Are you struggling to write a letter of recommendation for someone applying for a fellowship program? Look no further! Our 2023 writing guide has got you covered. In this blog post, we’ll help you with tips and tricks on how to make your letter stand out from the crowd and showcase your applicant’s strengths. Whether it’s your first time writing a recommendation or you’re looking to improve your skills, our guide will help you craft a memorable endorsement that will impress any selection committee.
So let’s get started!
What is a Recommendation Letter for Fellowship? Why is it Important?
A Recommendation Letter for Fellowship is a letter of recommendation from an individual who has worked or knows you well and can attest to the quality of your contributions to research or academics. A Fellowship Recommendation Letter can be very helpful in securing funding for a fellowship, or gaining admission to graduate programs.
Questions You Should Answer Before Writing a Fellowship Recommendation Letter
Before you begin to write your reference letter for postdoctoral fellowship, you will want to answer some questions. Here are four to consider:
What is the professional relationship between the recommender and the applicant who is applying for the fellowship?
Establish the relationship between the recommender and the applicant and how long they have known each other for, in the introduction section.
What are the applicant's qualifications and characteristics?
Explain briefly about the applicant’s qualifications, personality traits and abilities.
Can you support your claims about the applicant's abilities through specific examples?
Provide examples which shows the applicants abilities in order to make them worthy of a fellowship
What makes the applicant qualify for a fellowship?
Provide a brief description of the applicant’s qualifications for this particular fellowship, as viewed by the recommender.
What do Admission Officers Look for in LORs?
Admission officers look for several different qualities when reviewing reference letter for postdoctoral fellowship. Firstly, they want letters of recommendation to be honest and objective. Admission officers want letters that are not influenced by the applicant, but instead provide a clear snapshot of the applicant’s abilities. Additionally, admission officers want letters that are well-written and concise. Letters should neither ramble on nor be too short. Finally, letters should cite specific examples from the applicant’s work or academics that demonstrate their skills or abilities.
How Long Your Fellowship Recommendation Letter Should Be?
Word Limit | 150 - 300 words |
Font Size | 10 - 13 is recommended |
Font color | Black |
Font Family | Use standard fonts like Calibri, Ariel, Times New Roman, Georgia, etc. |
Recommendation Letter for Fellowship Sample
To whom it may concern,
I am delighted to recommend Mr. Rishi Mehta for the Postdoctoral Fellowship to the research program in -XYZ- at your esteemed university. In my capacity as the former Professor in the Department of Audiology at ABC University, _________ (place), I have taught Mr. Rishi for four years during his undergraduate studies. As I recall, he was very dedicated and enthusiastic in the class to learning and sharing his creative ideas that were out of the box and I can attest to his intelligence and capability.
Mr. Rishi received exceptional grades in my class and also demonstrated strong communication skills, as well as excellent research capabilities. He holds an undergraduate degree in Bachelor of Audiology and Speech Language Pathology from our university with outstanding academic performance that was consistently good up until his graduation. He has extensive experience with various research projects including Project 1, Project 2 and Project 3. His thesis work on XXX was highly praised by faculty at our university for its originality and insight. He has extensive analytical reasoning capability which I believe your institution would find valuable.
In addition to his academic credentials, Rishi is also a dynamic student who has exceptional leadership skills. During his time at our University, he served as the President of the __________ Club and chaired numerous events that raised awareness about environmental protection among students. His excellent planning and networking abilities are highly commendable. Rishi excels when working in a diverse environment while still maintaining top notch productivity levels which makes him even more dexterous amidst challenges posed by group work dynamics. Additionally, he has an impressive level of knowledge about current happenings in the field of _________ which makes him a valuable addition to your program.
To conclude, I believe Mr. Rishi Mehta should be considered for the Postdoctoral Fellowship due to not only his impressive qualifications but also for his passionate enthusiasm regarding furthering himself in AAA. I highly recommend Mr. Rishi Mehta for the Postdoctoral Fellowship for the research program in -XYZ- at your esteemed university without reservation and look forward to hearing about his success in all future endeavors!
Sincerely,
Sonal Bardwaj
Retired Professor of Audiology
Guidelines for Using LOR Samples for Fellowship
Make sure you pay attention when you read a sample recommendation letter for fellowship program. Here are some things to consider:
- Read the LOR Sample thoroughly
- How does the recommender portray the applicant for the fellowship
- How different is each paragraph in the sample based on the specific materials
- How the recommender tries to introduce themselves and how they establish the professional relationship they have with the applicant in the sample
- Check the grammar and vocabulary
- Check the format and structure of the Fellowship Recommendation Letter Sample
Write your Fellowship Recommendation Letter in 6 steps?
Step 1: Get to know the applicant
Before getting started, it’s important to familiarize yourself with the applicant. What are their strengths? Are they interested in a particular field of study? Know as much about the applicant as possible so your letter will be well-informed and convincing.
Step 2: Consider the personality and characteristics of the applicant
Just like with anything else related to writing, crafting an effective fellowship recommendation letter requires taking into account the personality of the applicant. In order to garner favor with admission committees, letters should demonstrate that the writer really knows their applicant well.
Step 3: Define the applicant's qualifications and abilities
Briefly describe the applicant’s qualifications and abilities accordingly with evidence from the recommender’s point of view.
Step 4: Structure the letter according to guidelines
The main points of focus usually include summarizing why the applicant deserves a fellowship, highlighting any extracurricular activities or achievements that the applicant may have had, and showing that the applicant is ideal for the fellowship program.
Step 5: Conclusion
Summarize all the points made in the letter so far by supporting the applicant and giving them the recommender’s positive approval for enrollment in a fellowship program.
Step 6
Include the letter of recommendation with the rest of the applicant’s fellowship application materials.
Who Is Eligible to Write an LOR for Fellowship?
Professors, Employers and people who are associated with the applicant in academia or work environment are mainly eligible to write a Fellowship Letter of Recommendation.
Final Checklist
To ensure that your Reference Letter for Postdoctoral Fellowship is as strong as possible, follow these steps:
- Have I provided the correct address?
- Have I established the relationship between the recommender and applicant?
- Are there any key details that make the applicant worthy of the fellowship program?
- Is my recommendation letter in accordance with the Fellowship program's guidelines?
- Have I followed the format correctly?
Do's and Don't in Your LOR for Fellowship
Do:
- Be personal and meaningful.
- Match the letter to the specific applicant.
- Use clear, concise language.
- Be respectful and complimentary.
Don’t:
- Don’t exaggerate
- Focusing exclusively on an individual’s weaknesses can come across as unhelpful or negative. Instead, share general observations about their work ethic and creativity that reflect well on them as scholars.
- Try to avoid false information
Tips for Writing a Recommendation Letter for Fellowship
- Start with a personal anecdote about the person you are recommending. This will give the reader a good feeling about you and why they should read on.
- Use strong language to introduce your recommendation and make it clear why the person should be chosen for the fellowship.
- Inform the recipient of what they can expect from the Fellowship and what this will allow them to do in their field of study or work.
- End your letter by thanking them for considering your applicant for the fellowship and assuring them that you will keep an eye out for their accomplishments while they are spending their time at the fellowship program!
- Proofread and double check your work. Mistakes can happen when we’re rushing, and it’s important to make sure that all of your letters look top notch before submitting them.
Conclusion
After reading this blog, I hope you have received a good foundation on which to start drafting Fellowship recommendation letters.
Follow the tips provided and use the writing guide as a reference when crafting your letter. Good Luck!
