1. Four Secrets to commendable LORs
Helping hand series
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Helping hand series
2. About
Helping hand series
Is an initiative of MJ
Academy, which aims to
support students by
helping them comprehend
the nuances related to
Helping hand initiative
their problem areas.
www.mja.in
Helping hand series
3. LOR : An Overview
• Writing college applications is a big job, especially
when you are eyeing your dreams colleges, the Ivy
League.
• LOR’s are the most potential source of testimonials to
your application and could greatly influence the
decision of the admission committee.
• Letters of recommendation are important to
admissions officers because they provide contextual
interpretation of your academic performance.
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Helping hand series
4. LOR : An Overview
• Your recommender shares critical insight into your
work habits and learning style as well as your ability to
respond to challenges and setbacks
• LOR’s can help you to explain irregularities in your
academic program and lags in performance, and could
shed light into key factors that define your learning
environment
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Helping hand series
5. First Secret
Teacher VS HOD : CHOOSE Judiciously
• Your teacher knows you much better than your esteemed
HOD.
• Admission committees are more interested in LOR’s written
by the teachers who know you inside out
• At-least one of your recommenders should be someone
who is familiar with your critical thinking and
communication skills.
• Your recommender should be the one who is enthusiastic
about you and not the one who is lukewarm towards your
application.
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Helping hand series
6. Second Secret
Earmark appropriate time
• Your recommenders need time to think about
and prepare the letter.
• Do not expect your professor to write a good
recommendation in two days.
• Give them ample time and access to information
critical for your recommendation
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Helping hand series
7. Third Secret
Enroll your recommender
• Share your dreams and ambitions : Tell them about the
salient points of your university, about your program,
how you have been working very hard to get into this
program etc.
• Tell them everything you have been through and how
you’ve finally made it.
• Share your shortcoming with your professor .
• Make sure your recommenders are sufficiently informed
so they can help you tell your "story." Give them the
necessary information and insight to write well-balanced
letters.
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Helping hand series
8. Last Secret
Remind them about your achievement
• Professors are generally very busy and have to teach a
number of students. So, when you ask them to write a
LOR for you, they probably don’t remember what
significant works you have done.
• They may not have the luxury of recollecting the big
picture that defines you.
• Subtly remind your professor about your achievements,
your role in the class or in cultural/ technical fest.
Everything counts.
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Helping hand series
9. That’s It !!
We hope these steps will help you formulate a
recommendation that is both commendable
and genuine.
Such LORs can portray you as the most
suitable candidate and could earn you your
dream admission.
BEST OF LUCK !!
Team MJA
www.mja.in
Helping hand series