SAMPLE - Electronics Letter of Recommendation

It is with great pleasure that I write this letter of recommendation for Mr. Aaresh Powvalla as he has an indisputable potential and motivation for graduate studies. I have known Aaresh since 1996. During his coursework in Department of Electronic Engineering I had the opportunity to closely interact with him in the three semesters that I have taught him. This has convinced me that he is very genuine in pursuit of his academic excellence.

His final year project (Automated Teller Machine) is under my guidance. While discussing the concepts of his project work he has been very impressive. He has shown excellent capability to understand technical papers, implement those ideas and work indefatigably on the modules undertaken thus far.

I was associated with Aaresh in the sixth and seventh semesters for Microprocessor II & III Laboratory Work. His lab-work was disciplined and creditable. He has good command over assembly language programming for microprocessors and micro-controller.

Academically he is an intelligent and diligent student, which is clearly reflected in the excellent marks that he has consistently achieved. He was my student for the courses in �Electronics�I� (Semester III), �Microprocessor-II� (Semester IV) and presently in �Microprocessor-III� (Semester VII). I imparted the concepts of 8086 and its peripherals, 80386 and 8051. His performance in these courses has been superior, impressing me with his commitment to learn and think innovatively.

Aaresh is a student of high moral and ethical standards. I am sure he will put forth all his effort into any task that he confronts. By providing him a graduate program in your college you will not only give him an opportunity for career growth but also help his achievements to culminate. I recommend him for graduate studies and deserving financial assistance. I feel that his academic proficiency and potential for research make him one of the truly outstanding candidates I have come across. Yours truly,

LOR for Therapists

"This letter is in support of X, who is applying for a . . . grant. I have read his statement of purpose with great care; in fact, I have had many discussions with him about his project, which I find both compelling and important.X is a rare combination: he is already at this young age a seasoned expert in both literature and iconography . . . . Having taught him in a language-intensive course last year, I can bear witness to his superb command of German . . . .
His project's focus of interest, the . . . , is admirably suited to someone of X's talents and industry. The . . . Institute is the ideal place to carry out such research, and I am confident that X`s discoveries will in the long run make an impact on learning in that field.
Add to all this that X is a very congenial person, well-liked by teachers and fellow-students alike, and you will see why I am so positive about this bright and energetic young scholar. I endorse his candidacy with confidence and enthusiasm.

During the course of the week, _______ presented material with such ease and humor that she set the tone for the entire workshop. Her creative ideas for presentations and activities were inventive and entertaining; they were also astonishingly effective.With participants from a variety of backgrounds, there was often conflict, and occasionally confrontation. While setting limits, _______ managed to respond consistently with respect and compassion. The experience had a profound effect on the participants and, because of _______'s exceptional skill and professionalism, she has been invited by many schools to offer similar workshops During the time I have known ________, she has distinguished herself as a conscientious and energetic pioneer in the field of social and emotional learning. I have enormous respect for her teaching and leadership skills, and have been pleased to work with her on many occasions. Two years ago, __________ was invited by _________ University Counseling Center to consult to our
Peer Counseling program.

I was eager to have such an extraordinary teacher help with the training of the students and the development of the program. Her skills, which were so apparent in Lithuania, were equally impressive in the United States. She was an eager, enthusiastic teacher who was greatly admired by the Hopkins students. She led group discussions and facilitated role-plays with great skill, and also helped in the development of outreach programs. She is particularly gifted at identifying students' needs, encouraging their contributions, and involving them in the planning process. Her commitment and passion for her work was evident as we worked together during that year, and she became a close friend and colleague during the visit.

I know of _________'s continued interest in programs related to social competence and emotional development. She has instituted many impressive programs for school children and families, and it has been an honor to consult with her on some of these projects . I have the greatest admiration for her work. Your program of study sounds ideally suited to ________'s needs and talents. She will be coming to you with the qualities of a natural therapist: genuineness, warmth, compassion, and integrity. She will also bring her interest in scholarly research and program development. Just as importantly, she would come with an enthusiasm for both learning and teaching, well as a resolute desire to understand new theories and ideas. It is exciting to think of the ways in which she might contribute to your program. I urge you to carefully consider ________ who is, quite simply, the most remarkable teacher I have ever met.Sincerely,

Letter of Recommendation

If you need to secure a good position in the work force or be admitted to a school of higher learning, you will probably need one or more letters of recommendation. Both employers and admissions boards need to know as much as possible about an applicant to determine his or her ability to perform adequately. Letters of recommendation provide information from a former employer or a credible associate who has been personally involved with the candidate. This outside source provides a valuable record of the candidate's previous experience and can testify to his or her skills and abilities. An effective letter of recommendation:---
verifies experience , confirms competence , builds credibility , bolsters confidence

The information contained in a letter of recommendation depends on the type of letter and its intended audience. Information is often different for a letter written for an academic admissions board than one written for a prospective employer.

The Letter Writer

Choose who will represent you wisely. No one person can represent you accurately in all areas. Find someone who knows your strengths in the areas you need to satisfy the requirements of a particular employer or admissions board. Schedule a convenient time for you and your employer or advisor to meet. Review the requirements and expectations of the recommendation letter. This process helps the person who is writing the letter answer questions, clarify points that may need elaboration, and point out additional information that may be required. Make this process easy by providing all of the information needed so that you can obtain an accurate and positive recommendation.

Keep in mind that the recommender is doing you a favor and has a busy schedule with other commitments. Make sure you allow enough time so that he or she can provide you with a well-written and effective letter.When you request a recommendation, communicate your needs in a straightforward way. Explain what you are applying for and ask if the person can provide you with a good recommendation. If someone exhibits any uneasiness about providing you with a strong recommendation, be polite, thank him or her for their time and then look elsewhere. Choose someone who:-
can provide a well-written letter, knows you well enough to be credible,thinks highly of you and your abilities , holds a respected position.

Writing Your Own Letter of Recommendation

Do not be surprised if a person you are asking for a recommendation asks you to write a first draft of the letter that he or she will then modify and sign. Begin by providing an accurate assessment of your strengths without dwelling on limitations. Letters of recommendation are intended to be positive and realistic evaluations of performance, competence, and capability. Do not be shy in communicating your strengths. Look at the following suggestions:

List your strengths, talents, and abilities. These may include diligence, punctuality, leadership, reliability, enthusiasm, creativity, independence, teamwork, organization, etc. Highlight your strengths and accomplishments without bragging. Choose several of your qualities and strengths that match the current situation; do not list everything you have ever done. Use a professional vocabulary and style; write as if you were the employer providing the letter.

Writing a Letter of Recommendation for Someone Else

When you are asked to write a letter of recommendation, be honest in your assessment. Put yourself in the reader's position and consider what you would want to know if you were reading the letter. If you have concerns about specific areas, be up front with the requester when you are asked to write the recommend. There should be no surprises. A good way to create a letter of recommendation is to use pre-designed templates available in letter-writing products. Additionally, you should review writing samples to better understand the structure before you begin to write. Follow these steps to be fair to everyone involved: Be honest about your feelings, intentions, and concerns. This will save time and embarrassment for both parties if you feel that you cannot provide a good recommendation. If you are not sure what to write, ask the requester to provide a draft letter for you to review, edit, finalize, and sign.Find out when the requestor needs the letter and be sensitive to deadlines.

LOR for fellowships

"I am pleased to write to you on behalf of X, who is applying for a fellowship to study . . . . I have known X for two years. She took my course in . . . . More recently, I have been advising her on her thesis.

X has done well in Harvard's . . . concentration. The concentration includes preparation in . . . . In addition, she has had substantial exposure to the "practical" aspects of her topic, for example through her work at . . . . Thus she is extremely well prepared to fulfill her proposed project.
X has selected an area, . . . , which is of growing interest. . . . In my view as someone who studies . . . among other topics, questions such as this are severely under-researched. The proposed topic - . . . - seems to be both worthwhile and feasible, and should prove very interesting.

X is an independent self-starter. While she has no trouble working in groups, or interacting with others, she can also work well on her own. Furthermore, she is mature and personable. I would expect her to perform well in a wide range of environments. In fact, her personality and skills should place her high on any list of good "representatives" for the U.S.
I hope that you will consider her application strongly."

LOR for any Purpose

"I am writing in support of X to . . . . I have known X since September, l986. He was a member of a small . . . tutorial that I taught in l986-87. . . . X was an active and conscientious member of the class. He challenged the rest of the class to consider issues from new perspectives and often asked very penetrating and important questions. He chose to take on difficult topics and handled them well. His assignments were well-written, well-supported, organized, neat, and timely. It was evident that X really desired to learn more and challenge himself. . . .

X also has interest outside of academics. He has been an active member of . . . , a Harvard singing group, and a member of the campus . . . club. He is also a member of the . . . House film society. X's personality is wonderful. He is outgoing and friendly, but not dominating. He has an obvious and sincere concern for others. . . .


X would be a wonderful student to have at . . . . He has skills that he is eager to share, but he is just as eager to learn. . . . I feel very confident that he will be extremely successful in all his future endeavors. He is a focussed and determined young man. I highly recommend him for . . . ."

SAMPLe - Letter of Recommendation

"X has been an assistant in my laboratory during the past year, and has proven to be exceptional in several respects. First, X is exceptionally intelligent. He proved to be a very quick study, learning the elements of experimental design and the uses of microcomputers in record time. Furthermore, his questions are always thoughtful and penetrating. X threw himself into his assigned projects wholeheartedly, and shows every sign of having real talent in . . . . I was a little surprised by his high degree of enthusiasm because I knew that X was not primarily interested in . . . . When I mentioned this to him, I discovered that he has well defined career goals that mesh with the projects he was working on . . . .

Second, X is exceptionally diligent and hard working. He worked many extra hours over the summer. I vividly recall coming into the lab late in the evening. . . and finding X at work. X invariably finished projects well in advance of our projected target date. X was always cheerful during this intense period, and was a joy to have in the lab.

Third, X is very good at working with other people. He is exceptionally nice and considerate and sensitive. X is not only good humored and friendly, but also is good at gauging other people's level of knowledge and attitudes. . . .

All in all, I think X has a very bright future, and I am sure that he would benefit from . . . . Given his great intelligence and sensitivity, I am sure that he could put . . . to good use.
In short, I give X my highest recommendation, and very much hope that the committee judges his application favorably."

SAMPLE - Engineering Letter of Recommendation

I am pleased to write this letter of recommendation for Mr. Aaresh Powvalla to attend your Graduate School Of Engineering. I have known Aaresh since 1997. I had the occasions to correlate with him during his coursework in the Department of Electronic Engineering in the three semesters that I have taught him. This has honestly made me believe that he is very decisive in his quest for academic growth. He also has an unquestionable aptitude and motivation for graduate studies.

He is a persevering and intelligent student as far as academics is concerned, which is clearly seen in the admirable marks that he has consistently achieved. I have been his teacher in more than two classes.
He was my student for the courses in :

Electromagnetic Fields & Waves (Semester V),
Microprocessor-II (Semester VI) and
Presently in Digital Communication (Semester VII).

His performance in these courses has been superior, impressing me with his commitment to learn and think innovatively. He has authority over assembly language programming for microprocessors. I have taught him the concepts of 8086 and its peripherals, electromagnetic field theory and digital modulation techniques.I am currently (seventh semester) Aaresh is Lab-in-charge for Digital Communication. His lab-work is very disciplined and meritorious and I am impressed with his interactive approach and clear expression. His prospects as a researcher are ably complimented with his experimental skills in the laboratory.

I recommend him for graduate studies and fitting financial assistance. In my view his academic know-how, competence and commitment for research, definitely make him one of the most noteworthy student I have taught. I am convinced he will put forth all his effort into any endeavor. By furnishing him a graduate program in your college you will not only give him an opening for career headway but also help him reach the supreme level of accomplishment. In a word, I aver that Aaresh is an ideal candidate for your graduate program.Yours truly,

General Letter of Recommendation

"I first knew X in the spring of l986 when she was a member of my Freshman Seminar, '. . . .` In such small groups teacher and students come to know one another in a way that is seldom, if ever, possible in large lecture courses. In either forum something can be learned about a student's academic ability, but only in the former can one get a reliable measure of the student as a person. . . . Having kept in touch with X in the intervening years, I am confident in my knowledge of her.

To begin with, she is an excellent student, with a lively curiosity that makes her dissatisfied with superficial explanations. That curiosity frequently led our seminar down avenues and into areas that, otherwise, would have remained unexplored. . . .

One has only to speak to her to recognize her openness and eagerness. It is easy to mistake this for naiveté, an error I made when she first told me she had signed up to be an apprentice teacher in one of Boston's more notorious inner city high schools. . . . Throughout the term, often at great cost to her own peace of mind, and sometimes in explicit conflict with the regular teacher, she continued to insist on a high level of performance from her students. She not only survived the term but won the admiration and respect of students accustomed to being patronized by teachers content to believe that nothing much can be expected.

I would expect X to bring these same qualities of character to . . . . That is, an openness to new places, peoples, cultures and customs; a keen intelligence, with which to analyze and order her experience; irrepressible curiosity; and an unusual ability for dealing with people of all ages and conditions. Those qualities, combined with her toughness of character. . ., will enable her to understand and empathize with others while never losing touch with who she is."

LOR for Language studies

"This letter is in support of X, who is applying for a . . . grant. I have read his statement of purpose with great care; in fact, I have had many discussions with him about his project, which I find both compelling and important.
X is a rare combination: he is already at this young age a seasoned expert in both literature and iconography . . . . Having taught him in a language-intensive course last year, I can bear witness to his superb command of German . . . .
His project's focus of interest, the . . . , is admirably suited to someone of X's talents and industry. The . . . Institute is the ideal place to carry out such research, and I am confident that X`s discoveries will in the long run make an impact on learning in that field.
Add to all this that X is a very congenial person, well-liked by teachers and fellow-students alike, and you will see why I am so positive about this bright and energetic young scholar. I endorse his candidacy with confidence and enthusiasm."
summer conference outside of _________ for teenagers interested in communication skills. During the course of the week, _______ presented material with such ease and humor that she set the tone for the entire workshop. Her creative ideas for presentations and activities were inventive and entertaining; they were also astonishingly effective.With participants from a variety of backgrounds, there was often conflict, and occasionally confrontation. While setting limits, _______ managed to respond consistently with respect and compassion. The experience had a profound effect on the participants and, because of _______'s exceptional skill and professionalism, she has been invited by many schools to offer similar workshops During the time I have known ________, she has distinguished herself as a conscientious and energetic pioneer in the field of social and emotional learning. I have enormous respect for her teaching and leadership skills, and have been pleased to work with her on many occasions. Two years ago, __________ was invited by _________ University Counseling Center to consult to our Peer Counseling program. I was eager to have such an extraordinary teacher help with the training of the students and the development of the program. Her skills, which were so apparent in Lithuania, were equally impressive in the United States. She was an eager, enthusiastic teacher who was greatly admired by the Hopkins students. She led group discussions and facilitated role-plays with great skill, and also helped in the development of outreach programs. She is particularly gifted at identifying students' needs, encouraging their contributions, and involving them in the planning process. Her commitment and passion for her work was evident as we worked together during that year, and she became a close friend and colleague during the visit.I know of _________'s continued interest in programs related to social competence and emotional development. She has instituted many impressive programs for school children and families, and it has been an honor to consult with her on some of these projects . I have the greatest admiration for her work. Your program of study sounds ideally suited to ________'s needs and talents. She will be coming to you with the qualities of a natural therapist: genuineness, warmth, compassion, and integrity. She will also bring her interest in scholarly research and program development. Just as importantly, she would come with an enthusiasm for both learning and teaching, well as a resolute desire to understand new theories and ideas. It is exciting to think of the ways in which she might contribute to your program. I urge you to carefully consider ________ who is, quite simply, the most remarkable teacher I have ever met.Sincerely,