What is a Letter of Recommendation?
A Letter of Recommendation is an official document that is written formally on the behalf of the applicant. It must be drafted by a person who can attest to the applicant’s educational and/or professional performance. The letter is customarily sent to officials like admissions officers or employers’ hiring managers who will be considering the applicant for admission, some kind of scholarship or employment.
The LOR must be crisp, precise and to the point in order to leave the most impact.
Importance of LOR
Letters of recommendation can prove to be quite pivotal in rounding out applications for student visas and Permanent Residence. Its importance is derived from the insight it provides to the admission officer into the applicant’s personal qualities. Qualities like integrity, intellectual curiosity and leadership potential make the applicant an ideal candidate. LOR lets the admission officer or future employer assess the applicant’s past performance, work ethic and character in general.
Who should you ask for a recommendation letter?
The majority of universities and colleges mandate the letter of recommendation must come from professional and academic references. Professional references are generally limited to office colleagues, mentors, supervisors or business contacts who are well informed of the applicant’s professional aptitude. Therefore, asking the professor, mentor and supervisor would be the most perfect choice.
What makes a strong Letter of Recommendation?
The most crucial piece of advice for writing LOR is doing thorough research. The LOR must be specific and deliver the details of the applicant in a straightforward manner. Since this letter is a professional document, the tone must be formal and optimistic. The applicant’s professional personality must come across in a genuine manner, and hence the letter should entail sincere and unprejudiced praise. Originality and consistency in the writing format is the key. Moreover, the letter must be clear and flawless in the terms of grammar and punctuation.
Letters of Recommendation must be written on the official letterhead of the officer and/or professor. It should also include their contact email address, in case the need for further communication arises.
Generally, two or three letters of recommendation from various professional contacts suffice for the applicant’s admission process.
Documents like Statement of Purpose and Letter of Recommendation are extremely crucial for studying abroad in various countries like the USA, Canada, the UK, Europe, Australia and New Zealand.
– Written by Shrutika (DEC)
