How to Write a Letter of Recommendation
A letter of recommendation follows a business-letter format. We will use the block letter format which means the document is single-spaced, lacks indentations, and includes both the address of the sender and the recipient.
The introductory paragraph should include the following:
•identify the scholarship
•An explanation of your relationship with the person being recommended
•general comments that might mention their talents, character, and achievements
The body paragraphs should include the following:
•here you will make claims about the talents, character, and achievements of the applicant
•you will support your claims with concrete examples
The concluding paragraph of the body should include the following:
•a summarizing sentence that states the writer’s general thoughts about the applicant
•an indication that the writer feels strongly about the applicant’s potential
•a statement that shows the writer believes the applicant will be successful in the program they are applying for
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Sample Letter of Recommendation
Use this letter as a general model.
Dear Mr. Smith:
I am very pleased to write this letter and recommend Chris Starling for the Buckminster Fuller Scholarship. Chris has been a student in my drafting and design program for the past three years. In the second year of the program, he was named a Lead Technician, and this year he was charged with leading the technical and design portion of the automotive chassis test laboratory. Without a doubt, Chris is the finest student I have encountered in my program over the past fifteen years. His knowledge and abilities would lead someone to assume he is a graduate of a technical school program, not a high school senior.
Over these three years Chris has gained a commanding expertise within the fields of hydraulics, electronics and controllers, computer programming, troubleshooting and fixture design. His capabilities and leadership allowed me to expand the test laboratory to a level that rivals high schools with
five times the resources. I never had to worry when Chris was in charge because the younger students admired and respected him. For example, during the 2013 Lego Robotics Fair, Chris worked with a class of elementary students to assist and mentor their designs. He volunteered several weekends to offer tutorials and provide hands-on feedback to students who warmly responded to his energy and enthusiasm. Another of Chris’s commendable traits is his willingness to undertake any project, no matter how complex, and complete that task in a timely and professional manner. His ability to thoroughly understand many computer languages allows him to have a large "toolbox" from which to solve many diverse problems. On many occasions Chris has gotten to the bottom of difficult technical glitches (for example, a tricky Java script error in our home network) that no one else in the program could tackle.
In his other high school courses Chris has done equally well. His Technical English teacher tells me that he communicates very well both verbally and in writing which would be an asset in your program. The fact that he is in the top ten percent of his senior class while working part time at a local automobile shop shows his willingness to work hard and his ability to set priorities. Amazingly, he has also found time and to use his outstanding artistic talents to design and create sets for the drama department’s productions the past three years and to enthusiastically participate in the Big Brother program for two years. His devotion to his little brother is a key reason why he wants to stay in this area for the next few years.
I highly recommend Chris Starling as a motivated, knowledgeable young man who will succeed at any task. If you would like to discuss Chris's capabilities and qualifications further, please feel free to call me at (770) 495-3478. I feel confident that he will take full advantage of the training opportunities that your school offers and likewise prove to be a student in whom you can take great pride.
Sincerely,
Ted Robinson