Writing a Letter of Recommendation For Graduate School

Making a letter of recommendation for a Grad School applicant may appear to be a little daunting. This letter should be helpful and yet honest at the same time while considering the amount of fact to incorporate of how well you know the applicant. You also have to concentrate on the applicant’s strengths without making it look too animated.

1. The content must be organized. You should put in mind that letters of recommendation should follow standard opening, body, and closing structure. You have to be guaranteed that you understand each part and what should be included in each part.

2. State who you are and how well you know the graduate school applicant in the one paragraph opening. Talk about your relationship with the applicant and include relevant information. Elaborate further by explaining whether your relationship was school, volunteer, or work related. It is also helpful if you state the duration of time you have known the applicant.

3. Take up two paragraphs for the body of the letter of recommendation. Here you talk about the applicant’s strengths. You list some of the applicant’s areas of development, specific skills and expertise in the first paragraph. Make sure to keep the paragraph short and straight to the point.

4. Among the applicant’s skills and traits, choose one that is predominantly extraordinary on which to focus on the second paragraph. State a number of examples wherein this ability was established. Keep the paragraph short, and talk more about the applicant’s skills or choices, and how those skills generate positive results.

5. Reaffirm and allow the graduate school placement officer’s attention to return to the applicant’s goals to conclude the recommendation. Connect the abilities and traits to the planned course of study.

6. Present your recommendation in the last part of the letter’s closing. State the scope to which you recommend the applicant.

7. When an applicant approached you and asked you to make a recommendation letter, consider declining admission if you have apprehension about the student. You have the right to recommend the applicant conditionally or not at all. Before deciding to write a recommendation letter, you should ask yourself if you feel neutral about writing it. It is best if you refuse to write the recommendation if you do not have sufficient information that will make a fair judgment. Advise the applicant to seek assistance from someone else.

8. Make sure to observe the details. You need to make sure you have spelled words correctly, used correct margins, and have no grammatical errors. Double check the recommendation letter to ensure you properly addressed it. You have to follow rules carefully to prevent questions later on.

If you’re finding that you’re having a hard time writing one up, what you’re going to want to do is either talk with a teacher, or even look for various examples online. What you will find is that there are many great ones out there that you can take advantage of.

Author Bio: Get more tips on writing a letter of recommendation for graduate school, as well as more information at FindCollegeCards.

Category: Education
Keywords: graduate school, letter

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