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Begin the letter by stating the purpose of the letter and the capacity in which your reference knows you. For example, “It is my pleasure to recommend Jane Smith for admission to your graduate program.
A recommendation letter should include information on who you are, your connection with the person you are recommending, why they are qualified, and the specific skills they have. Specifics. Whenever possible, it’s helpful to provide specific anecdotes and examples that illustrate your support.
First of all, know that writing your own letter of recommendation is an acceptable, even common practice, and that it doesn’t mean your recommender is too busy to help you get into medical school or uninterested in championing you.
Admissions officers want to learn about your personal qualities and strengths from your recommenders. These personal qualities could include integrity, caring for others, thoughtfulness, humor, and passion. Two traits they especially value are demonstrated leadership and strength of character.
Dear [Recipient Name], I’m writing to request a letter of recommendation from you regarding the time I spent working with you at [Company Name]. Between [Date] to [Date], I worked under your supervision as a [Job Title] at the [Company Branch Name/Location]. I’m in the process of applying for a [Job Title] position.
If the recipient is currently unknown (this would be likely on an academic application, for instance), then use “Dear Sir/Madam” or “To whom it may concern”. It is often helpful to introduce yourself in the first couple of lines of your letter.
If the letter is for a job application, focus your self-recommendation on skills and qualifications that are required for the job. Make every word count. Address your audience professionally, preferably by name if you know it, and promptly state what you are recommending yourself for.
Open with a friendly and professional salutation, such as “Dear Dean of Students Marcus Smith.” If you don’t know the name of the person, use their title or department name. Establish excitement for your strong recommendation in the first sentence.
Dear [First and Last Name], It’s my absolute pleasure to recommend [Name] for [position] with [Company]. [Name] and I [relationship] at [Company] for [length of time]. I thoroughly enjoyed my time working with [Name], and came to know [him/her/them] as a truly valuable asset to our team.
The short answer is yes, recommendations are important, and are among the many factors that colleges look at when making admissions decisions.
Do All Graduate Schools Require Letters of Recommendation for Admission? No, not all graduate schools require letters of recommendation during the application process. There are reputable, accredited schools that won’t ask you to submit reference letters.
Bad recommendation letters can be hard to put a finger on, because they aren’t necessarily critical or disparaging about a student. … Instead, they might leave a poor impression because they come off as unenthusiastic, unspecific, or simply too short.
According to the most recent survey, 15 percent of colleges report that the counselor recommendation has “considerable importance,” while 46 percent say these letters have “moderate importance.” For teacher recommendations, 11 percent of colleges report that they are of “considerable importance” while 46 percent say …
Key Point. Your letter should use meaningful, vivid stories and examples to demonstrate your outstanding qualities. … At the same time, it’s up to your recommender to make sure her letter is well written and error-free. A great recommendation letter should be clear and articulate.
What do you consider the most outstanding talents or characteristics of the applicant? They make things happen. They volunteer for projects over their head. They get recognized for superior work.
Documents which are likely to be most useful include: • A copy of your transcript. A copy of your resume (if you have one), or a list of activities, relevant experiences. A copy of your personal statement/ essay (talking about your strengths, experiences, goals) — even if it’s in a very rough form.
Formal greetings
-A polite and respectful way to open an email to someone you don’t know is “Dear [first name] [last name], or Dear Mrs/Mr/Miss [first name]. Although the first is a safer bet because nowadays you can’t always tell the gender from someone’s name.