LOR (Letter of Recommendation) - All You Need to Know

The Letter of Recommendation, also known as LOR, is a crucial document that offers admission officers a comprehensive understanding of your qualifications and suitability for admission to the respective university.

The purpose of a LOR or reference letter is to highlight a candidate’s academic achievements. and experiences. It also delineates a candidate’s major accomplishments, individual contributions to a project, and specific skills.

The LOR is written by individuals who are authorised and have the required professional expertise and experience. A recommender usually explains why a candidate is suitable and endorses his/her potential. It is important to note that a person writing the LOR for student should know the candidate well for a good amount of time.

Types of Letters of Recommendation (LORs)

Letters of Recommendation can be categorised into three broad groups depending on their nature:

Academic LOR

A letter of recommendation (LOR) from a college or university is referred to as an Academic LOR. It is required by candidates for their academic pursuits. Usually, universities request two or three LORs from a candidate’s previous educational institution.

For undergraduate programs, candidates can approach their school teachers. Likewise for MA/MSc or PhD programs, candidates can seek recommendations from professors at their college.

The content and format of the Letter of Recommendation for students may vary, but it usually emphasizes the candidate’s achievements as a student in the respective course. These letters of recommendation for students are particularly significant for pursuing MS programs abroad or undergraduate courses in foreign universities.

Professional LOR

The majority of international MBA colleges have predetermined prerequisites for work experience. Consequently, they require a Professional Letter of Recommendation from a direct superior. The format of the Professional Letter of Recommendation (LOR) from a supervisor differs from an Academic LOR.

A Professional LOR includes specific content highlighting the candidate’s teamwork skills, domain expertise, and leadership abilities, all of which are essential while pursuing an MBA program.

Personal LOR

Usually, universities based abroad require applicants to submit a single personal letter of recommendation in order to gain insight into their character, accomplishments, and personality. This reference letter is expected to be provided by close relatives, friends, or other acquaintances.

A personal LOR offers a more profound understanding of an applicant's personality, thus determining their suitability for a specific program or admission to the university.

It is advisable for a candidate to go through a letter of recommendation sample before drafting or submitting a LOR. A letter of recommendation sample will give the candidate a clear idea of what should be included and what should not be included in the LOR.

Purpose of a Letter of Recommendation

A candidate planning to pursue education abroad must obtain an academic letter of recommendation. Whether a candidate is going to pursue an undergraduate, master's, or doctoral program, he/she needs to secure a minimum of three reference letters. These LORs can be either from their educational institution or professional background. There are various reference letter formats available online. A student can follow a specific letter of recommendation format based on his/her purpose.

Undergraduate students can request LORs from teachers, professors, or from the school principal. Master's students can obtain recommendation letters from college professors, internship supervisors, or the team lead/manager from their previous workplace.

Aspiring management students should primarily seek professional LORs, especially if they possess three or more years of work experience. As for MBA and PhD aspirants who have recently graduated from college, they can approach their college professors, supervisors, or project guides for recommendation letters.

Tips to Write a Letter of Recommendation

A letter of recommendation, commonly known as LOR, is typically a 400–500-word essay that discusses the positive attributes and areas for improvement of a candidate. It is important to include details about the nature and duration of the association in the recommendation letter. Candidates should adhere to certain basic formats while drafting the letter:

• Candidates should note that it is mandatory for most universities to have their LOR printed on the official letterhead.

• In the case of an Academic Letter of Recommendation, the university's letterhead is required, while for a Professional Letter of Recommendation, the company's letterhead is necessary.

• It is important to understand that a Letter of Recommendation should not simply repeat the content of a Statement of Purpose.

• An optimal letter of recommendation is expected to showcase facets or viewpoints of a candidate’s character that are not mentioned in the statement of purpose or resume. Therefore, an exemplary recommender is someone who is familiar with the candidate. One who has directly observed the calibre of work the candidate has produced. The candidate should willingly agree to provide concrete examples of the valuable contributions and outstanding performance of a candidate.

• A generic letter of recommendation should be avoided at all costs, as it does not provide significant value to a candidate’s application for the program he/she is seeking. Hence, the foundation of a strong letter of recommendation lies in the inclusion of compelling examples.

It is crucial for candidates to keep in mind that the Admission Committee reviews a vast number of applications during each intake. To distinguish himself/herself, it is essential for a candidate to emphasize his/her qualities and achievements with concrete examples.

Additionally, it is important to ensure that each Letter of Recommendation (LOR) is unique by incorporating instances that are specific to the recommender. It is worth mentioning that an impressive LOR holds the same significance as a well-drafted Statement of Purpose (SOP).

It is important to be mindful of the formats and avoid common mistakes while writing a recommendation letter. Furthermore, it is necessary to tailor the recommendation letters according to the requirements of different courses.

Format of a Letter of Recommendation

Applicants should be aware that admission officers from international universities will review numerous applications before choosing suitable candidates. In this situation, submitting a poorly crafted letter of recommendation (LOR) is more detrimental than not providing one at all. Therefore, it is recommended to follow a professional letter of recommendation format as a guide before composing your own. A comprehensive LOR for admission officers abroad should adhere to the following guidelines, at the very least, to be considered a complete LOR.

Introduction: This section provides an introduction of the recommender, highlighting his/her professional or academic connection with the student or applicant.

List of Achievements: All the list of achievements and milestones covered by the applicant so far in his/her life.

Personality Assessment: A candidate's professional character, skills, and attributes are described in this section to provide insights into their strengths and weaknesses.

Conclusion: Explaining and recommending the applicant as the right fit to study a particular course at a selected university.

Contact: A proper LOR must have the name, designation, and contact details of the recommender.

Related Links:

• Statement of Purpose (SOP)
• How to Write SOP (Statement of Purpose)
• LOR for MBA
• Sample LOR for MS