Guideline To Write A SOP and LOR For Graduate School
SOP & LOR
Guidance to prepare Letter of Recommendation
A Letter of Recommendation (LOR) for a particular study programme is presented by a professor associated with you for a considerable amount of time and recommends you for admission to the university.
Hence, your recommender must highlight your suitability for that programme by showcasing your calibre and skills. It should also speak well of your character attributes.
But, if you can’t present a winning SOP and LOR, the journey to your dream grad school may not be possible.
Now, before you request your professor for a LOR, it’s important to remember the following 8 points for any graduate programme.
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Urge the recommender to talk about diverse accomplishments
If you need to submit two or three recommendation letters, ask the writers to highlight different facets of your personality, accomplishments, and extracurricular and academic success. For instance, one letter can highlight your research abilities, while another might concentrate on how well you perform in class.
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Provide the recommender with relevant information
Even if the person writing the recommendation is familiar with you, it’s likely that they do not have a complete record of your academic successes, extracurricular accomplishments, and test results.
So, help them by giving them all the information they need, such as your accomplishments and academic GPAs, your volunteering certificates and extracurricular activities, and the deadline for submitting the letter.
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LORs should be example-based
Recommenders must provide examples or anecdotes that can assist the admission authorities in recognising particular traits in you. For example, it is vague to only claim that a candidate has strong research skills without providing an example from a Study Abroad or discussion.
Hence, ensure that the recommender writes about a project or initiative you were associated with.
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Your LOR should demonstrate your growth over time
Admissions representatives have already seen a vast number of applications. So, if your letter is just about positive things, it will stand as phoney and unreal.
Therefore, it’s necessary that the person writing the recommendation also mentions how you have grown through time, leaned on your strengths, and dealt with your limitations.
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The tone of the letter shouldn’t be overly serious
Without a doubt, the recommendation letter is an official document. But it shouldn’t be mistaken for writing in a dry tone.
Even though admissions committees value formal letters, they also prefer individualised recommendation letters. Hence, ensure that your LOR stands as a powerful letter that will communicate about you without using any platitudes. Additionally, each of your LOR should differ in style and substance without impairing the format.
Ready to get your LOR? Don’t skip these elements as well –
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Structure of LOR-
A Letter of Recommendation is typically written in running format. Also, some universities have question-and-answer sessions, although they are less frequent.
However, a LOR typically fits on one page and has 400–500 words.
An introduction, two or three body paragraphs, and a conclusion comprise its 4-5 paragraph structure.
Although the content of the Academic and Professional LOR may differ, there are also differences in the structure and format, which you will find in the next paragraph.
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Letter of Recommendation Format
A letter-formatted letter of recommendation must outline the candidate’s credentials, accomplishments, abilities, and talents.
The general format of writing LOR is as follows:
- Introduction (1 paragraph)
- Information of candidate (3 paragraphs)
- Conclusion (1 paragraph)
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Content of Letter of Recommendation
Below are the content elements that your recommender must fit in the LOR –
- Recommender’s relationship with the student
- Length and nature of the relationship
- Insights regarding student and student execution
- Confirmation of important work insight
- Past and current accomplishments
- Logical capacity and basic reasoning
- Scholarly and extracurricular potential and exercises
- Enthusiasm, energy, inspiration, and responsibility towards the proposed program
- Uncertified or affirmed abilities applicable to the program applied for
- Elements that may influence the candidate’s presentation
- Data on how the candidates charge against peers
Final Words
The role of a ‘Statement of Purpose’ and ‘Letter of Recommendation’ is enormous in providing you with the gateway to your dream institution. Hence, every step in preparing them cannot be compromised.
Hence, follow the mentioned guideline above, and your admission process will succeed on the first attempt!
