A recommendation letter is one of the most important and unfortunately one of the most ignored part of the application of the most Pakistani students. To write a good letter, your referee needs to give concrete examples of your interaction with him. Most letters we see today are a list of superlatives, adjectives and words of praise but no substance or concrete examples of interaction.
General comments, such as, “This student is hardworking and smart”, are weak and useless. If a referee has agreed to give you a recommendation letter, he implicitly believes that you are smart and hardworking. He doesn’t need to say that. Even if he says that, this is not the only thing he must say. He must provide instance of personal interaction and joint activity together. Let us try to understand it with two examples.
| Pathetic & Useless Letter | Useful & Honest Letter |
|---|---|
| I will not sign such letters in any case. | I will happily sign such concrete and honest letters. |
| – Rizwan was my student for 4 years. | – Rizwan was my student for 4 years and worked with me in the Image Processing Lab. |
| – I taught him computer programming and control subjects. | – I taught him computer programming and control. He excelled in both, as reflected in his grades, and shined brilliantly during the courses. |
| – One of the projects in our lab was cancer blob detection in X-ray images. | – In our lab, one project involved detecting cancer blobs in X-ray images. Rizwan played a significant role in this project. |
| – We developed an algorithm using wavelets techniques to evaluate performance. | – We developed an algorithm using wavelet techniques to evaluate its performance against state-of-the-art edge and blob detection algorithms. Rizwan implemented this in MATLAB and designed test case scenarios for testing large X-ray data. |
| – Rizwan showed command over the software used. | – Rizwan demonstrated strong command of the software he learned during the courses and used them effectively in his work. |
| – He worked on the algorithm, designed test cases, and tested the method against other existing methods. | – Rizwan’s ability to import C++ code into MATLAB, a complex task, was commendable. His dedication ensured successful results and completion of the project. |
| – He faced some issues with importing codes but got it done. | – Despite challenges importing C++ codes into MATLAB, Rizwan’s perseverance and hard work stood out. He finished the task with great success. |
| – His performance was fine, and he got an A in both courses. | – He received an A in both courses, and his hard work left a lasting impression on me. |
| – His work resulted in two publications, one of which was published in IEEE. | – Our collaboration resulted in two publications, including one in IEEE Signal Processing Letters titled “A novel method of detecting cancer blobs in X-Ray images using wavelets.” Rizwan’s analytical problem-solving skills were exceptional. |
| – Overall, he was punctual, hardworking, and respectful. | – Throughout the courses, Rizwan was punctual, dedicated, hardworking, and respectful. His exceptional grip on the subject was impressive. |
| – I wish him luck for his future. | – I wholeheartedly wish him the best in his future endeavors and encourage you to reach out if you need more information about this exemplary student. |
The Letter 1 above is filled only with superlatives and adjectives, such a letter will actually hurt your application. The application committee will think that in your entire studies or your entire job, you did nothing useful or remarkable with your referee. That you had only superficial interaction with your professors.
That the only thing you can show is your course grade and even the professor who is giving you the letter is a liar, because if he were a good professor, he would give this letter only if you had worked with him. The Letter 2 above perfectly describes on many qualities of you. It looks concrete, it looks genuine and it has substance in it. If your referee provides no such example and fills your letter with 10s of lines of adjectives and praise, it will mean nothing for the application committee.
Most Recommendation Letters
It is painful to see that most of the recommendation letters start with, “I have known this student for two years; she took a course I taught last semester in which she got A grade”, and ends with, “Therefore, I highly recommend this student to you”. Such a letter is a complete nonsense and a laughing stock. But, in all honesty, it is your responsibility to give to-the-point details to your professors to help them give you recommendation letters that are a genuinely true reflection of your skills.
The context of concrete examples is not limited only to technical work. It could also be something else. Important thing here is that the letter must reflect on personal interactions. Working in a student society under supervision of another professor and the story of his personal interaction with you is equally a good substance. The problem with a letter with only information about a course you studied is that it is too trivial.
There are dozens of other students in the class and based only on your score, the degree can not reflect any tangible attributes of you that could convince the reviewer about the capacity in which the referee knew you. You need to think out-of-the-box to get the idea who can you ask for a recommendation letter.
A common students’ complaint: “Our teachers don’t write recommendation letters for us. They ask us to write etc”. Here is my humble take on it.
I’ve 150-200 students per semester. That means every year almost 200 students graduate and these days almost everyone tries for admission abroad. Do you really think that it will be humanly possible to write individual and honest recommendation letters of 150 plus students every year? And on top of that students from old sessions also keep coming! I’ve to teach, do research, supervise under graduate, Post grad and PhD students, grade and mark assignments, quizzes, mid term, final exam etc. It simply becomes impossible to remember names, faces and interactions of each student taught by me. (I personally remember faces mostly).
Write Recommendation Letter by Yourself
Having said all of the above, this is what I tell my students who are interested in getting a recommendation letter from me: “Please write a letter (keeping in mind the article just presented above) in your favor, highlighting your weaknesses, strengths, successes, failures and how did you manage them? It must NOT be copied from anywhere. No big claims. No rosy words. Whatever you claim in the letter, attach the proof of it along-with a copy of your transcripts and details your research work / projects done under my supervision”.
After getting the letter and mentioned materials, I review his draft, add or remove things, check it for grammar mistakes etc. After reading those details and remembering his face, I am also reminded of his performance while working with me and it becomes possible to add or remove material. When I’m convinced that I’m giving an honest, impartial and provable judgment, I submit it to the relevant university and that is the way to go.
FAQ’s
- What is an effective recommendation?
An effective recommendation highlights the individual’s strengths, skills, and qualities that make them suitable for the role or opportunity they are being recommended for. It should provide specific examples of achievements and describe the recommender’s relationship with the person. The letter should be clear, honest, and tailored to the role or opportunity in question.
- What is the best way to write a recommendation?
The best way to write a recommendation is to begin with a clear statement of who you are recommending and for what purpose. Then, explain your relationship with the person, focusing on their skills, accomplishments, and personal qualities. Provide specific examples that demonstrate why they are a good fit for the opportunity. End the letter with a strong closing statement of endorsement, offering to provide further details if needed.
- What is a good example of a letter of recommendation?
A good example of a letter of recommendation would be one that is personalized and specific. For instance, a professor might write about a student’s ability to grasp complex concepts and their excellent performance in key projects. They might describe how the student led a successful group project or developed a unique solution to a problem. The letter would emphasize both the student’s academic abilities and soft skills like leadership and teamwork.
- What is the format of a recommendation letter?
A recommendation letter typically follows a formal letter format. It begins with the recommender’s contact information, followed by the date and the recipient’s details. The letter should start with a clear introduction, explaining who is being recommended and for what purpose. The body of the letter should focus on the individual’s qualifications, specific achievements, and examples that highlight their strengths. It ends with a closing statement offering strong support for the individual and contact information for further inquiries.
