Whether you are applying for a scholarship or applying to a program of your choice, admissions and scholarship committees are always determined to select the best candidates. Therefore, a letter of recommendation (LOR) from a credible referee is of utmost importance – since your recommender can give insights into your work that tells the admissions panel about your potential to succeed in a graduate program.

The first thing the admissions committee would want to look at in a reference letter is “How long have you worked with your referee and in what capacity”. Many applicants are mistaken that a letter from the Head of the Department will be the ideal one – however, the truth is that such a reference will have ZERO value if you have not directly worked with your referee. A good reference must always come from someone you have worked with for at least six months.

Always Include Proof and Examples in your LOR

A strong recommendation letter should not just contain a deluge of superlatives like “Ms Jon Doe is industrious in learning and very hardworking.” It should also include examples that reflect your qualities and traits. Vivid examples that support your attributes are a great way to showcase your strengths. Without examples, your reference will look as if it was “a cut, copy, paste, generic” kind of a reference that the referee gives out to anyone and everyone that asks for one.

Here is an excellent example of an academic letter of reference written for a student who got into Georgia Tech.

Sample Letter of Recommendation for Engineering School

Comment briefly on your interaction with the applicant.

With great pleasure, I am writing this letter in support of Jon Doe. I mentored Jon when he worked as a Trainee Engineer with our product development team on ECG waveform analysis and Arrhythmia Detection.

Jon is a team player who knows how to lead and build effective team synergy. He has shown a keen interest in subjects other than his field, which reflects his passion for learning. He proved to be an active and involved team member, supplying useful input to other project members. He was eager to interact with people from different departments. This exposed him to other fields and allowed him to settle on a project that suited his skills and interests better. During his time with us, he proved to be an effective leader, and his strategic approach to problem solving allowed for a quick and comprehensive solution. Despite being a fresh graduate, he effectively utilized his technical knowledge and proved resourceful outside the scope of his project.

How does the applicant compare to other well-qualified individuals in similar roles?

Jon and his team were assigned to design the module for ECG waveform analysis and Arrhythmia Detection, which was to be incorporated into the company’s very own ECG machine. The project’s end goal included analyzing the QRS complex waveform. The team previously assigned to this project had managed to create a partially working module, but the testing produced faulty results. When Jon was hired, he quickly gained insights into the complexities of this machine and assembled a team that took a new approach to the problem by designing a new module that catered to the flaws of the previous design. After the development phase in MATLAB, the module was tested using a 12-lead simulator and data sets from MIT’s database. After a working product was completed, it was incorporated into the company’s ECG machine.

The company’s ECG machine was launched commercially once the project was completed. With the ADM module, the value addition vastly added to the machine’s popularity. The ECG machine’s impact on the market might not have been the same had the ADM feature been introduced afterward.

Jon proved to be an exceptional team leader, and his goal-oriented course of action allowed for the conclusion of this project in a mere six months. Unlike other employees, Jon was always interested in the business aspects of product development. He has a curious mind and a desire to exceed expectations. Jon is an efficient individual who assumes responsibility and tackles challenges with creative ideas. He has an excellent aptitude for learning and an impressive intuition. 

What do you perceive as the applicant’s improvement area?

I have been mentoring Jon since high school, and he highly regards my opinion. I advised him to remain focused and maintain a balanced work routine while never losing sight of his ambition. I believe that sometimes, Jon tries to get into the details at such a length that the ultimate decision gets delayed in the process. However, he is quick in his decision-making, and the good thing is that he is actively aware of his area of improvement. I firmly believe that two years at Georgia Tech will go a long way in helping him improve. This is because, at Georgia Tech, he will be forced to make decisions quickly daily. Moreover, prompt decision making is only possible when you can be confident of your knowledge and the team around you to help you with the consequences of that decision.

Please include additional information that will help the Admissions Committee. (Optional)

I have always encouraged Jon to pursue a graduate degree in engineering, and his heart lay with working in Computer science. So, I was delighted when he shared his plans for a graduate degree, and I believe he will be a perfect fit for the program.

I have spent more than 22 years affiliated with several research departments and academic institutions. In addition, I have been an adjunct faculty member at Michigan State University, USA. After spending so long in the field, one can recognize, beyond the surface, the academic and research potential of young students. In this context, I am convinced that Mr. Jon has all the capabilities to be classified as one of the top candidates for graduate school. Furthermore, I am confident in his ability to show excellent performance in his graduate studies at your university. I wish him luck in his future endeavors.

Best Regards,

Professor Dr. ABC

Chairman XYZ

CEO XXY

Head of Computer Engineering Department

ABB University

Assistant Adjunct Professor Michigan State University, USA. 

About the Recommender

Dr. ABC did his Ph.D. in Digital Signal Processing from the Georgia Institute of Technology. He has worked with companies like Scientific Atlanta, Ingersal Rand, Picteure Tel, and Cisco Systems in signal processing and communication systems. He is a founder of a garage base startup ABC Networks, now worth $17 Million. The company has successfully developed a satellite burst modem for STM wireless and seven first-time right ASICs for US military, Scientific Atlanta, ITEX, and Nortel. Recently the company has delivered the industry’s highest-density Media Processor for Voice over Packet market, a complex System on Chip (SoC) with 12 processors. Dr. ABC is the CTO and lead designer of this chip. He also teaches at the AAB university. In addition, he is an Adjunct Professor of Electrical Engineering at Michigan State University.