Graduate School Recommendation Letter PDF Template

What is a Graduate School Recommendation Letter?

A graduate school recommendation letter is a formal endorsement written by a professor, mentor, or employer to support a student's application for admission to a graduate program. This letter highlights the student’s academic achievements, intellectual abilities, and personal qualities, providing an assessment of their potential for success in advanced studies. It serves as a critical component of the application, offering insights into the student's capabilities and readiness for the rigors of graduate-level education.

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How to Fill in Our Graduate School Recommendation Letter PDF Template

Follow these steps to fill in the Graduate School Recommendation Letter template:

Header Information:

Include your contact details: Address, City, ST, Zip | Phone # | email address.
Date the letter: [Today’s Date].

Recipient Details:

Address the letter to the appropriate individual or committee: [Addressee Name], [Addressee Title], [University Name], [University Street Address], [City, State, Zip].

Opening Salutation:

Greet the admissions officer or committee: Dear [Dean of Admissions/Admissions Officer’s Name/Admissions Committee],.

Introduction:

State your recommendation: "It is my great pleasure to recommend [Name of Student] for admission to [Name of Graduate School Program]."
Mention your relationship with the student: "I got to know [Student] as her [relation to student (professor/coach/advisor)] at [Your University]."
Highlight the student’s commitment: "During that time, I was thoroughly impressed by [Student’s] commitment to [field of master’s program student is applying for]."

Academic Achievements:

Describe the student's academic strengths: "While studying in [student’s university and undergraduate program/specific class relevant to target program], [Student] demonstrated extraordinary [1-2 intellectual strengths]."
Provide specific examples: "Her [example of academic work related to, or applicable to the field of target graduate program] was already on a level that would usually only be expected from a master’s student. In it she [details of academic work showcasing abilities and strengths relevant or applicable to field]."

Personal Qualities:

Highlight positive traits: "In addition to [Student’s] exceptional accomplishments in [field of master’s program student is applying for] as an undergraduate, her [2-3 positive personal traits] made her an outstanding member of [Your University’s] community."
Provide examples from extracurricular involvement: "As [role at university outside of academics (club/student government/etc.)] she [performed X action(s) displaying aforementioned personality trait]."

Conclusion:

Strongly recommend the student: "It is my strong opinion that [Student] would be a tremendous addition to [University’s] [X graduate program], and she has my highest recommendation."
Offer further contact: "Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions regarding her character or past academic work."

Closing:

Sign off formally: Sincerely,.
Add your signature and name: [Your Signature], [Your Name], [Your Position], [Your University].