FREE 6+ Sample Academic Recommendation Letter in MS Word | PDF

When applying for an admission for a school or for a scholarship grant, you need someone to write you a sample recommendation so that your application will have a backup. It is best written by people who are qualified like your teacher or professor, principal, or classmate who knows you well enough to write an honest opinion as to how you are as a student and accordingly discuss all of your achievements. How your recommendation letter is written can determine whether you are accomplished enough to be granted a slot for the school or the scholarship.

The Sample Letters in this article are specific for recommendations for academic purposes. This will give you and the person who will be writing your recommendation letters what to write and what format to follow.

Academic Recommendation Letter Template

Sample Academic Recommendation Letter for Student Template

Academic Advisor Recommendation Letter Template

Basic Academic Recommendation Letter from Teacher Template

What Is an Academic Recommendation Letter?

An academic recommendation letter discusses a person’s academic history, goals and targets, and character. It explains beyond what a report card may show. It provides a sample brief overview how the person will be as a student or an employee.

When to Write an Academic Recommendation Letter

An academic recommendation letter is usually written by a teacher. There are various situations where an academic letter may be used. Such situations may be

• college or university application,
• scholarship grant application,
• job application, or
• internship application.

Importance of Academic Recommendation Letters

Most universities or companies will want to look at the applicant in a perspective that reflects the person as a whole—something that grades and test scores cannot relay. A recommendation letter might be one of the first things an admissions officer or the hiring managers will see, so it is important to illuminate the qualities, skills, and academic persona of the applicant through the letter. This is why asking someone in the academe who knows you and your achievements can help express strong support as they can actually highlight your academic and personal strengths at the same time.

You may also look into Sample Letters of Reference for more ideas on how to format a recommendation letter.

Academic Recommendation Letter for Graduate School Example

Best Academic Recommendation Letter Outline

Formal Academic Recommendation Letter Template

A good recommendation letter should at least reflect the following:

• You are a special and unique student. It should help you stand out from the other applicants who may have the same achievements as you.
• Your character and personality are also as important as your academic achievements.
• You are a highly ranked student compared to the other applicants.

Who Should You Ask to Write Your Recommendation Letter?

Oftentimes, teachers are the ones who write these letters. It is a good idea to a teacher whom you have known for a long time and can attest to your academic history. You can also ask a teacher in a subject that you have excelled in. It is also recommended that the teacher you ask has experience when it comes to writing academic letters. You may ask your counselor to recommend a good teacher who can give a good testimony about you.

Using Sample Academic Recommendation Letters

The templates featured in this article will guide you and the person writing your recommendation letter great ideas on how to lay down your credentials in a way that would reflect how you excelled in school. These are available for download directly from this page in PDF and Word Document format.

You may also want to refer to Student Recommendation Letters.