Harvard Recommendation Letter - With Writing Guide 2024
Planning to apply to Harvard University?
Confused about how to request the Recommender to write an letter of recommendation Harvard?
Then this blog is a perfect solution for all your doubts.
Here we will provide exclusive guidance on how to write a Harvard recommendation letter.
This blog deals with some of the secret tips to make your Harvard letter of recommendation attractive and impressive.
What is a Harvard Recommendation Letter? Why is it Important?
Students are required to submit a Letter of Recommendation to the prestigious Harvard University, as part of their admission process.
It is important as it is one of the deciding factors for your admission to your dream university.
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Questions You Should Answer Before Writing Harvard letters of recommendation
Recommendation Letter for Harvard has to be crafted with the utmost care and precision.
Below, we list a few questions one must answer before writing an LOR for Harvard.
- Is it appropriate for me to write an LOR for a student or colleague?
As a Recommender, ask yourself if you are willing to write a Recommendation Letter for your student.
If you find that you are not a good option, it is always better to inform the candidate.
- For how long do I know the candidate?
When you are entrusted to write a Harvard letter of recommendation, this must be the question you should ask yourself.
Think about how long you have known the candidate and in what capacity.
- What qualities of the candidate do I want to focus on?
As a Professor you may have known the candidate for a long time and have witnessed his or her abilities and talents.
So, depending upon the choice of the course, you can streamline the qualities of the student.
If you are unable to get enough points, you can approach the student for more details.
What Do Admissions Officers Look for in letter of recommendation harvard?
With the smaller intake of students in recent years, the admission procedure for Harvard is very tight.
So every document in the admission procedure matters and has a huge weightage.
So it is very important to understand what an Admission Officer looks for in a Recommendation Letter.
Below are some of the pointers upon which a Harvard University Recommendation Letter is evaluated.
- The academic brilliance of the student
- The credibility of the information mentioned by the Recommender
- Reflection of the candidate’s personality beyond the academic grades
- The uniqueness of the candidate and how the candidate stood apart from his or her peers.
How Long Your LOR Should be?
Word Count:
300 – 600 words
Character Limit:
2000 – 2400 characters
Page Limit:
One-inch margin on all sides
Margin:
One page
Font Size:
12
Font Style:
Times New Roman
Harvard Recommendation Letter Samples
Guidelines for Using Samples
Here we have provided a Harvard Recommendation Letter sample. Glance at it and understand how to write a perfect Harvard recommendation letter.
Reading this sample will help you understand:
- The importance of perfect grammatical usage
- The significance of a captivating introduction
- How to conclude the LOR on a positive note
- How to recommend a candidate without boasting
Write Your Harvard letters of recommendation in 6 Steps
As discussed earlier, Harvard is very strict in its admissions process.
As the competition is very high, care must be taken to make your Harvard Recommendation Letter attractive and attention-grabbing.
- Collect all the necessary information
- Understand the Harvard Recommendation Letter Requirements
- Start with a good introduction and introduce yourself briefly
- Use anecdotes to make your LOR stand out
- Focus on a single skill that defines the candidate
- Express your readiness to be contacted for further information
Who is Eligible to Write Harvard recommendation letter?
Approaching the right person is very important for writing your Letter of Recommendation for Harvard.
Confused about whom to approach for Harvard University Letters of Recommendation?
Harvard University typically requires three letters of recommendation, two from teachers and one from an academic counselor.
Always be careful to approach those teachers who know you well and can vouch for your academic abilities and intellectual maturity.
Final Checklist
Using a checklist will help you not to miss any important points.
As a Recommender, it is always recommended to use a checklist to cross-check that you didn’t miss anything important.
- Did I include my professional information?
- Did I properly format the LOR?
- Did my recommendation stand valid?
- Did I use the professional letterhead of the University?
- Did I stamp the letter with my professional seal?
Do's and Don't in Your Harvard letter of recommendation
As a Recommender, it is your responsibility to ensure that you provide a great Harvard Recommendation Letter to your student.
Here we list a few DO’s and DON’Ts while writing a Recommendation Letter for Harvard.
Do’s
Don’ts
Mention how the student is a good fit for the university and the program chosen
Don’t cross the word limit
Discuss the academic capabilities of the student
Don’t ignore the university guidelines.
Include examples to substantiate your points
Don’t forget to use powerful words
Always proofread
Don’t be generic
Respect the word limit
Don’t repeat the CV.
Tips for Writing letter of recommendation Harvard
An Admission Officer will look for both hard factors (GPA and grades) and soft factors (extracurricular activities and admission essays). As a Letter of Recommendation is an important soft factor, Admission Officers give great importance to the LOR submitted.
Below we have listed a few tips from our LOR writing experts to make your LOR look attractive and appealing.
- Do discuss the personality traits of the student.
- Be genuine in your recommendation.
- Language matters for an LOR
- Include your contact information
- Remember to format the Harvard Reference Letter
Conclusion
An LOR has a huge weightage when considering your application for the Harvard application process.
You have to be very careful while choosing a Recommender as the tone and style of a Recommendation letter matters.
So we have reached the end of the blog.
Hope this blog provided you with some insights on how to write a perfect Harvard Recommendation Letter.
Having gained the fundamental knowledge of writing a LOR, are you ready for its practical side?
If not, what are the doubts daunting you then?
Do let us know your suggestions and doubts in the comment section below.
We, with our professional assistance, will be happy to assist you to draft a perfect Letter of Recommendation for Harvard.
Mrs. Sreeja Sudha
With a specialization in academic content writing, Sreeja Sudha is a skilled Content Writer and Editor who has got years of experience in crafting Statement of Purposes (SOPs) for students who are aspiring to pursue a masters degree . Her passion for delivering impactful and captivating pieces made her a top choice for students to craft their academic documents. Her expertise in various subjects, writing styles, and a tailored and persuasive writing approach helped her successfully cater to students' academic goals.