The importance of LOR

A Letter of Recommendation (LOR) is a vital part of the application process, which can make or break a student’s chances of getting into an institute or securing a scholarship. Shriram Krishnamurthi a Professor at the Computer Science Department in Brown University has written about a student who got into an admirable graduate program in spite of having a score of 2.67 GPA. This remarkable student had written about the reasons that made his score special – he aced in classes that were hard and got bored in classes that weren’t. He explained this with several anecdotes and ensured that his letter stood out.

The LOR can play a critical role in helping to differentiate you among more than a lakh of applicants and have a favorable impact on your chances of getting admitted. The admission team of any institute looks for prospective students who have accomplished academic qualifications, impressive social skills, sound character, and have the promise to succeed. It helps the admission team to have a holistic idea about your personal and professional journeys.

Challenges faced in creating an LOR

Prospective students from India who are planning to pursue a Master’s Degree from the US often struggle with getting the right flavors in their letter of recommendation. This is because their professors or employers may either be used to creating a particular LOR format or may have no idea at all.

Here are some dos and don’ts for an effective LOR.

DOs of LOR

1) Credibility matters

Heard about Blake Gottesman? Without a college degree he managed to get into Harvard Business School largely thanks to a stellar letter of recommendation written by the 43rd President of USA – George W. Bush, whom he served as a full-time personal aide. After graduating from Harvard in 2008, he joined Berkshire Partners, a Private Equity firm based out of Boston, as a senior associate.

Of course, not every applicant may have worked with or been taught by a genial ex-President or Prime Minister willing to write an LOR. But if you have work experience and have interacted with one of the heads of a department – for instance a CTO who is known across the industry, it would be great to secure a letter of recommendation from him.

As a student, if you are able to get the head of department or the Dean of your institute to sign your LOR, it would matter much more than getting your immediate friendly boss or your jovial 11th standard science teacher to do it.

2) LOR shouldn’t conflict with the rest of your application

Jhanvi Khanna is applying for a MS program after working for 45 months in a high growth startup. She has claimed so in her application forms and has been savvy enough to get a glowing LOR from the founder of the company – a charismatic gentleman whose success stories have been splashed in newspapers across the globe.

Recommendation Letter Sample:

Recommendation Letter Sample

Can you spot what went wrong?

Jhanvi has claimed that her work experience has been for 45 months. But her CEO has written that she worked for 4 years. One may perceive this as being superfluous, but it is absolutely critical that the information given in your transcripts match accurately with what is written in the LOR.

For sample LORs, check out our eBOOK on “Sample LOR for Top Admits Here”

3) Use impactful language

Visualize that you are going for an interview for a dream job. Are you likely to dress in a jaded pair of clothes along with a pair of old loafers or would you want to adorn yourself with a crisp white shirt and a classical suit with smart, polished shoes?

Rather than using insipid words or clichés, using descriptive vocabulary and engaging phrases in your LOR would ensure that it stands out.

Here are some LOR format samples

For instance rather than writing:

LOR sample writing

One can write:

Improved LOR sample writing

Yet, one must be careful about a few aspects. One shouldn’t be using phrases that could be misinterpreted. For instance, “He is a perfectionist.” Certain admission officers may interpret this as a sign of narcissism or even having negative social traits.

4) Your letter should be peppered with meaningful anecdotes

Structured LOR letter

Isn’t this a fascinating story? This anecdote  not only brings to light Rajiv’s caliber as a fantastic batsman, but also establishes that he is a young man with robust morality. Just like a picture is worth a thousand words, a story like this illustrates the characteristics of the applicant like nothing else can.

Don’ts of LOR

1) Don’t repeat your resume

Writing a LOR that only repeats what is given in your Resume would certainly inhibit your chances of getting admitted in  MS program. The purpose of the LOR is to sketch your complete personality in the mind of the admission officer without you having to speak a word.

Repeating facts and figures given in your resume would make the admission officer feel that the official who has written the LOR is distant and does not share a healthy relationship with the applicant.

Recommendation letter example:

Example of Recommendation letter

2) Spelling mistakes

Spelling mistakes are a big no-no. It may raise doubts about the credibility of the individual who is recommending you.  

3) Politically incorrect language

Today, one has to be extremely mindful about hurting sensibilities. One may inadvertently end up hurting others by using certain phrases or words.

Example:

Example LOR

Imagine that the Admission Officer reading this is suffering from Asperger Syndrome. The applicant might have his sympathies but this letter could displace the admission officer’s temperament for a while and impact Aslam’s chances of getting admitted.

The individual writing a recommendation may not be well-versed with the nuances of English Language. But the applicant will have to take special care in ensuring that such sentences are not a part of the LOR, especially if the person offering the LOR is known to have limited command over the English language.

4) The letter is too short

An appropriate letter of recommendation should be around a page long – which means around 500 to 600 words when written on an A4 page. Sometimes, universities may specify the number of words, which makes it easier. A study that assessed several letters of recommendations indicated that the more details there are in the letter, the better is it for the applicant – which meant that as long as the details in the letter are relevant, a longer letter could turn out favorable for the prospective student.

However, a recommendation that is hardly half a page would seem as if it has been forcibly written. A golden rule to keep in mind is that a letter of recommendation should be crisp enough to be captivating for the reader, yet long enough to cover the important parts.

Let us consider another example:

Ideal LOR sample

Undoubtedly the candidate – Rajiv Joshi has immense potential. Unfortunately, the letter written by his professor seems like a buffet which only served lip smacking soup and delectable starters, but kept the patrons hungry for more.

Check out our YouTube video on Letter of Recommendation for more information.

Conclusion – Preparation, Visualization, and Revision are important

It is important to prepare at least a couple of years prior to creating an effective LOR format. This is because one may still be falling behind on certain parameters, such as academics, professional achievements, personal growth or extracurricular activities. One could start visualizing how one’s LOR format should look like after a couple of years and work on achieving the same. So if your grades are not up to the mark, you could not only work harder to improve your average, but also follow your passion of building robots which you had been procrastinating for long. It is imperative that one doesn’t pursue activities just for the heck of including them in the LOR, as these pursuits wouldn’t last long. One should also recognize the prospective writer of one’s LOR and invest in building a healthy relationship with that person.  Finally, it is important to revise and proof read the LOR multiple times before submission.

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Think of it this way:–

• Your GPA shows the university your academic potential;
• Work experience and research papers illustrate your professional skills;
• Exam scores display your mathematical prowess, command over the English language, IQ and logical reasoning abilities;
• The SOP illustrates your journey in your own words;

However, none of these are accurate representations of what it is like to actually work with you, as a person! Your LOR fills in this gap by presenting your personality and traits better, in the eyes of those who have had past experience of mentoring or working with you, along with a validation of the above. The admissions committee looks for letters of recommendation to know more about your USPs, without you having to speak about it yourself.

Now that you understand what an LOR is, let’s understand who��you must approach to provide you with a letter of recommendation.

Whom should you approach for your LOR?

The question of whom it must be undersigned by is different for each applicant, stream and applicant.

It’s important, however, to understand that you must share a close equation with the individual, as only then will he/she be able to say the right things about you. While validating the already stated facts with your other documents, they must be able to furnish an insight that is not conveyed in your application by any other means.

For students who have just completed their undergraduate program (no work experience):��It must be someone who can relate and vouch for you, in terms of your academic background, and journey so far. You can approach a professor, the head of the department, the dean or the director of the institute where you have pursued your education. The credibility of their words would be much more than that of a school teacher that once taught you or a professional from the outside world whom you cannot trace a direct link to.

For working Professional: It’s always good to obtain the letter from a superior who you have closely associated with at work. He must hold a certain reputation and position in the company that adds to his authority as a recommender. He must not only iterate on your relationship and skills observed as a professional but, also on the character front.

What must it say, after all?

• The letter is and must sound like a report of a personal association of the referrer with the student.
• It can talk about certain anecdotes, incidents or even narratives that need not directly harp on the student’s skills, but rather demonstrate it with the help of an event.��
• The letter must choose a style of writing that is very simple and effective
• It must not sound narcissistic to the admissions committee in any way
• It should mention the qualities that can’t otherwise be judged by other parts of the application, making it an opportunity to say more rather than to repeat the already stated. For example – the admissions committee already knows your GPA, work experience, rankings, and other major achievements; however, the factors that set you apart from the competition are seldom found elsewhere and must be focused on in your LORs.

Tips and Common Mistakes:

• • The language should be clear, crisp and making no attempts to be ornate, overtly-impressive, misleading or offensive.����
  • The content shouldn’t conflict with the identity, purpose or intent of the letter.
  • It should not have any grammatical mistakes.
  • Must not be repetitive about the content, facts, figures or achievements
  • Should focus on the course you are aiming for and must be drafted in accordance with the same
  • It must bear in mind that no sentiments – emotionally, personally or politically are hurt or targeted, even unintentionally
  • Word limits, if specified by the university, must be strictly adhered to.��
  • The length of the letter must be at least a page long in print (A4 page)
  • The credibility of the recommender must not be compromised in the letter
  • It must be revised, read and reconsidered again and again
  • The recommender may or may not have a letter of recommendation template, in which case, you must – as an applicant – request your referrer to use one that suits your application and objective
  • The LOR format must be decided prior to writing it to ensure that the flow is right.

For more important Tips on LOR Download our eBOOK on “LOR Tips & Tricks Here”

Let’s consider a well-drafted sample letter of recommendation:

For more sample LORs Download our eBOOK on “Sample LOR for Top Admits Here”

Analyzing the above letter:

It is carefully divided into paragraphs:

• The first paragraph introduces the student and his academic records that validate the other documents submitted and sets a premise for the relationship between the recommender and the applicant
• The second paragraph is the major content holder that narrates an incident and tries to build an image of his character while subtly pointing out his interests, achievements and major achievements outside of academics
• The last paragraph concludes with a very impactful end to the story, that allows the admissions committee to get a decent idea about the applicant.

How to format an impressive Letter of Recommendation?

The first impression is the best impression. The last thing you want is for the admissions committee to struggle with reading your letter owing to illegible printing or poor and confusing sentence construction. It should be formatted in a formal, yet appealing way. You should leave no room for the admissions committee to judge or form a negative opinion of you based on an improper format of the letter.

Here are few basic pointers that you can be cautious about when drafting the letter:

• The font used must be formal with no fancy formatting being used anywhere on the document.
• Use a font size of around 11 that is clearly readable on an A4-sized paper
• Printing your text in black is the safest choice. However, you may use a 2nd color, dark blue, for instance, to highlight anything that you wish to. However, using bold and italicized text is the best way to highlight points.
• Ensure to use office-style margins of around 1″ on all four sides of the document.
• Paragraph-spacing and alignment must be such, that at no point should the reader have to break the flow of his reading to understand the direction or lead of the content, i.e., it must allow for smooth and effortless reading.
• Available templates for letters can be used to enhance readability.

You must remember that it’s not just ‘what’ is being said that matters – ‘how’ it’s said is just as important.

We hope that these pointers will help you with drafting a well-formatted letter of recommendation for your application and wish you all the best with the admissions process!��

Have any questions? Leave them as a comment below, and we’ll get back to you with answers at the very soonest!

The post Best Letter of Recommendation(LOR) Format for MS: How Should It Be? appeared first on 91�ȱ� Blog.

Tips for asking for a Letter of Recommendation

1) Testimonials: Before you write to your professor or manager asking for a letter of recommendation, you may want to keep in handy all the testimonials supporting your educational background, extra-curricular achievements, workplace achievements and appraisals as your referrer might want to peruse these documents before writing your LOR.

2) Plan in Advance: Universities in the US/UK/EU notify candidates in advance regarding the date by which the letters of recommendation have to be submitted. While most universities ask for LORs to be submitted along with the formal application, anytime before the application deadline, some universities prioritize its submission, asking for it to be sent separately, either via email or as a physical copy. It’s always a good idea to plan well ahead, to give your referrer the maximum possible time to gather a good idea about you and the course that you’re applying to, so that they are able to write you a strong, compelling and authentic letter of recommendation instead of putting it off until the very last moment. Remember, haste makes waste!

3) Determining your referrer: This is perhaps the most challenging step in the entire process of getting a letter of recommendation. You may not be really sure who you want to ask. While deciding on whom to choose as your referee, remember, the more recent your interaction with them, the better, as the universities want to know more about the current you and not who you were years ago! If it has been several years since you graduated from college, it might be a good idea to provide LORs from people who have worked closely with you more recently – generally your immediate superiors at work.

If, during your college days, you shared an excellent rapport with your professors, or stood out owing to your outstanding academic performance/extracurricular achievements, things ought to be relatively easy. However, if you were one of the backbenchers, who never let an opportunity to bunk classes slip by, or one of the silent ones who never really got noticed that closely by the professors, choosing someone who can write you a glowing letter of recommendation can be a tough call indeed!

Even then, you don’t really have to worry. Asking for a letter of recommendation won’t cost you an arm and a leg. All you have to do is follow these simple techniques.

Approach them in person in your college, have a word or two, share some of the challenges and responsibilities you’ve shouldered at work, and perhaps appreciate him in front of any current student of your college. This ensures the rekindling of a good personal relationship which you may or may not have had during your college days. There’s no harm in trying, right? Ensure that your professor gathers a good idea about you. Remind him of some of the instances from his classes that you can recollect, and some fond memories from your tenure as a student of that institute. In the process, slowly veer the discussion towards your intent of pursuing graduate studies abroad, once you sense that your professor would be comfortable in writing you a letter of recommendation.

On the professional front, you have considerably more leeway, as it is not always mandatory for your past employer or manager to be the one sending your LOR. Apart from them, you can also approach any business acquaintances, customers, colleagues and advisors whom you have worked closely with. Politely inquire about their availability and ask them what documents they might require in support of your application for a letter of recommendation. Keep in mind that you do not push either your professor or your manager to write you an LOR as in that case, they may not draw a good idea about you and might not be comfortable in writing you a letter of recommendation. At the end of the day, keep in mind the quantum of the personal relationship between you and your referrer.    

4) Frame your request letter: It is imperative that you frame a convincing request letter to your professor or manager. Therefore, don’t rush with this step. Evaluate the tone of your request carefully. Always ensure that you respect the formal or professional boundaries that exist between you and your referrers, and consider their time availability before proceeding with your request. Humbly make a request to write you a reference letter and intimate them about the original date of submitting the letter of recommendation to the universities and attach copies of all your supporting testimonials along with your request letter. 

For more important Tips on LOR Download our eBOOK on “LOR Tips & Tricks Here” 

Now, if you’re wondering what the format of your request letter ought to be, here’s one you can write over an email to your professor requesting him for a strong letter of recommendation.

Now, in the letter above, can you see how adeptly the request has been framed? 

• If you notice, the letter has been opened with a touch of nostalgia that usually triggers an emotion within the minds of the reader. The writer i.e. the candidate offers humble greetings and maintains due respect, and in keeping with the general format of formal letters, the intent of writing the letter has been clearly mentioned in the first paragraph itself.
• You should also remind your referrer about your achievements and let them know how grateful you are to them for their efforts, as an average college professor, deals with 500 students on a day-to-day basis. So, obviously, he may find it difficult to recall your achievements in particular, especially if a considerable amount of time has passed since you last interacted.
• Do not forget to attach/enclose your academic transcripts and every other proof of your educational or co-curricular achievements and other documents as you would want them to testify for your eligibility without missing out on any relevant details.
• Always maintain a tone of politeness in your request letter and leave it at the discretion of your referrer to provide you with a letter of recommendation. Refrain from coaxing him/her repeatedly or expressing immediacy. Allow your referrer the time to write keeping in mind that they have a hectic schedule and might need to go through the information that you have provided before beginning to write the letter of recommendation.

Now, in the case of working professionals, you will need a letter of recommendation from your manager, or your manager’s manager or maybe a departmental head. Just like requesting a professor for a letter of recommendation, requesting the same in your workplace too involves a certain protocol.

Take a look at a sample format of a request letter to your superior at work below, and then I’ll run you through the things you need to keep in mind for the same.

When requesting a letter of recommendation from your manager, the following are the things that you need to keep in mind.

• It is imperative that you respect your manager’s time and understand that your request will need him to invest additional time and thought in the work. Do not rush him, but instead, allow sufficient time and discretion. Do not push your manager or any higher authority to write you a reference letter.
• The request letter for an LOR from your employer/manager falls under the category of a business letter. Therefore, it should be very precise and crisp. The letter must invoke in the mind of your manager the urgency but at the same time, express your feeling of gratitude towards him.
• Since you interact with your manager almost on a daily basis, the need to remind him of glorious or memorable incidents is not required. That might give an impression of flattery which may be unfavorable.
• If you are provided with a letter of recommendation by your professor/employer, do not forget to send him a separate letter/email to thank him adequately for his time and efforts. You must realize for yourself that the process of acquiring a letter of recommendation had, at one point in your life, been a nightmare.

Now, it must have occurred to you that there might arise certain challenges in the entire process of requesting the letter of recommendation from your professor/manager. What could these challenges be?

1. A limited number of LORs to be provided by your professor: It might be the scenario that your professor is willing to share only a handful of LORs and there’s a rat race going on between you and your fellow batchmates. In that case, try to be one of the first applicants. An early application is always a safer proposition than putting it off till days before the deadline. Keep your transcripts and other documents ready beforehand and be among the first ones to request a letter of recommendation. You just might have the chance to make the cut.  

2.Not willing to share personal details: Often, your referrer may not be comfortable with sharing details like contact numbers or address of correspondence with the institutions that you are applying to and the underlying reasons for this could be personal. It will not be a good idea to approach him for the reasons and instead, you might want to provide him with alternatives. Respect his decision and ask if he is comfortable with sharing his professional email id, workplace telephone number or other relevant credentials. Discuss with him how you may benefit with these details as admission officers from universities abroad tend to contact referrers at times to verify the authenticity of the LOR. 

3.Reference Letter to Referrer Ratio: It is important that you understand, that the more number of reference letters you produce, it substantiates more of the information you provide in your admission application. If you require two letters of recommendation to be submitted, make a request to at least five professors/managers or higher authorities. You will then be able to produce the best reference letter according to you, to support your application. For this, it is recommended that you maintain a sound inter-personal relationship with your professors and managers and get known through your skills and contributions. Even if you are a student in your final year and are looking forward to starting your master’s program in the ensuing year, it’s not too late. You still have a lot of time for building professional relationships. 

4.Documents: It is a good idea to provide your professor with a brief summary of your undergraduate career in writing. A compilation of your projects, workshops, seminars and co-curricular achievements helps your referrer with drafting a convincing letter of recommendation. In your workplace, provide your manager with past appraisal reports, project information and CSR (Corporate Social Activity) activity reports as he may be reluctant to go through the office computer and search for the same. It does not create a good impression if your referrer has to revert time and again, asking for information that could be incorporated in the letter of recommendation. Therefore, it is always safe to keep all your documents ready and provide them the same for reference. Allow your referrer to filter the documents and determine what he chooses to mention in the letter.

5.Confidentiality: If your referrer wants to keep any information confidential, always respect that. Do not coax them into sharing what he/she might have written. Many universities demand sealed envelopes containing the application and letter of recommendation from the candidates. In that case, your referrer may seal the envelope containing your reference letter beforehand. Do not try to open and peek into the envelope as the slightest mark of breach of confidentiality may be treated as a tampered document and may result in your candidature being disqualified.

I believe you now have a detailed insight into the process of acquiring a letter of recommendation, whom you should approach to get one, and what the steps are, in requesting for the same. Always keep in mind that it’s a simple request that you are making. The fulfillment of the request depends completely on your professional etiquette, behavior, interpersonal relationships and most importantly, your own achievements. A strong letter of recommendation is one which testifies the true capabilities of a candidate from both the educational as well as co-curricular standpoints and acquiring a letter of recommendation falls under your interest as it would state facts about you. So take a deep breath and imagine yourself holding a letter of recommendation for yourself. How would you like to read it? What would you like to be mentioned in it? The decision is always yours to make. I wish you all the success with your university applications process as well as with getting the best LORs for your profile!

The post How to Ask for a Letter of Recommendation (LOR): Examples appeared first on 91�ȱ� Blog.

Importance of LOR

A Letter of Recommendation serves as a validation of your achievements and provides a third person perspective of your knowledge, skills and personal attributes.

There have been instances where students with below average 91�ȱ� scores also made it to top universities with amazing letters of recommendation. A letter of recommendation adds valuable insight to not just your academic credentials but also to your personality which helps the admission committee to differentiate you among lakhs of applicants.

Shriram Krishnamurthi, Professor of Computer Science at Brown University writes about a student who got into an excellent graduate program with a GPA of just 2.67. He further points out that the student had mentioned the reasons in his letters that made his 2.67 GPA special- ‘he aced hard classes and got bored in easy ones’. He illustrated this with several narratives in his letters which made his application stand out amongst the rest.

Harvard Dean of Admissions, William R Fitzsimmons says, “Recommendation letters are extremely important and are read with great care, often commenting on them in writing”.

Thus, a nicely crafted LOR which highlights and supplements your academic credentials and provides a glimpse of your personal attributes helps set you apart among scores of applicants and makes your entry to your dream institute easier.

Tips to Create an Effective Letter of Recommendation for MS

As important a letter of recommendation is in securing admit into a top university for MS program, the culture of writing letters of recommendation is almost non-existent in India. This leaves the students as well as the one’s writing the letter of recommendation- professors and employers, confused. While an LOR would be specific and unique for each student, but effective LORs share certain common features that make them unique. Let us look at some important tips to create a great LOR.

Tip 1: Choose your recommend-er��wisely

Even before crafting a great LOR, it is important to decide who should write your recommendation letter. Best recommendation letters are personal and insightful and should reveal your personal character. And someone who barely knows you would not be able to write about you. So, it is important for you to ask someone who knows you well to recommend you.

Apart from knowing you well, credentials of the recommend-er is also crucial. If you are a student, a letter of recommendation from the Head of Department or one of the senior professors carry more weight than a letter from a junior professor. If you are working, a letter of recommendation from the head of your division or department adds more credibility to your application.

So, if you are a final year student or you have just completed graduation you may source your letter of recommendation from:

1. Professors with whom you have closely worked with in projects; or
2. Professors in whose classes you have excelled; or
3. Internship mentor, if you have had internship experience.

If you have work experience, your source of recommendation letter could be from:

1. Your immediate supervisor who can vouch for your credibility; or
2. The Head of your division, if you have had the opportunity to work with him. ��

Tip 2: Take time to get your LOR compiled and written

Writing a great recommendation letter takes time as it provides a multi-dimensional view of the applicant. And one of the fundamental mistakes you might make is to wait till the last moment to arrange your recommendation letters. ��It is important that “you approach the recommend-er 3 to 4 months before the application deadline with all the necessary details.” It will be easier for the person to write a personalised account of your achievements and accomplishments.

Tip 3: Highlighting important themes

It is also important to keep in mind that institutes do not want to know about every quality of the student that makes him great. A recommendation letter focusing on a particular area shows the applicants dedication and commitment towards that field. It is also an indicator of their long-term focus and future potential.

Consider the following letter:

Asif definitely must be talented; however, the recommendation letter does nothing to bring out his specific skills that might contribute to his future. This LOR is a mixture of several qualities of the applicant, but does not corroborate any of these.

Now let us have a look at a second example:

It is a great pleasure to recommend Asif for admission to your college. Asif is one of the most exceptional students I have encountered in the past 20 years of teaching. I taught Asif in his fourth year of B. Tech and he has a keen interest in and talent for Robotics. His advanced skills, passion for the subject, and keen interest for scientific enquiry make him an ideal fit for your rigorous masters program.

As you can notice, this LOR revolves around Asif’s interest and work on robotics which stands out as the core theme. The recommender, by mentioning Asif’s research project, also validates his project work which would have been an important part of his SOP. The recommender also connects all other qualities with this central theme such as Asif’s skills, passion, and aptitude for the subject along with his personal qualities.

A great LOR therefore, need not boast about every skill you possess but can highlight a few important ones which actually fit in with the program you have applied for. For instance, some letters may highlight academic credentials of the applicant if he or she is academically very bright. In other instances, letters may focus on the applicant’s skills in working in teams, or leadership skills. Still others may focus on the applicant’s passion for sports, or music, or art.

For more sample LORs Download our eBOOK on “Sample LOR for Top Admits Here”

Tip 4: Use anecdotes

A great recommendation letter does not just lists data that is already in the resume. It gives a holistic overview of the applicant by encompassing his or her academic qualifications and personal skills along with potential for future success. In doing so, great letters, use anecdotes and narratives that tell the reader about you as a person and what motivates you. Stories are a great way to communicate not just what you have accomplished but how you accomplished. They illustrate your personal qualities and etch a place in the readers’ minds.��

Consider these two examples:

Example 1

Himanshu has great organising��skills.

Example 2

When three of the students responsible for organising��the Robotics event in the annual college festival fell sick in the last moment, Himanshu sprang into action, delegating tasks to other student organisers��and working up well into the night to set up the venue and make the technical arrangements. Under his able organisation, the venue was ready by morning and the event concluded successfully.

Can you make out the difference?

Both examples talk about organizing skills. However, the second example proves his organising abilities whereas the first one does not. The second example paints a picture of Himanshu coordinating with his team and working overnight to organise an event. A story makes a letter more interesting, lively and brings out the character of the applicant.

Moreover, stories prove that the recommend-er knows you personally well to assess you. Sharing narratives prove that the recommend-er knows the applicant well and therefore, the recommendation is trustworthy and reliable.

Tip 5: Use CAR framework

While crafting an impressive recommendation letter using stories, anecdotes or narratives, most recommend-ers use the CAR framework. CAR stands for Challenge, Action, and Results and is a framework which highlights the achievements of the applicant in the face of a challenge and actions taken by him or her.

Consider the following example:

Sonia is a young and creative professional who takes challenges head-on. She is an expert coder and has immense knowledge of the field. When our department experienced problems with the front end checkout process, Sonia immediately started working on it. Using her coding knowledge she added a new coding system at checkout for looking up produce. As a result of her efforts sales-per-hour increased from 23 to 38 due to faster produce lookup times.

Notice how the recommend-er first wrote about the challenge, then the actions taken by Sonia, and finally the results. This helps in truly personalising the recommendation by highlighting specific achievements of the applicant.

Tip 6: Use powerful language

Besides using narratives with the CAR framework in mind, great recommendation letters use powerful language. Using cliché words and phrases (such as hard worker, perfectionist) makes a letter very generic and makes it impersonal. Letters crafted using impactful words show that your recommendation letter was created by putting thoughts and efforts.

Check out the following two examples:

Example 1

Rishav is a great student. He is very hardworking and dedicated and always goes the extra mile to achieve his goals.

Example 2

Rishav has great analytical and problem solving ability. He showed immense interest in marketing and joined the marketing club of our institute. Using his creative skills, he designed an advertising campaign for a national level advertising competition which placed him amongst the top three creative and innovative advertising ideas.

The first example is very generic. Although it tells us that Rishav is hardworking and dedicated, it does not tell us about the outcomes of his hardwork and dedication. If you notice the second, it uses more specific words to describe Rishav’s skills with a specific narrative to prove the point.

Tip 7: Organise your LOR well

A great LOR is well organised and includes all the information required to judge the applicant. ��A properly drafted recommendation letter will mention how well recommend-er knows the student. Introduction starts with an enthusiastic recommendation followed by assessment of the applicant in two or three paragraphs.��The recommend-er concludes the letter by reiterating the recommendation and invites the admission committee for follow up questions.

For more important Tips on LOR��Download our eBOOK on��“LOR Tips & Tricks Here”��

Now that you have a clear understanding of an LOR and how it can help you secure admit into your preferred institute, here are a few quick tips to remember always:

• • Your LOR should be in sync with your application. LOR must substantiate the details in your application and not contradict them.
  • Make sure you spend time with the person recommending you. It is important that you establish a good rapport with the person and share the details of your achievements.
  • You must proof read your LOR for any spelling mistakes. It harms the credibility of the person recommending you and at the same time affects your image too.
  • Your LOR should not be too short! This basically indicates that the recommend-er did not invest time in writing the letter.
  • Universities require two or three LORs.
  • Make sure that all the LORs do not sound similar to each other.

We hope this article helps you understand the importance of a LOR and demystifies the truths behind a great one. So, here’s wishing you good luck!

Read on to find the Dos and Donts while drafting a Letter of Recommendation here.

The post 7 Tips to writing a Letter of Recommendation For MS Aspirants appeared first on 91�ȱ� Blog.

The importance of LOR

A Letter of Recommendation (LOR) is a vital part of the application process which can make or break a student’s chances of getting into an institute or securing a scholarship. Shriram Krishnamurthi, a Professor at the Computer Science Department at Brown University has written:

LOR Samples – 1

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The LOR�� plays a crucial role in differentiating your profile from lakhs of other applications and also has a favourable impact on your chances of securing an admit. The admission team of top institutions look for promising students who possess good academic qualifications, impressive social skills, authentic character and have the will to succeed. It helps the admission team to have a holistic idea about your personal and professional journeys.

Challenges faced while creating an LOR

Prospective students from India who are planning to pursue a Master’s Degree from the US often struggle with getting the right flavors in their letter of recommendation. This is primarily because their professors or employers may either be used to creating a LOR with a particular template or may have no idea about it at all.

Here are some Dos and Don’ts for an effective LOR��

1) Dos of LOR:

Credibility matters!

Heard about Blake Gottesman? Without a college degree, Blake managed to get into Harvard Business School, all thanks to a stellar letter of recommendation written by the 43rd President of USA – George W Bush, whom he served as a full-time personal aide.�� After graduating from Harvard in 2008, he joined Berkshire Partners,�� a private��equity firm based out of Boston, as a senior associate.

Of course, not every applicant may have worked with or been taught by a genial Ex-President or Prime Minister who is willing to offer a LOR. But if you have work experience and have also interacted with any of the heads of a department – for instance, a CTO who is known across the industry, it would be great to secure a letter of recommendation from him.

As a student, if you are able to get the head of the department or the Dean to provide you with a LOR, it would matter much more than getting your immediate friendly boss or your jovial 11th standard science teacher to do it.

LOR shouldn’t conflict with the rest of your application

Let’s look at this with an example:

Jhanvi Khanna is an MS aspirant who after working for 45 months in a high growth startup has applied for an MS program. She had been savvy enough to get a glowing LOR from the founder of the company – a charismatic gentleman whose success stories have been splashed in newspapers across the globe.

Here is a snippet of the Recommendation Letter:

LOR Samples – 2

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Can you spot what went wrong?

Jhanvi has claimed her work experience to be 45 months in her application. But her CEO has written that she worked for 4 years. One may perceive this as being bureaucratic but it is absolutely critical that the information given in your transcripts match accurately with what is written in the LOR.

Use Impactful Language

Visualize that you are going for an interview for a dream job. Are you likely to dress in a jaded pair of clothes along with a pair of old loafers or would you want to adorn yourself with a crisp white shirt and a classic suit with polished Oxford shoes?

Rather than using insipid words or clichés, using descriptive vocabulary and engaging phrases throughout your LOR would ensure that it stands out.

Here are some LOR��samples

For instance rather than writing:

Ramesh is an all-rounder. He understands technology as well as copywriting. At present, he is working as a coder but when our marketing team was facing a challenge in creating a new tagline, Ramesh took it up and resolved it.

One can write:

Ramesh is a versatile professional who doesn’t shy away from taking up challenges. He is an accomplished technology leader with impressive knowledge about the intricacies of writing appealing content as well. Recently when our marketing department hit a roadblock about creating a compelling tagline to replace our existing one, Ramesh immediately decided to volunteer. He was able to marry powerful insights about our product along with his thoughts on what kind of copy would work. This resulted in the conception of a remarkable slogan which has generated tremendous recall value for our brand.

Yet, one must be careful about a few aspects. One shouldn’t be using phrases that could be misinterpreted. For instance – He is a perfectionist. Certain admission officers may interpret this as a sign of narcissism or even having negative social traits.

Your letter should be peppered with meaningful anecdotes

Let me explain this with an example:

LOR Samples – 3

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Isn’t this a fascinating story? This anecdote brings not only brings to light Rajiv’s calibre as a fantastic batsman but also establishes that he is a young man with robust morality. Just like a picture is worth a thousand words, a story like this illustrates the characteristics of the applicant like nothing else can.

2) Don’ts of LOR:-

Don’t repeat your resume

Writing a LOR that only repeats what is given in your Resume would certainly inhibit your chances of getting admitted in an MS program. The purpose of a LOR is to sketch your complete personality in the mind of the admission officer without you having to speak a word.

Repeating facts and figures given in your resume would make the admission officer feel that the official who has written the LOR is distant and does not share a healthy relationship with the applicant.

Recommendation letter example:

“To the Admission Office

I am happy to recommend Mr Jai Shah. He has scored an average CGPA of 3.8 out of 4 and is a gold medalist in mathematics…..”

Facts like your CGPA, gold medals, honor would already be present in your CV and reinstating the same may not be the right strategy

Spelling mistakes

Spelling mistakes are a big no-no. It may raise doubts about the credibility of the individual who is recommending you. ��

Politically incorrect language

Today, one has to be extremely mindful about hurting sensibilities. One may inadvertently end up hurting others by using certain phrases or words.

Example:

LOR Samples – 4

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Imagine that the Admission Officer reading this is suffering from Asperger Syndrome. The applicant might have his sympathies but this letter could displace the admission officer’s temperament for a while and impact Aslam’s chances of getting admitted.

The individual writing a recommendation may not be well versed with the nuances of English Language. But the applicant will have to take special care in ensuring that such sentences are not a part of the LOR especially if the person offering a LOR is known to have limited command over the English language.

The letter is too short

An appropriate letter of recommendation should be around a page long – which mean around 500 to 600 words when written on an A4 page. Sometimes, Universities may specify the number of words which makes it easier. A study that assessed several letters of recommendations indicated that the more detail in the letter, the better for the applicant – which meant that as long as the details in the letter are relevant, a longer letter could be favourable for the prospective student.

However, a recommendation that is hardly half a page would seem as if it has been forcibly written. A golden rule to keep in mind is that a letter of recommendation should be crisp enough to be captivating for the reader yet long enough to cover the important parts.

Let us consider an example:

LOR Samples – 5

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91�ȱ� Verdict: Undoubtedly the candidate – Rajiv Bhat has immense potential. Unfortunately, the letter written by his professor seems like a buffet which only served lip smacking soup and delectable starters but kept the patrons hungry for more.��

Let us consider one more example:

LOR Samples – 6

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91�ȱ� Verdict: From this LOR it is evident that the candidate has been a star pupil all throughout and has participated in a plethora of activities & events. This LOR shines light on his achievements, enterprising spirit and will for sure get him into the good books of the Admission Committee

Conclusion – Preparation, Visualisation��and Revision are important

It is important to prepare at least a couple of years prior to creating an effective LOR. This is because one may still be falling behind on certain parameters such as academics, professional achievements, personal growth or extra – curricular activities. One could start visualising how one’s LOR should look like after a couple of years and work on achieving the same. So if your grades are not up to the mark, you could not only work harder to improve your average but also follow your passion of building robots which you had been procrastinating for long. It is imperative that one doesn’t pursue activities just for the heck of including them in the LOR as these pursuits wouldn’t last long. One should also recognise the prospective writer of one’s LOR and invest in building a healthy relationship with that person. ��Finally, it is important to revise and proof read the LOR multiple times before arranging for sending it across.

The post How to write a Letter of Recommendation (LOR): Samples appeared first on 91�ȱ� Blog.

Usually written by a professor or former employer, the LOR is a vital part of your application since it testifies to your character and assures the faculty of the university that you are indeed an asset to the university. It is basically an endorsement of you by one person to another.

Let us now discuss the importance of the LOR and how to get the perfect one.

What is the importance of the LOR?

Let’s put it this way. When you are purchasing a product online, be it a mobile phone, a book, or an article of clothing, you tend to read the reviews of the product before placing an order to ensure that it is of good quality. In the crudest of terms, the LOR is akin to such a review.

The professors of the university read the LOR and are guaranteed of your character, your performance as a student or employee, and generally get a picture of who you are, and how you will contribute to the university. Most universities take a holistic approach to evaluating your application; that is, they try to understand you as a person and not just the sum total of your marks and grades. The LOR thus helps the universities filter the most promising candidates out of a pool of similarly qualified students.

Hence, it is crucial that the LOR not only paints a glowing picture of you but is also written by someone who knows you well.

How should I pick my referee?

As important as an LOR is, it is equally important that your referee is someone you have known and worked or studied with for at least six months. ��Generally, the LOR creates a good impact if it is written by a person in a senior position. Depending on whether you are a student or a working professional, there are different approaches you can take to narrow down the ideal referee. After all, you do not want to jeopardize your LOR and your future by picking the wrong referee, do you?

If you are a student:

Your LOR has more worth if it is written by a senior staff member, like the Head of the Department. Try to pick a professor who knows you well and has taught you for a long time. It is better if you have done any projects or research work under their guidance since that adds value to the LOR.

Avoid choosing temporary or ad-hoc professors as referees unless absolutely necessary. There are several reasons for this.

• One, the LOR is generally written on the official letterhead of the college or the university, and this letterhead is only given to permanent members of the staff. Of course, you can submit the letter without the letterhead, but remember that the letterhead imparts a stamp of authority and authenticity to any document.

• Second, there is always a chance that the admissions office could contact your referee to clarify some aspect of the letter. If this happens and your referee is no longer working at your college, it could seriously affect the veracity of your letter. ��

• Third, it is highly unlikely that an ad-hoc professor would know you as well as a permanent staff member does. Usually, it is recommended that the letter be written by a highly qualified person. So if your referee of choice happens to hold a Ph.D. or an MPhil, you are in luck!

• Lastly, it is important that your referee is someone you get along very well and have a great rapport with.

If you are a working professional:

We advise you to pick your employer as a referee only if you have graduated from college a long time ago, which would it make it difficult to approach your ex-professors. If you must get the letter from an employer, think about how appropriate their reference could be to your application, since they have no idea about your academic potential and thus will not be able to comment on the same.

Asking for reference letters from a boss or a superior can be stressful, but if done right, it can do wonders for your application. Ideally, the person you are directly reporting to makes for the best referee, since they know you on a personal level. ��It is better if the person you are choosing as a referee is someone you have worked with for a long time and with whom you have done important projects or fieldwork with, as that is an evidence of your hard work, perseverance, punctuality, and team spirit.

91�ȱ� Admission Tip: Getting an LOR from a senior official/professor who may have studied at a top US university or even worked there for some time can prove to be invaluable to your application. It increases familiarity and establishes credibility in the minds of the admissions officers, thereby putting you in a favorable light.

What should my LOR cover?

• The relationship between the referee and you must be explicitly clear from the very first line. ��For example, start with “I am an associate professor in the department of electrical engineering in XYZ College, of which he was a student.”

• Make it a point to highlight your achievements in the relevant subject or field. If you scored a cent percent on a test given by that professor, mention that very clearly. It always pays to be an achiever.

• Who are you as a person? Are you friendly, kind-hearted, passionate, candid, or perhaps extremely hard working? Never forget to mention these in your letter, for your personality traits matter just as much as your academic ones.

• Your extracurricular achievements, including sports, dance, music, and drama. Remember, universities seek well-rounded persons, and your extracurricular activities are essential to that. Similarly, if you have contributed in any capacity to your college or student community (by volunteering, organizing events, participating in clubs and societies etc.), be sure to mention those in your letter too.

• A mention of your career goals, however briefly, should be made. The LOR should be as introspective as it is forward-looking.

• The referee’s contact details, including email address and phone number, must be stated at the very end.

AdmitEDGE��Admission Tips:

• If you are uncomfortable about asking them in person, send them an email. This way, it gives them a chance to politely decline, if need be.

• Have a list of minimum three potential referees and ask them all at the same time. That way, if one of them declines, you will have a backup.

• Give them time. Do not rush to get your LOR three days before your admissions deadlines. Remember, a well-written letter takes time and effort. It is handy to make a list of referees before your 91�ȱ� or just after. Give them at least a couple of weeks before you get a final draft.

• Be respectful and courteous at all times.

• Supply all the relevant information on a neatly typed word document.

• Offer to write the letter yourself. Teachers and working professionals are busy people, and might not have the time to draft a satisfactory LOR. In that case, ask them if you can write the letter yourself, and get it reviewed and signed from them.

• Let them know that they could be contacted on behalf of the admissions committee. It is always nice to keep them in the loop.

• Once your admission is successful, write them a polite thank you note to acknowledge their help.

If you are daunted by the process of getting the perfect LOR, then don’t worry, because 91�ȱ�’s cutting-edge LOR writing services will come to your aid! Your letter will be written and edited by a panel of experts, whose unmatched experience and finesse will fetch you the LOR of your dreams.

We hope this article sheds some light on the importance of choosing the right referee.

We wish you all the best!

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