LOR (Letter of Recommendation) - What is LOR, Full Form, Sample, Types

LOR stands for Letter of Recommendation. A LOR highlights a candidate’s key achievements, their unique contributions to projects, and specific skills they possess. Generally, there are two main types of LORs: academic LORs and professional LORs. Academic LORs are often required for international students applying to universities abroad. However for courses like MBA, MiM etc, where work experience might be required, a professional LOR can be a requirement. The letter of recommendation is usually created by someone who knows the candidate well in an academic or professional setting or has closely monitored their work. The recommender should be someone capable of discussing the candidate's abilities, skills, and potential. The LOR must come from individuals who have the appropriate authority and professional background. In a LOR, the recommender typically outlines why the candidate is a great fit and endorses their potential. This document plays a crucial role in helping admission officers understand a candidate's qualifications for their chosen university. Read the article to learn how to write a strong LOR for studying abroad, including tips, why it is important, and more.

This Story also Contains

1. What is a Letter of Recommendation?
2. Types of Letters of Recommendation (LORs)
3. Format of a Letter of Recommendation
4. How to Format a Letter of Recommendation?
5. Sample LOR
6. Word Limit for an LOR
7. Things to Add in an LOR
8. Tips for Writing a Letter of Recommendation
9. Mistakes to Avoid in a Letter of Recommendation
10. How to Ask for a Letter of Recommendation?

What is a Letter of Recommendation?

The LOR full form is Letter of Recommendation. A letter of recommendation is a document created by someone who knows an individual well, highlighting their skills, character, and qualifications. LOR is usually written to support the candidate’s application for a job, academic program, or scholarship. This letter serves as a way for the recommender to endorse the applicant's profile for a specific opportunity. This is a letter created by someone who knows the candidate professionally and can describe their achievements, skills, and character. The purpose of an LOR is to give admission committees a glimpse into the applicant's qualifications and potential, which can significantly help in their admission decisions.

Why is a Letter of Recommendation important?

When applying to graduate schools abroad, a Letter of Recommendation (LOR) holds just as much weight as a Statement of Purpose (SOP) or any other document. It is one of the key documents in your application. A LOR is like feedback from someone else's viewpoint who has already worked with the candidate before. This helps in giving a fresh perspective on the candidate's abilities, academic strengths, and personal qualities. So, why are LORs so important?

1. Academic Insight: A LOR provides an insight about the candidate's academic skills, knowledge, and accomplishments through someone else's perspective who has worked closely with the candidate. This could be a teacher, employer, professor, supervisor, or colleague.

2. Profile Evaluation: In some universities abroad, LOR is used to thoroughly review international applicants. This means assessing candidates not just on academics but also on personal traits like talents, skills, and achievements. LORs are essential in this evaluation process.

3. Unique Application: LOR also has significance for students. It helps international applicants stand out by providing a great letter that showcases their strengths and skills, making them stand out from the crowd among several applications.

When do you need an LOR?

Are you wondering where you need a Letter of Recommendation? If you are a student looking to study abroad, you will need to submit a Letter of Recommendation (LOR) while applying for your course. Generally, you will need at least two to three LORs from your college or professional experiences.

For UG students, LORs can be obtained from the school's principal, teachers, or counselors. If you are an MS student, your letters can come from college instructors, internship supervisors, team leads, or managers from your previous jobs. For MBA candidates, it is advisable to provide professional references. Recent graduates aiming for an MBA or PhD can ask for LORs from project supervisors, instructors, or project advisors.

Who writes an LOR?

An LOR can be requested from the following:

• School principal

• Professors

• Counselors

• Supervisors

• Team Leads

• Managers

• Mentors

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Types of Letters of Recommendation (LORs)

Letters of Recommendation can be categorised into 2 broad groups, academic LOR and professional LOR. While applying for universities abroad, you might be required to submit 2-3 LORs. This could depend on the course and university requirements. However, there are other types of LOR mentioned below.

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 Academic LORs from a candidate’s previous educational institution. An Academic Letter of Recommendation is usually created by someone like a professor, lecturer, head of department, or school principal who has had the chance to teach or mentor you. The key focus areas of an academic LOR include the candidate’s classroom performance, research projects, academic projects and participation in extracurricular activities. An LOR should emphasize skills such as critical thinking, problem-solving etc. 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 academic letter of recommendation for students may vary, but it usually emphasizes the candidate’s achievements as a student in the respective course. Academic letters of recommendation are particularly significant for pursuing MS programs abroad.

Professional LOR

A professional LOR is a letter from someone you have worked with in a professional setting. This could be your manager or your employer. The majority of international MBA colleges have predetermined prerequisites for work experience. Consequently, they require a Professional Letter of Recommendation from a direct superior. 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.

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 drafted letter of recommendation (LOR) is more detrimental than not providing one at all. Therefore, it is recommended to follow a letter of recommendation format as a guide before creating your own.

The content should be divided into 4-5 paragraphs, each covering a unique aspect. The world limit for an LOR is usually 400-500 words, which is almost 1 page. However, students should check if the university has any specific guidelines.

Introduction: This section provides an introduction of the recommender, highlighting his/her professional or academic connection with the student or applicant. This should also include the date, university name & address and salutation.

First Paragraph: Start by establishing a clear connection between the student and the recommender. Explain how the recommender knows the student and for how long. It is important to include their job title and areas of expertise to give context.

Second Paragraph: Highlight the student’s strengths and qualities. Be sure to provide specific examples or scenarios from the recommender’s experiences wherein the candidate has shown the qualities mentioned.

Third Paragraph: Then, share a particular incident that showcases the student’s technical skills, such as a project or research they were involved in. If relevant, you can also touch on extracurricular activities and soft skills that add to their profile.

Fourth Paragraph: Talk about the candidate's weakness and how he or she worked on it to improve it. Note that the weakness should be disguised as a strength.

Conclusion: Summarize all the key points discussed. End with a strong recommendation of the student, recommending them for acceptance into the program they are applying for.

Explore More

• Sample Letter of Recommendation (LOR) for UG Courses
• Letter of Recommendation (LOR) for PhD Students

How to Format a Letter of Recommendation?

There are some key elements of an LOR. Make sure to include these key elements while writing an LOR.

• Include the name, title, institution, and contact info of the recommender.
• Mention the date and salutation. Example: Dear Admissions Committee, or To Whom It May Concern
• Clearly mention the recommender’s identity, designation, and relationship to the applicant.
• How long and in what capacity has the recommender known the applicant?
• A clear and direct endorsement. Example: I highly recommend…
• Detailed evaluation of the skills and abilities, achievements, and personal qualities.
• Provide specific examples or experiences that illustrate the key traits or contributions of the candidate.
• Why the applicant is a good fit for the position, program, or institution.
• Give a strong reaffirmation of recommendation.
• Make sure to provide an offer to provide further information if needed.

Sample LOR

There is a sample LOR mentioned below for reference. Make sure to create your own LOR, taking reference from the following sample LOR to avoid plagiarism.

To Whom It May Concern,

I am happy to recommend (Student Name) for the undergraduate engineering program at your esteemed university. As (Student Name)'s Organic Chemistry teacher at XYZ School in New Delhi for the past two years, I have seen their amazing academic abilities, curious mind, and strong determination.

(Student Name) has a special mix of eagerness to learn and a natural talent for science. They show a deep understanding of tough topics and often explore advanced ideas on their own. Their work in my class was outstanding, always earning top scores and showing a real passion for the subject.

Besides their academic achievements, (Student Name) is a motivated student. They take part in classroom discussions, ask smart questions, and work well with others. Their inclination for learning spreads to their classmates and creates a positive atmosphere in the class.

(Student Name) is a perfectionist, and as a result, takes time to complete tasks. Upon noticing, we had a long conversation on how to manage time and deliver quality work. With due time, I saw them working hard on my feedback and managing tasks and time well.

I believe that (Student Name) can do very well in your challenging engineering program. hence, I am recommending (Student Name) to study at your esteemed university.

Sincerely,

(Full Name of Recommender)

(Designation, Department)

(Name of Institution, City)

(Contact No)

(Email ID)

Word Limit for an LOR

When it comes to a Letter of Recommendation (LOR), the ideal word count usually falls between 400 and 500 words. This can vary a bit based on what the institution or program specifically asks for. Generally, LORs should be a single-page document. While some schools might set strict word limits, many do not mention any specific guidelines. Therefore, it is advisable to check the institution’s guidelines.

Things to Add in an LOR

The following table of phrases mentioned below can be used while drafting an LOR.

Tips for Writing a Letter of Recommendation

A well-drafted letter of recommendation can provide good insights about the candidate's abilities, strengths, and weaknesses. An LOR should be simple, clean, and concise so that the admission committee easily understands the candidate among multiple applications. Make sure to follow the LOR format and tips for writing the letter of recommendation.

• Candidates should note that most universities require LORs 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.

• Quantify the data as much possible to make it reader-friendly. It is important to highlight the quantifiable data. Instead of general statements, provide specific numbers, percentages, and metrics.

• Be specific and do not cross the word limit of an LOR. Avoid vague descriptions or lengthy personal experiences. Focus on concise, impactful statements supported by concrete examples.

• Use formal language while creating an LOR. This involves using right vocabulary, and avoiding slang or casual language.

• Tailor the recommendation letters according to the requirements of different courses. Instead of using a generic template, align the candidate's skills, experiences, and accomplishments with the unique requirements and curriculum of the targeted program.

Mistakes to Avoid in a Letter of Recommendation

Avoid the following mistakes while writing a Letter of Recommendation (LOR).

• Not giving examples: Provide relevant examples and scenarios wherein you portrayed the qualities mentioned in the LOR.
• Too much focus on the relationship: Do not put too much stress on explaining your relationship with the recommender.
• A copy of SOP and Resume: A lot of people make their LOR a copy of their SOP or resume. Ideally, the LOR should complement the SOP and resume and not hold the same information that you already provided in these documents.
• Length: Strictly avoid writing a lengthy LOR. It should be concise and to the point.

How to Ask for 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 need to secure a minimum of three reference letters. These LORs can be either from their educational institution or their professional background. A student can follow a specific letter of recommendation format based on his/her purpose.

• Undergraduate students can request LORs from teachers, professors, or 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.

While requesting an LOR, remember the following.

• Choose the right recommender.
• Brief them on how to write a LOR and what they should include and have a detailed discussion before preparing an LOR.
• Make sure to let your recommender know the deadlines.
• Candidates must keep copies of the LOR.

Related Links:

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