Preview Generic Letter Of Recommendation For Student

TipsforWritingStrongLettersofRecommendation

Important:Ifyoucannotwriteasupportiveletter ofrecommendation(e.g.,ifyoudidnotworkwiththe

studentverylongordidnothaveagoodexperience),pleaseletthestudentknowthathe/sheshould

requestaletterfromsomeoneelse.

Thetipsbelow assumethatyouareinsupportofthestudent’sapplicationandwouldliketosee

him/herbesuccessful:

 Thestrongestlettersincludeat

least3paragraphs:

o Introduction–includinghowlongandinwhatcapacityyouhaveknownthestudent

o 2

Paragraph–outliningdetailsofyourassessmentofthestudent’sabilities

o Conclusion–summarizingthestrengthofyourrecommendation

 Letterlengthisofteninterpretedasameasureofthestrengthofyourrecommendation–ifyour

recommendationisstrong,thelettershouldgoontoasecondpag e;

lettersthatare1pageor

lessareoftenconsidered“redflags”bysomeprogramdirectors

 Includeaccuratedescriptionsandspecificexamplesofthestudent’sabilities–avoideither

exaggerationoroverlyvague/genericdescriptors

 Whenpossible,includestatistics(e.g.,“Ms.Jonesisamongthetop5%ofstudentswith

whomI

haveworked,”or10%,20%,etc.)

 Indescribinganyweaknesses,considerwhetheryoucanframethempositively(e.g.,

“demonstratedimprovementindocumentation…”ratherthan“demonstratedpoor

documentation”)

 Includeanypositiontitles,includingfacultyappointments,inyoursignature

 “Real”signaturesarepreferredoverdigitalsignatures

The

tablebelowprovidesa usefulexampleofrevisinga“vague”or“ambiguous”letter:



Roberts&Termuehlen,AcadPsych2013;37(1):55‐9.

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