Graduate Recommendation Letter - With Writing Guide 2024
Are you asked to write a Graduate Recommendation Letter?
Feeling confused how to draft one that will win over the admission committee.
This blog offers answers to all your daunting questions regarding how to draft a perfect recommendation letter for graduate school.
What is a Graduate Recommendation Letter? Why is it Important?
A Graduate Recommendation Letter is an official letter written to support the student’s application in the graduate school.
It is important as it gives a third person opinion on the candidature of the student, as a CV or SOP can’t vouch for the personal characteristics of an applicant.
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Questions You Should Answer Before Writing
As an important part of writing a recommendation letter for graduate student, you have to answer certain questions like the few mentioned below to make your graduate program recommendation letter attractive and impressive.
- For how long have I known the candidate?
This is an important question you have to answer while writing a recommendation letter for graduate school.
You have to be specific in your answer for this question by mentioning how long you have known the candidate and in what capacity.
- What makes the candidate unique compared to his/her peers?
Here you have to list the unique talents and abilities of the candidate and how the candidate is different from his/her peers.
- How was the candidate as a student or employee in the class or office?
Discuss about the personal characteristics of the student and how was the performance of the student in the class or office.
- What qualities of the candidate makes him/her right fit for the graduate program?
You can here mention about the unique characteristics of the candidate that makes him/her a perfect candidate for the course chosen.
What Do Admissions Officers Look for in LORs?
In a Recommendation Letter for Graduate Studies, an Admission Officer may look for personal characteristics and qualities of the candidate.
Here the recommender must give details of a candidate, which a CV can’t provide by itself.
They will look for:
- Skills and the academic capabilities of the candidate
- Personality traits of the candidate
- Details about the soft skills of the candidate
- Candidate’s ability to mingle and create bond with fellow mates
- Participation in extracurricular activities
How Long Your LOR Should be?
Below we list details regarding word count, page limit, font size and style, etc. which you have to be mindful while drafting a recommendation letter.
Word Count:
400– 500 words
Character Limit:
2000 – 2500 characters
Margin:
One inch on all sides
Page Limit:
One page
Font Style:
Times New Roman
Font Size:
12 point font size
Graduate Recommendation Letter - Samples
Guidelines for Using Samples
Tired of searching for that perfect Sample Recommendation Letter for Graduate Student?
Then this blog is what you really want.
Here we have attached a Graduate Recommendation Letter example, to make your understanding better on how to write a letter of recommendation for a graduate program.
Reading this graduate recommendation letter sample will help you better structure your paragraphs, effectively write introduction and conclusion, etc.
Write Your LORs in 6 Steps
Having read this blog so far, are you now confident to try your hands on gaining practical understanding?
Don’t worry, with the right guidance and mentorship, you will ace this task as well.
With our 6 step strategy, we will help you draft a stellar graduate student letter of recommendation.
- Collect the relevant information regarding course, university, etc.
- Start the letter with a warm greeting
- Introduce yourself and explain your connection to the candidate
- Explain about the positive traits of the candidate with anecdote
- Explain personal characteristics of the candidate and what quality of the candidate has impressed you the most
- Conclude with an affirmation and provide your contact details
Who Is Eligible to Write LORs?
To write a graduate student letter of recommendation, you can approach the persons mentioned below, given that they know you well and can vouch for your skills and abilities.
- Professors
- Head of the Department
- Mentor
- Employer
- Senior Colleague
Final Checklist
A good checklist will help you to ensure that you included all the relevant details in a reference letter sample for postgraduate study.
Below we list a checklist to help you not to miss anything important while writing a graduate program reference letter.
- Did I explain the relationship between me and the candidate?
- Did I follow university guidelines on writing a recommendation letter?
- Did I format the document?
- Did I edit the document?
- Did I vouch for his or her abilities?
Do's and Don't in Your LOR
Understanding the DO’s and DON’Ts to write a Graduate Program Recommendation Letter is essential to make your recommendation look perfect and error free.
Do’s
Don’ts
Do connect with the reader
Don’t cross the word limit
Follow the correct format
Don’t forget to proofread the document
Stick to the university guidelines
Don’t be generic
Use active voice
Don’t sound vague
Use first person point of view
Don’t give false information
Tips for Writing
A Reference Letter for Graduate Student has to be error free and engaging.
Follow the below mentioned tips to make your LOR look attractive and comprehensive.
- Recommendation letter for graduate student has to be individualistic and customized
- Follow the guidelines
- Do give examples to support your claims
- Maintain a positive tone throughout the document
- Make it error free
Conclusion
We are happy that you chose our blog to refer to how to write a recommendation letter for graduate school admission.
We hope that you find this blog useful and are now confident to write a recommendation letter for graduate student.
Do let us know your take on this blog by commenting in the comment section below.
Feel free to post your query as well, as we will be happy to answer your questions and clear your doubts.
We will be delighted to provide you our professional assistance to write a perfect recommendation letter for graduate school.
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.