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-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
---------------------------------------------------------------------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 cooperative 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.