Letter Of Recommendation (LOR): Format, Samples, Types & Tips

A strong letter of recommendation for students (LOR) can be crucial to their academic and professional journey. It is a significant document, written on behalf of the applicant, that helps convince the admission committee that they are the perfect fit to pursue a course at their desired university or a job role in a reputed organization. Whether applying to universities, scholarships, or jobs, an LOR holds the same importance as other essential documents like an SOP or CV.

In this blog by The Student Helpline, we will discuss the letter of recommendation for university students, its significance, purpose, structure, and everything a student needs to know. Keep scrolling to learn more!

What is a Letter of Recommendation (LOR)?

A letter of recommendation (LOR) is a letter written on behalf of the candidate by a formal professor, lecturer, employer, manager or anyone who've shared a significant working experience with the applying candidate.

The outright basic purpose of a Letter of Recommendation (LOR) is to highlight the candidate's skills, overall character/personality, work experiences, and achievements in front of the admission committee of a university or company, where the candidate is willing to apply. A well-structured LOR format plays a crucial role in ensuring that the document is impactful and professionally presented.

For students, universities typically require 2-3 strong LORs from different recommenders, depending on the degree level they are applying for. A well-written LOR for student applications provides admission officers with deeper insights into the applicant's academic and professional potential. Submitting a properly formatted and compelling LOR significantly enhances a candidate's chances of securing admission to their desired institution.

Types of Letter Of Recommendation (With Samples)

LORs are written for various purposes, for example, admissions, scholarships, and jobs. Based on the context of writing a LOR for a student, there are broadly 2 types: Academic and Professional letters of recommendation. If you are looking for a LOR sample, it is essential to follow the proper format and guidelines to make it impactful.

Academic Letter of Recommendation

When applying to a university, a letter of recommendation written by a professor, Dean, or Department head plays an important role.

A strongly written and well-structured lor for a students, which highlights your academic achievements, strengths, and past performances, can provide you the competitive edge that you're looking for over other applicants. The purpose of writing an academic letter of recommendation for university is to explain how you are suitable for a specific course, scholarship, or any other academic program.

Academic Letter of Recommendatio (LOR) Sample for Students

Figure 1: Sample of Academic LOR

*Pro tip - While submitting 2-3 LORs, ensure that each LOR is unique, maintains a professional tone and is equally convincing.

Professional Letter of Recommendation

Most universities abroad, ask for work experiences from the candidates, especially for Master's courses like MBA and for all the other research-taught programmes.

Along with work-experience certificates, sometimes the universities also ask the applicant to submit a professional LOR. A professional LOR is a document that emphasizes on highlighting the candidate's practical and on-field skills. Unlike an Academic LOR, Professional LORs are written by managers, research supervisors, colleagues at the top of the hierarchy or by anyone who has shared a workspace with the applicant.

A professional LOR can be used for applying for certain courses at universities that demands a relevant work experience, for jobs or any professional opportunities.

Professional LOR Sample

Figure 2: Professional LOR Sample

Pro tip - While writing a professional LOR, make sure that you highlight the ability of the applicant to maintain, follow and respect the organization's workflow and the overall code of conduct.

Structure Of A Letter of Recommendation

For writing a strong and convincing LOR for students, it is crucial to follow the correct structure. It is just like solving a complex math problem, you need to follow the steps to solve the problem. In general, a basic letter of recommendation structure includes an introduction, 2-3 paragraphs highlighting the candidate's achievements, skills, and strengths, and at last the conclusion.

Below is the proper structure of an LOR along with examples, check out -

1. Name, Address, And Salutation: Always Start the LOR with the recommender's name, designation, name and address of the organization, date of writing the LOR, and salutation.
2. Introduction: Introduction is the first paragraph of any LOR, where the recommender introduces themselves. As a recommender you need to state your position or designation in the organization, your relation with the candidate, the duration of working with the candidate, and the context of writing the LOR (academic or professional).
3. Body: This section of an LOR is perhaps the most important section that must be written cautiously and attentively. The body section usually comprises of the three separate paragraphs. As a recommender you must ensure that you -

Paragraph 1: Highlight the candidate's key strengths and achievements

Paragraph 2: Provide supporting real-life examples for the strengths mentioned above.

Paragraph 3: Discuss the candidate's traits and character and how he/she can be an asset for the opportunity they are applying for.

Conclusion: Lastly, a strong conclusion is written, that summarizes the entire letter of recommendation by showing confidence in the candidate's potential. As a recommender it is your duty to ensure that the ending stance of the LOR resonates well with the admissions committees.

Closing Signature: End the LOR with the closing signature and contact information (if you've not provided your contact number and Email in the conclusion, add here).

Letter of Recommendation Format for University Students

A Letter of Recommendation (LOR) is an essential part of university admission, providing insight into your academic abilities and personal qualities. Understanding the correct Letter of Recommendation format is key to ensuring that your LOR stands out to admissions committees.

The format of LOR should follow a clear structure, emphasizing your strengths, achievements, and character. By following the proper LOR format, you can craft a compelling letter that supports your university application and increases your chances of acceptance.

To help you understand better, below is the general formatting tips for writing an LOR, take a look -

1. The word limit should be kept between 300-500.
2. Use standard page layout size (8.5x11 inch).
3. Set margins to 1 inch on all sides.
4. Use professional font styles (Arial, Calibri, or Times New Roman)
5. Use font size 12 for body and 14 for headings or name.
6. Align the texts to the left margin.
7. Use single spacing within paragraphs and double spacing between paragraphs.

Right Time To Request A Letter of Recommendation

Request a letter of recommendation at least two months before the university application deadline. This will give plenty of time to your referee to write your LOR. Never wait till the last moment. Always try to avoid any last-minute rush and ensure that quality is maintained and that the formatting is done appropriately. Keep in mind that you are not the only one asking the referee for a letter of recommendation, so be respectful of their time and plan everything well in advance.

Choosing The Right Recommender For Your Letter Of Recommendation

Choosing the right recommender who can endorse you perfectly is very important, since not only your recommender's words, but their overall aura and designation will also be noticed by the admissions committee.

Always keep in mind, the real objective of writing an LOR is to present yourself before the committee as a meritorious student or an employee. Therefore, always choose someone who knows you well enough and takes pride in presenting you impressively and convincingly.

The right recommender depends on the context of the LOR, such as -

1. For Academic LORs: Formal professional, Teacher, Lecturer, Dean, HOD, or Principal.
2. For Professional LORs: Formal employer, Manager, HR, Team Leader, or Supervisor.

Correct Approach For Requesting A Letter of Recommendation

Asking for a letter of recommendation can be intimidating for many but following the right approach can give positive results. Make sure to always approach in person where possible. It gives a more personal and respectful touch to the approach.

Here is a step-by-step guide for requesting an LOR, take a look:

1. Choose the right person: Always select someone who knows you well and can highlight your strengths and achievements strongly. Also, choose someone in relevant position and responsibility to the opportunity you are applying for. For example: a former employer or a professor.
2. Plan Ahead: Always plan everything well in advance to avoid last-minute rush. Give your referee at least two months before the application deadline ends.
3. Make the request: Make a request either in person or via email. However, always try to request in person to show responsibility and respect. Keep the request clear and straightforward.
4. Provide Context: Clearly explain the purpose of requesting the LOR, for example, scholarship, admissions, or job application, and emphasize the points you want them to highlight in the letter.
5. Offer to help: Always offer to help your recommender with anything they need while writing the LOR like a resume, list of achievements, etc.
6. Follow up: Politely remind them about the deadline before a week or 2. Show gratitude and appreciation for their time and help.

Letter of Recommendation Template : Email Request Guide

When requesting the recommender to write an LOR via Email, candidates must use a very formal and respectful approach. However, it is always better to approach in person wherever possible, but, even when approaching through email, there are some points you should always keep in mind.

Here is an email template for requesting a letter of recommendation (LOR) -

Figure 3: Email template for requesting for an LOR sample example

Top 10 Tips For Writing A Perfect LOR For Students

Writing an LOR can be a challenging task. Always remember an LOR is a very important supporting document to a candidate's application for a job, admission, or scholarship. Therefore, you must ensure that the LOR you write is perfect in every way.

Here are the top 10 tips to help you write a perfect LOR -

1. Understand the purpose: Clearly understand the purpose of writing the LOR (admissions, jobs, or scholarship) and tailor it according to that.
2. Adequate information: Ask the candidate for all the required information and documents like a CV and a list of key highlights to be included.
3. Professional formatting: Always use professional letter format as discussed in the fourth heading above.
4. Properly introduce yourself: Clearly state your designation, relation with the candidate, and how long you've known the candidate.
5. Highlight key strengths and achievements: Focus on the candidate's key strengths and skills relevant to the opportunity applied.
6. Discuss personal quality: Highlight the candidate's personal qualities like teamwork, communication skills, and problem-solving skills. Try and endorse the candidate's unique abilities.
7. Be specific and concise: Conclude your LOR within the specified word limit (300-500) and use clear and concise language throughout the letter.
8. Provide a strong conclusion: Strongly express confidence in the candidate's potential and recommend them as a perfect fit for the opportunity.
9. Offer to follow up: Provide your contact information and ensure you are available for further assistance if required.
10. Proofread and edit: Proofread the LOR and double-check all the details to make it error-free.

Common Mistakes To Avoid While Writing An LOR

It is important to make the LOR error-free and properly structured to make the application stand out from the crowd. It is important to understand that one tiny mistake can lead to the application rejection. Therefore, craft an letter of recommendation (LOR) with full focus and dedication.

Here is the list of common mistakes to avoid while writing an LOR, check out -

1. Being too generic: Avoid using generic and vague statements that are irrelevant to the context.
2. Don't mention weaknesses: Avoid stating out the weaknesses or areas of improvement of the candidate.
3. Overloading the information: Avoid making the LOR overwhelming by using too many details.
4. Using informal language: Avoid using informal or casual language in the LOR. Be professional, since you are representing yourself, while addressing your candidate.
5. Lack of specificity: An LOR that doesn't mention the relevant examples showcasing the candidate's strengths and skills is of no use and will never impress the admissions committee.
6. Being too brief: Avoid writing LORs that are too short that it lacks a lot of details. Try and maintain the right balance.

Who Can Write A Strong LOR For Your University Application?

Now that you've read this blog, you know how crucial an LOR is for making an application stand out from the competition. And so, it becomes very important to write an letter of recommendation (LOR) with full focus and caution as one mistake can result in application rejection.

At The Student Helpline we understand what significance an LOR holds, which is why we have a team of highly experienced and professional LOR writers, who are proficient in writing LORs tailored specifically to your needs. With thousands of successful LORs written, The Student Helpline is one of the leading LOR writing service providers in India. Enroll with us now!

FAQs About Letter of Recommendation (LOR)

How is LOR different from a reference letter?

An LOR specifically highlights the candidate's academic and professional strengths, achievements, and character traits, whereas, a reference letter is more generic, and focused on the candidate's personality traits and character in general.

How to submit the LORs?

The recommender can submit the LOR written for the candidate for abroad universities either by email to the university's official email ID or by traditional ways like post/mail to the university address.

Do universities verify LORs?

Mostly yes, universities do verify the LORs submitted by the candidate. However, this depends on the university the candidate applied for. Sometimes, there is no verification of the LORs.

How long are LORs valid for?

12 months is the validity of an LOR. However, it can also be extended to 18 months, depending on the applied university's policies and guidelines.

Can I reuse LORs?

Mostly no, most of the universities recommend using different LORs for different applications. Re-submitting an LOR can result in the rejection of the application.

Is letterhead important for LORs?

Yes, for academic LORs, it is important to use the university's letterhead only. However, for professional and character LORs, letterheads are not that mandatory. You can use a standard A4 size sheet for LORs.

What is the importance of LOR?

A LOR is a very crucial document that supports the candidate's application and boosts the chances of getting selected. It highlights the candidate before the committee above their resume and grades.

Do LORs need to be stamped?

Yes, all the LORs must be submitted with the authentic stamp and signature of the recommender and their organization. Stamped and signature LORs are more authentic and trusted.

What is the ideal length of an LOR?

300-500 words (1-2 pages) is the ideal size of an LOR. It is important to stick to the word limit to make the LOR professional and efficient.

Can a LOR be handwritten?

Yes, an LOR can be handwritten if you are submitting it through post/mail. It gives the LOR a more personalized touch.