LOR Full Form in Education – Types, Best Practices
The many documents you are asked to submit on the table for study abroad can swirl your head. Understanding and gathering them can be a tedious task.
One such documentation is the LOR. Based on your academic requirements, you must choose the type of LOR to be gathered. Let’s break down the types and discuss the best practices and format for a successful LOR.
LOR Full Form in Education
LOR stands for Letter of Recommendation, and in education, it is considered an endorsement certificate for a student by their mentors.
When applying abroad, LOR should be submitted to your university during the admission process. This letter helps the admissions officer to read your testimonial, understand your skills, and analyze your potential for the course.
What is a LOR Certificate?
A letter of recommendation is a formal document written by a professor or a mentor to endorse the skills, achievements, and conduct of a student.
Types of LOR
There are two main types of LOR in education; they are:
Academic LOR:
When a student applies for higher studies, an academic LOR from his previous institution serves as a document to highlight his academic strengths, skills, and achievements. This LOR is often clubbed with a Statement of Purpose (SOP) document that explains the student’s intent of applying to a particular course or university.
Professional LOR:
Abroad Master’s degree might need work experience from the applicants. In such cases, the LOP should be obtained from the student’s previous employer.
This letter highlights your professional skills, behaviour, and leadership qualities. At times, these LORs are used for applying for a new job or an internship. Hence, this can be used either by an admissions officer or a hiring manager.
Besides these two main types, there are certain other recommendation letters used for loan applications and scholarships. These documents highlight your social character and financial strengths that help in approval.
7 Best Practices for Writing an LOR
These are the must-follow checklists to land up with a credible education type of LOR.
1. Length:
The idea behind the LOR is clear. It just needs the person to vouch for your potential to fit in a program or a job. So, it doesn’t need supporting content that extends more than a page or two.
Introduction, unless asked. A lengthy LOR can increase the chances of boredom in the reader.
2. Tailor to the opportunity:
Let the reader know from the start that the writer is fully aware of its intent.
Words like “It’s a pleasure for me to recommend “person’s name” for admission into a Master’s program with Machine Learning at the University of xyz.”
3. Be honest:
A genuine endorsement resonates better than overstatements.
Explaining the writer’s relationship to the candidate, as well as providing an honest portrayal of the candidate, creates the desired impact and establishes the recommender’s credibility.
4. Use specific and relevant instances
Request that your writer mention real-life instances where they have seen you demonstrating the quality they want to highlight.
For example, explaining how you overcome challenges during a research project makes the statement more believable.
5. Include signature and contact
Providing this LOR in an official notepad with a stamp and providing the person’s contact for enquiring further details improves their credibility.
6. Proofread
Grammatical errors and typos are a strict no in LORs.
It is always good to proofread the letter to avoid these mistakes before submitting it to the officials.
Format of Letter of Recommendation (LOR) [Your Name] [Your Job Title] [Your Organization] [Your Address] [City, State, ZIP Code] [Your Email Address] [Your Contact Number] [Date] To Whom It May Concern, [Intro] Introduce yourself, your designation, and your relationship with the student/applicant. Mention how long you have known them and in what capacity (e.g., professor, mentor, manager, colleague). Provide a brief overview of why you are recommending the applicant. [Body Para 1] Highlight the applicant’s academic or professional abilities. Include specific examples of their achievements or projects that showcase their skills. [Body Para 2] Describe their character beyond academics or work. Highlight ethics and interpersonal skills. Mention specific instances where they demonstrated these qualities. [Conclusion] Summarize why the applicant is a strong candidate for the program and express your confidence in their ability to succeed. Offer contact details to provide further information if required. Sincerely, [Your Full Name] [Your Designation] [Organization Name] |
Conclusion
Remember that LOR is not a summary of your biodata. At times, the writer will not be clear about what to include in the statement. So, do research properly and assist them with what exactly helps.
If you are still confused about how to land in a professional LOR, why not talk to our experts by submitting the form below?
