personal statement recommendation letter

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How To Write A Personal Reference Letter (With Examples)

• Personal Reference Letter
• Recommendation Letter for Employment
• Professional Reference Letter
• Reference Letter Template
• Reference Letter for a Friend
• Professional References
• List Of References
• Recommendation Letter From Employer
• Academic Reference Letter
• Business Reference Letter
• Recommendation Letter for a Promotion
• Character Reference Letter
• Reference From A Manager

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Writing a personal reference letter for someone can be a big deal, so it’s essential you know how to write one correctly. Personal reference letters allow potential employers to get an understanding of who you are from people who worked closely with you. While professional recommendations are ideal for showcasing your on-the-job skills, a personal recommendation can also improve your candidacy. Whether you’re writing a letter for a family friend, coworker, or a past client, we’ll go over how to write a personal reference letter, provide personal reference examples, as well as some tips to keep in mind when writing your letter. Key Takeaways: When writing a personal reference you should include an explanation of your relationship with the applicant, provide examples of the applicant’s positive qualities, and include the official recommendation in your letter. Before writing the letter you should make sure you are familiar with the candidate’s qualities and personal characteristics. Provide examples of the candidate’s abilities but make you stay positive and avoid getting too personal in your letter. A personal reference letter can make the difference between securing an opportunity and being passed on to the next candidate so make sure to be honest in your letter. In This Article    Skip to section What is a personal reference letter? How to write a personal reference letter Personal reference letter examples Personal reference letter template Tips for writing a personal reference letter Before writing a personal reference letter When to provide a personal reference letter How to write a personal reference letter FAQ References Sign Up For More Advice and Jobs Show More What is a personal reference letter?

A personal reference letter, also known as a personal letter of recommendation or a character reference/recommendation, is a letter used to bolster a person’s application for a job, admission to a school or organization, housing, or any other position that screens applicants.

A glowing reference letter can make the difference between securing an opportunity and being passed on to the next candidate. Unlike professional references, a personal reference letter is about getting to know a candidate beyond work ethic .

It emphasizes positive personality traits and soft skills . Personal reference letters give an organization a sense of a person’s character outside of work and make their application stand out.

How to write a personal reference letter

To write a personal reference letter, you should start by explaining your relationship with the applicant and then provide examples of their positive qualities. Below is a more detailed list of how to write a personal reference letter:

Explain your relationship with the applicant . Before you jump into explaining someone’s personal character, catch the reader up to speed.

Go into detail about where you know them from and how long you’ve been acquainted. It needs to be clear that you know the candidate well enough that your opinion on their character carries some weight.

Provide examples of the applicant’s positive qualities . You’ve gone into depth about your relationship with the job candidate. In the next paragraph, provide what they came here to find out. Give as many positive attributes as possible, but a minimum of two.

Some possibilities of good qualities you could touch on might include:

Excellent communication

Positive outlook

Outstanding academic performance

People skills

Dedication to extracurriculars

When possible, try to give specific examples of times you witnessed the applicant demonstrating these qualities. Maybe your student showed initiative by creating a school newspaper. Perhaps you saw your previous co-worker demonstrate leadership skills by taking control of the company’s social media image.

The official recommendation . The closure of your letter should be for summarizing the points you’ve made to reach the final conclusion: you highly recommend this person for the position.

Try to relate the characteristics you’ve covered to the specific position the applicant is going for, whether that be a job, graduate school, or another opportunity. Leave the reader knowing the applicant has your full support .

Contact Information. You will want to include your contact information in the recommendation letter that way they can contact you if you have any questions. The best form of contact to include would be your email and a personal phone number.

Personal reference letter examples

Personal recommendation from a teacher example letter

Lindsey Stapleton 117 W California St. Denver, CO , 80402 (430)-220-3567 [email protected] September 4, 2020 Benjamin Smith Director of Admissions Boston University 233 Bay State Rd. Boston, MA , 02215 Dear Mr. Smith, My name is Lindsey Stapleton. I am reaching out to give my strongest recommendation for Anna Jacobs to be accepted into Boston University for the Fall 2021 term. I have been Anna’s High School English teacher for the past two years at Merrick High School. Prior to that, I had experience working with her on the student government and the swim team. During the years I’ve known Anna as a student and athlete , she’s demonstrated incredible leadership qualities, a caring demeanor, and a dedication to her education. She’s greatly improved her writing and reading skills. By her senior year, she secured the position of swim team captain with these qualities. On student government, she created a dance-a-thon fundraiser for breast cancer awareness. Throughout her time at Merrick High School, Anna has grown into a professional and capable young woman with enormous potential. I believe that her tenacious personality and hardworking attitude will drive her to success. I know she will continue to do great things, and I highly recommend her for your university. Please contact me if you’d like any further details. Sincerely, Lindsey Stapleton (430)-220-3567 [email protected]

Personal recommendation from a friend example letter

Christopher Kelly 416 Memphis Ave. Denver, CO, 80903 (917)-829-4379 [email protected] September 4, 2020 To Whom It May Concern, I have known Luke Barnes as a close friend for the past twelve years. For the first five of those years, we were coworkers together at Lexington amp; West Bank. Over that time, I got to know Luke very well. Luke is one of the most considerate and kind-hearted people I’ve ever met. Everybody loves to be around him, whether it’s in a work capacity or otherwise. Besides being an overall pleasant person, Luke is an excellent communicator . He’s never failed to soothe an angry client or expertly outline a proposal. Luke uses his sociability and communication skills to be an outstanding leader to his co-workers and friends. For these reasons, I recommend Luke Barnes for this position wholeheartedly. I am positive that his work style and personality will exceed your expectations and help drive the success of your company. If you have any other questions, please reach out. Sincerely, Christopher Kelly (917)-829-4379 [email protected]

Personal reference letter from a coworker example letter

Subject Line: Personal Recommendation for Tiffany Miller Dear Mr. Johnson, I am writing this letter with great pleasure to provide a personal reference for my coworker Tiffany Miller. I have had the privilege of working alongside Tiffany at XYZ Company for the past five years. I can attest to the outstanding qualities and contributions she had to our team. During our time working together, I observed Tiffany consistently demonstrating a strong work ethic, dedication, and a keen eye for detail. She is proactive in seeking solutions and always willing to go the extra mile to achieve results. One of her most impressive attributes is her ability to collaborate effectively with colleagues at any level. She has a natural talent for building positive and productive relations, fostering a positive and productive work environment, and promoting teamwork. I wholeheartedly recommend Tiffany for any future endeavors she may pursue. I have full confidence that Tiffany will make significant contributions and continue to excel in her career. If you require any further information, please don’t hesitate to reach out to me at [email protected] or at 123-456-7890. Sincerely, Nick Day [email protected] 123-456-7890

Personal reference letter template

Dear Mr./Ms. [Last Name] , My name is [Your Name] . I am reaching out to give my strongest recommendation for [Referee’s Full Name] for the [Job Title] position at [organization/company/university’s name] . I have been [Referee’s First Name] ‘s [your relationship to the referee] for [how long you’ve known the referee] at [where you know them from] . During that time, I had experience working with [him/her/them] on [shared experience #1] and [shared experience #2] . During the years I’ve known [Referee’s First Name] as a [position of referee relative to you] , [he/she/they] demonstrated incredible [soft skill #1] , [soft skill #2] , and [soft skill #3] . [He/She/They] ‘s greatly improved [his/her/their] [skill referee has improved] . In [year] , [Referee’s First Name] accomplished [significant accomplishment] with these qualities. During the time I’ve known [Referee’s First Name] , [he/she/they] has grown into a professional and capable individual with enormous potential. I believe that [his/her/their] tenacious personality and hardworking attitude will drive [him/her/them] to success. I know [he/she/they] will continue to do great things, and I highly recommend [him/her/them] for your [organization/company/university/etc.] . Please contact me if you’d like any further details. Sincerely, [Your Full Name] [Your Phone Number] [Your Email Address]

Tips for writing a personal reference letter

When writing a personal reference letter, make sure you are the right person to write the letter and be honest about the person. Here are some more tips to keep in mind when writing a personal reference letter:

Be sure you’re the right person to write the letter. The team requesting a personal recommendation is looking for valuable insight into an applicant’s personality characteristics. You must be very familiar with the person in order to provide this effectively.

If your description of the candidate is vague and lackluster, this can actually work against the candidates and decrease their chances of securing a position. It’s best practice to turn down writing a personal reference for someone who you don’t know well enough to speak to their good qualities.

Know the deadline. There’s likely an application deadline in place. Make sure you know when it is and that you have enough time to complete the letter by the deadline.

If you think that you might not be able to finish the letter in time, urge the applicant to find another personal reference. It’s better to give them time to find another recommender, as opposed to waiting until the last minute and realizing you can’t finish by the required deadline.

Be honest. A personal reference letter for your student, friend, or co-worker is not the space for exaggeration or falsities. Regardless of the ethical concerns, a hiring manager or admissions counselor can sniff out when a referee is stretching the truth.

This will reflect negatively on the applicant and lessen the recommender’s credibility. You can still express your friend as an outstanding candidate, without going over the top.

Focus on positive attributes . Everyone has their weaknesses but when sending or writing a reference for employment, it’s best to stick to the strengths .

Be candid with your recommendation. If you’re finding that the shortcomings of the applicant are outweighing their strong points, someone else in their network should probably be writing the recommendation.

Keep it brief . A personal recommendation letter shouldn’t be a full-length biography. Even though you have a lot of awesome things to say about the applicant, admission and hiring teams have a great deal of paperwork to go through for every candidate.

The shorter and more straightforward your reference is, the more of an impact it will leave.

Avoid getting too personal . This may sound like an ironic concept when discussing a personal reference letter. There is a difference between knowing a person’s characteristics well and divulging unnecessary personal information.

Don’t include anything outside of the personality qualities and achievements that are relevant to the opportunity.

Be polite and professional. While there are many possible reasons why a candidate might need a personal reference, all of them require a professional tone. Format your letter accordingly .

This is especially important when you’re writing a recommendation for a friend. Avoid sounding too casual. It could come across as disreputable.

Give specific examples . When showcasing the applicant’s skills, make sure that there’s evidence to back it up.

If you’re saying that your student was hardworking, include an instance of when they went above and beyond on a project. If you’re stating that your neighbor is very responsible, tell them about the time that she watched your children for the weekend while you were out of town.

Giving specified examples shows the hiring committee that these are not just free-floating concepts. The candidate has shown these characteristics in their achievements.

Focus on relevant information. It’s easy to get into the positive personality traits of the person you’re writing a recommendation for. While it’s beneficial to bring up these qualities, be careful not to get lost in irrelevant details.

Some things that you may think are special about the candidate may not be helpful in the context of their new job. Be sure it makes sense.

Cater the letter to the desired position. Tailoring your recommendation to the desired position of the candidate goes hand-in-hand with relevant information. Try to get as much information about the opportunity as possible from the applicant. Some qualities may be more relevant in a particular position.

For example, it may not be relevant for the average job-seeker to include that they have a pet or love animals in their letter of recommendation. However, if the position directly involves animal care, such as a veterinarian or a dog trainer , it may be very valuable information.

Before writing a personal reference letter

Before you sit down to write your personal reference letter, have a conversation with the person you’re writing it for. Ask them what traits, skills, and experiences they’d like you to highlight.

If it’s for a job application, go over the job description together. Keep an eye out for soft skills to start brainstorming ideas for what to write about. For example, if the job description says that the job requires interdepartmental collaboration, you could write about a time your friend organized a club or brought a team together.

If you’re writing a personal reference letter for admission to a school, look over the program details. See what kind of qualities the school values most based on its mission statement and its interactions with the public through social media.

Arming yourself with knowledge about what the letter’s recipient wants to hear can make it much easier to start generating ideas for your personal reference letter.

When to provide a personal reference letter

You should provide a personal recommendation letter when a candidate doesn’t have much work experience but still has the potential to be a great employee or student.

For example, your letter could let a cautious employer know that the teenage neighbor who babysat for your kids is definitely responsible enough for hiring. It can also be an important part of the loan process when making a large purchase, such as a home.

Before deciding how to ask someone to be your reference , you must figure out who to ask. People who can speak to these qualities in an enthusiastic character reference may include:

Past teachers

Family-friend

Guidance Counselor

Anyone else who can effectively vouch for an applicant’s soft skills

The great thing about a character reference is that it’s personal. That means that the possibilities for people who can write it are as wide as your social network .

How to write a personal reference letter FAQ

Should I agree to write a personal reference letter for someone?

Before agreeing to write a personal reference letter it’s important to make sure you know the requester well enough to highlight their good, relevant qualities before you agree to write them a recommendation. Being asked to write someone a personal reference letter is a task that shouldn’t be taken lightly, as it can carry a lot of weight in application success.

Writing a character reference for a childhood friend you haven’t seen since high school may come off as disingenuous and have a surprisingly negative impact. It’s best to politely decline if you can’t definitively speak to this person’s character.

Can you use a family member as a reference?

Personal references usually don’t include family members since professional references can have a lot of sway during a job search. It’s best not to use anyone that might have personal bias and will say anything to help you get a job.

You should ask past teachers, clients, or coworkers to be a personal reference as they can speak to your qualities and abilities to work.

What happens if your reference doesn’t answer?

If your reference doesn’t answer when a potential employer is doing a background check, it might reflect badly on you. It doesn’t always mean you will lose your job offer. You should apologize to the hiring manager and provide another reference ASAP.

If you don’t have another reference to give, contact your reference and see why they didn’t answer. Chances are they just haven’t had time to respond to their messages. Have them contact the hiring manager ASAP.

What do you write in a personal reference letter?

You should include an explanation of your relationship to the candidate and how long you’ve known them when writing a personal reference letter. You should also write any positive personal qualities with specific examples. Some examples of these qualities could include their communication skills, academic performance, or their people skills.

You should close the letter with your official recommendation and try to relate the qualities you’ve covered to the specific position the applicant is going for.

Boston University – Writing a Letter of Recommendation

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Sky Ariella is a professional freelance writer, originally from New York. She has been featured on websites and online magazines covering topics in career, travel, and lifestyle. She received her BA in psychology from Hunter College.

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WTO / Letters and Emails / Recommendation / 25 Sample Personal Recommendation Letters (Tips & Examples)

25 Sample Personal Recommendation Letters (Tips & Examples)

This recommendation letter is a document of personal reference written by a recommender that can give insight into an applicant’s personal attributes and traits.

It is also known as a character reference letter or a personal reference letter. It is used to help strengthen an individual’s application for a job position, organization, or school admission through a recommender’s endorsement of the applicant’s positive attributes, morals, and values.

Types of Personal Recommendation Letters

There are 3 basic types. Each one is written for a specific purpose.

• Academic Recommendation Letter: Academic letters of recommendation are used by students applying for admission to a school. Review committees use these letters to get an idea about certain aspects of a candidate’s personality that cannot be assessed in the college application .
• Employment Recommendation Letter: Potential employers may sometimes request an employment recommendation letter in addition to the usual resume/CV, cover letter , and portfolio. These letters are usually written by previous employers or co-workers and are considered useful when the applicant does not have much experience under their belt.
• Character Recommendation Letter: The character recommendation letter is used when someone is in the process of providing specific information regarding someone’s character. You may be required to provide one if you are considering adopting a child, or pet, or submit it to a prospective landlord. The person chosen to write this letter depends on what you need it for. For instance, if one is required before you can rent a certain apartment, then your letter should be composed by a previous landlord, if possible.

Free Templates & Samples

Personal letter of recommendation samples.

Personal letter of recommendation templates

When Are Personal Reference Letters Used?

Such letters are used to give individuals a little of an added boost to their school application, job application , or situations where a more in-depth description of a person’s character is required, such as renting an apartment or proving an individual has leadership skills.

Below are some of the situations which often require this document:

• Child adoption: Some adoption agencies may request adopting parents to acquire it to help get to know more about them.
• Pet adoption: Pet adoption agencies can also request it from a candidate to help establish whether the individual will be a responsible pet owner.
• Apartment rental: A landlord can request potential tenants for this letter from their neighbors or previous landlord to help understand what kind of tenant the candidate is.
• Scholarship programs : Some scholarship programs may request it from a student’s teacher or professor to help them understand the kind of student the candidate will be.

Pre-Writing Considerations

The letter must effectively communicate the applicant’s personality from the recommender’s perspective. Therefore, it is important that the recommender make certain considerations, such as the nature of the relationship shared with the applicant, before writing it.

Who can write a personal recommendation letter?

It should be written by individuals who can attest to an applicant’s personality, skills, and abilities.  Teachers, business acquaintances, clients, friends, etc. can write this letter. It is advised that a family member does not write it as they are biased toward the applicant.

Things to ask the applicant before writing

The recommender should consider requesting the applicant to provide them with information regarding the skills and qualities required for the position, for example, if a candidate is applying for a job position as an assistant the recommender should mention the candidate’s organizational skills in the letter.  A recommender who takes the time to find out the qualities required for the position will seem more professional from the recipient’s perspective.

The following are the things to ask the applicant to write it in an appropriate manner:

• Resume, if required
• The deadline for the letter to be completed
• What information you can provide that will help the applicant
• Why they select you to compose the letter
• Any character traits, achievements, etc. relevant to the purpose
• Ask for any submission instructions
• Applicant’s GPA
• Lists of any papers they have published
• Applicant’s awards, activities, and achievements
• Volunteer or internship experience

Other considerations

The recommender must share good relations with the applicant they are writing the letter for. Writing negative statements about the applicant can discourage the recipient from considering them as a potential candidate for the position.

The recommender must also ensure that they know the applicant well enough. The relationship between the recommender and the applicant will often be reflected in the details written in this letter.

A recommender writing a letter for a school or a scholarship for a candidate should ensure that the recommendation letter demonstrates the applicant’s positive qualities as a student.

Writing a Personal Recommendation Letter

A recommender should ensure that the letter directly speaks to the qualities of the applicant. The recommendation letter should focus on what enables the applicant to perform their job effectively. The recommender helps the recipient decide whether the applicant is a good fit for the position on offer.

No matter what type of letter you are writing, it should contain 3 basic elements . First, you should compose a sentence or paragraph that briefly describes your connection to this person and your relationship. Next, provide the necessary information on their character. Depending on the type of letter, it may be work ethics, academic achievements, or skills. Back these up with examples. Finally, conclude the letter by explaining why you think this individual would suit the situation.

It is therefore important that it includes the following information:

Addresses of the recommender and recipient

The recommender of the letter should state both their name and mail address and that of the recipient.

Mary Adams 453 Maker’s Lane San Jose, CA90090

January 10, 2018

Andrew Baker 347 Conwell Street New York, NY 3467

The recommender should follow up by including a salutation that specifies the name of the recipient. Suppose the recommender is writing a general letter they can address it ‘ To whom it may concern ’.

Dear Mr. Andrew,

Relation with the applicant

The recommender should start the letter by explaining how they know the applicant. It should establish what kind of relationship the recommender and applicant share to provide the recipient with context as to why the writer is best suited to recommend the candidate.

I am honored to be writing this recommendation letter for Mary Adams for a position as an assistant at your organization. Mary and I are co-workers at Gin Tec Limited. We have worked together for 15 years.

Thomas Jenkins has been employed by me as my personal assistant from January 2016 to the present. I hereby recommend him without qualification to your real estate program. I strongly believe that he will be an asset to your program with regard to his ability to communicate and instruct others.

Length of time the recommender has known the applicant

Secondly, the recommender should state the length of time that they have known the applicant which could be weeks, months, or years. The length of time the recommender states in the letter informs the recipient of how well-acquainted they are with the applicant. The longer the period, the more reliable the recipient will consider the information in the letter to be.

I have known and worked with Mary for 15 years. In that time, I have watched her grow into a determined hardworking, and resilient individual. Mary has displayed communication skills, time management, and good listening skills.

Examples of applicant’s qualities

The recommender should then state the applicant’s qualities in relation to the requirements for the position and examples that demonstrate how the applicant has made use of them. The use of relevant examples strengthens the impact of this letter on the recipient by demonstrating how they can make use of the qualities.

The qualities stated and their examples should positively highlight the applicant’s best attributes. It is also essential that the recommender’s use of examples make the applicant stand out. For example, if the applicant is applying for a job as an EMT, provide an instance where their attention to detail resulted in them saving a life.

John demonstrated his attention to detail in the winter of 2017 when a building collapsed in downtown Manhattan and one of the survivors claimed it is okay. He noticed there was bruising around the survivor’s navel area. The doctors said that had the patient not sought treatment he would have died within hours.

During his employment, he has proved himself by organizing open houses , handling various office duties, and securing leads for our company. He is creative, industrious, and dedicated. He has also contributed to meetings, offering sound ideas that assisted us in meeting our goals.

Throughout his stay, he utilized his soft skills, helping us close several important real estate deals. He has also ventured into dealing with contractors with regard to property development with great success. He initiated and coordinated several projects, as well as organized our annual charity functions.

Add the statement of recommendation

The recommender should summarize it by re-establishing the qualities they have stated earlier and officially recommending the applicant for the position. The official recommendation made by the recommender demonstrates their confidence in the abilities of the applicant.

I undoubtedly guarantee that Mary’s communication skills and attention to detail will make her a great addition to your organization. It is for this reason that I recommend her for a position as an assistant in your organization.

Thomas is an individual that has performed all duties with integrity and devotion, often putting himself last, and the project first. Working next to Thomas has been a good experience, and I believe that he will be an excellent addition to your Real Estate program.

Conclude properly

This final section contains your own contact information, such as phone numbers, and professional emails . Here, you’re backing up everything you stated by giving the recipient an opportunity to speak with you personally.

It’s been my personal pleasure to recommend Mr. Jenkins for this position. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact me at 555-555-2893, or [email protected], and I’ll be more than happy to assist you in addressing any queries you may have.

Personal Letter of Recommendation Example

Dear Ms. Peterson;

I am writing to wholeheartedly recommend Michael Carter for the role of Marketing Manager at Bright Edge Technologies. As the Director of Marketing at InnovaTech Enterprises, I had the privilege of working with Michael for over four years, where he consistently showcased exceptional talent, dedication, and a passion for marketing excellence.

Michael joined InnovaTech as a Marketing Assistant and rapidly advanced to the position of Senior Marketing Specialist, a testament to his innovative thinking, analytical acumen, and leadership qualities. He was instrumental in conceptualizing and executing our “NextGen Tech” campaign, which not only enhanced our brand visibility but also increased our sales by 30% within six months. His ability to blend creative marketing strategies with data-driven decision-making made him an invaluable asset to our team.

Possessing a rare combination of creativity and analytical skills, Michael has an exceptional ability to identify and capitalize on market trends. His proficiency in digital marketing tools and techniques has enabled him to develop and implement strategies that effectively engage target audiences. Beyond his professional prowess, Michael’s interpersonal and communication skills are exemplary, allowing him to build strong relationships with clients, stakeholders, and team members.

Michael’s positive attitude and work ethic are contagious. He consistently inspires his team with his enthusiasm and dedication, fostering a collaborative and productive work environment. His leadership extends beyond task management; he is genuinely invested in the professional growth and well-being of his colleagues.

I am confident that Michael Carter will bring a wealth of expertise, innovation, and leadership to the Marketing Manager role at Bright Edge Technologies. His track record at InnovaTech Enterprises is a clear indicator of his potential to contribute significantly to your organization.

Please do not hesitate to contact me for any further information or insights regarding Michael’s qualifications and accomplishments.

Samantha Lewis

Director of Marketing

InnovaTech Enterprises

This sample cover letter is a good example for someone looking to understand how to write an effective recommendation letter for a colleague or employee for several reasons. Here are the key reasons why this letter is a useful model:

• Professional Introduction and Context: The sample letter opens with a clear statement of recommendation and establishes the writer’s authority and relationship with the candidate. The letter indicates that the recommender has directly overseen the applicant’s work, which lends credibility to the endorsement.
• Specific Achievements and Contributions: The writer highlights key accomplishments, like rapid advancement at InnovaTech and a pivotal role in the “NextGen Tech” campaign, which resulted in a significant sales increase. This not only showcases the applicant’s skills but also provides tangible evidence of their impact.
• Balance of Skills and Qualities: The letter effectively balances the discussion of technical skills (such as his analytical acumen and proficiency in digital marketing tools) with personal qualities (like creativity, communication skills , and a positive attitude). This rounded portrayal suggests that the recommended person is both competent and a good cultural fit.
• Results-Oriented Narration: By linking actions to concrete outcomes (like the 30% sales increase), the writer highlights the effectiveness and a result-oriented approach of the candidate, which is highly valued in marketing roles.
• Leadership and Interpersonal Skills: The mention of leadership qualities, ability to inspire teams, and investment in colleagues’ growth indicates a team player and a potential leader who can foster a positive work environment .
• Concluding Endorsement and Openness for Further Contact: The letter concludes with a strong endorsement and an offer to provide further information, indicating genuine support by the recommender.
• Professional Tone and Clarity: The tone of the letter is professional, concise, and free of jargon, making it accessible to anyone who might read it, regardless of their familiarity with the applicant’s specific field.

Overall, this letter serves as a useful sample for writing a recommendation letter, as it combines a professional tone, specific examples, a showcase of relevant skills, and personal endorsement, all of which are key elements in making a strong recommendation.

Professional Tips for Writing

Writing this letter is a big responsibility. The recommender should be effective in communicating the applicant’s qualities. The information contained in it should be enough to elicit consideration from the recipient. It is, therefore, important that the recommender consider the following tips when they decide to write it:

• Think before saying yes: The recommender of the letter ought to have no reservations regarding the applicant they are writing about. The recommender should decline a request to write a recommendation for an applicant who is not well known to them. The recommender should ensure that they can write a referral that depicts their confidence in the applicant. Suppose the recommender cannot, then they should politely advise the applicant to find someone else who can write a recommendation that does not jeopardize consideration for the position by the recipient.
• Know the deadline: The recommender should find out the deadline for the submission of all applications. This will enable that recommender to find out how long they must write the letter. Suppose that the recommender feels that they cannot write the letter in time for the submission deadline, then they should inform the applicant to provide them with enough time to find someone else to write the letter.
• Be honest: The information provided by the personal recommender should be honest. Honesty by the recommender indicates that they are a credible individual and that the recipient should trust their recommendation. Writing an honest recommendation letter that is not full of exaggerated details also reflects positively on the applicant.
• Focus on positive qualities: The recommender should focus on the uplifting qualities of the applicant. Stating the applicant’s positive qualities can help the applicant stand out from other candidates. Focusing on the positive qualities of the applicant will also help strengthen the applicant’s resume. It is especially helpful for inexperienced applicants who are applying for a position for the first time.
• Keep it brief: It is advisable that the recommender ensure that it does not exceed one page. The recipient of the letter is probably dealing with applications from many candidates; therefore, they will be inclined to skip a lengthy recommendation.

A brief letter for personal recommendation will save time for both the recipient and the recommender.

• Avoid getting personal: It should not provide intimate details about the struggles the applicant has undergone. Intimate details about the applicant can make the recipient feel uncomfortable while reading it. The information provided by the recommender should be relevant to the position the applicant is seeking. A recommender that provides a candidate’s personal information is also viewed as unprofessional and therefore an unreliable reference.
• Be polite and professional: The recommender should be polite and professional. The recommender should avoid aggressive language because a recipient will not respond well to it, resulting in a negative impact on the candidate’s application. The recommender can demonstrate professionalism by writing the letter in the official business letter format . The recommender can also send the recommendation via email if they are on a tight deadline.
• Focus on relevant information: The information contained in it should be relevant. The recommender should not get carried away by unnecessary details that add no value to a candidate’s application. Irrelevant information that has nothing to do with the position can still damage a candidate’s application, regardless of its positive focus on the applicant.
• Include the contact information: The recommender should include an offer to answer any question or provide further information about the applicant by providing their contact information—an email address and a phone number—that the recipient can use to reach them.
• Proofread and edit the recommendation letter: The recommender should ensure that they proofread the letter to avoid seeming unprofessional if the recipient comes across grammatical errors.

Also, a few quick tips for this letter:

• Keep it professional and make no mention of personal relationships
• Absolutely no gossip or mention of anything that could hinder the person from obtaining their goal
• Stay truthful and accurate. Don’t include false praise or traits that the individual cannot live up to
• Always keep copies of each and every letter you’ve sent
• Never wait until the last moment to write the letter

Frequently Asked Questions

A recommender can end it by summarizing previously established qualities about the applicant and stating their official recommendation. The recommendation for the position should be straightforward and to the point.

Yes, a recommendation letter should have a date identifying when the letter was written. The date of the letter should be written after the recommender’s name and address.

It should be one page. The letter should be brief and to the point.

A strong recommendation letter should have a formal tone because the recommender and the recipient are not well known to one another. Also, it should be chronologically written to ensure it is an easy read for the recipient.

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Personal Reference Letter Examples and Writing Tips for 2024

As individuals progress through their personal and professional lives, they may encounter instances where they are required to produce a personal reference letter. This letter serves as a powerful endorsement tool for the candidate, helping to influence the decision-making process in their favor.

In this article, we will examine the significance of a well-written personal reference letter, including its definition, purpose, and benefits. We will provide examples and valuable tips to help you create a compelling personal reference letter that positively impacts the recipient’s outcome.

What is a Personal Reference Letter?

A Personal Reference Letter, also known as a character reference letter, is a written document that attests to an individual’s character, work ethic, integrity, and overall professionalism. It is typically written by someone who has had a significant amount of interaction with the candidate, whether in a professional or personal context.

The letter should be written in a professional tone, highlighting the individual’s significant strengths, key attributes, and unique qualities that distinguish them from others. This letter is an invaluable resource when it comes to competing for job opportunities or academic positions.

Purpose of Personal Reference Letter

The primary purpose of a Personal Reference Letter is to provide an unbiased and sincere evaluation of an individual’s positive attributes, which can help the recipient make informed decisions. The letter should provide insight into the individual’s work ethic, skills, and overall character, which can influence the recipient’s decision-making process positively.

Whether it’s for a job application, academic program, or any other evaluation process, a Personal Reference Letter can be a key factor in determining the candidate’s suitability for the role.

Who might need a Personal Reference Letter?

Individuals from various backgrounds and professions may require a Personal Reference Letter to provide support to their claims of competency and professionalism. This includes people in the following professional categories:

• Job applicants
• Entrepreneurs
• Freelancers
• Medical professionals
• And any individual looking to confirm their credibility in any industry.

D. Benefits of a Well-Written Personal Reference Letter

A well-written Personal Reference Letter carries a multitude of benefits. First and foremost, it serves as a persuasive tool that can positively influence the recipient’s decision-making process. It can increase the candidate’s chances of getting selected for the desired job or academic position.

Furthermore, a well-written Personal Reference Letter provides concrete evidence of an individual’s positive attributes and work ethic. It creates a lasting impression of the candidate, which can benefit them in the future.

A Personal Reference Letter plays a vital role in a candidate’s personal and professional development. It is essential to be sincere and succinct in your evaluation of the candidate, highlighting their unique attributes that can influence the recipient’s decision positively.

Personal Reference Letter Format

When it comes to personal reference letters, there are certain formatting rules that should be followed. These letters are often used for employment and education purposes, and can have a significant impact on the recipient’s future opportunities. Here are the key elements of a personal reference letter format:

A. Formal vs. Informal

The tone of the letter should reflect the relationship between the writer and the recipient. If it is a professional or academic reference, a formal tone is appropriate. If the relationship is more personal, an informal tone may be more fitting. Regardless of the tone, the letter should be well-written and thoughtful.

B. Length and Structure

The length of a personal reference letter can vary depending on the purpose and requirements of the recipient. Generally, the letter should be one page in length or less. The structure of the letter should include an introduction, body, and conclusion. Each section should be clearly labeled to guide the reader.

C. Salutation

The salutation of the letter should address the recipient directly, using their full name or appropriate title. If the relationship is more informal, a first name may be used. If the relationship is professional or academic, a formal title may be more appropriate.

D. Introduction

The introduction should include the writer’s connection to the recipient, and the purpose of the letter. It should also establish the writer’s credibility and qualifications to give a reference.

The body of the letter should provide specific examples of the recipient’s skills, character, and achievements. These examples should be detailed and highlight the qualities that make the recipient stand out. The writer should also include any relevant background information to provide context.

F. Conclusion

The conclusion should summarize the writer’s opinion of the recipient, and offer support for their abilities and potential. The writer should also invite the reader to contact them for further information or clarification.

G. Signature

The signature should include the writer’s full name, title, and contact information. This provides further credibility and allows the recipient to follow up if needed.

A well-written personal reference letter can provide a significant boost to the recipient’s future opportunities. By following these formatting guidelines, writers can ensure their letters are effective and impactful.

Personal Reference Letter Writing Tips

Crafting an effective personal reference letter requires more than merely penning a few kind words about the subject. Being a well-crafted and impactful letter writer calls for careful attention to detail and an ability to communicate not just about the person, but to someone who may be looking to hire or accept the applicant.

To help you write a persuasive letter, here are some essential tips:

A. Understand the Purpose

Before embarking on penning your personal reference letter, it is essential to understand its purpose. Typically, it serves as a testament to the subject’s character, highlighting their positive attributes, and why they are suitable for the job or opportunity at hand.

B. Choose the Right Tone

The tone of the letter is critical to conveying the message effectively. A more informal tone may be suitable for a letter of recommendation between friends or colleagues, while a more formal tone is appropriate when writing for an academic or professional position. It is vital to take the time to understand the audience and the subject before finalizing the tone.

C. Highlight Relevant Qualities or Skills

When writing a personal reference letter, it is essential to emphasize the subject’s positive qualities and skills that are relevant to the job or opportunity. Avoid simply listing the achievements I have seen or heard of in the past. Instead, focus on the qualities and skills that you have personally observed and think are valuable.

D. Include Specific Examples

One of the best ways to persuade a hiring manager or executive board to consider a person is by including specific examples that illustrate how the subject has demonstrated the qualities and skills that you mention. It will provide substance to the letter, enabling the reader to envision the person’s capabilities.

E. Customize the Letter

A well-crafted personal reference letter should be personalized and unique to the subject’s specific situation. Take the time to understand the job or opportunity requirements, and tailor your letter accordingly to highlight their most relevant accomplishments.

F. Proofread and Edit

Finally, make sure to proofread and edit your letter thoroughly. A letter filled with grammatical errors or haphazard language may not communicate the message effectively. It is crucial to get a second opinion from others to ensure that the subject’s best qualities are communicated effectively.

Following these tips will help improve the effectivity of a personal reference letter, leading to better job prospects and future opportunities for the applicant.

Personal Reference Letter Dos and Don’ts

When it comes to writing a personal reference letter, there are some dos and don’ts to keep in mind to ensure your letter is effective and professional.

• Be Honest : Always tell the truth about the person you are recommending. False information can have disastrous consequences and damage your credibility.
• Use Positive Language : Use upbeat and affirmative language to describe the person and their accomplishments. This helps to create a positive impression of the candidate in the minds of the reader.
• Provide Praise : Highlight the person’s strengths and accomplishments. This helps to strengthen their case and show why they are deserving of the opportunity they are seeking.
• Use Specific Examples : Give specific examples of the person’s accomplishments or contributions, rather than generalizations. This helps to demonstrate their unique abilities and contributions.
• Make it Professional : Use professional language and structure. Keep the tone formal, respectful, and appropriate to the context of the letter.

B. Don’ts

• Lie or Exaggerate : Never lie or exaggerate about the person you are recommending. Your credibility and reputation is at stake.
• Be Overly Critical : Avoid making negative or overly critical comments about the person. Focus on their positive attributes and accomplishments instead.
• Provide Vague or Generic Comments : Avoid making vague or generic comments that could apply to anyone. Be specific and provide detailed examples to showcase the candidate’s achievements and skills.
• Use Slang or Jargon : Avoid using slang or jargon that might be unclear or inappropriate to the reader.
• Make it Too Long or Too Short : It’s important to strike the right balance between providing enough information and being concise.

Personal Reference Letter Examples

When someone requests a personal reference letter, it is important that the letter is well-written and provides insight into the person’s character and abilities. Here are examples of personal reference letters for different situations:

A. Letter for a Job Applicant

If you are asked to write a personal reference letter for a job applicant, include specific examples of the person’s skills and experiences that are relevant to the job they are applying for. Some key points to include are:

• How long you have known the person
• In what capacity you have worked with the person
• The person’s strengths and skills that make them a good fit for the job
• Any personal anecdotes or stories that highlight the person’s character or work ethic

To Whom It May Concern,

I am writing to recommend Jane Smith for the role of Marketing Manager in your company. I have had the pleasure of working with Jane for two years at XYZ Corporation, where she was a standout employee.

Jane consistently demonstrated excellent communication skills and a strong work ethic. She was able to manage multiple projects simultaneously and deliver high-quality work on time. Her attention to detail and creativity were also impressive.

In addition, Jane is a team player who is always willing to lend her expertise to help others succeed. She is also a natural leader who can inspire her teammates to achieve their goals.

I am confident that Jane would be an asset to your organization and would excel in the role of Marketing Manager. Please feel free to contact me if you have any further questions.

Sincerely, [Your Name]

Dear Hiring Manager,

I am writing this letter of recommendation for David Johnson, who has applied for the position of IT Specialist at your company. I have had the pleasure of working with David for three years at ABC Corporation. During this time, I have found him to be a highly-skilled and dedicated employee.

David has a deep understanding of various computer systems and software programs. He is always on top of the latest updates and can quickly troubleshoot any issues that arise. David is also an excellent communicator and is able to explain complex technical issues in a way that is easy to understand.

In addition, David is a great team player who can work collaboratively with all members of the team. He is always willing to help others and is never too busy to lend a hand.

I strongly endorse David for his technical skills, attention to detail, and work ethic. He would be an excellent addition to your team.

B. Letter for a Student

Writing a personal reference letter for a student requires highlighting the student’s academic achievements, personal qualities, and future potential.

[Recipient’s Name],

I am writing to provide a personal reference for Emily Davis, who is applying for a scholarship at your esteemed institution. I have had the pleasure of being Emily’s teacher for the past three years, and I have witnessed her exceptional dedication, intelligence, and passion for learning.

Emily consistently demonstrated outstanding academic performance, consistently achieving top grades in all her courses. She is a highly motivated and self-driven student who goes above and beyond to excel in her studies. Her critical thinking skills and ability to grasp complex concepts are truly impressive.

Furthermore, Emily possesses excellent communication skills, both written and verbal. She actively participates in class discussions, articulates her ideas effectively, and engages with her peers in a respectful and insightful manner. She is not only an exceptional learner but also a valuable contributor to the classroom environment.

Beyond her academic achievements, Emily is a compassionate and empathetic individual. She actively participates in community service projects and has shown great leadership skills in organizing fundraisers and volunteering activities. She is committed to making a positive impact on the lives of others and demonstrates a strong sense of social responsibility.

I have no doubt that Emily has a bright future ahead of her. She is determined, resilient, and possesses the necessary qualities to succeed in her chosen field of study. I wholeheartedly recommend her for the scholarship, as I believe she has the potential to make a significant contribution to your institution and society as a whole.

Please feel free to contact me if you require any further information or have additional questions.

Warm regards, [Your Name]

I am writing to enthusiastically recommend Michael Johnson, a student of exceptional talent and character, for any academic opportunities that may arise. I have had the pleasure of being Michael’s mentor and advisor during his high school years, and I have been consistently impressed by his dedication, intellectual curiosity, and commitment to personal growth.

Michael consistently exhibits an extraordinary work ethic and a genuine passion for learning. His academic achievements speak for themselves, as he has consistently maintained top grades across all subjects. Michael possesses exceptional analytical and problem-solving skills, and he consistently demonstrates a deep understanding of complex concepts.

What truly sets Michael apart is his insatiable curiosity and eagerness to explore interdisciplinary topics. He actively seeks out additional learning opportunities outside the traditional curriculum, engages in research projects, and consistently seeks mentorship from experts in various fields. His ability to connect concepts from different disciplines is a testament to his exceptional intellect and thirst for knowledge.

In addition to his academic prowess, Michael is a natural leader and an incredibly compassionate individual. He is deeply involved in community service initiatives, spearheading projects that aim to address social issues and promote equality. Michael’s dedication to serving others and his ability to inspire his peers make him an exceptional candidate for any academic program.

I wholeheartedly endorse Michael’s application and believe that he has the potential to make significant contributions to any institution he attends. His intellectual acumen, commitment to excellence, and unwavering moral compass make him an exceptional student and an asset to any academic community.

Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any further inquiries.

Remember to tailor the content of your personal reference letter to the specific individual and situation. Highlight the person’s relevant qualities and provide specific examples to support your statements.

Personal Reference Letter Template

When it comes to writing a personal reference letter, it’s important to understand the key elements and structure. Here, we provide an outline and template to help guide you in crafting a compelling and informative personal reference letter.

A. Outline of a Personal Reference Letter

• Introduction : Begin by introducing yourself and your relationship to the person you are recommending.
• Personal Qualities and Character : Provide specific examples and anecdotes that highlight the personal qualities and character traits of the person you are recommending. These could include things like their work ethic, reliability, kindness, leadership skills, and interpersonal skills.
• Professional Qualifications : Next, showcase the person’s professional qualifications and accomplishments. This could include their education, certifications, work experience, and any notable achievements or awards.
• Conclusion : Close the letter by reiterating your recommendation and expressing your confidence in the person’s abilities.

B. Personal Reference Letter Template

[Your Name] [Your Address] [City, State ZIP Code] [Your Email Address] [Today’s Date]

[Recipient Name] [Recipient Address] [City, State ZIP Code]

Dear [Recipient Name],

I am writing to recommend [Name of Person Being Recommended] for [Reason for Recommendation]. I have had the pleasure of knowing [Name of Person Being Recommended] for [Length of Time] and during that time, [he/she/they] have impressed me with [his/her/their] exceptional personal qualities and professional qualifications.

[Paragraph 1: Introduction] [Name of Person Being Recommended] and I have known each other since [How You Met]. As a [Your Relationship to the Person Being Recommended], I have had the opportunity to work closely with [him/her/them] and have witnessed [his/her/their] dedication and commitment firsthand.

[Paragraph 2: Personal Qualities and Character] [Name of Person Being Recommended] is an individual of the highest character and integrity. [He/She/They] consistently demonstrates [Positive Quality or Trait], as evidenced by [Specific Example or Anecdote]. Additionally, [he/she/they] is [Positive Quality or Trait], which [has/have] contributed greatly to [his/her/their] success in [Field or Industry].

[Paragraph 3: Professional Qualifications] In addition to [his/her/their] exceptional personal qualities, [Name of Person Being Recommended] also possesses [list professional qualifications]. [He/She/They] has shown [specific accomplishments or contributions in the professional realm].

[Paragraph 4: Conclusion] It is with great enthusiasm that I recommend [Name of Person Being Recommended] for [Reason for Recommendation]. [He/She/They] have the skills, experience, and personal qualities needed to excel in [The Desired Role or Opportunity]. [He/She/They] has my highest recommendation.

Sample Personal Reference Letter Request

Personal reference letters are an excellent way to showcase one’s character, skills, and work ethic to potential employers or educational institutions. However, to receive a personal reference letter, one must request it from a former employer, professor, or colleague. Here is an example of how to request a personal reference letter from someone:

A. Introduction

Dear [Name],

I hope this email finds you well. It was a pleasure working with you at [company/school] and experiencing your impressive [list specific qualities]. As I embark on [explain the reason you need the reference letter], I was hoping you could provide me with a personal reference letter to include in my application package.

B. Request for Personal Reference

If it is not too much trouble, could you please address the following points in your letter?

• Your relationship with me
• The duration of our professional or academic interactions
• Specific examples of my skills, abilities, and work ethic
• How my skills and abilities contributed to the success of the company/project/team
• Any additional comments you think might be useful for my application

It would be very much appreciated if you could address the above points in your letter. Please let me know if you have any questions or concerns regarding the process or content of the reference letter.

C. Thank You

Thank you for considering my request for a personal reference letter. I understand that this is a busy time for you, and your efforts to help me are highly appreciated. If you are able to provide the reference letter, please let me know when I can expect it.

Thank you again for all your support and guidance during our time working together.

Personal Reference Letter vs. Professional Reference Letter

When it comes to reference letters, there are two main categories: personal and professional. While both types aim to provide insight into an individual’s character, skills, and work ethic, there are key differences that set them apart. Understanding these differences can help ensure that you use the right type of reference letter for your specific situation.

A. Differences Between Personal and Professional Reference Letters

One of the most significant differences between personal and professional reference letters is the purpose they serve. Personal reference letters are typically requested by individuals who are hoping to secure a job, obtain an apartment, or apply for a loan. In contrast, professional reference letters are requested by organizations or companies looking to gain insight into a candidate’s suitability for a particular role.

Another key difference between the two is the relationship between the person writing the letter and the candidate. Personal reference letters are written by individuals who know the candidate on a personal level. These letters often emphasize the candidate’s personal qualities, such as their integrity, character, and sense of responsibility. Professional reference letters, on the other hand, are typically written by someone who has worked with the candidate in a professional capacity. These letters focus on the candidate’s skills, work experience, and ability to perform in a specific job.

Finally, personal and professional reference letters may differ in terms of tone and format. Personal reference letters are often more informal in tone and may include personal anecdotes or stories about the candidate. Professional reference letters, on the other hand, are typically more formal and structured, following a business letter format.

B. Which One to Use When?

Knowing when to use a personal reference letter versus a professional reference letter can be critical. For example, if you are looking to rent an apartment or apply for a loan, a personal reference letter from someone who knows you on a personal level may carry more weight than a professional reference letter. Similarly, if you are applying for a job, a professional reference letter from a former employer or supervisor is likely to be more valuable than a personal reference letter.

It is essential to consider the context in which the reference letter will be used and to choose the type of letter that will be most effective in that context. If you have any doubt about which type of letter to use, it may be helpful to speak to the person or organization requesting the letter and ask for their guidance.

Understanding the differences between personal and professional reference letters and knowing when to use them can be critical in obtaining the desired outcome. Choosing the right type of letter and ensuring that it is well-written and presented can significantly increase the candidate’s chances of success.

When to Ask for a Personal Reference Letter?

If you are looking to bolster your job application, college or graduate school admissions profile, or your volunteer or community service profile, a personal reference letter is a powerful tool that can give you an edge over other applicants.

A. Job Applications

When applying for a job, it is becoming increasingly common for employers to require candidates to submit personal reference letters. These letters give your potential employer insight into your strengths, work ethic, and character. Make sure to choose references who can speak to these qualities and the relevance of your work experience to the job you’re applying for.

In addition, it’s important to give your references sufficient notice and provide them with any necessary information about the job you’re applying for so that they can write a letter that speaks directly to the hiring manager’s needs.

B. College or Graduate School Admissions

For college or graduate school applications, personal reference letters are invaluable. Schools are looking for students who are well-rounded, committed, and able to contribute positively to their academic community. A reference letter can speak to your academic achievements, leadership skills, and commitment to community service.

It is important to carefully choose who you ask to write your reference letter. Your references must be able to speak to your academic abilities and potential, so be sure to choose people who know you well in this context.

C. Volunteer or Community Service

Volunteering or participating in community service can be a fantastic way to gain experience and skills, and can also be an excellent addition to your resume. Personal reference letters are a great way to build your profile within your chosen community and demonstrate your dedication and commitment.

When asking for a reference letter for your community service involvement, choose references who can speak to your level of involvement, the impact you had on the organization, and the quality of your work. Make sure to provide them with any necessary information about the organization and the work you did.

Personal reference letters can be a powerful tool in building your resume, and in making a compelling case for your abilities as a candidate. By choosing your references carefully, providing them with the necessary information they require, and thanking them for their help, you can ensure that your personal reference letters have the impact you need to succeed.

Personal Reference Letter FAQ

A. what should be included in the personal reference letter.

A personal reference letter serves as a written testimony of an individual’s character, abilities, and accomplishments. Therefore, it must provide a clear and concise overview of the individual’s strengths and qualifications. Here are some essential elements that should be included in a personal reference letter:

1. Introduction

The letter should begin with a brief introduction that explains the purpose of the letter and the relationship of the writer with the individual. This section should provide context and set the tone for the entire letter.

2. Description of the individual

The writer should provide a detailed description of the individual’s qualities, such as their character, abilities, and accomplishments. This section should highlight the key strengths and qualities that make the individual stand out and excel in their field.

3. Specific examples

The writer should provide specific examples of the individual’s achievements and how they’ve demonstrated their strengths and abilities. These examples should illustrate the individual’s character, work ethic, and skills.

4. Conclusion

The letter should end with a brief summary of the individual’s strengths and qualifications, and a statement of recommendation. The writer should express their confidence in the individual’s abilities and provide their contact information for further inquiries.

It’s important to note that personal reference letters should be honest and sincere. It’s also crucial to proofread and edit the letter carefully to ensure that it’s free of errors and conveys the intended message.

B. Personal Reference Letter Examples and Writing Tips

To help you write a compelling personal reference letter, here are some examples and writing tips:

1. Use a professional tone

The letter should be written in a professional tone and format. Avoid using informal language or overly emotional expressions.

2. Be specific

Provide specific examples of the individual’s strengths and accomplishments. Use concrete details to illustrate their skills and qualities.

3. Customize the letter

Tailor the letter to the specific purpose and context of the individual’s application. For example, if the individual is applying for a job, focus on their job-related skills and experiences.

4. Be positive

Highlight the individual’s positive qualities and avoid negative comments or criticisms. The letter should be a positive endorsement of the individual’s abilities.

5. Include your credentials

Include your name, job title, and contact information in the letter. This provides credibility to your recommendation and enables the recipient to contact you for further inquiries.

By following these tips and guidelines, you can write an effective and persuasive personal reference letter that highlights the individual’s strengths, accomplishments, and potential.

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Graduate school graduate school, personal statements and letters of recommendation, submit a compelling personal statement.

Note that this is a general guide to assist you in preparing a personal statement. Applicants should also review the requirements of the degree program by visiting the program website and/or consulting with program staff to determine whether other information is required in the personal statement.

What does your personal statement need to accomplish?

The personal statement should convince readersoften the faculty on the department admissions committeethat you have experiences and solid achievements showing your promise for persistence and success in graduate studies. Admissions committee members may use a rubric to evaluate your personal statement.

What information should you include in your personal statement?

Include information that gives reviewers a sense of you as a person and a scholar. Display your communication skills and discuss your ability to maximize effective collaboration with the broader academic community. If you have faced any obstacles or barriers in your education or have seized upon unique opportunities for research, sharing those experiences aids in both the selection process, and in nomination for assistantships and fellowships. If one part of your academic record is not ideal due to challenges you faced in that particular area, this is where you can explain any issues and direct reviewers' attention to the evidence of your promise for success in higher education. This is also where you can communicate your potential to bring to your academic career a critical perspective rooted in your experiences.

Use the outline below to guide your writing process

Part i: introduce yourself, your interests and motivations.

Tell readers what you're interested in, and perhaps, what sparked your desire for graduate study. This should be short and to the point; don't spend a great deal of time on autobiography.

Part 2: Summarize your undergraduate and, if applicable, previous graduate research and scholarly pursuits

Describe the research you conducted. Indicate with whom, the title of the project, what your responsibilities were, and the outcome. Write in the style of your discipline. Describe any important papers or thesis projects, as well as anything scholarly beyond your curricular requirements such as involvement in an Honors program. Also address any work experience that might be applicable, especially if you had any kind of responsibility for testing, designing, researching or interning in an area similar to what you wish to study in graduate school. What did you learn from these experiences? How did these experiences prepare you for graduate studies?

Part 3:  Your academic achievement in context

(note that this section may be placed anywhere in your statement. Consider the flow of the other sections and where the following information best fits for you).

It is especially helpful if you discuss circumstances or activities that may have affected your academic and professional development. Admissions committee members want to know if you have what it takes to persist and succeed in graduate studies. This is your chance to contextualize your application (e.g., GPA, standardized test scores, research experience) for the committee members. The following list is not an exhaustive list of contextual factors but will give you an idea of the kinds of activities that may be evaluated by the admissions committee:

• Demonstrated initiative to seize opportunities for advanced academic work or research and/or clinical experiences
• Demonstrated persistence and significant academic achievement by overcoming barriers including but not limited to economic, health, social, or educational disadvantages, including first-generation college student status
• Potential to contribute diverse perspectives to enhance the higher education enterprise (e.g., research, scholarly work, classroom dialogue) as evidenced by life experiences and educational background. For example:
• Ability to articulate the barriers facing women and minorities in science, technology, and engineering (STEM) fields
• Participation in higher education pipeline programs such as BUILD, IMSD, McNair Scholars, or summer research and internship programs
• Military service
• Service in Peace Corps, Teach for America, Americorps, City Year, Summer in the City
• Service in campus life organizations and groups
• Varsity Athletics
• Significant travel experiences including Study Abroad
• Research, scholarly, and artistic experiences, if not already mentioned
• Other community and volunteer experiences

Part 4: Discuss the relevance of your recent and current activities

If you graduated and worked prior to returning to grad school, indicate what you've been doing: company or non-profit, your work/design team, responsibilities, what you learned. You can also indicate how this helped you focus your interest in graduate studies.

Part 5: Elaborate on your academic interests

Here you indicate what you would like to study in graduate school in enough detail to convince the faculty that you understand the scope of research in their discipline, are aware of resources in the department, and are engaged with current research themes.

• Indicate the area of your interests. Ideally, pose a question, define a problem, or indicate a theme that you would like to address in your graduate studies. This should be an ample paragraph!
• Look on the web for information about the department you're interested in, including professors and their research. Are there professors whose research interests parallel yours? If so, indicate their names. Check the specific program; many require you to name a professor or professors with whom you might work.
• End your statement in a positive manner, indicating your excitement and readiness for the challenges ahead of you.

Essential tips for writing a personal statement

• Include information that gives reviewers a sense of you as a person and a scholar.
• Display your communication skills and discuss your ability to maximize effective collaboration with the broader academic community.
• If you have faced any obstacles or barriers in your education or have seized upon unique opportunities for research, sharing those experiences serves both for the selection process, and for your nomination for assistantships and fellowships.
• If one part of your academic record is not ideal due to challenges you faced in that particular area, this is where you can explain any issues and direct reviewers' attention to the evidence of your promise for success in higher education.
• Communicate your potential to bring a critical perspective rooted in your experiences to your academic career.

Download detailed guidelines .

Letters of recommendation, who should you ask for letters of recommendation .

• Professors with whom you've taken classes, met with and participated in class. 
• Supervisors of volunteer or work experiences.
• Generally, for Ph.D. programs, it's best if at least two recommenders are faculty members. 

How to request a professional letter of recommendation (example): 

Date Dear Dr. Garcia, 

I am writing to ask if you would be interested and able to write me a strong letter of recommendation for Ph.D. program in clinical psychology. I have really enjoyed being a research assistant in your lab these last eight months and believe this experience has confirmed my interest in the field. 

If you agree to write letters for me, I can send you my personal statement, CV, or any other materials that would be helpful to you. I can meet with you in person if that would be useful. Most of my deadlines are December 1. 

Thank you for your consideration. 

Sincerely,  First and last name 

Letters of Recommendation

What this handout is about.

Producing an effective recommendation letter involves strategy, research, and planning. This handout is designed to introduce recommenders to some best practices for writing effective recommendation letters.

Deciding whether to write a recommendation

Recommendation letters are likely to receive close scrutiny, and sparse or non-specific recommendations may negatively impact an application. If a recommender is unable or unwilling to produce a recommendation that speaks directly to the individual applicant and position, the selection committee or potential employer may interpret this negatively. If you do not feel that you could provide a positive or detailed recommendation, it is okay to decline!

There are several reasons why it may be appropriate to decline a request for a recommendation:

• You may not feel comfortable writing a positive letter, either because you have no information about the student or because they did not perform well enough in a class or position.
• You may feel you are a “bad fit” for the student’s application. For example, if your field of expertise is completely unrelated to the student’s area of interest, you might advise the student to ask recommenders with more relevant backgrounds.
• You may feel that you lack the necessary credentials to offer a compelling recommendation. For example, graduate student instructors may feel as if they cannot credibly endorse their students’ graduate school applications. Thus, students may be directed to faculty to write letters instead of graduate students.
• You may know that you will not have time to write and proofread a strong letter before the student’s deadline.

Consider setting up a meeting. This will give you an opportunity to ask about the applicant’s academic background, professional goals, and reasons for applying. It may help to clarify whether this is a one-time request, or whether you are being asked to serve as a recommender for several applications. It’s a good idea to request to see the applicant’s resume, CV, personal statement, or other components of the application. Each of these can give you a sense of the applicant’s goals and help you decide if you would be a good recommender. These items will also allow you to tailor your letter appropriately if you decide to write on the applicant’s behalf.

Confidentiality and protected information

Many applications invite applicants to waive their right to view a letter of recommendation. Confidential letters of recommendation may be viewed as more credible than letters that applicants can access.

You should be aware of the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) and your institution’s FERPA-related guidelines when writing recommendation letters. FERPA prohibits disclosure of protected student information such as grades and attendance without the student’s prior written consent. Students who want you to address protected information should specify which records you may disclose, the purpose for which the disclosure is being made, and to whom the information may be disclosed. You can read more about FERPA here: https://www2.ed.gov/policy/gen/guid/fpco/ferpa/index.html .

Writing strong recommendations

After committing to write a recommendation for an applicant, gather information about the opportunity to which they are applying. Besides asking the applicant about the organization, you may also want to reach out to someone in your own professional network who may know something about the audience or take some time to do your own research. Here are some questions to consider:

• What are the organization’s values and priorities? Some organizations state this information explicitly on their websites and other publications, and this can help you tailor your letter to directly address the audience’s top concerns.
• What information does the audience want to learn from you? Some institutions will ask you to answer specific questions about the applicant in your letter. Knowing these in advance will give you more time to talk with the student about any information you may need.
• How is this opportunity a good fit for the applicant? Referencing special features and benefits offered by a position shows that you’ve done your homework, which can add to the weight of your recommendation by demonstrating that you are willing to invest extra work in your student’s success. You will also be able to speak to the applicant’s fit for the position in greater detail.

Keep in mind that nearly all recommendations contain a positive appraisal of an applicant’s abilities and character, and it costs recommenders almost nothing to offer general and unsubstantiated praise of an applicant. Letters that claim an applicant is “the best student I’ve ever worked with” or “the hardest working employee I’ve ever had” are likely to meet with skepticism, unless the writer includes specific evidence to back up these claims. Even letters that contain genuine praise may come across as form letters unless you can speak to unique evidence about the student that corroborates your positive assessment.

Many different kinds of information may constitute evidence in a recommendation, and it is up to you to determine what would be most convincing to the audience. Here are some guidelines for what you may want to include or avoid:

• Do describe your relationship with the applicant. Say how long you’ve known the applicant and in what capacity. This information helps the audience understand how well you know the applicant. For example, sharing that you’ve advised a student for three years and taught them in two senior seminars demonstrates that you know your applicant better than a recommender who has only recently met the student or who has only taught the student in a large lecture class.
• Do include quantitative data about a student’s performance in a class or an employee’s performance in a position. Because raw grade point averages or other performance metrics are sometimes difficult to translate across different contexts, try to rank students against other students. For example, rather than saying “Judith received an A in my class,” aim for evidence that tells the audience how Judith’s performance compared to her classmates’: “Judith was among the top 5% of students in her large lecture class.” (Remember, if you do include specific grades in your letter, you must have written consent from the student as per FERPA.)
• Do compare applicants to students who have been placed into other positions. A statement like, “Over the past five years, other students with undergraduate research experience similar to Amer’s have been accepted to graduate programs at X, Y, and Z,” gives the audience a sense of where Amer stands in a wider population of successful students. Including comments like these also indicates that you have a good sense of what makes an applicant successful.
• Do mention the applicant’s personal and/or intellectual strengths as they pertain to the application. For example, it may be helpful to emphasize a study abroad applicant’s open-mindedness. Again, include appropriate evidence for this claim, which may involve discussing or even directly citing the student’s written work in your class.
• Do explain why you think the applicant is a good fit. Selection committees are often interested in hearing how students would contribute to the intellectual and professional climate of their institution. Given your experience with the student, help the audience see the type of employee or scholar the student will be: “Casey’s research experience in early-modern Arabic poetry would make them an ideal addition to Professor Seif’s Syrian cultural archival project.” If possible, mention the position/school/fellowship by name. This proves that you’ve taken enough interest in the letter to target it for each recipient. It will not always be possible to tailor recommendations to each program; for example, many postgraduate programs are moving to common applications that send the same letters to all programs to which students apply.
• Don’t shy away from discussing the applicant’s weaknesses —but only if those weaknesses are likely to already be on the audience’s radar. For example, you may have insight into why your student received an uncharacteristically low grade in your class during their final semester that could alleviate an audience’s concerns. You may draw attention to the applicant’s growth as well as the potential for continued growth in the new position. Keep in mind, however, that recommendation letters are expected to be positive in tone, so proceed with caution when discussing applicants’ weaknesses. Specifically avoid commenting on personality traits or other topics that are irrelevant to the application.
• Don’t rely on generalizations, clichés, or platitudes. Every good applicant will be “dedicated,” “hard-working,” and “enthusiastic.” Praise like this is likely to appear in dozens of other letters for other applicants, so you need to say more to help your applicant stand out. Include specific examples to support these descriptors. Convey the unique strengths of your student, especially any that you believe speak directly to the audience’s interests or values. Also pay special attention to any language that may inadvertently convey gender or other biases. For example, some studies have reported that language that pertains to effort (rather than accomplishments), personal life details (rather than relevant professional information), and emotional capacities (rather than academic or professional ability) more frequently appear in recommendations for women than for men. Focusing on traits that are demonstrable with evidence and germane to the program or position to which the student is applying is the best way to avoid implicit bias in your letters.
• Don’t include too much information about you or your class. Although some brief background information about the context in which you know the student is appropriate, do not spend so much time discussing course or assignment details that the letter is no longer focused upon the applicant.
• Don’t offer tepid praise or left-handed compliments. Half-hearted comments are almost guaranteed to attract the wrong kind of attention. Although you may honestly report that your student “completed all course assignments on time” or “was an adequate writer,” the audience will likely interpret these phrases as veiled criticism. Avoiding tepid praise is more difficult than it seems. After you’ve finished writing the letter, read over it with a critical eye and try to assume the worst of the student. Do any of your sentences invite uncharitable interpretation?
• Don’t simply summarize the applicant’s CV or resume. As with tepid praise, simply reiterating what the audience already knows from other parts of the application implies that you either don’t know or don’t care enough about the applicant to offer your own appraisal. It is appropriate to highlight a special component of a student’s resume and explain why you believe this aspect of the student makes them a great candidate, but don’t waste your opportunity to offer your own valuable endorsement by simply listing the applicant’s accomplishments.

Formatting recommendation letters

After you’ve decided what to write in your recommendation, you will need to decide how to write it. How long should the recommendation be? Should it be written on official letterhead? To whom should it be addressed? Will the letter submitted electronically, or will it be mailed?

Length: Just as there is sometimes no prescribed length for application essays, there is no standard length for recommendation letters. Most recommendations tend to be around 1 to 1.5 single-spaced pages long, although some may be longer if you have a lot to share. Business and law school recommendations tend to be briefer than graduate school recommendations. In general, try to strike a balance between writing too little (which suggests you have nothing to say about the applicant) and writing too much, which may be annoying to audiences who are reading dozens or hundreds of recommendations for a single position.

Letterhead: When possible, write recommendations on official letterhead and sign them using a handwritten signature. Producing letters on official letterhead both adds to your credibility as a recommender and demonstrates that you care enough about the applicant to put finishing touches on your endorsement. This may include sending an envelope with your signature across the seal. Some application programs ask recommenders to compose or paste their recommendations into online forms. In these cases, you would not submit the letter on formal letterhead. Learning in advance how you will need to submit your recommendation can help you avoid unnecessary work and accurately gauge the time required to submit your letter.

Salutation: Address recommendation letters as specifically as possible. If the applicant is applying for a position within a firm or office and you know who will receive the letter, address the letter to that person, like “Dear Dr. Anderson.” If you don’t know who, specifically, will receive the letter, address the recommendation to the target audience, like “Dear Fulbright Committee”. Avoid vacuous salutations like “To Whom it May Concern.” Also avoid informal greetings, including those you might use in an email or other correspondence, like “Hi,” “Hello,” “Good afternoon,” etc. “Dear” is the standard formal salutation in English.

Closing: End the letter with a simple closing word or phrase like “Sincerely,” “Regards,” or “Cordially” or by thanking the audience for considering your endorsement. Avoid personal and emotive language. If you would be willing to answer any additional questions the institution or employer may have about the applicant, it is appropriate to invite them to contact you before closing the letter.

Letters of recommendation inform the decisions of admissions committees, employers, funding agencies, and other organizations who are trying to choose between multiple candidates. Your efforts to create strong letters make a difference.

If you commit to writing a letter of recommendation, follow through. Keep track of deadlines and start early, as you may discover that you need additional information from the student or institution, and you will want to have time to request this information and incorporate it into your recommendation.

Finally, consider whether you are willing to do more than write a recommendation. Students may need help with other parts of their application, such as statements of purpose or writing samples. Since you likely have insight into what graduate programs or employers are looking for, you are in a unique position to help applicants with these other materials as well.

Works consulted

We consulted these works while writing this handout. This is not a comprehensive list of resources on the handout’s topic, and we encourage you to do your own research to find additional publications. Please do not use this list as a model for the format of your own reference list, as it may not match the citation style you are using. For guidance on formatting citations, please see the UNC Libraries citation tutorial . We revise these tips periodically and welcome feedback.

Brown University. n.d. “Writing Letters of Recommendation.” Fellowships and Research. Accessed July 2, 2019. https://www.brown.edu/academics/college/fellowships/information-resources/writing-letters-recommendation/writing-letters-recommendation .

Madera, Juan M., Michelle R. Hebl, and Randi C. Martin. 2009. “Gender and Letters of Recommendation for Academia: Agentic and Communal Differences.” Journal of Applied Psychology 94 (6): 1591–99. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0016539 .

Massachusetts Institute of Technology. n.d. “How to Write Good Letters of Recommendation.” MIT Admissions. Accessed July 2, 2019. https://mitadmissions.org/apply/parents-educators/writingrecs/ .

Stanford University. n.d. “Writing Letters of Recommendation.” Teaching Commons. Accessed July 2, 2019. https://teachingcommons.stanford.edu/resources/teaching-resources/how-evaluate-students/writing-letters-recommendation.

Yale University. n.d. “Writing Letters of Recommendation.” Fellowships and Funding. Accessed July 2, 2019. https://funding.yale.edu/faculty-staff-recommenders/writing-letters .

Trix, Frances, and Carolyn Psenka. 2003. “Exploring the Color of Glass: Letters of Recommendation for Female and Male Medical Faculty.” Discourse & Society 14 (2): 191–220. https://doi.org/10.1177%2F0957926503014002277 .

Whitaker, Manya. 2016. “Tips for Writing Recommendation Letters.” Inside Higher Ed , December 2, 2016. https://www.insidehighered.com/advice/2016/12/02/how-write-stronger-letters-recommendation-students-essay .

You may reproduce it for non-commercial use if you use the entire handout and attribute the source: The Writing Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

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Personal Recommendation Letter Examples

What Is a Personal Recommendation?

Who to ask for a recommendation, how to ask for a personal reference, what to include in your letter.

• Writing Recommendation Letters
• Personal Reference Letter Template

After You Send the Reference

Maddy Price / The Balance

What's a personal recommendation letter? When do you need one, and how should you write it? Writing a personal recommendation letter or character reference can be a challenge. After all, these letters are generally required for important opportunities or big life events, such as getting a new job, buying a home, or gaining admission to a program or school.

Tailoring the letter's content to highlight the applicant's specific qualities and experiences is crucial for making a compelling recommendation. Below, you'll find tips and insights to help write or secure an impactful recommendation letter, along with samples of strong letters to consider.

A personal recommendation , sometimes called a character reference, comes from someone who knows you personally, rather than knowing you professionally from a current or former job. Jobs often require professional recommendations; however, if you're new to the job market, you might not have many established professional connections who can vouch for your abilities. In such instances, personal references can still shed light on your work ethic and potential contributions.

Personal recommendations and  character reference  letters can be written by teachers, neighbors, business acquaintances, clients, vendors, and other recommenders who can attest to an applicant's skills and abilities.

If you’re the person requesting a reference, be sure to provide the writer with clear instructions on what information you need them to include, and give them a resume or list of your skills and experiences. You might send a letter sample to the writer to help guide their own letter. Here's advice on how to ask someone to give you a reference .

A personal reference letter should provide information on who you are, your connection with the person you are recommending, why they are qualified, and the  specific skills  they have that you are endorsing. It should also include specific examples of times they demonstrated these skills. Review this template for ideas and suggestions on what to write and how to provide a compelling reference:

When writing a character reference letter, include a salutation (Dear Dr. Jones, Dear Ms. Matthews, etc.). If you are writing a general letter, say " To Whom It May Concern " or don't include a salutation and simply start with the first paragraph of the letter.

Paragraph 1

The first paragraph of the character reference letter explains how you know the person you are recommending and why you are qualified to write a  recommendation letter  for employment, college, or graduate school.

Paragraph 2

The second paragraph of a reference letter contains specific information on the person you are writing about, including why they are qualified, what they can contribute, and why you are providing a reference letter. Use specific examples of times the person demonstrated these skills or qualities. If necessary, use more than one paragraph to provide details.

This section of the reference letter contains a brief summary of why you are recommending the person. State that you "highly recommend" the person, "recommend [them] without reservation," or something similar.

The concluding paragraph of a reference letter contains an offer to provide more information. Include a phone number and/or email address within the paragraph, as well as the return address section of your letter (for hard copy letters) or in your signature (for emails).

Signature (hard copy letter)

Your Name Title

If you're sending an email recommendation, list your contact information in your signature.

Tips on Writing Personal Recommendation Letters

A recommendation letter should be tailored to both the person being recommended and the position or responsibilities involved.

It's important to tailor your letter to fit the particular person you are recommending and to incorporate the information he or she asks you to include. Be sure to focus on how the person is qualified. Sharing examples is a good way to show what the person can accomplish.

Your letter should describe how you know the person and explain why you’re recommending them.

• Think carefully before saying yes.  Only say you will write the recommendation if you can recommend the person without reservation. If you're asked to write a reference and don't feel comfortable giving one, it's appropriate to politely decline  the request for a reference.
• Follow a business letter format.  Use the official business letter format  when writing your letter. If time is of the essence, you might consider sending a  recommendation email  instead of a letter. Review this list of the information that should be included in a recommendation letter.
• Focus on the job description.  Ask the person for whom you’re writing the letter for a copy of the job description. This way, you can focus on the requirements of the position. Try to include language from the job description in your letter. Even if you are writing a more general recommendation, you can still ask the person about the types of jobs they will be applying for.
• Explain how you know the person , and for how long. Begin your letter with this basic information. If you have known the person for a long time, be sure to emphasize this.
• Focus on one or two traits.  In the body of your letter, focus on one or two qualities that make this person a good fit for the job or opportunity. Provide specific examples of ways in which the person has demonstrated these various traits in the past.
• Remain positive.  State that you think this person is a strong candidate. You might say something like, “I recommend this person without reservation.” You want to help this candidate stand out from the other applicants.
• Share your contact information.  Provide a way for the employer to contact you if they have further questions. Include your email address, telephone number, or both at the end of the letter.
• Follow the submission guidelines.  Ask the person for whom you’re writing the letter how to submit it. Make sure you follow any requirements, especially about where and when to send it and its requested format (for example, PDF, physical letter, etc.). If there is a submission deadline, be sure to submit it before the due date.

Also, review  how to write a reference letter for a friend if you're writing a personal letter.

Here are samples of personal reference letters you can use as a starting point for your correspondence:

• Character Reference Letter
• Personal Reference Letter for a Friend
• More Personal Reference Letter Samples

If an application asks you to list references, be sure to ask permission before putting someone's name down. Here’s a sample letter you can use for your request:

• Letter Requesting Permission to Use a Reference

Personal Reference Letter Template

This is a personal reference letter example. Download the personal reference letter template (compatible with Google Docs and Word Online), or see below for more examples.

Personal Reference Letter Sample (Text Version)

Elizabeth Smith 1 Oak Street Anytown, CA 99999 555-555-5555 elizabeth.smith@email.com

March 10, 2024

Jane Jones Human Resources Acme Corp 10 Main Street Anytown, CA 99999

Dear Ms. Jones,

It’s my pleasure to offer my unreserved recommendation for Megan Brown for the position of intern at Acme Corp.

I’ve known Megan for over 20 years, having lived next door to her since she was a child. She’s always demonstrated responsibility and entrepreneurial spirit. When she was a teenager, she started a snow shoveling business in our neighborhood and wound up managing a team of five other kids from the street. I’m fairly certain they pulled in enough money to buy their own plow… if any of them had been old enough to operate it.

Since then, I’ve watched with interest as she’s pursued her education and interest in business. Of course, you know from her transcripts and professional recommendations that she’s been unusually successful throughout her early career, but what you might not know is the joy she gets from solving problems and making business ideas work. It’s truly inspiring to see her tackle something and make it a success.

Megan would be an asset to any organization, but I know that she has a particular passion for your company. I’d be happy to answer any questions or discuss my recommendation further. Please feel free to call me at 555-555-5555.

Elizabeth Smith (signature for hard copy)

Elizabeth Smith

Once you've mailed, emailed, or uploaded your reference letter, let the person you're writing it for know that it's been submitted. 

If someone wrote you a reference, don't forget to send a thank-you note or email to your reference providers.

How to Write a Letter of Recommendation [With Tips & Template]

Every now and then, applying for a position will require that you also submit a letter of recommendation. 

Or, maybe, a coworker will ask you to write a recommendation letter for their new job application.

If you're not certain how to go about it, don't worry - nothing about recommendation letters needs to be complicated. Especially once you learn the nitty-gritty of the topic. 

This is exactly what this article is here to teach you!

What is a Recommendation Letter?

What should a letter of recommendation include.

• How to Write a Letter of Recommendation

3 Types of Recommendation Letters

• How to Ask For a Recommendation Letter
• Recommendation Letter Template

A letter of recommendation is a formal document confirming and recommending a person’s work, skills, or academic performance and potential. 

Typically, a recommendation letter is required for: 

• University admissions
• Fellowships or internship positions
• Job applications
• Volunteering opportunities

You should ideally write a recommendation for someone whose abilities and work ethic you are familiar with - for example, a colleague, student you taught, your employee, or someone you supervised at work.

Similarly, if you’re the one asking for a recommendation letter, you should ask someone who can attest to your professional or academic abilities. 

The types of recommendation letters are:

• Academic recommendation letters.
• Employment recommendation letters.
• Character recommendation letters.

Here’s what each type of recommendation letter is about:

#1. Academic Recommendation Letters

Academic recommendation letters are typically required to be submitted by students during the admission processes of graduate and undergraduate schools. 

Generally, each prospective student is requested to submit up to three references, which can be written by any education professional familiar with the candidate’s academic background. 

Academic reference letters include:

• Recommendation letter for undergraduate/graduate school
• Recommendation letter for a scholarship
• Recommendation letter for a fellowship program

#2. Employment recommendation letters 

This type makes up the most popular type of recommendation letter.

Sometimes, employers can ask you to submit up to 3 recommendation letters as part of your job application.

More often, though, a recruiter might ask you for recommendation letters if they already like your resume and want to learn more about you. 

Employment recommendation letters are written by former - or current - coworkers, employers, or supervisors.

If you can choose, pick someone with more years of experience than you. After all, the more senior they are, the more weight their recommendation carries.

Employment recommendations include: 

• Recommendation letter for a coworker
• Recommendation letter for a (former) employee

#3. Character recommendation letters

Character recommendation letters, also known as personal references, are used to describe an individual’s personality by someone who knows them well, including close friends, coworkers, or employers. 

Personal references serve many purposes, the primary ones being court cases dealing with criminal issues such as drunk driving offenses, or legal situations such as child adoption procedures. 

It is not uncommon, however, to have a potential landlord or even immigration officials ask for a personal reference. 

Personal references include: 

• Recommendation letter for a friend
• Recommendation letter for a tenant
• Recommendation letter for a patient

Recommendation letters follow a particular format and layout that make writing them significantly easier. 

In this section, we’ll cover how to do each the right way, starting with:

Letter of Recommendation Format

A letter of recommendation includes the following sections: 

• The salutation ; if you are addressing someone whose name you know or writing a personal recommendation letter, the salutation can be addressed to “Dear Mr./Mrs./Dr. Smith.” Otherwise, you may use the generic “to whom it may concern.”
• The introduction , which first and foremost includes your statement of recommendation (i.e. “ it is my pleasure to recommend… ”). It is common to also briefly state who you are and what your expertise is.
• The overview, or a description of the applicant’s top skills, attributes, and strengths.
• A personal story describing more of the applicant’s skills and qualifications.
• The closing statement , or the final call for action, is where you encourage the recruiter to contact you if additional information is needed.
• The signature , where you repeat your name and include your full contact information.

Letter of Recommendation Layout 

When it comes to the layout of the recommendation letter, all you need to do is follow some basic formatting rules. Here are the most important ones: 

#1. One page length. This rule applies to resumes too, but it’s even more essential for the recommendation letter. Recruiters go through hundreds of them, so chances are they appreciate concise, to-the-point letters that don’t waste their time. And besides, a good recommendation letter doesn’t have to be an essay to get the recruiter ‘hooked’ - especially if you follow the above format. 

#2. Single-spaced lining, with space between paragraphs . This also keeps your reference letter within the limit by shortening the text. 

#3. Traditional font. Don’t go for something too creative - pick a classic that works. We recommend Times New Roman, Calibri, Arial, Ubuntu, Roboto or Overpass.

#4. 1” margins on all sides . This creates enough white space around the margins and makes the letter easy to read. Additionally, the text should be aligned to the left - although this is a standard alignment for most documents.    

#5. 10-12pt font size . This is the font size range that makes the document easy to read. Adjusting the font size is another good way to keep your recommendation letter within the length limit.

Recommendation letters usually follow similar layout rules as resumes. Learn more about font size and style from our article on the best resume font, size, and format . 

Recommendation Letter Template 

Struggling to write a recommendation letter? 

Just follow our tried-and-tested template! 

To whom it may concern: 

[Recommend the referee for the position they are applying for.]

[Briefly introduce yourself and state your position/ job title , as well as your work experience .]

[Tell how you know the referee and describe their top skills, qualifications, and strengths.]

[Share a personal story with the referee where you highlight their strong points and key achievements .]

[Add a few more of the applicant’s skills and positive traits, preferably fitting the job description.]

[Show your availability to provide additional information for the referee if needed.]

Best Regards

[Your full signature and contact information]

How to Ask for a Recommendation Letter 

Need to ask someone for a recommendation letter? Here’s what you need to know.

The go-to person for your recommendation letter will depend on the type of reference you’ll need. 

For example, if you need an employment recommendation letter , your top choices should involve people who are familiar with your work ethic and professional abilities, but with whom you’ve also had a positive professional relationship. For example:

• Your team lead
• Department head
• CEO of the company
• Direct manager
• A coworker you’ve worked with together on a project

If you are a recent graduate with little work experience, you can ask a mentor or college professor to write you a professional reference. 

In case you need an academic recommendation letter , consider asking a professor with whom you’ve worked closely and can positively attest to your academic potential and achievements.

Your thesis advisor, for example, would make a good choice to ask for an academic reference. If you never wrote a Bachelor’s or Master’s thesis, any professor who knows you as more than just a face in a sea of students should do the trick. 

Finally, keep the following in mind when the time comes to ask for a recommendation letter: 

• Whoever you end up asking, talk to them about it in advance . Then, follow up with a formal email that should contain all reference-related information, such as the submission details and deadline. The email can also include a description of what you’re currently doing (professionally, academically, or independently), what qualifies you for the position, and some relevant skills, achievements, or noteworthy facts.
• If you’re asking for a professional recommendation letter, make sure to also include your resume and the job description in the follow-up email. This way, the person writing the letter will know more about you and your new position and will be able to write a more relevant recommendation by tailoring your skills to the job, or by mentioning some of your (relevant) achievements.
• Notify the contacts you’ll be asking - considering that in most cases recruiters ask for up to three recommendation letters - at least two weeks in advance. This will give them enough time to prepare and write a good recommendation letter. This is especially important for academic references because professors are usually writing several recommendation letters simultaneously.
• Consider attaching a recommendation letter template such as the one provided in this article to your email. The template will considerably ease or guide them through the process of writing the letter.
• Follow up by sending thank you notes to everyone who writes you a recommendation letter. Sending a letter of appreciation is a courtesy act that will let them know you are grateful for the time and effort they took to recommend you positively.

If you’re also looking to update your resume or create one, head over to our guide on how to write a resume in 2024 !

5 Tips on How to Write a Letter of Recommendation

There’s more to writing a recommendation letter than just following the layout instructions or sticking to the format.

We’re referring to content quality, which happens to be the trickiest part of the process. 

In this section, we’ll teach you how to write a recommendation letter that will impress the recruiter and help your referee!

Tip #1. Write an Attention-Grabbing Introduction  

First things first - the introduction.

This is where you need to grab the reader’s attention and get them interested in reading the recommendation letter. 

How to go about it? Before formally (and briefly) introducing yourself, aim to write an attention-grabbing recommendation statement, instead of a generic one the recruiter probably knows by heart already. 

Let’s explain this more practically: 

Dear Mr. Smith, 

I am pleased to recommend Sarah McKay for the Communications Assistant position.

Nothing wrong with this introduction at first glance, right? It’s a standard way of opening a recommendation letter after all. 

Well that’s exactly what’s wrong with it - it’s way too common. No, this probably won’t get your application disqualified, but it won’t impress the recruiter either.

Want yours to strike the right note? Try something like this instead:

Dear Mr. Smith,

I am sincerely glad to be the one recommending Sarah McKay for the Communications Assistant position.

This recommendation statement is not significantly different from the previous one, except for one thing: it gives the reference letter a head start by implying that recommending Sarah is an honor. And that’s more likely to get the recruiter’s attention - or, at least, curiosity. 

In case you’re struggling to come up with an attention-grabbing introduction, simply mention one of the following points, and you’re good to go: 

• A little-known fact about the candidate. 
• Your general consideration of the candidate’s qualities.
• A remarkable achievement or award the candidate might have won.  

Tip #2. Establish a Meaningful Relationship With the Candidate 

All recommendation letters explain what the relationship with the referee is before listing their skills and qualifications. 

To make the recommendation more meaningful, you should show the recruiter you are just the right person to attest to the candidate’s abilities. And that’s not something you can convey by simply stating how you know them. Take the following example:   

I have taught Jake Political Science for four years. 

Does this example tell the recruiter how you know the applicant? Sure, it does. 

But it does so in a boring way and without establishing a convincing relationship with them. For all the recruiter knows, Jake is just one out of a thousand students you’ve taught over the years.

It has been a pleasure for me to teach Jake for four years and guide him through his remarkable Bachelor’s thesis in Conflict Resolution.

Notice the difference? This example specifies the writer is Jake’s thesis advisor, which makes the recommendation all the more meaningful. 

Tip #3. Tailor Your Recommendation to the Application 

Want to put in the extra effort and make sure your referee truly stands out?

Tailor the recommendation letter to the job / university program they’re applying for.

Tailoring your letter to the candidate’s application is easiest when you’re recommending someone for employment (you can just check the job requirements), but it works for any type of recommendation (incl. academic). All you need to do is match the referee’s skills and strengths to whatever they’re applying for. 

Let’s assume, for example, that you’re recommending a co-worker for a marketing manager position.

Some of the job requirements are: 

• +5 years of professional experience in marketing
• Experience developing marketing campaigns 
• Excellent communication skills 
• Project-management and multi-tasking skills 

To tailor your recommendation to the job requirements, all you need to do is mention them as your referee’s best qualities. For example: 

Even after seven years working together, Ema’s skillful way of effectively communicating with clients and co-workers alike doesn’t cease to amaze me. It only comes second to her multi-tasking abilities, which I’ve witnessed throughout the many marketing campaigns we have developed and managed. 

As you can see, there’s not much to it. 

All you need to do is check the job requirements, pick several skills and qualifications, and make them part of your referee’s top skills, strengths, or personality traits.  

Tip #4. List the Candidate’s Achievements 

Mentioning some of the candidate’s achievements is another great way to help your referee really stand out.

After all, skills, strengths, and character traits are awesome, but they can also come across as meaningless if you can’t back them up with facts. 

What do we mean by this?

Let us explain:

Here’s how a typical personal story in a recommendation letter looks like:

I came to truly appreciate Eric’s work ethic, passion, and attention to detail the first time I assigned him to do a report on child trafficking. Eric was respectful of journalistic ethics but also willing to chase the story relentlessly, believing in its value and importance. 

Sure, this is a perfectly acceptable personal story. 

However, it doesn’t do much more than just list the referee’s skills, traits, and work experience through a subjective lens. 

What we’re saying is, it doesn’t really sell the candidate.

Now, let’s compare it to the following:

Eric’s ability to chase after difficult stories first became apparent when I assigned him a report about child trafficking. Despite the challenging topic, Eric not only pulled through but achieved more than expected by a) identifying a trafficking ring that put more than 50 minors into forced begging, b) interviewing 10 of the older minors and managing to bring that trafficking network down once the reportage went public and c) increasing the TV Channel’s ratings by 40% in 3 weeks. 

By mentioning those achievements, your account of the candidate’s experiences is a lot more “factual,” as well as impressive for the recruiter.

Not sure which achievements to include? Check out these 101+ achievements to list on your resum e !

Tip #5. Polish Up Your Recommendation Letter

Finally, here’s 5 more simple tips to get your recommendation letter ready:

• Maintain positive rhetoric . At no point throughout your reference letter should the recruiter sense a hint of doubt regarding the applicant’s skills and qualifications.
• Don’t overdo the positivity. Extremes are never good - which means being overly positive might also come across as a bit suspicious or weird (even if everything you're saying is true). 
• Follow the submission instructions . A bunch of employers, but also educational institutions, will provide instructions on how to submit the recommendation letter. We recommend you ask the candidate to double-check them and give you a heads up, because if you submit the recommendation letter wrong, the candidate might lose their chance.
• Use a business tone . Even when you’re being creative, your writing tone should maintain a business tone - polite, and as formal as possible.
• Mind your grammar and spelling . This is another tip that goes for all things application-related. You won’t compromise the referee’s chances with a typo, but your recommendation won’t matter much either if it’s filled with simple grammar/spelling mistakes. Run your letter through a grammar and spell-check app once you’re finished with it, just to be on the safe side of things.

Recommendation Letter FAQ

Still have some questions on how to write a letter of recommendation?

Find your answers below!

1. What is a professional letter of recommendation?

A professional letter of recommendation - also called an employment recommendation letter - refers to an official document that is typically required when you apply for a job and which describes the applicant’s professional skills, experiences, and qualifications. 

Professional letters of recommendation are typically written by current or previous employers or supervisors. A coworker can also write you a professional letter of recommendation, but it’s not as optimal as a coworker is not really an authority figure (and might just be a friend doing you a favor instead of being honest).

2. What should be written in a letter of recommendation?

Letters of recommendation generally follow the following format: 

• A formal salutation
• An introduction (which includes a recommendation statement and your professional title)
• An overview of some of the applicant’s skills, strengths, or qualifications, which you can tailor to the application
• A personal story where you can mention some of the applicant’s achievements
• A closing statement and call for action
• A signature , with your contact information

3. Who should I ask for a letter of recommendation?

If you’re asking for an academic letter of recommendation, you can ask:

• Current or former professors
• Academic mentors
• Thesis advisors

If you’re asking for a professional recommendation letter, though, you can ask:

• Current or former employers
• A supervisor or professional mentor
• Former professors
• Experienced coworkers

4. How do you start a recommendation paragraph?

To keep the recruiter reading your recommendation letter interested, you should start with an attention-grabbing introduction - specifically, an interesting recommendation statement. 

This statement is the opening sentence of the letter and it should optimally express your conviction to recommend the applicant in a non-generic way. 

If you’re struggling with coming up with something creative, just start with one of the following:

• A little-known or impressive fact about the candidate
• Your general consideration of the candidate’s qualities
• A remarkable achievement, or an award the candidate might have won

5. How do you end a letter of recommendation?

A letter of recommendation concludes with a call to action or a request towards the recruiter   showing your availability and willingness to provide additional information if needed. After mentioning that you remain available to discuss the candidate’s qualifications, you may finalize the letter with your signature - your name, title, and company.

Key Takeaways 

And that’s a wrap! We hope this article will make the process of writing a recommendation letter easier for you. 

Let’s go over some of the main points we covered: 

• A letter of recommendation is a formal letter confirming and recommending a person’s work, skills, or academic performance and potential.
• Recommendation letters follow a particular format and layout. The format typically consists of 1) the letterhead and full contact information, 2) a salutation, 3) an introduction, 4) an overview, 5) a personal story, 6) a closing sentence and 7) your signature.
• The three types of recommendation letters are employment, academic, and character recommendation letters.
• Who to ask for a recommendation letter depends on the type of reference you need. As a rule of thumb, pick someone who knows your skills and strengths well and whom you’ve had a positive experience (professional or academic) with.

Related Articles

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• Applying to graduate school

How (and Who) to Ask For a Letter of Recommendation

Published on October 30, 2020 by Lauren Thomas . Revised on June 1, 2023.

Letters of recommendation often make or break a graduate school application . It’s important to think carefully about who to ask and how to do it.

Ideally, you should approach former supervisors who know you and your work well, and can advise you. Different programs require different types of recommendation letters, but the process of requesting them is similar.

Follow these five steps to guarantee a great recommendation, including program-specific tips and email examples.

Table of contents

Step 1: choose who to ask, step 2: reach out and request a meeting, step 3: ask for a letter of recommendation, step 4: share your resume and other materials, step 5: remind your recommenders of upcoming deadlines, other interesting articles, frequently asked questions about recommendation letters.

Your first step is to decide who you’ll ask to write a letter for you. Ideally, this should be someone who you worked with outside of just the classroom context—for example, a former professor who supervised your research.

It’s important to ask someone who knows you well, even if they are less well known than other professors at your institution. Graduate admissions committees want to get a good sense of your ability to perform well in their program, and this is difficult to accomplish if your recommender only knows you as a face in the crowd.

Who you should ask also strongly depends on the type of program that you’re applying to. Different programs prefer different qualities in their admitted students, and thus weigh types of recommenders differently. Take a look at the program-specific tips below.

For research programs (MPhil, DPhil, PhD , Research Master’s), graduate admissions committees are looking for evidence of your potential as a future researcher.

Since this is tricky to assess from test scores and transcripts, letters of recommendation are often the most important part of a graduate research program application.

Your letter should thus be from someone who can speak to your skills as a researcher. This could be, for example, a professor who supervised you on an independent research project, or the head of a lab that you worked in as an undergraduate.

If you worked as a full-time research or lab assistant after undergrad, ask your managers, who are usually full-time researchers themselves and therefore experts on what makes a good researcher.

Unlike most graduate programs, business schools are less interested in your undergraduate academic performance. Instead, they try to assess your potential to succeed in the workplace, particularly in managerial or leadership positions. The same applies to public policy and other professional programs.

Ideally, your letters of recommendation should come from current supervisors at your work. If this isn’t possible, you should ask coworkers who are senior to you and know your work well.

Although business schools normally prefer candidates with several years of experience, current undergraduates sometimes apply as well. In this case, you should ask internship supervisors or—as a last resort—professors who know you well.

Medical schools look for evidence that you are academically prepared for the study of medicine and that your character is well-suited to becoming a doctor. Admissions committees in medicine prefer academic references, but they also require a few extra steps.

Firstly, while graduate programs usually require two or three recommendation letters, medical schools often ask for more—you may have to submit up to six letters, some of which should be from former professors in the natural sciences.

In addition, many schools recommend that you submit a letter from the premedical advisory committee at your undergraduate institution, which summarizes your overall suitability for medical school. Be aware that deadlines for materials for these letters are very early—often the spring of the year before you are due to start medical school.

Finally, if you’ve worked on any research projects, you should submit a letter from your supervisor. Medical schools view research competence as a plus.

Law school letters of recommendation should mostly be from former professors or other academic supervisors.

You should only use non-academic recommenders if they can directly speak to your suitability to study law—for example, if you regularly work with lawyers, or if your job involves skills like critical reading or research that are relevant to legal practice.

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The next step is to get in contact with your potential recommender. If you haven’t talked to them in a while, begin your email with a quick reminder to jog their memory. Be friendly, direct, and concise.

If possible, it’s best to plan a meeting to discuss your request. However, if this isn’t practical (for example, if you’ve moved far away from your undergrad institution), you can skip this step and head straight to the third.

Hi Professor Smith!

I hope that everything is going well with you and that you’re still enjoying teaching your seminar on the post World War II international order. I thoroughly enjoyed taking it with you last year as a junior.

I’m currently thinking about what I want to do next year, which will hopefully involve graduate work in political science, and was hoping to meet with you to discuss your thoughts on graduate school. Do you have any time over the next few weeks to meet?

Make your request during your meeting or, if necessary, via email. Let them know what sort of programs you are applying to and when the deadlines are. Make sure to give your recommenders plenty of time!

Instead of just asking for a recommendation letter, specifically ask if they can write you a strong recommendation . This allows your recommender an “out”—for example, if they don’t feel they know you well enough. A bad or even lukewarm recommendation is the kiss of death for any application, so it’s important to ensure your letters will be positive!

If they say they can’t give you a strong recommendation, don’t panic. This gives you the opportunity to ask someone else who can provide you a better recommendation.

Hi Professor Jones!

How are you? I hope everything is going well and you’re still teaching Introduction to Labor Economics to eager students!

I’ve been out of school for a year now, working as a full-time research assistant in New York City. Come this fall, I’m hoping to apply to a few programs for graduate school, mostly doctoral programs in Economics.

Since I took two economics classes with you (Introduction to Labor Economics in Spring 2018 and Industrial Organization in Fall 2019), I was hoping that you might agree to serve as a letter writer for my graduate program. I wanted to highlight my work in labor economics, since that’s what I’m hoping to study in graduate school. Also, since I loved your classes, I thought you might be a good person to ask!

The letters of recommendation would be due to each individual program’s website in December. I understand, of course, if you’re too busy this summer or if you don’t feel that you would be the best fit to write a letter. My goal is simply to paint as complete a picture as possible of my undergrad career at Western. If you’d like, we can also discuss this on the phone.

I look forward to hearing back from you!

You should send your resume or CV to your recommenders, along with any other material that might jog their memory or aid in their recommendation.

For instance, you may want to send along your statement of purpose or writing sample if one is requested in your application. Admission committees are looking for a cohesive story that the letters of recommendation, personal statement , and CV work together to tell.

You should also check whether the school provides any prompts or guidelines for recommenders. Many programs want your recommenders to comment on your potential to serve in the specific role the graduate program prepares you for. See the program-specific tips below.

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Finally, you should send an email to your recommenders a few weeks before the letters are due, reminding them of the deadline and asking if there is anything else you can send them to assist in writing the letter.

If any materials are late, programs will often reject your entire application, so it is imperative that your recommenders get their letters in on time. However, you should also keep in mind that your letter writers are probably quite busy, so don’t send too many reminders!

Dear Professor Jones,

Hope the semester is going well! Thank you again for agreeing to serve as my recommender. I just wanted to send you a quick reminder that recommendations for Program X, Y, and Z are due in two weeks, on December 15. Please let me know if you need anything else from me, and thank you again!

If you want to know more about college essays , academic writing , and AI tools , make sure to check out some of our other language articles with explanations, examples, and quizzes.

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Choose people who know your work well and can speak to your ability to succeed in the program that you are applying to.

Remember, it is far more important to choose someone who knows you well than someone well-known. You may have taken classes with more prominent professors, but if they haven’t worked closely with you, they probably can’t write you a strong letter.

This depends on the program that you are applying for. Generally, for professional programs like business and policy school, you should ask managers who can speak to your future leadership potential and ability to succeed in your chosen career path.

However, in other graduate programs, you should mostly ask your former professors or research supervisors to write your recommendation letters , unless you have worked in a job that corresponds closely with your chosen field (e.g., as a full-time research assistant).

It’s best to ask in person if possible, so first reach out and request a meeting to discuss your graduate school plans.

Let the potential recommender know which programs you’re applying to, and ask if they feel they can provide a strong letter of recommendation . A lukewarm recommendation can be the kiss of death for an application, so make sure your letter writers are enthusiastic about recommending you and your work!

Always remember to remain polite. Your recommenders are doing you a favor by taking the time to write a letter in support of your graduate school goals.

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Residency Letters of Recommendation Samples

I hope you enjoy reading this blog post.

If you want our team to help you with your Residency Application,  click here .

Letters of Recommendation (LORs) are pivotal in your residency application, providing a unique perspective on your skills, character, and potential from those who know your work best. This blog provides you with sample letters to help you get powerful recommendations that strengthen your residency application.

If you are looking for a full ALL IN ONE Application Resources for MATCH® 2025, including MSPE samples, personal statement examples, ERAS application template, and much more, click here .

We also have detailed guides on LORs , how to write your personal statement , how to complete your ERAS application , and 200+ residency interview questions .

And now, let’s get started with the LOR examples:

Letter of Recommendation Example #1: Internal Medicine

Dear Program Director,

I am writing this letter of recommendation in support of Shiv Roy, who is applying to this year’s match in Internal Medicine. Shiv has been an exceptional student under my mentorship during her US clinical rotations and research endeavors. I have had the privilege of working closely with Shiv during her time at my primary care outpatient clinic in San Diego, where she displayed remarkable dedication, medical knowledge, and a commitment to excellence.

From the outset, Shiv’s depth and breadth of medical knowledge impressed me. During her three-week clerkship at my clinic, she seamlessly integrated herself into the work environment. In a short period, Shiv was actively involved in patient care, performing tasks ranging from taking comprehensive histories and conducting physical examinations to formulating differential diagnoses and implementing treatment plans. I was particularly impressed by her note-taking skills on our electronic medical record system, Epic, which she mastered through her own initiative and meticulousness. Her colleagues and residents also recognized her hard work and exceptional patient care. Outside of this, both the office staff and residents commented on her positive attitude, can-do personality and pleasant nature. Indeed, Shiv’s presence in the office was felt so much that I have even had several patients ask for updates on “Dr. Shiv” since her rotation with us.

Furthermore, Shiv’s enthusiasm extended beyond clinical rotations. Following her time at my clinic, she expressed a desire to engage in research activities within our department. I connected her with Dr. Jim Smith, a respected colleague studying social determinants of developing pulmonary fibrosis. Shiv worked remotely with Dr. Smith for six months, all while completing additional clinical rotations and studying for the three-step sequence of the USMLE. Her commitment to research and her ability to balance multiple responsibilities were truly remarkable.

Throughout her various clinical experiences, Shiv consistently garnered unanimous praise for her hard work, aptitude for learning, and outstanding performance. She possesses a unique combination of intelligence, drive, and leadership qualities that sets her apart from her peers. I have no doubt that she will emerge as a thought leader in her chosen field of specialization and make significant contributions to the medical community.

In addition to her exceptional scholastic achievements, Shiv’s personal qualities further distinguish her. She is an incredibly compassionate individual with strong family values. Shiv’s commitment to supporting her family in India is evident in her willingness to work a second job as a food delivery driver, alongside her full-time responsibilities in the lab. This resilience and empathy demonstrate her determination to overcome challenges and her unwavering dedication to helping others.

Having mentored numerous medical students, residents, fellows, and junior faculty members throughout my career, I can confidently assert that Shiv Roy is a generational talent. Her potential for success is truly outstanding. I hold no reservations in providing my highest recommendation for Shiv as an applicant in this year’s internal medicine match. She is my top choice, and I firmly believe that she will bring great honor to your institution.

Thank you for considering Shiv’s application. Should you require any additional information or have further inquiries, please do not hesitate to contact me. I am more than willing to provide any necessary assistance.

Best Regards, David Smith, M.D., M.S. Associate Professor of Internal Medicine Associate Program Director Department of Internal Medicine University of San Diego

Letter of Recommendation Example #2: Surgery

I am writing this letter in the strongest support of Tom Wambsgans, who has applied for a residency position in General Surgery at your program. Having had the privilege of mentoring Tom for the past four years, I can confidently say that he possesses exceptional qualities and achievements that make him an outstanding candidate in this year’s match.

I first crossed paths with Tom during his initial year of medical school when he reached out to me expressing interest in a research position within our department. From the moment we met, I was immediately captivated by Tom’s charisma, inquisitiveness, and unwavering motivation. During the summer between his first and second years of medical school, Tom joined my lab where he delved into studying the impact of initiating early DVT prophylaxis in postoperative trauma patients. His natural talent for research quickly shone through, and he soon became involved in several other projects within our lab over the subsequent year. Tom’s productivity and dedication were remarkable, leading him to be awarded a highly competitive, funded research fellowship through the Howard Hughes Medical Institute. As a result, he spent a dedicated research year in our lab further exploring his work on venous thromboembolism prophylaxis in acute care/trauma patients, which has resulted in numerous presentations and a manuscript accepted for publication in the Annals of Surgery.

Often, students who take time away from clinical settings struggle to transition back seamlessly. However, Tom defied this trend and hit the ground running. His performance during his Acting Internship was nothing short of stellar. I had the pleasure of working with him for two weeks on the Acute Care Surgery Service, where he quickly assimilated into our large team and became an invaluable asset. Remarkably, Tom’s technical skills surpassed those expected of someone at his level of training, and his medical judgment was consistently sound. Such was the confidence in Tom’s abilities that our consult resident entrusted him with carrying the pager during lighter OR days. The overwhelming support for Tom from the residents who worked alongside him on our service was evident, with many reaching out to me to passionately endorse him and strongly recommend his consideration for our program.

In addition to his time on the Acute Care Surgery Service, Tom also spent two weeks working with our Surgical Oncology service, receiving equally glowing reviews. Our chief resident even went so far as to describe Tom as the strongest acting intern he has encountered throughout his residency. At the conclusion of his month-long rotation, Tom delivered an exceptional presentation to our entire department on the indications for biologic therapy in advanced hepatobiliary cancer. It is worth noting that while Tom has conducted significant research within our department, his decision to immerse himself in an entirely unrelated topic during his rotation demonstrates his admirable ability to step out of his comfort zone—a quality that cannot be taught and is a testament to his exceptional work ethic and adaptability.

Having mentored over 150 medical students and residents during my tenure at the University of Texas, I can confidently assert that Tom ranks among the top 5 individuals in this category. Without a doubt, Tom possesses the qualities, skills, and drive necessary to become a future superstar in the field of surgery. I have no reservations in stating that he will be highly sought after by all elite training programs. It is with the utmost conviction that I provide my highest recommendation for Tom Wambsgans, and I assure you that he will be ranked to match at our program this year.

David Ogmier, M.D., M.B.A. Professor of Surgery University of Texas

Final Thoughts

We hope these examples offer valuable insights into residency letters of recommendation.

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A Great College Recommendation Letter Template

Letters of Recommendation

While the best recommendation letters are unique to each student, they all share certain key features that make them effective. This guide provides you with a structure to help you produce an outstanding letter of recommendation.

Not only will this recommendation letter template guide you through the writing process, it'll also assist you in determining whether you’re able to truly recommend a student for admission to college. Before outlining the steps, let’s consider what goes into a good letter of recommendation.

What Makes for a Good Letter of Recommendation?

The best recommendation letters are enthusiastic and highly positive about a student. They’re not just filled with compliments, though. They dive deeply to illuminate a student’s key intellectual and personal qualities. Additionally, these letters give specific examples to back up what they have to say.

Rather than tell admissions committees everything they could ever want to know about a student, strong rec letters are focused on a specific narrative. You don't have to cover a broad range of qualities, but rather you can focus in on the most significant ones, especially as they relate to your relationship with the student.

You should start every recommendation letter by brainstorming the qualities you wish to highlight and examples you want to give. If you find you haven’t come up with much that’s positive or personal, then you might ultimately decide that you’re not the best person to write that student a recommendation letter for college.

Let’s look more closely at this first stage in the rec letter writing process: brainstorming .

The Brainstorming Stage

There are a few main considerations in the brainstorming stage. First, how do you feel about recommending the student and why? Second, what key qualities do you intend to communicate in your letter? And third, what stories can you share to illustrate your points? Read on to consider each of these thoughts individually.

How Do You Feel About the Student?

Before delving into specifics, you should pause here and ask yourself how you feel about recommending the student. Are you able to genuinely provide a positive endorsement? If you feel relatively neutral, do you need more information from the student? In the case that you feel negatively towards a student, you may suggest that she ask another teacher to provide her with a letter.

A lukewarm or negative letter would not be useful, or could even hurt, the student’s application. Admissions officers have a discerning eye when it comes to reading letters. They’ll be able to tell if you wrote your letter with reservations.

If this is how you feel, then you may have to do the difficult thing and inform the student that you’re unable to provide a recommendation letter. If the student still wants you to fulfill the requirement, she should know that your letter may not do much to boost her chances of admission.

In all three cases, you should root out the reasons behind your evaluation of the student. What qualities of the student have stood out to you?

What Qualities Do You Plan to Highlight?

Considering the features mentioned above, what intellectual and personal qualities of the student have you noticed or been impressed by?

Intellectual qualities you could highlight include problem-solving skills, analysis, curiosity, creativity, communication, collaboration, and foreign language skills. Some personal qualities you could emphasize might be strength of character, honesty, integrity, courage, humor, thoughtfulness, maturity, cultural awareness, and compassion for others.

Once you’ve narrowed down the key qualities you want to present, you can think about stories and examples.

What Anecdotes Can You Share?

After considering what qualities you plan to highlight, you should think about what specific anecdotes you can share to illustrate your assessment and help the student come alive in the eyes of the reader.

These stories can be based on your interactions with and observations of the student. They may also be informed by the student herself, through discussions and her “brag sheet.” The student should provide you with her thoughts on her goals and significant experiences that have shaped who she is today. These reflections can be helpful reminders, but ideally you also know the student well enough to write an insightful letter based on your familiarity with her academic work and personal character.

Some potential anecdotes include times when the student you're writing the letter for showed exceptional intelligence, compassion, motivation, tenacity, leadership skills, and/or teamwork abilities. Once you’ve come up with a list of what you want to focus on and how to back up your evaluation, you can begin to draft.

The Drafting Stage

After brainstorming, you can start to shape your thoughts into the typical structure for a recommendation letter. It's usually a full page consisting of four paragraphs: the introduction, body paragraph 1, body paragraph 2, and conclusion. 

Let's look at what should be included in each paragraph, and how a teacher and counselor might write their first body paragraphs with different ideas in mind. You can choose to start your letter as creatively as you wish, but all introductions should include certain key information , as you'll see in the next section.

Introduction

What does the reader want to know when she starts reading your letter? One, she wants to know who the letter is about. Just as importantly, she wants to know who you are , along with what makes you qualified to assess this student.

Logistically, you should answer the latter question by providing your name, school, and contact information in official letterhead at the top. In your introduction, furthermore, you should explicitly state who you are and how you know the student. If you’ve taught the student in more than one class or gotten to know her in other contexts, like as the advisor of a club, then you should include that as well. The better you know the student, the more weight your recommendation carries.

Here are a couple examples for starting out your recommendation.

To Whom It May Concern,

It is my pleasure to recommend Judy, whom I taught in my 11th grade honors English program.

Dear Admissions Committee,

I am delighted to recommend the multi-talented Eduardo for admission to your undergraduate program. As Eduardo’s 11th grade music teacher, as well as his chorus leader throughout all four years of high school, I've watched him grow into an outstanding and dedicated musician.

Your entire introduction should be three to five sentences. After stating who the recommendation is for, who you are, and how you know the student, you may add about two sentences describing the student and introducing what’s to come. If you’re customizing your letter to a specific program or college, then you’ll mention that here too.

Once you’ve introduced the student and yourself, you’ll move onto the first body paragraph. If you’re a teacher, you may focus on the student’s intellectual qualities and academic work. If you’re a counselor, you may speak more to a student’s growth throughout high school and role in the school community. Let’s start out by considering the first body paragraph that a teacher might draft.

Body Paragraph 1 (Teacher)

Your first body paragraph should consist of four to six sentences. As a teacher, you may use this paragraph to hone in on the student’s key academic strengths and interests. In your brainstorming, you should have come up with the main qualities you want to describe, along with a meaningful anecdote to back up what you’re saying.

Make sure to use enthusiastic and vivid language that will make the letter interesting and memorable to an admissions officer, who might be reading through hundreds of teacher rec letters . If the student especially impressed you, you might use a statement of high ranking, calling her, for example, one of the best students you’ve taught.

This example uses a statement of high ranking and will go on to focus on Bella’s writing talent.

Bella is one of the most talented writers I’ve had the pleasure of teaching in my ten years at Forks High School. She demonstrates a nuanced understanding of literature and is comfortable within spaces of ambiguity and interpretation. She produced a particularly thought-provoking thesis paper on spirituality in Native American literature...

This second example focuses more on Dave’s strong interest in the subject of computer science.

Dave has developed an avid interest in computer science. Not only was he an excellent student throughout the year, but he also worked on developing an app that would use a school-wide crowdsourcing strategy to clean up the school grounds…

As mentioned above, a teacher will draw on her experience with the student from class. A counselor, on the other hand, may speak more clearly on a student’s development over the years and/or participation in the greater community.

Body Paragraph 1 (Counselor)

While a teacher interacts with a student every day in the classroom, a counselor has a different relationship with the student. Rather than speaking to their work as a student, the counselor may talk about the student’s maturity, development, community service, and interactions with other students and faculty.

As with a teacher recommendation, a counselor recommendation should hone in on a few specific qualities and give an insightful example. In the following examples, the counselor touches on one student’s school leadership and on the other's growth throughout high school.

Rory brings an infectious energy and enthusiasm to her fellow students and teachers. As Class President, she organized fundraisers and events that both raised money for class projects and were enjoyed by all. Last spring, she set up McKinley High’s version of The Sing Off, complete with spinning chairs for the judges to scoop up contestants for their teams. The entire performance was recorded and is available on our new YouTube channel, which Rory and her fellow student council members set up and have added to throughout the year.

Michael has impressed all of us at Washington High School with the incredible progress he’s made over his four years. While he arrived in 9th grade with limited English, he’s grown his language abilities in leaps and bounds. Now he actively participates in his classes and contributes to the school newspaper. His latest article on college planning for ELL students, in which he shares his personal story and family background, has been shared among faculty and counselors here at the school.

While the teacher and counselor may start out their recommendations by focusing on different aspects of the student, their second body paragraph may share more similarities. Here you might discuss the student’s impressive personal qualities.

Body Paragraph 2

In the second body paragraph, you might focus on revealing the student’s personal strengths and personality. You could talk about traits like integrity, honesty, compassion, courage, and resilience, to name a few.

Admissions officers want to know if the student has overcome any particular challenges in life, or if there are any special family circumstances that have affected the student. Apart from shedding light on the student’s personal journey, you also want to consider how you can add to her application. What has she already shared, and how can you both complement and add to her story?

Whatever you choose to share, it should be something that you can speak in some depth about. In the following example, the recommender speaks about Jamie’s strong value of integrity.

Not only is Jamie an outstanding history student, but he also displays exceptional strength of character. When you speak to any of his teachers about Jamie, the first word that comes up is "integrity." He’s an honest and caring young person committed to upholding these values in our school community. When administrators revised the school handbook last year, Jamie volunteered to review and give input into the section on academic integrity and plagiarism. He helped promote the ideas throughout the school and stayed after for discussion groups on what leads students to turn to cheating.

Once you have two strong body paragraphs, you’ll finish your letter with a succinct and memorable conclusion.

In the conclusion of your letter, you should reiterate your support for the student’s application to the college or program. You can add a concluding statement of her strengths and assets, making sure to reinforce the points you made above while still adding fresh language.

On top of this, your conclusion may offer a vision of how the student will perform in the future , both in terms of personal achievement and contributions to her college community. Finally, finish up by inviting admissions officers to contact you for any further information. Most letters end with the salutation of “Sincerely,” followed by your name, position, and school.

Outside of this overall four-paragraph structure, there are a few formatting points to keep in mind.

Format of Your Recommendation Letter

Your recommendation should be a full page in length. Any less may look that you didn’t have much to say about the student. Any more is unusual and not necessary apart from exceptional circumstances.

Use official school letterhead and include all the necessary contact information described above. Ultimately, you’ll upload your letter to the Common Application or a college’s individual application portal.

In closing, let’s review the structure to follow when brainstorming, drafting, and revising your recommendation letter.

Following the Recommendation Letter Template

As you brainstorm exactly what you want to communicate in your letter, keep in mind how you can structure your thoughts according to the recommendation letter template described above. To review, let's go over the key elements you should include:

• Introduction:  Here, you'll state your support for the student, describe how you know the student, and touch on her key strengths and achievements.
• Body Paragraph 1: In your first body paragraph, you may speak about a student's academic strengths and interests, along with an anecdote to back up your assessment. If you're a counselor, you may focus more on the student's community involvement in this first body paragraph.
• Body Paragraph 2: In the second body paragraph, you can reveal the student's impressive personal qualities, ones that admissions officers may not know about from the rest of her application. Make sure to include a meaningful example to back up your assessment.
• Conclusion:  Restate your support of the student, and provide a vision of her future success. Invite admissions officers to contact you with any questions.

While letters will vary in terms of writing style and emphasis, the best ones will include these key elements. To write an effective letter, as well as to make sure that you can genuinely recommend a student, you should take the time to plan and map out your letter according to this template.

You can include meaningful anecdotes based on your interactions with the students and discussions with her about her college plans and application strategy. By gathering thoughts from the student herself and informing yourself about how to structure your rec letter, you'll be poised to write a memorable letter that will both impress admissions officers and help them get to know the student better. Your letter can reveal meaningful insight into the student's academic and personal strengths and thereby make a significant impact in improving her chances of admission to college.

What's Next?

Now that you've learned about a template you can use to structure your recommendation letter, check out these sample recommendation letters. Here you can read 4 great teacher recommendation letters , plus 3 examples of bad teacher recs .

Beyond this structure, what else do you need to know about writing a letter of recommendation? This complete guide discusses how to write a strong letter of recommendation , from how to choose powerful language to the common traps to avoid.

Are you a counselor writing a letter of recommendation? Check out our guide that includes three excellent examples of counselor letters of rec to give you some ideas.

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Rebecca graduated with her Master's in Adolescent Counseling from the Harvard Graduate School of Education. She has years of teaching and college counseling experience and is passionate about helping students achieve their goals and improve their well-being. She graduated magna cum laude from Tufts University and scored in the 99th percentile on the SAT.

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Immigration Recommendation Letter: Expert Tips + Sample

What is an immigration recommendation letter?

An immigration recommendation letter is written to support an individual’s immigration application, often to highlight their character, achievements, and overall suitability for living or working in a new country. This letter is usually written by someone who knows the applicant well, such as a friend, employer, teacher, or community leader, and can vouch for their positive qualities.

Purpose of an immigration recommendation letter

The purpose of this letter is to provide a personal perspective on the applicant’s contributions, reliability, and how they might positively impact the community or workplace if granted immigration status. It helps immigration authorities get a fuller picture of the person beyond just their legal or financial information.

For example, if you’re an employer writing for a work visa, you could talk about the person’s skills, dedication, and how much they contribute to your team. If you’re a friend or family member, you might focus on their good character, their connection to the community, and how much they mean to the people around them.

Differences between immigration recommendation letter vs letter of support

An immigration recommendation letter and an immigration letter of support are similar in that they both serve to back someone’s immigration application, but they differ slightly in focus and who typically writes them.

An immigration recommendation letter is often more formal and is usually written by someone in a position of authority or with a professional relationship to the applicant, such as an employer, teacher, or mentor. 

The main focus is on the applicant’s professional qualifications, achievements, and how their presence would benefit the country they’re applying to live or work in. 

An immigration letter of support is generally more personal and is often written by friends, family members, or community members who can speak to the applicant’s character, relationships, and integration into the community. 

The letter of support focuses more on the applicant’s personal qualities, moral character, and the importance of their presence for family or community reasons. It’s more about showing the emotional and social side of why the applicant should be allowed to stay.

How to effectively write a immigration recommendation letter

When writing an immigration recommendation letter, it’s important to include key details that will make the letter compelling and effective. Here’s what you should include:

Introduction

Start by explaining who you are, how you know the applicant, and the nature of your relationship.

• Relationship: Clearly state how you know the applicant (e.g., “I am their employer”).
• Your Credentials : Briefly mention your own background or position to establish your credibility. This could include your job title, years of experience, or any relevant qualifications.
• Citizenship Status : Include your citizenship or residency status.

Statement of Support

This is the main part of your immigration recommendation letter. You’ll need to clearly express your support for the applicant and outline why they deserve the immigration benefit. Focus on their character, work ethic, and contributions to the community.

• Support: Start with a strong statement of support (e.g., “I wholeheartedly support [Applicant’s Name]’s application for a green card.”).
• Reason for Support: Explain the various reasons why you believe the applicant deserves the benefit, speaking towards their qualifications, achievements, positive qualities, and moral character.

Evidence and Examples

Provide concrete examples that illustrate the applicant’s qualities and contributions. These examples should highlight why the applicant is a valuable member of their community or workplace.

• Examples: Share specific examples or anecdotes that demonstrate the applicant’s character.
• Supporting Documents: If possible, include any documents or evidence that support your claims.

Wrap up the immigration recommendation letter by summarizing the main points of your recommendation and reiterate your support for the applicant. You can also offer to provide additional information if needed.

• Summary: Give a brief summary of the key points you made and include a final statement of support.
• Offer Further Assistance: Close by offering to provide any additional information or clarification if needed, as well as your contact information.

Finalize and Sign

Before sending off your immigration recommendation letter, make sure to proofread and ensure it’s professional.

• Letterhead: Use a professional letterhead.
• Signature: Sign and date the letter to authenticate it. This simple step adds a personal touch and confirms your commitment to the support you’re offering.

Sample letter of recommendation for immigration

Check out the sample immigration recommendation letter PDF below for a detailed example that can guide you in writing your own letter. This example walks you through each step, from introducing yourself and outlining your support to offering concrete examples and concluding the letter with impact.

Tips for writing an immigration recommendation letter

Letter of recommendation of immigration for a family member

When writing a letter of recommendation for a family member’s immigration application, focus on highlighting your personal relationship and the positive attributes of the family member. Share specific examples of their character, contributions, and how they’ve positively impacted your life or the community. This letter should emphasize the genuine nature of your relationship and their suitability for the immigration status they’re applying for.

Letter of recommendation of immigration for a friend or relative

For a friend or relative, your letter should showcase their character, achievements, and contributions in a personal and supportive way. Describe your relationship with them, provide specific examples of their strengths and accomplishments, and explain why they are deserving of the immigration benefit they are seeking. Your letter should offer a heartfelt endorsement that underscores their value and potential.

Letter of recommendation of immigration for a worker

When writing a letter of recommendation for a worker’s immigration application, highlight their professional skills, accomplishments, and contributions to the workplace. Detail specific examples of their achievements and impact on the company or industry. Your letter should convey why they are an asset to their field and why granting them the immigration benefit would be beneficial to the employer and the broader community.

Frequently asked questions

Who should write the immigration recommendation letter.

The letter of recommendation should be written by someone who knows you well and can speak to your skills, achievements, and character. This could be a boss, colleague, professor, or even a community leader, depending on what the letter is for. The key is that the writer should have a clear understanding of your qualifications and how they relate to the immigration process.

How long should an immigration recommendation letter be?

A good letter of recommendation for immigration typically ranges from 1 to 2 pages. It should be long enough to cover your key strengths and experiences but concise enough to stay focused and engaging. Aim for a length that provides a thorough yet straightforward endorsement without unnecessary details.

Can an immigration recommendation letter be used for multiple immigration applications?

Yes, a letter of recommendation can be used for multiple applications if it’s relevant to each case. However, it’s often a good idea to tailor the letter to address the specific criteria or focus of each application to make it as impactful as possible.

How recent does the immigration recommendation letter need to be?

The letter should be recent enough to accurately reflect your current status and qualifications. Ideally, it should be dated within the last 6 to 12 months to ensure it provides a current and relevant endorsement.

How should the immigration recommendation letter be submitted?

The method of submission depends on the requirements of your immigration application. Generally, you’ll need to include the letter with your application materials, whether electronically or as a physical document. Check the specific instructions for your application to ensure you’re submitting it in the correct format.

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Personal Statement

Write a personal statement that answers the following 3 questions:

• Why do you want to pursue a graduate degree in museum studies?
• Why do you want to attend the Master of Arts in Museology program specifically?
• We are looking for graduate students who show up with a growth mindset and approach learning with curiosity. How will you show up as a learner? (Please be as specific as possible.)

Your personal statement should be no longer than 1,000 words. The personal statement should be double-spaced, and each page should be numbered and clearly identified with your full name.

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Museology requires two recommendations, but recommends you submit three. We require at least one academic letter of recommendation from faculty members from your previous undergraduate or graduate degrees and recommend two such letters. Professional letters of recommendation should be from a supervisor, manager, or mentor from your previous professional experience relevant to your interests in the museum field (for more tips, see our application tips page ).

On the Online Graduate School Application, you will be asked to provide names and contact information for three persons from whom you have requested recommendations. Your recommenders will be sent an e-mail prompt with instructions for submitting their letter of recommendation online.

Please email your recommenders the following prompt:

The University of Washington Museology Program is a two-year interdisciplinary graduate program that seeks to inspire students to use museums to create strong communities. Applicants to the program are rated across the following three dimensions:

Academic Potential:  The applicant displays an exceptional academic track record, and has demonstrated analytical thinking, quality writing, and a passion for a relevant aspect of the museum field.

Professional Experience : Applicant has considerable, relevant experience related to the applicant’s stated area of interest

Contribution to the Program : Applicant’s interests, academic background, and life experiences make a significant contribution to the overall cohort and/or the museum field. The applicant also supports the creation of an inclusive environment in Museology program.

Academic Recommenders : Please comment on the applicant’s previous academic work, and how they would do in a rigorous interdisciplinary graduate program grounded in research. Please provide concrete examples and detailed feedback about what the applicant has accomplished academically.

Professional Recommenders : Please comment on the applicant’s previous professional work related to their area(s) of interest in the museum field. Please provide concrete examples of dedication, leadership, innovation, and/or creativity in their work.

*A Note about Question 2 in the recommendation form (“In making this evaluation, what group are you using as a basis for comparison?”): It is intended to provide context to your relationship with the applicant. For instance, are they one of 1000 undergraduate students who you’ve taught over the past 10 years or are they one of 10 employees you supervise on a daily basis?

You will be able to see when the letters have been submitted on your  application status page . Please  contact us  if any of your recommenders have trouble submitting their letters using the online form.

You are advised to request recommendations well in advance of the application deadline to ensure your application packet is complete when submitted. For more tips on designating recommendations, see our Application Tips page.

Résumé or Curriculum Vitae

Upload an electronic copy of your curriculum vitae or résumé, in Microsoft Word, RTF, or PDF format. PDF format is preferred. Your curriculum vitae or résumé should include the following information:

• Work experience related to the museum field (include employer, position title, and dates of employment)
• Other types of employment experience (include employer, position title, and dates of employment)
• Involvement with volunteer, community, and/or diversity-related activities (include organization, position title, and dates of service)
• Relevant honors, awards, publications, and presentations

Unofficial Transcripts

Please create a PDF of your transcript for upload to the Online Graduate School Application. You can accomplish this by scanning your original transcript or by printing an unofficial electronic transcript to PDF.

Extenuating Circumstances (optional)

If there are extenuating circumstances, not addressed in other sections of your application, related to your academic transcript, CV, or other facets of your application that you would like the admissions committee to consider, please describe them.

Your response should be no longer than 250 words, double-spaced and clearly identified with your full name.

English Language Proficiency (international applicants only)

International applicants: please review the Graduate School’s International Applicants page for additional materials required as part of your application. For applicants needing to demonstrate English Language Proficiency, Museology requires the following scores: TOEFLiBT – 100, Duolingo – 125, IELTS – 7.0.

Some logistical notes

• UW and Museology staff’s access to applications is limited until applications are officially submitted. Contact the Graduate School ( [email protected] u or 206.685.2630) for technical issues or problems uploading materials into the application portal.
• Please ensure that the e-mail address you provide in your application will be valid for several months. We will use it to communicate with you throughout the admission process.
• The online application fee must be submitted directly to the Graduate School, not to the Museology Graduate Program. Please view the  Graduate School Application for Admission page for current fee information

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I-131F, Application for Parole in Place for Certain Noncitizen Spouses and Stepchildren of U.S. Citizens

ALERT: On Aug. 26, 2024, the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Texas, in Texas v. Department of Homeland Security,  Case Number 24-cv-306 administratively stayed DHS from granting parole in place under Keeping Families Together for 14 days.

To comply with the district court’s administrative stay, USCIS will:

• Not grant any pending parole in place requests under Keeping Families Together.
• Continue to accept filings of Form I-131F, Application for Parole in Place for Certain Noncitizen Spouses and Stepchildren of U.S. Citizens.
• Continue to schedule biometric appointments and capture biometrics at Application Support Centers (ASCs).

The district court’s administrative stay order does not affect any applications that were approved before the administrative stay order was issued at 6:46 p.m. Eastern Time on Aug. 26, 2024.

Use this form to request a discretionary grant of parole in place under  Keeping Families Together .

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Starting Aug. 19, 2024, you may file Form I-131F, Application for Parole in Place for Certain Noncitizen Spouses and Stepchildren of U.S. Citizens, online with the applicable filing fee. There is no fee waiver available for Form I-131F.

Each requestor, including noncitizen stepchildren, must file a separate Form I-131F requesting parole in place, and each requestor must have their own USCIS online account. A parent or legal guardian may create an online account for their minor child if the purpose is to submit a form on behalf of the minor. If a parent or legal guardian is not available, a primary caregiver or legal assistance provider may also help a child create their own USCIS online account. Information on creating a USCIS online account is available on the  How to Create a USCIS Online Account page.

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