Letters of Recommendation for Graduate School Admissions
A letter of recommendation is a
letter that makes a statement of support for a candidate. This
letter should present a well-documented evaluation, providing
sufficient evidence and information to help an admission committee
get a better picture of you and your potential.
Nearly every graduate program requires
applicants to submit letters of recommendation. Don't underestimate
the importance of these letters. While your transcript, standardized
test scores, and personal statement are vital components to your
application, an excellent letter of recommendation can make up for
weaknesses in any of these areas.
The best letters of recommendation come from professors or
individuals who know you well. A well written letter of
recommendation provides admissions committees with information that
isn't found elsewhere in the application. A letter of recommendation
discusses applicant's personal qualities, accomplishments, and
experiences that make him/her unique and perfect for the programs to
which he/she is applying.
Selection committees normally weed out mediocre application packets
before focusing on the excellent ones. This means that a brief
letter with phrases like "good student" and "hard worker" that
aren't substantiated with examples will get tossed aside in favor of
the detailed letter that doesn't just tell but shows how qualified
the student is. Remember, what makes a student's application packet
stand out from the others is not only grades and accomplishments,
but the specifics of what the student did and how he or she went
about it.
Learn more about the structure of the
Recommendation Letters:
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