Academic LOR: What Should It Say?

The academic letter of recommendation is usually written by subject teachers, heads of department in your college/university and/or research project mentor or guide. In other words, the referee is someone who can vouch for your scholastic abilities, academic aptitude and contribution in class. However, admissions committees do not want reference letters to provide a generic overview of your academic performance. Neither are they interested in reading letters that mirror the thousands of “templates” available online. Admissions committees want your letters of recommendation to reflect your achievements as a student, your contribution to class discussions and what makes you stand out in your assignments and projects. 

Here are some points that you should keep in mind when brainstorming your academic LoR with your teacher and/or admissions counsellor:

How long and in what capacity have you known the student:

The letter should clearly mention the nature of your engagement with your referee and for how long have they known you. For instance, if your class teacher, who also teaches you a specific subject, is writing your letter of recommendation, they should mention both the capacities in which they know you and for how long. If you are in college, you may have professors who have taught you different courses across different semesters. Your referee could also be someone who has taught you in one semester and guided you on a project/research paper in another. Whatever be the case, please make sure you name the course and respective semester and all the capacities in which the referee knows/has known you. 

Example: 

UG: I have known Catherine for the past three years. I was her class teacher in Grade 10 and I have been teaching her Math since Grade 11. 
PG: I have been John’s Professor for the following courses: Entrepreneurial Mindset, New Venture Creation and Negotiation and Conflict Management in his fourth, fifth and sixth semesters respectively.

Academic standing:

It is pointless to mention the grades you have received in your letters of recommendation as your transcripts are an apt indication of that. Instead, it is advisable to mention your academic standing in that particular subject/course. For instance, your referee can mention that your performance places you in the top 5% of the class and/or top 10 among 60 students taking that course. The more specific and personal the information, the easier it is for admissions committees to draw a mental image of your abilities.

Examples, examples and examples:

Adjectives are important in any letter of recommendation, but their value fizzles out if they are not substantiated with examples. Remember, admissions committees are reading thousands of letters of recommendation that describe students as “good”, “excellent”, “outstanding” and the list goes on. So, what makes YOU stand out? Examples! Your letters of recommendation have to highlight your skills, abilities and talents through specific anecdotes and instances. For instance, if you have performed well in a class project/assignment on a particular topic, your teacher should mention that and highlight how it demonstrates your conceptual clarity and ability to analyse information from a multidimensional perspective. If there is a particular class discussion/presentation that you excelled in, your referee should specify the topic and what it reflects about you.

Example:

UG: I would particularly like to highlight his assignment on calculating the kinetics of an entire chemical industrial process, which exceeded my expectations. His strong conceptual knowhow and ability to collate information from multiple sources made it one of the most well-researched class assignments that I have come across in my teaching career spanning over 10 years. 
PG: In group assignments, John was a valuable team member, providing key insights and perspectives. For his team’s pitch on ‘NFC enabled locks’, he demonstrated the ability to organize the team and delegate responsibilities to each of his teammates. His own contribution on the feasibility study demonstrated his extensive research and also his understanding of the user interfaces.

Participation outside-the-classroom:

Academic letters of recommendation should comment on the student’s contribution to the school community beyond the classroom. This could be in the form of competitions, paper presentations, extracurricular activities etc. Doing so will present to the admissions committee the image of a student who is well-rounded, values practical experiences and believes in applying their knowledge in different settings and platforms.

Example:

UG: Beyond school, John has attended prestigious summer school programs such as YYGS. He has also completed an online course on ‘Social Entrepreneurship’ by Copenhagen University on Coursera. Further, John has voluntarily shared these international educational experiences with his peers and encouraged them to appreciate experiential learning.

PG: In addition to studying engineering, Paras has also pursued his interest in finance and management simultaneously. He has not only interned as a financial analyst but also taken up finance-related courses and started his own venture. This shows his keen business acumen, time management and multitasking skills. Finally, as a campus ambassador for ‘Internshala’, an online portal for internship opportunities for students, Paras has also made significant contributions and encouraged students to realize the significance of experiential learning. His strong leadership skills won him the Platinum Award Certificate for ‘Most number of VTC enrolments in March 2017’.

Personal skills:

Academic letters of recommendation should not be restricted to highlighting your academic credentials. They should also talk about your personal skills and your presence in class. Are you an active participant in discussions? Do you have the ability to express your ideas logically and coherently? Are you respectful toward your teachers? Are you supportive of your peers/classmates? Do you engage in knowledge sharing? How do you perform in group assignments? Have you demonstrated initiative and leadership in class? Addressing such questions shows the admissions committee that you are an engaged student who believes in collaborative learning.  

Example:

UG: As an individual, he is able to work independently as well as thrive in team settings. He is extremely respectful of the opinions of his teammates, even if they are markedly different from his own views. Despite having a strong knowledge of the subject, he never imposes his ideas on his classmates. Rather, he treats differing perspectives and ideas as new learning avenues.

PG: As her mentor, it has been a pleasure to watch her grow from a diffident individual to someone who dedicates herself to an idea, and is willing to shoulder responsibility for it. Whether this involves coordination with peers or composing academic papers, Catherine has proved herself equal to the task at hand.

Rounding off:

Remember to tie all loose ends when ending the letter of recommendation. Make sure the letter doesn’t end on an abrupt note; rather it should reiterate your ability to succeed in your chosen course and university and that you have your teacher’s strongest recommendation and endorsement.

Example:

I have thoroughly enjoyed the experience of teaching John. He is an extremely bright and driven student. I recommend him to your esteemed undergraduate program without any reservations. I am convinced that his passion for the sciences, perseverance and intellectual acumen will enable him to be an invaluable addition to your student community. I wish him all the success for his future endeavors. 

So, step beyond templates and assist your teachers in drafting letters of recommendation that tell compelling stories, by tactfully discussing interesting anecdotes. If you are still confused about the right examples and right anecdotes, get in touch with an admissions counsellor now!