Letter of Recommendation Sample for Graduate School ApplicationsApplying to graduate school is a pivotal step in an academic or professional journey. A strong letter of recommendation (LOR) can be the difference between an application that stands out and one that blends into the crowd. This article explains what admissions committees look for, offers practical tips for both recommenders and applicants, and provides multiple sample letters tailored to common graduate programs.
Why letters of recommendation matter
Admissions committees use LORs to verify and expand upon claims made in transcripts and personal statements. A persuasive LOR does three main things:
- Confirms the applicant’s academic and/or professional strengths.
- Provides specific examples of skills, accomplishments, and character traits.
- Places the applicant in context (how they compare to peers).
Strong LORs are evidence-based, specific, and comparative.
Who should write your letter
Choose recommenders who know you well in contexts relevant to the program:
- For academic programs: professors or research supervisors who supervised coursework, projects, or theses.
- For professional-oriented programs (MBA, professional master’s): managers, supervisors, or senior colleagues who can attest to your workplace performance.
- For interdisciplinary programs: a mix of academic and professional recommenders can be effective.
Avoid choosing someone with a prestigious title who doesn’t know you well—depth of knowledge about you matters more than the recommender’s name recognition.
What admissions committees look for
Admissions committees evaluate letters for:
- Depth of insight — anecdotes and concrete examples that illustrate strengths.
- Evidence of potential — research ability, intellectual curiosity, leadership, teamwork, communication.
- Comparative ranking — statements like “top 5% of students I’ve taught” help committees gauge relative standing.
- Fit with program — how the applicant’s goals and abilities align with the program’s offerings.
- Writing quality — clear, well-structured letters reflect well on the applicant.
How to request a letter (tips for applicants)
- Ask early — at least 4–6 weeks before the deadline.
- Provide materials: CV, transcript, personal statement, program list, and a summary of projects/achievements.
- Specify deadlines and submission instructions, and politely confirm whether they can meet the deadline.
- Offer a brief reminder 1–2 weeks before the due date.
- Thank your recommender and follow up with updates on your application outcome.
How to write a strong letter (tips for recommenders)
- Start with a clear statement of relationship and context: how long and in what capacity you’ve known the applicant.
- Use specific examples: describe projects, papers, research, or workplace achievements.
- Quantify performance where possible: rankings, grades, outcomes, metrics.
- Compare to peers: “among the top 5%” or “one of the strongest students in X years.”
- Address research potential or professional aptitude relevant to the program.
- Keep it concise—typically one page, two pages only for extensive research contexts.
- Proofread and use professional letterhead if available.
Sample letters
Below are sample letters adapted to different graduate school contexts. Edit specifics to reflect the applicant’s true accomplishments and your honest assessment.
Sample 1 — Academic research-focused (PhD in Biology)
[Use this structure for a recommender who supervised research and can speak to research ability.]
Dear Admissions Committee,
I am writing to enthusiastically recommend Jane Doe for admission to your PhD program in Biology. I have known Jane for three years as her research supervisor in the Molecular Biology Lab at State University, where she worked on gene-regulation mechanisms in stem cells.
Jane’s project on transcription-factor binding dynamics resulted in a poster presentation at the National Undergraduate Research Conference and a co-authored manuscript currently under review. She designed experiments independently, optimized protocols that increased yield by 30%, and demonstrated rigorous data analysis skills using R and Python. Her ability to troubleshoot experiments and creatively design follow-up studies speaks directly to her readiness for doctoral research.
Academically, Jane consistently performed in the top 5% of her cohort, earning an A in my Advanced Molecular Biology seminar. Beyond technical skill, she is intellectually curious, disciplined, and an excellent collaborator—mentoring two junior students in the lab.
In my 12 years as a faculty member, I have supervised many promising students; Jane ranks among the top two I have encountered. I am confident she will thrive in your PhD program and contribute meaningfully to your research community.
Sincerely, Dr. Alan Smith Associate Professor of Biology State University
Sample 2 — Professional/Applied program (Master of Public Health)
[For supervisors writing about professional impact and applied skills.]
To the Admissions Committee,
I am pleased to recommend Maria Lopez for your Master of Public Health program. I supervised Maria for three years at City Health Department, where she served as a program coordinator managing community vaccination outreach.
Maria demonstrated exceptional project management: she redesigned outreach scheduling and logistics, improving vaccination coverage in underserved neighborhoods by 18% during a single campaign. She communicates clearly with diverse stakeholders, analyzes program data to guide decisions, and adapts quickly in resource-limited settings.
Maria’s leadership and dedication to public health equity make her an excellent fit for your MPH program. She is motivated to expand her epidemiologic and analytic skills, and I believe your program will benefit from her practical experience and commitment.
Best regards, Karen Patel, MPH Program Director, City Health Department
Sample 3 — Mixed academic and professional (Master’s in Computer Science)
[For recommenders who can speak both to technical ability and teamwork.]
Dear Graduate Admissions Committee,
I am writing to recommend John Kim for admission to your Master’s in Computer Science program. I taught John in Algorithms and supervised his internship project at InnovateTech, where he developed a novel scheduling algorithm for distributed tasks.
John excels at algorithmic thinking and applied software engineering. His internship project reduced average task latency by 22% and was integrated into the production pipeline. In coursework he demonstrated mastery of theoretical concepts while also building robust implementations.
John is a proactive learner and a collaborative teammate. He assisted peers in a challenging capstone course, facilitating study groups that improved overall team performance. I rank John in the top 10% of students I’ve taught in the past five years.
Sincerely, Prof. Emily Zhao Department of Computer Science
Sample 4 — Character and leadership (Humanities master’s)
[Focus on communication, critical thinking, and leadership.]
To Whom It May Concern,
I wholeheartedly recommend Ahmed Rahman for your Master’s in Cultural Studies program. As Ahmed’s professor for three upper-level courses in Cultural Theory at Riverbend University, I observed his exceptional critical thinking, original arguments, and clarity in writing.
Ahmed wrote a seminar paper analyzing contemporary migration narratives that was one of the strongest submissions in my class. He often led seminar discussions with thoughtful questions and encouraged quieter students to participate. Outside the classroom, Ahmed organized a student reading series that drew faculty and community members together.
Ahmed’s intellectual maturity and commitment to interdisciplinary inquiry will make him an asset in graduate study.
Sincerely, Dr. Lila Morgan Professor of Cultural Studies
Sample 5 — Short, strong recommendation (when brief submission required)
[Concise, high-impact format for online forms.]
I enthusiastically recommend Priya Nair for your Master’s program. As her supervisor at DataSolve, I observed exceptional analytical ability, strong teamwork, and rapid learning. Priya led a data-cleaning initiative that accelerated client reporting by 40% and mentored two junior analysts. She ranks in the top 5% of employees I’ve managed in my 8 years here.
— Rajiv Menon, Senior Manager, DataSolve
Common mistakes to avoid
- Generic praise without specifics (“hard worker” with no examples).
- Overly long, unfocused letters.
- Recommender not explaining their relationship to the applicant.
- Inflated or unverifiable claims—honesty matters.
- Failing to address program fit or potential for graduate-level work.
Final checklist for applicants
- Confirm recommenders’ willingness and provide materials.
- Provide deadlines and clear submission instructions.
- Suggest points or projects you’d like them to highlight (politely).
- Follow up, thank them, and share results.
A well-crafted letter of recommendation combines concrete evidence, comparative judgment, and clear connection to the program’s expectations. Use the samples above as templates—tailor details and examples so each letter honestly reflects the applicant’s strengths and fit for the intended graduate program.
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