Common Mistakes to Avoid in a LOR

Your LOR sets your impression on the Admission Committee. All your application documents do all the talking on your behalf and your letter of recommendation is one important part of them. Thus, a LOR devoid of mistakes surely goes a long way in casting a favourable impression of your candidature on the Admission Committee. Check out how to avoid common mistakes in an LOR in this article. 

There are two schools of thought that go behind the importance of a Letter of Recommendation in your application. While some contend that it is nearly impossible to evaluate a student’s ability using the standardized version of a letter of recommendation for Masters, others maintain that this is precisely why it makes the letter one of the most important ones in your application. They believe that colleges frequently review the LORs to determine not just whether the student’s statements are true but also to assess the student’s standing with their seniors.

It is the application’s sole third-party endorsement, after all. The candidate prepares all necessary supporting documentation on their own. Therefore, the LOR becomes rather important. Yet, students tend to overlook this important document; as a result, while the student might have worked on a brilliant statement of purpose, and a well-crafted resume, the lack of a convincing LOR, might just ruin their chances of making the final cut.

Common Mistakes to be Avoided in LOR

There are a set of common mistakes that applicants can accidentally oversee when writing their Letters of recommendation, and they are as follows: 

These are some of the common mistakes which can also be an oversight from whoever is writing either the recommender or the student on behalf of the recommended. Thus, these must be avoided at all costs to leave a standing impression on the Admission committee. 

Here are some Common Mistakes to avoid in your LOR for Masters:

Some of the common mistakes to avoid in LORs for masters applications are as follows:

1. Choosing the Wrong Recommender

Before you even think about what qualities to discuss/highlight in your letter of recommendation for Masters, you have to analyse and establish who you will choose as your recommenders. Someone who understands your skills and can persuasively convey them to the admissions committee must be your recommender. The gravest error a candidate can make when writing a letter of recommendation is to select a recommender who hardly knows you. The college principal, who may have only witnessed you engage in a few activities at the university, may not be the best person to recommend you than an assistant professor who has even taught you one subject during your term.

For more details, read How to Choose Your Recommenders.

2. Not Giving Enough Time to the Recommender

One of the most frequent errors applicants make is rushing up to their recommender and then expecting him to write a strong, persuasive reference. Ask for your recommenders well in advance of the deadline for your application, and follow up with them regularly. You should allow a minimum of one month for your recommenders. It would be unjust to your application if you approached them at the last minute and forced them to write your recommendation letter without allowing them adequate time to consider and assess your candidature. Your recommendation would undoubtedly suffer from your last-minute rush, which would also make it more difficult for you to get into the university of your choice.

3. Not validating your candidature with examples

A letter of recommendation for Masters that lacks examples or instances will not hold much value in your application. A recommender who continuously compliments the applicant in the recommendation letter is either sincerely rushed for time or does not understand the meaning of a LOR. Regardless, the recommender is still unable to provide a compelling LOR, negating the entire purpose. Every time a recommender compliments the applicant in the letter, it needs to be supported by a specific instance or illustration. If the recommender states, for instance, ‘ABC is one of the select students who has demonstrated a penchant for application of theoretical concepts taught in the class’. It is almost worthless now, this one being so generic. A recommender should ideally provide evidence to support this claim, such as a practical example of a theoretical concept you applied in the lab or class. The recommender should also mention the result of the experiment and what about the instance that impressed them.

For more, read how to prepare an impressive LOR. You can also go through some LOR samples for Masters to get an idea of how to start drafting yours.

More than anything, what a candidate must ensure is a genuine letter of recommendation. Never agree to provide your recommender with a standard format. Let your recommender share his/ her perspective about your personality.

4. Missing out on your areas of improvement

A LOR that contains an excessive amount of favourable verbiage can leave the Admission Committee feeling unsure and uneasy. Nobody is stopping you from using positive words for your candidature in your LOR format or Masters but knowing the limit is the key. Moreover, it does not make a favourable impression on the Committee to highlight solely your positive personality features while leaving out your negative ones. Make sure to mention at least one of your weaknesses in the letter of recommendation, and please refrain from using the overused platitude that ‘ABC, being a perfectionist, ends up pressuring himself as well as his team members’

5. Using a Cold Dry Tone While Writing the LOR

Although a LOR for Masters is a formal document, the recommender should maintain a level of warmth while preparing it. Using the applicant’s full name at the start of the LOR, followed by addressing them by their first name in the rest of the draft, instead of ‘the applicant’, is always a good idea.

Essential Pointers for Drafting Your LORs

Now, let’s discuss some points to remember while drafting your LOR:

• Highlighting Specific Accomplishments: It is important to draw attention to certain experiences and accomplishments when writing a letter of recommendation for Masters. Along with a comprehensive summary of the candidate’s accomplishments, a well-written LOR for MS should also include examples and context. As a result, the letter is more persuasive and specifically targeted to the candidate's qualifications.
• Building on Professional Relationships: Choosing a recommender who is well-connected to the candidate on a professional level can have a significant impact. The abilities and potential of the candidate can be better understood with a comprehensive and customized LOR for Masters that includes particular examples of mentorship or collaboration.
• Addressing the Program’s Requirements: It is important to understand the requirements and expectations of the particular program before writing an LOR. It is possible to greatly improve the candidate’s application by tailoring the LOR samples for MS to the program’s values and targeted areas. Such thoroughness demonstrates the recommender’s dedication to advancing the candidate’s academic career.
• Highlighting Relevant Experiences and Skills: A Master’s program recommendation letter ought to highlight the candidate’s pertinent experiences and talents that complement the course work. In-depth LOR samples for MS degree candidates frequently emphasize how their experience qualifies them for the higher education they want to pursue.

A well-crafted Letter of Recommendation (LOR) can significantly enhance your university application. By avoiding common mistakes and following the guidelines outlined in this article, you can create a compelling and persuasive LOR that showcases your strengths and potential. Remember to choose a knowledgeable recommender, provide them with ample time, and ensure the letter is tailored to the specific program you are applying to. A strong LOR, along with your other application materials, can help you stand out and increase your chances of admission.