Letter of Recommendation (LOR) for MS in the USA With Sample

Enhance your admission chances to a USA university for MS with a well-drafted LOR!

The USA is home to several top universities in the world, and every year, different US universities receive thousands of admission applications from international students keen on pursuing popular courses like MS. In addition to the duly-filled application form, Statement of Purpose (SOP), a good IELTS score, and academic transcripts, these universities demand a Letter of Recommendation (LOR) from interested candidates as part of the admission procedure. An LOR is a powerful document through which universities in the USA can evaluate a candidate's candidature for MS beyond their self-assessment and academic transcripts. Needless to say, with a well-drafted LOR, a student can enhance their chances of admission to a renowned US university for pursuing MS in the USA.

What is a Letter of Recommendation for Masters in the USA?

The Letter of Recommendation is a formal document purposely drafted by someone who can vouch for a candidate's academic skills, personality traits, or work experience. Through a Letter of Recommendation for a Master's in the USA, universities can distinguish between candidates with similar test scores or academic records. International students must submit one or two LORs for MS in the USA universities.

How to Write LOR for MS in the USA?

A student can make or mar his/her chance to get admission to a top USA university with a strong or weak LOR. Hence, it is important to remember certain things when writing the Letter of Recommendation for MS in the USA.

1. Right Recommender Selection: A student keen on getting a well-crafted LOR for successful admission to a US university must choose the right type of recommender. One who should be aware of how to write LOF for MS. The recommender must be fully aware of the academic prowess and achievements of the applicant so that they can highlight them in the LOR.

2. Specific University LOR Guidelines: It is equally important to check for any specific guidelines shared by some universities for drafting the LOR. Some universities in the US prefer academic LOR, while some demand professional LOR for courses where work experience is mandatory. Also, ensure how many LORs a university is demanding to permit admission for an MS course.

What is the Structure / Format of LOR for a Master's in the USA?

The LOR Format for Masters may vary from country to country and university to university. In general, the US universities accept LORs that are approx. 400-500 words in length. It should be a running document comprising 4 to 5 paragraphs, including an introduction, body (2-3 paras), and summary or conclusion. The general LOR format for MS accepted by most US universities is shared below:

1. Recommender’s Introduction: The opening paragraph of the LOR should introduce the recommender. It should contain the details such as the name, designation, department, and the name of the college or university of the recommender. It should introduce not only the recommender but also build a relationship between the applicant and the recommender. Here, the recommender can mention how long they have known the applicant and which subjects were taught in which year.

2. Applicant’s Positive Academic Skills: The first paragraph must talk about the primary academic skills of the applicant, his/her aptitude, and other positive academic qualities. The recommender must explain all these with elaborate examples.

3. Further Assessment of Applicant’s Personality Traits: The second paragraph can throw light on some other personality traits of the applicant. The recommender must share their observations for these traits in the applicant during the latter's course duration in the college.

4. Applicant’s Extracurricular Interests and Qualities: The last paragraph must bring out some extracurricular interests and soft skills of the applicant, such as leadership, teamwork, stamina, and determination. Again, the recommender must support these with appropriate examples or observations.

5. Conclusion with Recommender’s Strong Recommendation: The last or the concluding paragraph must summarize the applicant's portfolio. Here, the recommender must strongly endorse the applicant's candidature for admission to the US university. In addition, the recommender must further assist the admission authority in cross-checking details about the applicant by providing accurate contact details.

Tips for Writing a Letter of Recommendation for MS in the USA
Universities in the USA ask for LOR for MS from international applicants. Therefore, it is important to be aware of the exact ways of writing this Letter of Recommendation for Masters for an applicant. The following list of dos and don’ts while drafting a LOR will increase the chances of admission to a US university for an MS course:

LOR Samples for MS in the USA

A Letter of Recommendation is a formal letter addressed to an international university that can add weightage to an eligible student’s candidature for admission. It has to be appropriately addressed, highlighting the academic and extracurricular qualities of the student.

We strongly advise you to go through some LOR samples for MS in the USA before submitting one for your admission to a University in the USA. These samples can help you understand the overall style, format, and way to write this letter to ensure guaranteed admission to your choice of a US university.

To help students keen to get admission for a Master’s in a top university in the US, we are now presenting one LOR for MS in the USA sample. Please note that this sample is only for reference purposes. So please avoid using it "as is" when applying for a Master's in a US university. Instead, get an original LOR to avoid rejection and face disappointment.

Sample LOR for MS in the USA

My name is Ragini Taneja, and I am the Head of the Department of Life Sciences at Ramjas College, Delhi University, New Delhi. It gives me extreme pleasure to get this opportunity to draft this Letter of Recommendation for Amit Malik, an intelligent Undergraduate student who pursued a B.Sc. in Life Science at our college. Teaching and supervising Amit for 4 years during his under-graduation at the college was a pleasure. During this period, I found him to be an extremely extraordinary and hard-working student.

With his all-rounder performance, Amit has impressed many other professors at the university. Consistently listed as the top scorers of the college year by year for four consecutive years, Amit always lent a helping hand to his fellow students to meet their academic goals. This reveals his eagerness and promptness to help others around him. I remember that once I asked a tricky question during a lecture, and Amit was the only one raising his hand to attempt to answer it. This young gentleman is blessed with brilliant communication and presentation skills.

What seized my attention further about Amit was his life science project during his B.Sc. in our college. His project was both informative and interesting, which revealed his command over excellent research work. Amit was the first one to prepare the project. He has always respected and met deadlines. He was equally good in group discussions and knows how to put forth his views with confidence.

Amit has also exhibited strong leadership, teamwork, and stamina, both physical and mental. Our college won an inter-college cricket championship due to Amit's outstanding leadership skills and sportsman spirit. Amit was the captain of our college cricket team and commanded well to defeat the opposite team in a neck-to-neck cricket match. Amit's performance in any cricket match was commendable and a delight to watch. He brings forth a perfect balance of using strategies and determination in every game he plays.

I firmly believe that Amit will show the same dedication and skills during his MS in your university in the USA that impressed me during his Bachelor's at our college. Therefore, without hesitation, I recommend him for a Master's in Life Science at your prestigious university in the US. I wish Amit the best in all his future endeavours, and I hope he brings laurels to your university too. For any further clarifications about Amit's academic credentials, please feel free to contact me.

Yours truly,

Ragini Taneja
HoD, Life Science
Ramjas College, New Delhi, India
Tel: +91 xxxx xx xxx
Professional email id

FAQs

1. How many LORs are required for MS in the USA?

Many universities in the USA require 1-2 academic LORs from students applying for MS courses. Some universities may also ask for one professional LOR for some specific courses, only if work experience is mandatory.

2. What is the ideal word count for LOR for US universities?

The ideal word count to draft the LOR for US universities is approx. 400-500 words. Students are advised to check for the specific LOR guidelines from the US universities where they want to pursue higher education.

3. How should I begin a LOR for MS?

A LOR for MS must start with the recommender's introduction, followed by building their relationship with the applicant. Then, in the same paragraph, the recommender must reveal one or two key skills of the applicant.

4. Do universities in the USA verify recommendation letters?

Although quite rare, universities in the USA may contact the recommender to verify the information given about the applicant in a recommendation letter.

5. Does a letter of recommendation increase acceptance chances?

Yes, with one or two strong Letters of Recommendation in hand, an international student can increase the acceptance chance for admission to a university abroad. LOR is one of the primary documents several international universities demand to give admissions to interested applicants.

6. What things should I avoid in a letter of recommendation for a master's in the USA?

A well-crafted LOR must avoid the following:

1. Inappropriate language

2. Fake details

3. Negative information

4. Exaggerated details

7. Can students copy the LOR for MS in the USA?

Students are not permitted to copy the LOR for MS in the USA. There are stringent copyright laws pertaining to the usage of LOR to apply for MS in US universities. Copying the LOR means plagiarism and lack of authenticity, which may lead to rejection to admission to a US university.

8. Who should write a LOR?

Students keen to apply for a master's course must get their Letter of Recommendation drafted by the college professors, teachers, or principals from where they pursued a bachelor's. Some universities may also accept LOR from the manager or team leader of the company where the applicant gained some work experience.

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