Quick Question: I’m applying to a grad school. What are the most impressive types of letters of recommendations to have?


Quick Answer: The most important thing to keep in mind when it comes to letters of recommendations is to be sure your recommenders can back up their praise with specific examples. You want to choose a recommender who has worked closely with you (whether in an academic or professional environment) so that they are able to provide those specific examples.

The ability to provide specifics is more important than how senior a recommender is. Someone who is very senior but can only speak in generalities about how great you are does not make for a strong recommender. Many schools also want a recommender who has provided you with some sort of constructive feedback (so the school can see how you respond to it) so check out the questions to see if your schools are requesting that perspective & keep that in mind when choosing your recommenders.

~Admissionado

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