How to Write a Good LOR for Undergraduate Courses?

While uncommon for undergraduate studies abroad, universities and colleges abroad may ask international students to submit Letters of Recommendation (LORs) for admission to certain bachelor's courses. However, much like a LOR for masters abroad, to answer the question how to write a LOR for UG/Bachelors abroad?, we suggest you go through this article.

If you are planning to take up an undergraduate course in a discipline that is considered professional or there is a high demand for the university or the course itself, the university in question may request a LOR for the UG programme. Moreover, a properly structured and formatted LOR may also significantly improve your chances of being selected for the course.

Therefore, go through this article and find out the steps to write a LOR for UG or bachelor's abroad and how you can perfect your recommendation letter. You can also check out the following links to understand what you need to know about Letters of Recommendation and how you should go about creating one for different purposes.

How to Write a LOR for Bachelors Abroad?

Lets get straight to the point and find out how you can write your LOR for UG or bachelor courses abroad. It should be noted that writing a LOR for a bachelor's abroad is an uncommon practice, therefore, before writing a LOR for bachelor's courses abroad, check the admission requirements of your desired university and course. Listed below are the steps and structure you need to follow when writing a LOR for UG courses abroad.

Steps to Write a LOR for UG Courses Abroad

Let us first understand the steps you need to take when writing a LOR for UG courses abroad. Check out the following steps to write a LOR for UG courses abroad:

Study the Admission Requirements: Go through the admission policies and requirements of your desired university and course and figure out whether you need a LOR for your desired bachelor's courses abroad.

• You can connect with the admissions office at the respective universities and raise your queries regarding the same.

• Be sure to be thorough with this process as sometimes universities may define the parameters within which the LOR for UG courses should be written.

Connect with Your Teachers: If your desired university and course require you to submit a LOR for UG courses, then connect with your teachers.

• It is advisable to connect with teachers with whom you built a good rapport at school. This will further help your cause in enrolling on the desired university and course abroad.

Follow the University Rules: If the admission policies of the desired university and course have specified parameters within which a LOR for UG courses abroad should be written, then submit those regulations and parameters to the teacher you have requested.

• You can also write your LOR on your own and request the teacher/s to sign the document. However, talk to your teacher/s and ask them what they are comfortable with and take the steps accordingly.

Write an Individualised Letter: It is important that the LOR that you write is customised and individualised. It should not appear to have been copied from the internet. It must contain specific details about yourself and the relevant skills and qualifications. There should not be a discrepancy between the LOR and other documents submitted. However, precaution must be taken not to repeat the same things written in the essay and resume in the LOR.

Formatting of the LOR: The length of an ideal LOR is between two-thirds of a page to a full page. The page should be single-spaced with Times Roman 12-point font for printed letters and Arial 11-point font for the electronically submitted letters. The letter must not be too short as it may seem that the recommender is not too interested in the student while a long letter might be boring and can be seen as an over-attempt to please.

Qualities that can be Highlighted in the LOR: You must highlight your strengths and qualities in the LOR. Here are some qualities that you can mention in the LOR:

• Performance in academics and sports

• Any leadership positions such as class monitor, school captain, sports team captain or club president

• Participation in individual or group projects

• Excellence in public speaking and other performances

• Participation in volunteering work

• Membership in a school club or other organisation

• Awards in local, national or international competitions

Proofread and Edit: Once you have received the LOR, signed and authorised by the teacher/s, it is highly recommended to proofread and edit the document once over before you submit it to the university. If there are major changes to the document, you should get the document rechecked by the teacher itself and then submit the documents.

Note: The parameters for writing a LOR for UG courses abroad will be different and unique to each university and course abroad. Therefore, go through the admission policies of your desired university and course thoroughly before taking any further steps.

Register and connect with our team of study abroad counsellors to understand the best ways to write a LOR for bachelor courses abroad. Choose from our study abroad packages to get expert guidance on studying abroad.

LOR Format for Bachelors Abroad

As stated above, the parameters to write a LOR for UG courses abroad will be defined by the university itself. However, in cases where they are not, there are general guidelines and format for LOR for bachelors abroad that you need to follow.

Letterhead - The LOR for UG courses should be written on paper with the official letter of the institution where the recommender is employed.

Salutation - The recommender should address the reader with either the name of the person who is expected to receive the letter or using To Whom This May Concern.

1st Para: Introductory Paragraph - An introduction of the recommender and their relationship with the recommended should be highlighted in this paragraph. The recommendercan also highlight the reasons for writing the letter as well. One must write a LOR introduction that creates an impression on the admission officers. It can start with an anecdote from the students life that reflects his/her character and others perception. The first paragraph can also be ended by highlighting the strongest characteristic of the student.

2nd and 3rd Para: Applicants Achievements and Merits - The recommended should highlight the merits and achievements of the applicant/recommended to present their stance on why the applicant should be selected for admission. Here, highlighting the projects and initiatives taken by the applicant will significantly improve the LOR.However, one should not restrict themselves in writing about what the student has done but also should focus on who the student is. It must mention their abilities to overcome difficulties and obstacles. Also, it should highlight how the applicant is suitable for the school to which they are applying.

4th Para: Recommendeds Potential - Here, the recommender should highlight the potential of the recommended and their ability to achieve success if enrolled in the programme. Here, they can highlight the recommendeds skills and qualities to support their claims.

5th Para: Conclusion - Every good letter should end with a good concluding paragraph. Here, the recommender should briefly mention all the points they have mentioned in the letter, especially highlighting the key points. The conclusion should be a sincere statement of recommendation for the student. Also, it may contain a brief summary of the qualities of the student.

Ending Salutation - The last statement should encourage the university to contact the recommender in case they have further queries regarding the student. The letter can be closed with Best regards or sincerely and should be signed with name and title.

Note: As stated previously, LORs can be written by the recommended and then be signed by the recommender after they have read the document. However, it should be noted that the LOR should highlight the relationship between the recommended and recommender as well as certain projects or situations where the recommender has worked with the recommended.

Types of LORs for UG Courses Abroad

Primarily, there are two types of LORs that are commonly requested by universities and colleges abroad for the purpose of admissions. The two types of LORs for UG that are commonly accepted for admissions are:

Academic LORs - Academic LORs are letters that are written by teachers or professors recommending an applicant for a particular course. In most cases, universities will ask students to submit an academic LOR with their application form.

Professional LORs - Here, the LORs are written by superiors or managers who have experience working with the recommended and can vouch for their potential for success. However, for undergraduate courses, it is highly unlikely that you will be asked to write a professional LOR.

Since, in most cases, the candidate applying for the undergraduate course abroad will not have any professional experience, it will be impossible for the candidate to present any professional LOR. Therefore, you will be asked to present an academic LOR, written by a teacher or professor who has had experience working with you.

Check out the following links to find out the sample templates for LORs and figure out how you can write your LOR for UG or bachelor's courses abroad.

Tips to Write a LOR for Bachelors Abroad?

When writing your LOR for bachelorsabroad, it is important to ensure that you have taken all the steps necessary to ensure that there are no mistakes or make it as close to perfection as you can. Check out the following tips to write a LOR for bachelors abroad and how can ensure your LOR helps you get enrolled in your desired university and course.

• When writing your LOR, be sure to keep the letter unique, highlighting projects and situations that are unique to you and your recommender. This will not only substantiate your claims of being a student with good prospects but also authenticate them.

• Keeping your letter brief is a good habit but it should not be too short either. The letter should highlight your skills and qualities as well as your initiatives. The word limit for a good LOR usually ranges between 500-600 words. While the LOR can be slightly longer, be sure to keep it over 500 words.

• One of the best ways to ensure you have the perfect LOR for UG courses abroad is to go proofread the entire document properly. If you are writing your LOR, be sure to prof the document as many times as possible or have your teacher/recommender proofread the document. If the letter has been written by the recommended, then it is imperative that you proofread the letter before sending it to the university. If you think changes need to be made, in this case, then you must request the recommender to do so.

• Get connected with study abroad counsellors or experts or other students who have completed the process previously and have succeeded. Raise your queries and seek guidance from them in order to not make unnecessary mistakes.

If you are seeking expert guidance to study abroad without hassle, register and connect with our team of study abroad counsellors now to avail of online services or visit our centresto get face-to-face counselling services!

Why is LOR Needed for Bachelors Abroad?

Letters of Recommendation are one of the better ways to give a new perspective to the admission council of a university on the true potential of a candidate during the admission process. Depending on the popularity of the course and the university may call for a LOR to be submitted for admission purposes.

The admission officers wish to make the admission decision based on a holistic evaluation of the students. They seek to gain an understanding of the student as a whole person and not be only focused on grades and test scores. Since they never meet the student before admission or interview, the recommendation letters along with the personal essay play an important role in highlighting the intellectual and personal abilities.

A LOR is a strong vote of support and can have a powerful impact on students admission decisions.However, through a LOR, students will be able to present their skills, qualities and initiatives in a manner that academic report cards and exam scorecards will not be able to highlight. LORs also possess the ability to present a candidate in line with the courses objectives, thus, further helping the admission committee to accept candidates as the perfect candidate for the course.

Mistakes to Avoid in a LOR

Writing a LOR is not a simple task. It is one of the major milestones in the undergraduate application process. While the importance of writing a good LOR is unquestionable, there are some mistakes that applicants commit while drafting a LOR. Here are some of the common and repetitive mistakes that should be avoided at all costs:

• Not Writing a Personalised LOR: Often it is a tendency of the student to copy-paste a generic LOR from the internet. It is a very grave mistake that may cost the opportunity to display real talents and skills in front of the admission committee.

• Not Choosing the Right Recommender: Getting a LOR from the wrong person who knows nothing or very little about you is not a good idea. It is important that the recommender knows the student well and is qualified enough to write the reference.

• Repeating the Statement of Purpose and Resume: The LOR must not appear as the SOP and the academic resume written in a twisted way. While some parts may overlap, it should also provide a fresh perspective on the qualities of the student. The purpose of the LOR is to create a third-person view of the students character and must aid admission officers in taking an informed decision.

• Not Providing Enough Information and Time to the Recommender: It is important to give proper details to the recommender and one must provide the CV, certificates and other proofs that will enable them to draft an authentic LOR. Also, students have the tendency to be asked for LOR at the last moment which leaves less room for the recommender to write a compelling LOR.

• Exaggerating or Over-Praising: While it is important to highlight the positives of a student, it is also unwise to exaggerate or over-praise. There should be a harmonious balance in the LOR that it sounds authentic to the admission officers.

Therefore, if you are applying for undergraduate courses and need to write a LOR, keep this page bookmarked to understand how to a LOR for bachelors courses abroad. Or, Register and connect with our team of study abroad counsellors and learn the best ways to write your LORs.