This document provides tips for writing effective letters of recommendation for graduate school applications. Some key points include: - Carefully consider whether you know the applicant well enough to write a strong letter before agreeing to be a recommender. Organize the letter by introducing yourself and your relationship to the applicant, then discuss their academic performance, motivations, strengths, and fit for the program. - Provide concrete examples and anecdotes to support your assessment of the applicant's qualities and make them stand out. Be succinct and avoid vague language. Explain specifically why the applicant is a good match for the program.

1. HOW TO WRITE EFFECTIVE
LETTERS OF
RECOMMENDATION
FOR GRAD SCHOOL

2. A recommendation letter is an essential document in the application
package. Academic scores definitely play the deciding role but an
effective and powerful letter of recommendation can help an applicant
to get in a grad school even with average degrees. So, read the following
tips on how to make your writing successful.

3. Think carefully before agreeing to be a
recommender
Estimate how well you know the
applicant and whether you’ll be able to
write something on her/his behalf. If
you’re feeling uncomfortable or not
confident being a recommender and can’t
come up with original ideas about the
candidate, it will definitely be much
better to look for another recommender.

4. However, if you know very
well candidate’s strengths
and potential and have a
strong professional
relationship, then you should
start writing immediately!

5. Organize your piece of writing
An organization is a key factor to success. Start you letter with
introducing yourself, define for whom you’re writing this letter, to what
course and school he/she is applying for, and how well you know the
applicant.

6. • The next step – like in a statement of
purpose engineering say about
applicant’s scores and your records
regarding his/her academic
performance. Then, describe
student’s motivation to study in this
particular school, his/her strengths,
achievements, abilities to think
originally, knowledge of the chosen
area of study, and so on. Sum up
what you’ve said previously.

7. Gather essential information about an applicant
Ask for guidance from a person you’re writing a recommendation letter
about. What are her motives to study on this particular course? What
skills and personal qualities make her/him stand out from other
candidates? What has she achieved and are most proud of?

8. Ask for additional papers
Ask for a resume/CV as well as
other supporting materials and
use them to back up your words.
Ask also to read a statement of
intent graduate school to find out
student’s motivation.

9. • However, pick only relevant
information: if a student is
applying for a sociology
program, your statements
about how great his/her
dancing skills are will not
convince the admission
committee he/she is the right
person for the program.

10. Highlight the best characteristics
Write about applicant’s accomplishments, how she/he resolved
difficulties at work or even personal life, and how this can help her to be
successful in grad school. Think of his/her best traits (being a wonderful
leader, or an excellent writer, etc).

11. Provide lots of examples
Support your words with real examples like in an engineering
statement of purpose. Don’t just say how responsible the candidate is
but back it up with demonstrative examples.

12. Use some anecdotes
It will definitely help your letter as
well as a student to stand out from
the crowd. Coming up with some
anecdotes will make your written
piece more live and engaging.

13. Avoid hackneyed words
Such words as “creative”, “hard-working” or “responsible” won’t make a
student a unique candidate. Hundreds of other applicants are described
in their graduate school statement of intent with the same qualities.

14. • So, watch your language and give as more details as you can about the
candidate. Back them up with bright examples. Use statement of
purpose graduate school engineering if it helps.

15. Explain why a candidate is a right
person for the program
Say how a student can contribute to
the program. Give details about
his/her personality which the
admission committee won’t find in a
letter of purpose graduate school or
other supporting materials: an
applicant can have plenty of
hobbies, a great sense of humor, etc.

16. Be succinct
The best letters of recommendation for
grad school are usually one-page long.
The admission committee can’t allow
too much time on reading the five-pages
writing.

17. Don’t forget to tell your personal information
Provide your name, current job title, contact information in case the
admission committee needs to talk to you. Also, use your school or
company’s letterhead if it possible.

18. Don’t generalize
Be as concrete as possible. The biggest failure while composing letters
of recommendation graduate school is too many abstract generalities.
The admissions are tired of it. Make your writing as unique as you can.

19. It’s your right to let the candidate see your
written piece or not.
Some recommenders want to stay
confidential so don’t show letters to the
applicant. It’s your decision to make.
Personal statement graduate school
engineering is also personalized and are
presented only to the committee. The same is
about a recommendation letter.
Look at this Google book for more useful
tips.

20. Still need writing help?
Then, check
graduateschoolstatementofpurpose.org
right away!