Format of Recommendation Letter

Name of the person

Name of the Institution,
Address
Tel: 91-22- (O) (O-Office) Fax: 91-22- (O)
Tel: 91-22- (H) (H-Home)

REF NO. SSP-RECO- Date:

To Whomsoever Concerned

Content--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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Sign off
Name of the referee
Designation of the person
Name of the institution

Letter of Recommendation
An application speaks to the admission committee on your behalf. While your
grades/scores are supposed to represent your intellectual capabilities and your SOP
allows you the opportunity of presenting your point of view, recommendations by those
who know you give the university an independent assessment of your skills and qualities.

We strongly recommend that students should not write their own recommendation letters.
In case your recommender is not comfortable drafting the reccos, you can give him your
resume and points you would want him to include. Get a rough draft made from him, it
can be polished later.

Every school requires a set of 2-3 reco letters. Normally the schools have a reco format
(grading sheet) in their application form, which needs standardised information like rank
in class, analytical skills, attendance etc. One can additionally attach a letter (covering
other aspects) to the grading sheet.

Choosing the right people:

 • You need to make sure that the people who give you the recommendations have
known you for a sufficiently long time and on a professional basis.
• Fresh graduates would need recommendation letters from the faculty at
undergraduate and/or graduate level. The faculty would be in a position to evaluate
the student if they have taught them at least two courses. It would be helpful if the
courses were relevant to the study program applied to.
• At work the reporting head interacts with us on a day-to-day basis and hence
would be the best person to comment on our performance.
• Personal Contacts are not considered valid.

Credentials of the referee:

• A recommendation from a professor would sound far more impressive than one
from a lecturer.
• The remarks of your reporting head who plays an important role in the company
and is an experienced person are more valued.
• However a recommendation from the CEO of the company who knows you
personally but has not interacted regularly at work would not add any value.
• An alumni from the school one is applying to can give you an additional
recommendation commenting on your suitability for the study program.

Relationship you share with the person:

Make sure that the person shares a positive relationship with you to ensure you get a good
recommendation and within your time frame. Start approaching the people a month ahead
of time to run through 2-3 drafts before finalising on it. Prepare an initial draft and check
with them if they are comfortable mentioning the same.

Writing Tips:

Following points should be kept in mind while drafting a Letter of Recommendation:

1. The letters should ideally be taken on the college/institution/organization

letterhead. If not a letter head then the name, contact details and designation of the
person should be clearly mentioned. Refer to the sample format.
2. Have focus on fewer qualities in each reco so that it stays in the mind of the
reader at the end of it. Divide the points between the three letters.
3. Do not include too many adjectives or superlative degree remarks in the
recommendation. The statements should sound positive but not flattery.
4. Avoid redundancy in the style of writing. For example starting every sentence with
“She has been very active in class, She has above average analytical skills etc”.
The letter should have a flow and not seem like a list of statements about you.
 5. Get a third person opinion about the draft before finalising it. There are cases
when statements that might sound positive to us might be interpreted in a different
manner by others.
6. Avoid structural mistakes and use simple language. Do not manipulate facts. For
example: If your professor puts you in the top 5% in every category that he's been
asked to rank you, and your transcripts show that you averaged in the bottom 25%
of your class, it's bound to raise some eyebrows.
7. The letter should be crisp and to the point. Avoid repetitive stuff and irrelevant
details.

Personal Qualities that can be mentioned in the LOR:

You don’t have to include all points mentioned below, choose the relevant ones.

• Academic Performance
• Attendance and class participation
• Analytical skills and problem solving ability
• Communication skills
• Teamwork Ability
• Leadership Qualities and Decision Making
• Organized and particular about deadlines
• Crisis Management and working under pressure
• Achievements like being a class topper, winning the best project prize etc, playing
a strategic role in a company project
• Interpersonal skills, relationship with peers.
• Suitability of the applicant to the study program

Sample Recommendation 1

It gives me great pleasure to introduce MR.XXX whom I know for the past few years
as student at XXX cllg. During this period, I was his teacher for Radar Engineering.

In this long association I had ample opportunity to assess his professional and personal
abilities and I must say Mr. XXXhas shown excellent interest in all his scholastic
pursuits. He is a person with very good grasping and analyzing capabilities. He designed
the hardware circuit for his final year project named MICRO CONTROLLER BASED
REMOTE SWITCHING USING A TELEPHONE LINE.

Other than his academics he is also one of the best student in the extra-curricular
activities. He is successful in implementing mini-projects during his second year. He also
represented the college in various inter college competitions. He has very good Oratorical
powers and is excellent manager, which was instrumental in his arranging many social
parties like the Fresher Day in the second year and the Farewell Party in the final year.

As a student he was dedicated to his assignments given to him and finished them on time.
Perseverance, sincerity and thirst for knowledge have always been the hallmark of his
personality. He has also taken seminars in his college days. Proficiency in English
through knowledge of the subject coupled with the style of his teaching in a clear and
lucid manner made his seminars very interesting and informative.

Mr. XXX, is a reliable and disciplined person. Further he has the capacity of adapting
himself to the new and challenging environment. With these strengths and his co-
operative nature, I firmly believe you would make him a successful candidate for
pursuing higher studies in your University.

With full confidence in his abilities, I strongly recommend XXX for his studies in your
esteemed University, preferably with a suitable financial aid.

Sample Recommendation 2
Mr. xxxx under my tutelage for the past three years being a Professor, I have taught him
Electromechanics - II, Electromechanics - III, Power Electronics, and also supervised his
laboratory work in Power Electronics Lab during his study.

He is diligent & adept at various fields. He maintains amicable relations, which allows
him to lead a team in an efficient way. He has very effective communication skills. I
identify him as an astute person with self-confidence. He is very effective having
dedication and commitment towards the work. He has enormous analization & creative
skills.

I rank him among top 5% in the class strength of 60 students. Because of all the above
points in him, I strongly recommend him for higher studies at your esteemed university. I
even recommend his name for every possible financial assistance from your University,
which I believe he deserves.

Sample Recommendation 3
 I take immense pleasure in recommending Mr. xxxx to your esteemed university. He
has been my student for the last 4 years. I have taught him Electromagnetic Fields,
Electrical Measurements, Electrical Power - II and guided him in Electromechanics - II
Lab & Electrical Measurements Lab. During this time I had the ample opportunity to
know him thoroughly.

He is a good student, very hardworking, at the same time very innovative. His zeal for
learning new things is commendable. His excellent analytical abilities and grasping
power will prove to be an asset for him in his higher studies.

He is very determined and principled. He can shoulder any responsibilities and fulfill any
task assigned to him. He has excellent communication skills and good command over all
his core subjects and I rank him among the top 5% of the students of his class with a
strength of 67.

Apart from this, he is a very social person maintaining good relations with all his fellow
students and the staff members. I strongly recommend him to the graduate program at
your esteemed university with the adequate financial assistance that he rightly deserves.

Sample Recommendation 4
I have known the applicant Mr. xxxx intimately for the past three years. During this
period I have taught him "Switching and Logic Circuits", "Microprocessors and
Interfacing" and supervised his work in the "Electronic Circuits Lab". This has given me
ample scope to assess him both academically and personally.

xxxx comes across as a determined and sincere student with exceptional intellectual
abilities. He was the topper in the course on "Switching and Logic Circuits". He has a
thorough knowledge of Electronics fundamentals and can relate this knowledge well to
practical problems encountered in the laboratory.

xxxx can express himself effectively both in spoken and written English. His paper
presentations on "Active Networks-A new paradigm for the Networking world" and
"Image sharpening and Contrast Enhancement Techniques" in the student paper contests
of the local IEEE chapter evince the same. All the above qualities coupled with his
pleasing demeanor, adaptability and initiative have convinced me to rank him among the
top 2% of the students I have taught for the past five years. Considering his keen interest
in pursuing higher studies and his scholastic promise for research oriented study, I
strongly recommend for admission into your graduate program with full financial
assistance.

Sample Recommendation 5
 It gratifies me to give this letter of recommendation to Mr. xxxx who is keen to pursue
his higher studies at your University. I know him as a student of Printing Technology for the
past five years. I have taught him Engineering Mathematics covering topics on Higher
Calculus, Differential Equations, Linear Algebra, Laplace Transforms, Matrices, Fourier
Series and there related applications which are required for his field of study in graduate
program.

Mr. xxxx has commendable problem solving skills coupled with a very good analytical
and computational abilities that have been demonstrated by his consistent excellence in
the courses taken by him. I place him in the top 1% of his graduating class. I am sure that
given an opportunity he will prove to be an asset to your institution. Considering his
academic excellence, flair for research and effective communication skills, I strongly
recommend Mr. xxxx for admission to your University with full financial assistance. I wish
him all the success in his future endeavors.

Sample Recommendation 6
I feel proud to introduce Mr.xxxx to your esteemed university .I have been his course
instructor for Pulse and Digital Circuits ,Electronic Devices and Circuits,
Electromagnetic Waves and transmission lines and Antenna and Wave Propagation.

During this period, his intellectual potential and diligence were well evident by the fact
that he obtained very good marks in the subjects, which I have taught him. His
remarkable grasp of the fundamentals and his ability to analyze and solve problems are
praiseworthy. His academic credentials have been consistently good and I rate him in the
top 1% of the students of his batch. Mr.xxxx keeps himself abreast with the latest
technological developments and has a flair for research. These qualities coupled with his
creativity and imagination make him an excellent candidate for research assistantship. He
is also endowed with a friendly disposition and excellent communication skills.

I am certain that with his motivation and dedication Mr.xxxx will turn into an outstanding
graduate student. Hence I strongly recommend him for M.S and Ph.D at your institution
with full financial aid.

Sample Recommendation 7
It gives me immense pleasure for writing this letter of recommendation to Mr. xxxx who
was my student in five courses taken by him. I have taught him the subjects Engineering
Drawing, Machine drawing, Theory of machines and Design of Machine Members I & II.
I found him having a sound knowledge of fundamentals and enthusiasm for acquiring a
comprehensive knowledge of subject. I rate him as a topper of his graduating class.

Mr.xxxx has commendable problem solving skills coupled with a very good analytical
ability, accompanied with the aptitude, merit and tenacity essential for a student. His
innovative perspective of viewing practical problems based on the fundamental
knowledge he acquired all through his course are displayed in his practical courses &
other Co-curricular activities, like representing our college in various forums and
technical contests. His contacts with various professional bodies and his practical training
program in N.S.T.C., NS has given him the required exposure to the latest trends and
developments in the Mechanical Industry.

Mr. Xxxx is effective in his communication skills. His mode of solving Mechanical
Engineering problems with various computer application tools is worth appreciating. I feel
that his diligence and pragmatic analysis represent his competency towards research .
Hence I strongly recommend him to be considered as the potential candidate for
admission into your esteemed University will full financial aid.

Sample Recommendation 8

I understand Mr. xxxx has cited my name with his application for Graduate study at
your university. I am pleased to make the following observations about him. I have taught
him the courses Electro Magnetic Fields, Operating System & Unix, Micro Processor & its
Applications and Computer Methods in Power Systems during this four years study. Since
the very beginning he has shown a very good interest in learning the subject. He has
excellent practical skills. He participated actively in the class and gave seminar lectures
on various topics. His oratory skills are excellent. I have found Mr.xxxx to be attentive
and industrious. He showed a great deal of interest in widening the horizon of his
knowledge by close interaction with the faculty and active involvement and participation
in various extra curricular and departmental activities. I rank him among top 2% in his
class of 60 students, considering his quest for knowledge, research attitude and
intellectual capabilities. I strongly recommend him for admission to your graduate school
with adequate financial assistance. I am of the view that Mr.xxxx will be worthy student
at your graduate school. I wish him all the best of luck and bright and prosperous career
ahead.

Sample Recommendation 9
It gives me immense pleasure to give this letter of recommendation to Mr. xxxx who
is keen to further his educational goals in your esteemed university. I have known the
applicant for the last three years and I have taught him the courses on Control Systems,
Network Theory during his study. Mr.xxxx is a sincere and hardworking student showing
keen interest in his subjects. His thorough understanding of the fundamentals and his
ability to analyze a problem and work meticulously towards its solution are praise
worthy. With his excellent communication skills and amiable nature he maintains a good
rapport with the faculty members and his peers. He is equipped with the right level of
self-confidence and maturity. He is a highly motivated student, keen on his career
advancement. With these credentials in his favor I rate Mr. xxxx among the top 2% of my
60 students in the class. I strongly recommend him for admission into your university for
his MS with suitable financial assistance.

Sample Recommendation 10

I take great pleasure in recommending Mr. xxxx's name for admission into your
esteemed institution. He has been my student for the past two and half years. I have
offered him courses in Programming through 'C' & Lab, Data Structures theory & Lab,
Operating Systems theory & Lab, Systems Programming theory & Lab. Hence, I pen my
observations about him. Mr. xxxx has excellent intellectual and experimental abilities
from the beginning. He has a good command over the fundamentals of his subject. His
intellectual potential and sheer hard work are worthy of mention. He also has a good
academic record and I rank him among the top 6% in his branch of 40 students. Mr. xxxx,
with his dedication and motivation will certainly prove to be worthy of your esteemed
institution. Keeping in mind his excellent communication skills, friendly personality,
creativity and imagination I strongly recommend him for Masters Program at your
institution with possible financial aid.