LETTERS OF RECOMMENDATION (LOR)

LOR FORMAT

Para 1: Introduction: This consists of a brief description of recommender's credentials (name, title,
college/company name, including his relationship with the client) — how long and in what capacity
he has known the client — and to highlight the client’s stand he can compare the client’s status as
against any other students whom he has supervised or taught. He/she has to identify responsibilities
including no. of people supervised. Close this paragraph with the client’s outstanding qualities that
motivate the recommender to recommend the client.

Para 2: Discuss one Quality -- ( for example - academic prowess, research aptitude, ability in
thinking out of the box , leadership, organizational skills, teamwork skills, taking initiatives, work
ethics and/or maturity. Choose any one of these or any other that relates to the client for each
paragraph) and provide a substantial and impressive example or instance when the client displayed
that quality. This is very important.

Para 3: Discuss any other Quality and provide an impressive example of when the client displayed
that quality.

Para 4: Discuss yet another Quality and provide an impressive example of when the client
displayed that quality.

Para 5: Briefly discuss a weakness (weakness discussed should be a minor, personal weakness and
not one that reflects weakness in any major KRAs of the program) and describe the progress the
applicant made in minimizing and overcoming that weakness. (This para is optional).

Para 6: Conclusion: Summarize the qualities mentioned in the body and mention why the
recommender feels the student is a good prospect for the intended program. This is a summary of the
client’s strengths and a ringing and enthusiastic endorsement of his/her candidacy. If the
recommender knows about the student’s goals, he can also mention why he feels the student is well
suited to achieve those goals based on what the recommender has observed of him and what he feels
he will gain from the degree.

Important tips:

 Each LOR must have an intro and conclusion.

 In between there should be at least three body paras.
 Each body para must discuss one concrete quality of the applicant.
 This quality should be proven through a real life example of when the recommender observed
this quality in the applicant.
 Pls. note that each draft should be highlighting different qualities so that they don't look written
by one person.
 The examples too should be specific to that recommender only.
 Recommender should only talk about what he/she has personally observed.
 At the end, pls mention Full Name of Recommender, along with his designation, department, his
employer’s name (i.e. institution/firm), contact no. and email ID.
 Pls follow this advice in all your LORs.
 The LORs should complement and extend what has been written in the SOP and resume.
 There should be no contradiction of facts or inferences.
 Do not mention financial aid and/or assistantship in your LORs
 Research each institution’s policy on recommendations and familiarize yourself with the format
of recommendation.
 All institutions may not require a letter of recommendation.
 Some institutions use your recommendations when considering your application for financial aid
awards.
 Send only the exact number of recommendation letters requested (no more and no less).
 Send the letters in the format requested. eg. Printed letter, or online.
 Online recommendations will require you to register and provide a password to your
recommenders.
 On pre-printed forms it is best to fill in the information at the top yourself.
 Many pre-printed forms have sections to rate the student’s abilities.
 Letters should be on official letterhead of the recommender.
 Make sure to choose appropriate people to write your recommendation letter
 Make appointments with the people you’d like to write your recommendations.
 Provide them a copy of your resume, a list of courses you’ve taken with that teacher, a list of
work and research experience and publications and statement of interest so that they have the
right background to write the contents.
 Give them enough time: at least 2-3 weeks
 Explain your goals for study in the U.S. to the recommender.
 Provide the proper forms and give detailed instructions to the recommender on how to fill them.
 Make sure you recommender follow the timelines indicated by your university; you should take
the responsibility to follow up with them.
 You should make sure the person’s full contact information, including designation and
coordinates are mentioned.
 Understand the meaning of waiving your right to read the recommendation (By law, enrolled
students have the right to access their files, including recommendations. If you waive the right to
read the recommendation, it will remain confidential.)
 Always ask your recommender to substantiate his/ her comments with specific examples.
 Avoid bland words: good / nice / fairly / etc; use powerful words: effective / mature / etc.
 Intangibles qualities are as important e.g. empathy / commonsense / commitment / abstract
thinking style are critical in decision making process of institutions.
 If asked for a confidential letter, hand over the letter in a sealed and signed envelope