4 ways on crafting an effective letter of recommendation (Image: Pexels)
Therefore, presenting evidence to support a claim made by a recommender enhances the authenticity of the recommendation.
Arora said, “Statements like ‘I believe in her skills to not only be a great asset in the classroom but also be a kind and helpful collaborator with her peers’ can add value. Letters of Recommendation are often underestimated in university applications, especially for postgraduate programs in the UK and globally. test scores and personal statements carry weight, admissions committees repeatedly emphasize that recommendation letters provide the human dimension of an applicant’s profile that gives insight into their intellectual curiosity, interpersonal skills and leadership potential While grades. The question then arises: What makes a recommendation stand out and how should applicants choose their recommenders wisely? The admissions committees of colleges or potential employers assess your LOR along with your CV and aptitude tests. In an interview with TOI Education, Anshika Arora, Head of Department, Higher Education Counseling Services (HECS) at FLAME University, suggests, “Your claims in those documents must be supported by your recommenders as well. For example, if you have vouched to be a strategic leader through various experiences in your CV, the recommender should be able to, through specific examples, support that narrative in the Statement of Purpose (SOP). ” Top colleges and employers now have upgraded technological support to differentiate jargon and generic statements from real stories. Arora advises, “For example, instead of saying ‘She is a team player,’ stating that ‘During a research-intensive group project in X subject during Y year, the student shone in her collaborative team spirit’ can help build anecdotal credibility in the recommendation. ” Oftentimes, we make the mistake of the LOR sounding too formal and almost perfect. Arora warned, “This can take away from the human centricity of the narrative and a genuine sense of belief in the student. Generic and overly formal LORs get the highest number of rejections from Ivy League colleges. ” Prioritise your top preferences based on the course you are applying to (in case of studying further) or the company you are looking at. Making this small tweak can make a big difference. Elaborating upon the same, Sumit Varma, Founder of School Yatra, College Yatra and Bharat Education Forum, shares the following advises.