[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"doc-seo-274792-105":3,"detail-sidebar-cat-1-en-105":81,"doc-detail-274792-en":127},{"code":4,"msg":5,"data":6},0,"ok",{"site_id":7,"language":8,"slug":9,"title":10,"keywords":11,"description":12,"schema_data":13,"social_meta":74,"head_meta":76,"extra_data":78,"updated_unix":80},105,"en","letters-of-recommendation-general-tips-and-requirements","Letters of Recommendation - General Tips and Requirements","","This guide outlines how to write effective letters of recommendation for graduate or employment applications. It explains prerequisite steps such as obtaining a written FERPA release, provides general writing expectations (length, specificity, examples, letterhead, and tone), and lists detailed information applicants should supply to letter writers. It also clarifies who should write recommendations, what each letter should include, what must not be included, and how employer letters differ from academic 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Brown","Person",{"url":19,"name":45,"@type":46},"DocShare","Organization","application/pdf","2026-10-22","2026-09-15",true,{"@type":52,"interactionType":53,"userInteractionCount":55},"InteractionCounter",{"@type":54},"ViewAction",13,{"@type":57,"mainEntity":58},"FAQPage",[59,65,69],{"name":60,"@type":61,"acceptedAnswer":62},"What is required before writing a recommendation letter?","Question",{"text":63,"@type":64},"A written FERPA release should be obtained before any recommendation letter is written.","Answer",{"name":66,"@type":61,"acceptedAnswer":67},"What information should applicants provide to letter writers?",{"text":68,"@type":64},"Applicants should provide required forms with signatures plus materials such as a resume, statement of purpose, goals, course list with grades, research paper titles/abstracts, and other specific documents and feedback that support the recommendation.",{"name":70,"@type":61,"acceptedAnswer":71},"Who is appropriate to write a letter of recommendation?",{"text":72,"@type":64},"Appropriate writers include advisors, faculty who taught the applicant in small/intensive courses, research collaborators, supervisors, people in the applicant’s field, supportive individuals, industry professionals, and senior departmental members when relevant.","https://schema.org",{"og:url":32,"og:type":75,"og:title":10,"og:site_name":45,"og:description":12},"article",{"robots":77,"canonical":32},"index,follow",{"doc_id":79,"site_id":7},274792,1790177875,{"code":4,"msg":82,"data":83},"success",[84,89,94,99,104,109,114,118,123],{"id":85,"doc_module":22,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":86,"show_sort_weight":87,"slug":88},11,"Presentations",90,"presentations",{"id":90,"doc_module":22,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":91,"show_sort_weight":92,"slug":93},12,"Resumes",80,"resumes",{"id":95,"doc_module":22,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":96,"show_sort_weight":97,"slug":98},14,"Invoices",70,"invoices",{"id":100,"doc_module":22,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":101,"show_sort_weight":102,"slug":103},15,"Posters",60,"posters",{"id":105,"doc_module":22,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":106,"show_sort_weight":107,"slug":108},16,"Social 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be 2-3 pages, preferably 2  \n♦ Applicants should have 3-5 letters  \n♦ A meeting between the applicant and letter writer should take place to discuss everything from the applicant’s goals to their experiences and the deadline for when the letter should be sent off  \n♦ Letters should tell how well an applicant accomplished what is laid out in the applicant’srésumé or CV  \n♦ If a writer cannot think of supportive information to include in the letter, they should decline the applicant’s request for a recommendation, be candid, be helpful, and suggest another writer (if possible)  \n♦ The letter should be written on letterhead when possible  \n♦ All letters will have items in common but each should be specific enough to be different from one another  \n♦ Letters should include multiple specific examples  \n♦ Only say what you are in a position to say  \n♦ Letters should be written with care and in the writer’s best prose  \n♦ Letters should not include vague statements  \n♦ Statements of opinion should be clearly identified and explained  \n♦ Family members should never write a letter  \n♦ Formal thank-you notes should be sent from the applicant to each letter writer  \nWhat Information Should be Supplied to Letter Writers?  \n♦ Any required forms with appropriate signatures  \n♦ Résumé that includes current name, address, e-mail address, and phone number; GPA; major(s) and minor(s); list of professional organizations/honor societies; awards; activities; skills; work experience  \n♦ Statement of purpose  \n♦ Position description/advertisement  \n♦ Description of short-term and long-term goals  \n♦ Course list with grades earned  \n♦ Titles and abstracts of research papers, exams(s), and/or lab reports  \n♦ Specific documents, such as papers, graded by the letter writer  \n♦ All information already provided to the organization (employer or graduate school, etc.)  \n♦ Service activities  \n♦ Information about specific ways the applicant approached given situations/problems  \n♦ Feedback from others, such as copies of teaching evaluations when applicable  \n♦ Stamped, addressed envelope  \nWho Should Write a Letter of Recommendation?  \n♦ Advisor  \n♦ Faculty who taught the applicant in small/intensive courses  \n♦ Faculty with whom the applicant has worked on research  \n♦ People who have worked closely with the applicant, especially in a supervisory role  \n♦ A person who is in the field to which the applicant is applying  \n♦ People who are supportive of the applicant  \n♦ A person in industry  \n♦ A senior person in the department, especially if there is a problem between the applicant and their academic advisor (this person should address that situation)  \nWhat Should a Letter of Recommendation Include?  \n♦ Personal characteristics of the applicant  \n♦ Information on performance with examples  \n♦ Experience  \n♦ Professional promise (especially as compared to others)  \n♦ Examples and an assessment of the applicant’s research skills  \n♦ Examples of thoughtful contributions to class discussions by the applicant  \n♦ Examples of the applicant’s interpersonal skills  \n♦ Examples of the applicant’s leadership skills  \n♦ An explanation of a weakness, such as a hardship that affected the applicant’s record (this should only be done with the permission of the applicant)  \n♦ Information specifically relevant to the position description/advertisement  \nWhat do Employers Look For?  \n♦ The writer’s relationship with the applicant  \n♦ Anecdotes about the applicant’s strengths  \n♦ Information on a wide range of skills  \n♦ Specific experiences  \n♦ The applicant’s ability to work with others  \n♦ The applicant’s ability to accept positive and negative criticism  \n♦ The ability of the applicant to be professional  \n♦ The applicant’s enthusiasm  \n♦ The applicant’","cbCaimGVqgVqljY2","https://ap.wps.com/l/cbCaimGVqgVqljY2","pdf",409021,"English","# General Tips\n## What Information Should be Supplied to Letter Writers?\n## Who Should Write a Letter of Recommendation?\n## What Should a Letter of Recommendation Include?\n## What do Employers Look For?\n## What Should not be Included?\n## Parts of a Letter of Recommendation\n## Employer Letters vs Academic Letters","[{\"question\":\"What is required before writing a recommendation letter?\",\"answer\":\"A written FERPA release should be obtained before any recommendation letter is written.\"},{\"question\":\"What information should applicants provide to letter writers?\",\"answer\":\"Applicants should provide required forms with signatures plus materials such as a resume, statement of purpose, goals, course list with grades, research paper titles/abstracts, and other specific documents and feedback that support the recommendation.\"},{\"question\":\"Who is appropriate to write a letter of recommendation?\",\"answer\":\"Appropriate writers include advisors, faculty who taught the applicant in small/intensive courses, research collaborators, supervisors, people in the applicant’s field, supportive individuals, industry professionals, and senior departmental members when relevant.\"}]","Letters of Recommendation - General Tips and Requirements | PDF",1789482948,6]