduate schoolhouse. Select someone who:

Knows you well and tin can answer positively. Choose an individual who you have spent time with exterior the classroom if possible. They should also be familiar with your career goals and agree a favorable view of you.
Has known you for quite awhile. A letter of recommendation for graduate school carries more influence if the person has known y'all for months or years instead of months. If you tin can, observe someone who knows y'all from diverse contexts, such every bit a professor who is too your counselor.
Tin speak to your strengths in relation to your graduate program. Choosing a finance professor to write your recommendation letter for an MBA plan would exist a skillful idea because they tin write about the qualities that will aid you in pursuing an MBA (qualities y'all tin also include in your MBA essay) and a broader career in business.
Has substantive stories to share about you lot. Who was fortunate plenty to see you succeed in an academic, extracurricular, or professional setting? Having someone write your LOR who has skillful stories to share well-nigh you is certainly going to do good yous more than than someone whose form you took with two hundred other students.

How to ask for a letter of the alphabet of recommendation for graduate school

Knowing how to request a letter of recommendation for graduate schoolhouse tin directly impact the quality of the letter of the alphabet your referee writes for you. Show respect and consideration for the time that your recommender is taking to write a glowing review that will go you into graduate schoolhouse and positively bear on the balance of your life.

With this in mind, it may seem obvious that the very best way to ask for a letter of the alphabet of recommendation for graduate school is to exercise so in person. While this isn't possible for all students (due to availability or schedule), it is the best route if you want to ensure that your LOR is not simply written on time, just includes all the positive information about y'all that admissions committees want to see in a graduate candidate. When you cannot ask in person, sending an email is an appropriate second-all-time selection. Just remember to always be cordial and polite when making this request.

What data should exist included in a graduate recommendation letter?

Your referral letter should cover a range of skills, from academic abilities to research experiences, to applied experiences in and out of class. As the recommender, your letter should clearly answer some specific questions:

Your letter of recommendation should cover a range of skills, from bookish abilities to research experiences, to applied experiences in and out of class. As the recommender, your letter of the alphabet should clearly answer some specific questions:

What is your relationship with the student?
Why should the graduate faculty listen to your stance? (include your condition, championship)
What makes this educatee special? (discuss their characteristics, qualities, traits)
What specifically did this student practice to impress you? (hash out their accomplishments, habits in class)
What makes this student qualified for graduate school and for this program? (include specific courses or interests of the student in addition to abilities and traits)
What do yous know almost the program the student is applying to?

Which information does the recommender need?

The recommender should exist given sufficient time to write (and/or ostend) the letter. If it has been a while since you were last in contact, sending a groundwork data file will make things easier. Include the following information so that the recommender tin can apply a few details to bolster their alphabetic character:

Classes the student has taken with the recommender
Experiences you lot accept shared
Transcripts
Resume/CV
Research experience and internships
Awards and achievements
Academic/career goals
Relevant professional person experience

In addition to background information, brand sure that the recommender has the necessary information to plan the writing in a timely manner and target the letter every bit much as possible:

Graduate programme awarding due date
Copy of recommendation forms (if applicable)
Instructions for submitting LORs (hard re-create, soft copy, or direct to school)
Details about the program and schoolhouse the educatee is applying to

What kind of writing is expected in a recommendation letter?

Although the letter of recommendation is more informal than academic writing, you should make certain that your language has no grammatical or mechanics errors and that it is of an academic level that reflects the author's educational level and qualifications. Utilize the following standards to the writing and the essay-drafting process:

Make your linguistic communication more personal in tone than enquiry writing.
Employ the active voice and first-person point of view more often.
Write chronologically, starting from important traits and so moving onto deportment and achievements.
Use lots of details—list course names, scores, and specific achievements of the educatee.
Edit your letter earlier submitting it to the graduate admissions faculty.

How to Write a Grad School Recommendation Alphabetic character: LOR Outline

A well-structured recommendation letter of the alphabet (like any organized essay) volition guide the reader logically towards an agreement of why this student is worthy not simply of praise merely of admission to graduate school. Grad schoolhouse requires quite a few high-level scholastic attributes that not all students possess, and therefore information technology is important to focus on both the achievements of the candidate and on their personal character and potential to thrive in a difficult academic environment. Use this outline every bit a template in which to input your candidate's achievements, skills, and traits. Notation that the flow of information moves the reader into greater detail, using form phrases and transitions that increase the readability of the letter.

1. Greeting to the recipient

Dear {Name}, or To Whom It May Concern,

To the graduate faculty of the {Academy / Department}

2. Opening paragraph: position; relationship to the applicant; general assessment of the applicant

Information technology is my accented pleasance to recommend {Name} for admissions to {Plan} at {University}…

I am a professor of {area of study} in the department of {department} at {University}.

Letter greeting; opening paragraph: position; relationship; general assessment of applicant

iii. Second paragraph: positive skill or trait; bear witness of trait or skill; anecdotes demonstrating this skill

Jane has excellent communication skills. Her written work is both clear and concise, every bit well as interesting to read…

2nd paragraph: include specific traits; evidence of character and skills; anecdotes

iv. Third (up to fifth) paragraph: Other skills or trait; bear witness of character and skills; detailed anecdotes

At a personal level, Jane is a well-disciplined, industrious educatee with a pleasant personality. She went well beyond the class expectations…

Third paragraph: more traits; evidence of character and skills; anecdotes

5. Final Paragraph: clear recommendation of the candidate to the specific school or program.

Jane is unquestionably an exceptional candidate for graduate study in {Program Applying for}. Jane's work in "Developments in Anthropology" suggests that she would greatly do good from the opportunities for intellectual development provided by a sustained period of graduate study…

Fifth paragraph: "call to activity"—why this student will fit in with THIS program

six. Endmost line: polite offer to exist contacted if needed

If I can be of any further assistance, or provide yous with any further information, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Useful Template and Phrases for Recommendation Letters

Admission essays oftentimes contain template phrases or "form phrases" that allow the writer to plug in their specific data while non spending too much time deciding how to etch every single aspect of the writing. This can exist especially useful for ESL authors considering conventional expressions used in bookish and essay writing tin can be hard to larn and memorize. Use the following form phrases to assistance craft a more professional letter of recommendation.

Introducing yourself

My name is{Writer} and I take been a Professor of Math at{University} since{date}.
I write to you today to proudly limited my back up for{Student} in applying to your prestigious academy.

Discussing your relationship with the applicant

I get-go came to know{Pupil} while teaching him/her in my{Course Name} course…
I was {Student}'s thesis advisor during his/her senior year.
I have known{Pupil} for several years at present and can attest to his/her strengths and quality of character.

Discussing the student's general positive traits

{Educatee} has fantabulous communication skills and displays them regularly in form discussions.
He/She is a highly intelligent and competent student who excels in many areas.
Not just is{Pupil} hard-working and thoughtful, but he/she also demonstrates kindness and generosity towards his/her peers.

Demonstrating evidence of student's character and skills

She/he has shown herself/himself to be a true leader who is able to successfully develop plans and implement them in his/her work.
{Pupil} demonstrated his/her independence daily, completing difficult lab exercises by researching outside of class.
During his/her internship,{Pupil} consistently managed his/her work responsibilities diligently and learned quickly. For case…

Discussing the school/programme the educatee is applying to

As{University} is renowned for its{Program}, I believe this is an ideal place for{Student} to solidify his/her abilities and cement his/her knowledge of{expanse of written report}.
The learning environs that{University} is famous for creating excellent opportunities in which{Student} to apply his/her skills.

Final endorsement and offer to be contacted

For the in a higher place reasons, I am confident that{Pupil} will brand an excellent addition to your graduate plan, and I wholeheartedly support him/her for access to your program.
Thank y'all for your time and attending in reading my endorsement.

Farther Tips for Writing Admissions Essays

Highlight your cocky-motivation, competence, and potential in this essay
Emphasize everything from a positive perspective and write in the active vocalism.
Demonstrate through examples; don't just write that you lot are a "persistent person"—show it!
Approach every topic with continuity and focus.

The Final Stride: Editing Your Recommendation Alphabetic character

As any skilful writer knows, information technology takes more than one draft to create a stiff and compelling work of writing. Later you lot accept written your recommendation letter typhoon, there is notwithstanding a lot of room for revision. One way to ensure that grammar mistakes and fashion errors practice not become in the way of a strong letter is to give it to the professional admissions editors at Wordvice Editing Service to edit and proofread your essay, helping heighten the chances that your applicant volition be admitted to the graduate or doctoral program of their choice. We edit thousands of admission documents each twelvemonth for all kinds of authors of academic and admissions documents simply like you.

For more articles on writing and editing your essays and academic piece of work, visit Wordvice's Academic Resource page.

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