fellowship application letters of recommendation

Sample Recommendation Letter for Fellowship Applicant

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A good recommendation letter can help you stand out among other fellowship applicants. You will most likely need at least two letters of recommendation as part of the application process. The best recommendations will come from people who know you well and can offer specific information about you as a student, person, or employee.

The sample recommendation letter shown below has been reprinted (with permission) from EssayEdge.com, which did not write or edit this sample recommendation letter. However, it is a good example of how a business recommendation should be formatted for a fellowship application.

Sample Recommendation Letter for a Fellowship

To Whom It May Concern:

I am proud to recommend a beloved student, Kaya Stone, for your fellowship program . I was asked to write as one who has functioned in the capacity of an employer of Kaya, but I would first like to say a few words about him as a student.

Kaya is a highly intelligent, perceptive young man. He came to our institution committed to capitalizing on the opportunity of his third year of study in Israel, and he left with the satisfaction of having accomplished that goal. Kaya grew in learning, in character, in his depth of understanding. He seeks truth in each area of his life, whether in learning, discussing philosophy, or relating to his fellow students and his teachers. Because of his positive disposition, his reflective way of operating, and all of the character traits that make him so special, Kaya’ s questions never go unanswered, and his searches always bring him to exciting discoveries. As a student , Kaya is outstanding. As an educator, I have watched him grow, seen his talents and abilities not only in the classroom but outside its walls when interacting with all types of people as well.

During his time at our institution, Kaya, who as I’m sure you know is an excellent writer and publicist, also has done a good deal of work for the yeshiva. This has included the text for many public relations brochures and packets, letters to parents, potential donors, and alumni, and essentially any correspondence which I have requested that he compose. The feedback is always overwhelmingly positive, and he has done so much in that way for our yeshiva. Even today, while he studies elsewhere, he continues to do a great deal of this work for our institution, in addition to the recruiting and other services he performs for the yeshiva.

Always, in his work, Kaya is consistent, dedicated and passionate, enthusiastic, cheerful, and a pleasure to work with. He has incredible creative energies and a refreshing idealism tempered only enough to accomplish what needs to be done. I highly recommend him for any position of work, leadership, education, or any other capacity in which he can spread his excitement and share his talents with others. At our institution, we are expecting big things from Kaya in the way of educational and communal leadership in the years to come. And knowing Kaya, he will not disappoint, and probably will exceed our expectations.

Thank you once again for the opportunity to recommend such a special and impressive young man.

Sincerely Yours,

Steven Rudenstein Dean, Yeshiva Lorentzen Chainani

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Professional Letters to Support a Fellowship Application

Table of Contents

A letter of recommendation is an integral part of any fellowship application. It provides the selection committee insight into an applicant’s character and qualifications. And this can be a deciding factor in whether or not the applicant is awarded the fellowship. Looking at a  sample letter of recommendation for fellowship program  can be very helpful in getting started with your letter.

Lucky for you, we’ve rounded up some great sample letters that you can refer to in this article. We’ll also share some of the key steps to writing a recommendation letter that’s both informative and enjoyable to read.

What Your Recommendation Letter Should Include

A letter of recommendation for a fellowship should be well-written and tailored to the kind of fellowships the candidate is applying to. It should highlight the candidate’s strengths and explain why they would make a good fit for the program.

Some of the main information you should include in your letter are:

• The candidate’s Name, contact information, and academic history.
• What the fellowship program is about, and the reason why they’re interested in it
• Description of the candidate’s educational and professional achievements.
• Details about the candidate’s qualifications.
• Reasons you think the candidate would be a good fit for the fellowship program.

How to Write a Recommendation Letter for a Fellowship Program

Writing a recommendation letter doesn’t have to be all that complicated. Here are some simple steps that you can follow:

• Start by introducing yourself and stating your position or relationship to the applicant. 
• Share what you know about their academic and professional accomplishments, as well as any other information that may be relevant.
• Highlight specific qualities or traits that make them a strong candidate for the fellowship program. 
• Provide detailed examples of how they have demonstrated these qualities in past experiences or projects.
• Finally, offer your endorsement and say why you believe they would be an excellent fit for the fellowship opportunity.

Professional Sample Letter of Recommendation for Fellowship Program

Dear [Name of Program Head],

I am writing to recommend [Name of Applicant] for the [Name of fellowship program]. I have known [Name of Applicant] for many years and can attest to his intelligence and dedication. He has always been a top student in everything he does, and I am confident he would excel in this program. 

[Name of Applicant] is an excellent communicator and possesses strong critical-thinking skills. He also has a great sense of humor, which makes him fun to be around. In addition to all these qualities, [Name of Applicant] is hardworking and responsible; I know he would take advantage of this opportunity fully. 

If you have any questions about [Name of Applicant]’s qualifications, please do not hesitate to contact me at your convenience. Thank you for your time and consideration. 

[Signature]

To Whom It May Concern, 

I am writing to recommend [Name of applicant] for [Name of fellowship program]. I have known [Name of applicant] for many years and have always been impressed by their intelligence and work ethic.

In addition to being an excellent student, [Name of applicant] is also highly well-rounded and has a wide range of interests. I can think of no one who will be better suited for this opportunity than [Name of applicant].

If you need more information, please do not hesitate to contact me at your earliest convenience. Thank you for your time and consideration. 

Sincerely, 

I am writing to recommend Kevin Smith for the XYZ Fellowship. I have worked with John extensively in a leadership capacity and can attest to his leadership strengths.

In our work together, he has consistently shown himself to be competent, innovative, and motivated. For example, during our last project together, John proved himself instrumental in developing an original solution that saved the team time and resources. 

I truly believe that John would excel as a fellow at XYZ organization, and I commend him for your consideration. If you have any questions or need additional information, please do not hesitate to contact me at 555-555-1234. 

Thank you for your time and consideration!

Wrapping Up

A letter of recommendation plays a crucial role in a student’s success in applying for a competitive fellowship. They are one of the most influential elements in an application next to the student’s essays . As such, you shouldn’t take writing your recommendation letter lightly.

The letter should be professional and concise and speak to their qualifications and potential. Hopefully, you’ve gained some ideas on how to better write your letter through the  sample letter of recommendation for fellowship program  in this article.

Abir Ghenaiet

Abir is a data analyst and researcher. Among her interests are artificial intelligence, machine learning, and natural language processing. As a humanitarian and educator, she actively supports women in tech and promotes diversity.

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INFORMATION FOR

• Residents & Fellows
• Researchers

31 Letters of Recommendation

Hello everyone,

I’ve completed my annual letter writing marathon and 31 fellowship LORs are now posted on ERAS. Although the individual letters are confidential, I thought you’d like seeing the template used to compose them (attached). The template saves time but, more importantly, ensures a consistent structure that contains all the key elements. This year’s letter changed to adhere to new AAIM guidelines (attached), but I have no doubt everyone will match extremely well as always.

Even if you’re not applying this year, look at the template to see how you are evaluated in the domains of clinical performance, scholarship, and citizenship, which is what fellowship directors care about. Although the template includes verbiage that can reflect poor or mediocre performance, most residents performed magnificently and this was richly reflected in their letters.

FYI, here’s what people are applying in this year:

• Cardiology: 2
• Endocrinology: 1
• General Internal Medicine: 1
• Heme-Onc: 6
• Informatics: 1
• National Clinical Scholars Program: 1
• Nephrology: 1
• Pulmonary & Critical Care: 5
• Rheumatology: 4

Even if you’re not applying this year, look at the template to see how you are evaluated in the domains of clinical performance, scholarship, and citizenship, which is what fellowship directors care about.

Good luck to all the candidates!

Featured in this article

• Mark David Siegel, MD Professor of Medicine (Pulmonary); Program Director, Internal Medicine Traditional Residency Program

Related Links

• Fellowship Letter of Recommendation Template
• AAIM Guidelines for Writing Fellowship Letters of Recommendation

Letter of Recommendation for a Fellowship (Template)

Want to crush your interview.

Learn how to ace your interview with superior confidence.

A letter of recommendation for fellowship is a letter written to a fellowship committee on behalf of a candidate. The letter should highlight the candidate's strengths and why they would be a good fit for the fellowship. It is important to tailor the letter to the specific fellowship for which the candidate is applying.

A letter of recommendation for fellowship should include

• The candidate's name, contact information, and academic history.
• Details about the fellowship program and why the candidate is interested in it.
• A description of the candidate's academic and professional achievements.
• Details about the candidate's skills and qualifications.
• Why the candidate would be a good fit for the fellowship program.

A letter of recommendation for a fellowship should be well-written and tailored to the specific fellowship for which the candidate is applying. It should highlight the candidate's strengths and explain why they would be a good fit for the program. The letter should be professional and concise, and it should be signed by someone who knows the candidate well and can speak to their qualifications.

There are many different types of fellowships, and each one requires a different type of recommendation letter. However, most fellowship applications require letters from professors or other professionals who can speak to your academic or professional achievements.

The following are four sample letters of recommendation for a fellowship application. Each letter is tailored to a specific type of fellowship.

Letter for a research fellowship

Dear _________,

It is my great pleasure to recommend ____________ for a research fellowship at your esteemed institution. ____________ is an outstanding young scholar with an impressive record of academic achievement. His/Her work in the field of ____________ has already garnered his/her national recognition, and I do not doubt that she will continue to produce groundbreaking research during his/her fellowship.

I have had the privilege of working with ____________ for several years, and I can attest to his/her passion for her work and her dedication to excellence. He/She is an excellent student and a gifted researcher, and I am confident that she will make significant contributions to the field of ____________ during his/her fellowship.

Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any questions about ____________'s qualifications or suitability for this fellowship. I am happy to provide additional information.

Thank you for your consideration.

(Your Name)

(Your Email)

Letter for a teaching fellowship

To Whom It May Concern,

I am writing to recommend __________ for the teaching fellowship she has applied for. I have had the pleasure of working with ____________ as his/her teacher during the past school year, and I can say without hesitation that he/she is an outstanding educator.

____________ has a true passion for teaching, and he/she is constantly seeking new ways to engage her students in learning. He/She has a gift for taking complex concepts and making them understandable for students of all ages. His/Her classroom is always lively and engaging, and his/her students are always eager to learn more.

__________would be an excellent addition to any teaching team, and I highly recommend her for the teaching fellowship he/she has applied for. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Thank you for your time and consideration.

Letter for a grant writing fellowship

Dear (the person you are recommending),

I am very pleased to recommend (name of the person you are recommending) for the grant writing fellowship. (He/She) is an exceptional writer and has a true gift for crafting compelling proposals. I have worked with (him/her) on numerous proposals, and I can attest to (his/her) skills in this area.

Moreover, (name of the person you are recommending) is a motivated and hard-working individual who is always willing to go the extra mile. I am confident that (he/she) will be an asset to any organization that hires (him/her).

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me. I look forward to hearing from you soon.

Letter for a general fellowship

I am writing in regards to the general fellowship that I saw advertised online. I am extremely interested in the opportunity and would love to learn more about it.

I am a recent graduate of (university name) with a degree in (major). I have experience in (relevant experience) , and I believe that I would be a great candidate for the fellowship.

I am eager to learn more about the program and what is required of me. Can you please send me more information, including the application deadline? I look forward to hearing from you soon.

(Your name)

Final Thoughts

When writing a letter of recommendation for fellowship, it is important to highlight the applicant's qualifications and to express your confidence in their ability to succeed. 

You should also be sure to include any relevant information about your relationship with the applicant, such as how long you have known them and what you have observed of their work ethic and academic ability.

Recommendation Letter Templates

More recommendation letter resources.

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About the author

Patrick Algrim is a Certified Professional Resume Writer (CPRW), NCDA Certified Career Counselor (CCC), and general career expert. Patrick has completed the NACE Coaching Certification Program (CCP). And has been published as a career expert on Forbes , Glassdoor , American Express , Reader's Digest , LiveCareer , Zety , Yahoo , Recruiter.com , SparkHire , SHRM.org , Process.st , FairyGodBoss , HRCI.org , St. Edwards University , NC State University , IBTimes.com , Thrive Global , TMCnet.com , Work It Daily , Workology , Career Guide , MyPerfectResume , College Career Life , The HR Digest , WorkWise , Career Cast , Elite Staffing , Women in HR , All About Careers , Upstart HR , The Street , Monster , The Ladders , Introvert Whisperer , and many more. Find him on LinkedIn .

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Expert Consult

Applying for Fellowship: What You Need to Know

By Ole-Petter Hamnvik, MB BCh BAO, MMSc

Published July 21, 2017

Applying for fellowships is a stressful process. It not only involves making major decisions that will impact your life but it also requires creating a competitive application and preparing for high-stakes interviews, all while you are still fulfilling your responsibilities as a resident. NEJM Resident 360 hosted a discussion with a panel of experts on preparing for fellowship to explore many of these issues. In this blog post, I share some personal tips and useful advice from our panel experts on how to be a successful fellowship candidate.

Be the Early Bird

Creating a successful application for fellowship does not start one or two months before applications are due. Starting the process a year before you apply can ensure that you are ahead of the game.

Here are some things to think about during the year before applying: 

Decide on your subspecialty:

You may be someone who knew you wanted to be a cardiologist when you applied to medical school or you may still be undecided about specialties. If you are in the second category, try to find clinical experiences in the subspecialty during your elective period, ambulatory block (for outpatient-focused specialties), or inpatient rotations in specialties that you are considering (for specialties with a heavy inpatient load, such as cardiology and oncology). Talk to fellows and faculty in the specialty to learn what their life is like. Discuss your choices with advisors (e.g., your residency program director) or mentors. You might also find the NEJM Resident 360 blog post Family Medicine, Rad Onc, or OB? How to Choose a Specialty helpful. 

Invest in at least one rotation in your chosen subspecialty:

Most fellowships want at least one letter from a faculty member in the subspecialty that you are applying for. As you set up your schedule for the year, ensure that you have at least one rotation that will give you time with a subspecialty faculty member who can write a letter of recommendation for you.

Take part in research projects to enhance your application :

Depending on your subspecialty and career plans, consider working on a project that either has a research or educational focus or on a case report or case series during the year before you apply. This is particularly important if you plan to have a career that includes nonclinical or nontraditional activities such as research, medical education, health policy, global health, hospital administration, and medical writing. Participating in such activities in addition to patient care will demonstrate your commitment and set you apart from other applicants. 

Take time out of the training path:

Many residents are interested in taking a year off to do research, work as a hospitalist, or act as a chief medical resident. In many cases, this may strengthen your application. However, being away from clinical medicine for too long might elicit concern about your clinical skills when you return to practice. Make sure to address your decision to take time out in your personal statement and be prepared during your interview to explain why you decided to take that path, how you spent this time, and how the experience will help you during fellowship and your career. If you were a hospitalist and practiced independently for an extended period, you may be asked about the challenges of being a trainee again and required to run your plans by someone else. 

Assembling Your Application

As the application submission deadlines loom closer (within 6 months), start collecting all the documents that you need to create your application. Some components depend only on you (e.g., the personal statement and resume) while other parts require input from busy people (e.g., letters of recommendation). The earlier you start, the better! 

Here are the steps required to assemble your application: 

Familiarize yourself with the application requirements:

Most subspecialties use the Electronic Residency Application Service ( ERAS ). Some programs and subspecialties have specific requirements, so you will want to review the ERAS website in detail as well as the relevant fellowship program websites. 

Request letters of recommendation (LoR):

How many? Aim for four letters if the number is not specified. Check program requirements on the ERAS and program websites. 

Who should write the letters? After you review the letter requirements for your programs, think about who can write a meaningful LoR about your abilities as a doctor rather than someone who will rehash your CV. Usually, one of the letters is from your residency program director. Others can be written by clinicians in general medicine or subspecialties with whom you have worked. If you have been involved in research or education projects, get LoRs from your project supervisor. Include at least one letter from a subspecialist in the specialty that you are applying for. 

When should I ask for the letter? Asking for a letter while you are still working with a faculty member is best — and the earlier the better — as this allows them to pay more attention to your performance in real time and perhaps take note of specific strengths or examples. You can provide additional instructions on how to submit the LoR closer to the due date. 

How do I ask for the letter? First, don’t be afraid to ask! All faculty members at institutions with residency programs are accustomed to writing LoRs. You can email your request, but also offer to meet in person to discuss your career plans. Writers based outside of the U.S. may require more guidance. An international faculty member may be brief about your abilities, and this could be perceived more negatively than intended. Providing sample LoRs could be helpful. 

Here are some more helpful tips: 

Ask if they feel they know you well enough to write a positive letter on your behalf

Provide an updated copy of your CV and your personal statement to frame the LoR

Consider noting specific areas on your CV that you would like highlighted

Always remember to thank your letter writers, especially after you match, because they will be curious about the outcome! 

How are the letters submitted? Letters are submitted electronically via ERAS. Make sure you review the ERAS procedure carefully and instruct your letter writers on how to submit their LoRs. 

Write your personal statement:

Your CV and LoR may be prioritized over your personal statement, but programs use your personal statement to learn more about you. The personal statement is the only place in your application where you can add your voice and bring together all of the pieces of your application. Send your personal statement to friends and mentors to ensure that it is error-free. Keep it brief — no more than one page. 

Some questions you may want to ask yourself as you write your personal statement include:

What experiences make you a strong candidate for this program?

What parts of your application suggest that you will have a successful career?

How can you draw the reader’s focus on your unique achievements?

What relevant information is not included elsewhere on the application (e.g., unexplained absences from clinical work or a failed exam)? 

Create your application/CV:

ERAS will prompt you to input all the information that fellowship program directors are looking for, such as education, academic projects, publications, etc. Include all achievements, including ongoing projects. Be prepared to address anything that is on your application during the interview.

Select programs to apply to and submit your application:

Once you have created your application, you will submit it to programs (usually via ERAS). Deciding how many and which programs to apply to will depend on personal preferences, your competitiveness as an applicant, and the type of training you seek. For example, if you are planning a career as a clinician-investigator, focus on academically oriented programs. If you had some struggles during medical school or residency and therefore do not have a very strong application, you may need to apply more broadly. Your residency program director can help you decide how many and what programs to apply to. Look at the fellowship program website to find out the career paths of prior fellows.

Acing the Interview

Fellowship interviews are often a bit more involved than residency interviews. The number of faculty members and trainees is much smaller in the fellowship program, and some fellows may stay on faculty after their fellowship. Therefore, faculty will be considering you as a potential future colleague and want to determine in the interview whether you will be a good fit.

Tips for acing the interview include: 

Be engaged: Show your best side during the interview day. Make sure you are rested. Do not schedule interviews when you are post-call! Be social, put your phone away, and get to know the faculty, fellows, and other applicants.

Practice and prepare : Many residency programs will offer mock interviews with experienced fellowship interviewers. Even if you do not have the opportunity to do a mock interview, prepare answers to commonly asked questions and practice delivering these answers out loud. 

Some interview topics to prepare for include:

talking about yourself

your strengths/weaknesses

describe a challenging patient interaction and how you resolved it

where you want to be in 5 to 10 years (You don’t have to be specific but you should have some sense of what you would like to do and how you will get there.) 

Make sure you know what questions interviewers are not allowed to ask (e.g., what other programs you applied to, age, gender, religion, sexual orientation, and family status). If any of these questions come up, try to make light of it and take the conversation in a different direction. Let your residency program director know if you are concerned about questions asked during your interview. 

Know your interviewers : Many fellowships will give you the interview schedule ahead of time; make sure you read about the interviewers and their interests. If you know the program has a faculty member that might make a good mentor, make sure to contact the program well ahead of time to see if they can schedule an interview with that person. In addition to the division’s website, you can find useful information about interviewers on PubMed, LinkedIn, Doximity, Google, etc. This information will allow you to find some common points for discussion during the interview. 

Ask questions : You should have read the program’s website in detail before the interview. Reviewing the website of the medical school or the medical center might also be helpful. You may find information on a relevant grant or multidisciplinary initiative. Prepare honest questions to help get to the essence of the type of curriculum the program offers (including clinical experiences you would like to learn more about, research mentorship, or non-clinical training opportunities).

Interact with current fellows: They are on the front lines and can tell you more about call schedules, work hours, and other day-to-day questions than any of the faculty members. In addition, current fellows can give you the inside scoop on the program, the program director, and mentorship.

Send thank you notes: Sending a thank-you note (via email or snail mail) is not required and may not be reciprocated. If your post-interview feelings are genuine, you can choose to send a quick note to express your ongoing interest in the program and you can include specific points, but do not cut and paste a generic thank you note. If there are been major updates to your application, let the program know.

Post-interview communication: The official match policy is to discourage any communication from the program to the applicant after the day of the interview. Therefore, if you do not hear from the program, it does not necessarily indicate a lack of interest in you. However, fellowship programs are not prohibited from contacting you so you may get a call or an email, usually just to check if you have any additional questions. Programs cannot ask you how you are going to rank them. If you have concerns about a post-interview communication, discuss it with your residency program director who can help resolve the situation. 

Once you are done with the interview season, you will need to submit your rank list and wait for match day! Good luck!

Top 5 Fellowship Letter of Recommendation Templates for Your Application

If you’re applying for a fellowship program, then you’re probably already familiar with the process of gathering letters of recommendation. But, have you ever felt anxious about sending out a request to your mentor or supervisor to write you a glowing letter of recommendation? Here’s the good news: a fellowship letter of recommendation template exists, and it can help take the pressure off of you.

The beauty of a fellowship letter of recommendation template is that it provides a framework for those who are writing the letter, and also for those who are requesting it. If you’re requesting a letter of recommendation, you can use the template to give your mentor or supervisor guidance on what information you want them to include in the letter. On the other hand, if you’re writing a letter of recommendation, the template can serve as a starting point to ensure that you’re covering all the essential points.

Perhaps the best part about fellowship letter of recommendation templates is that there are plenty of them available online, and most are free to use. You can find templates that are tailored specifically to the fellowship program you’re applying for, or you can find more general templates that can be adapted to fit any program. Plus, most templates are easily editable, so you can make changes to suit your individual needs. So, if you’re looking for ways to make the fellowship application process less stressful, consider utilizing a fellowship letter of recommendation template to make things a little easier on yourself.

The Ultimate Fellowship Letter of Recommendation Template

So, you have been asked to write a letter of recommendation for someone applying for a fellowship. Congratulations on being trusted to play a vital role in someone’s academic career progression! Crafting a well-written letter of recommendation can be a challenging task, but with the right structure and approach, you can create a powerful letter that can make the difference between acceptance and rejection.

Firstly, it is essential to understand the purpose of the letter. A letter of recommendation is a formal document that assesses the applicant’s qualities, achievements, and potential as an academic candidate and highlights how they are deserving of the fellowship. Therefore, your letter must be organized and structured in a way that presents a cohesive, compelling argument.

The introduction is the first impression that your recommendation letter gives to the fellowship committee. You want to start by outlining how you know the applicant and how long you have known them. It is also vital to mention the applicant’s potential suitability for the particular fellowship program they are applying for. This can be achieved by mentioning their educational background, skills, work ethic, and relevant achievements that make them an ideal candidate.

Next, in the body of the letter, provide examples of how the applicant exhibits exceptional qualities and how they have shown leadership skills, creative and innovative thinking, or academic excellence in their previous academic endeavors. It is critical to use specific examples and anecdotes to show how the applicant stands out from their peers. Make sure to avoid generic language and instead focus on unique achievements that separate them from other applicants.

In addition to the applicant’s academic record and achievements, it is also helpful to include any relevant personal qualities that make them an exceptional candidate. Highlight how the applicant’s character and qualities align with the values and goals of the specific fellowship program they are applying for.

Finally, end your recommendation letter with a summary of the applicant’s strengths, achievements, and potential as a candidate. You can also provide your contact information to show that you are willing to answer any questions the fellowship committee may have about your recommendation or the applicant.

In conclusion, the structure for a fellowship letter of recommendation needs to be concise, formal, and persuasive. It should contain an introduction, body, and conclusion that provides a cohesive and compelling argument for why the applicant is deserving of the fellowship. By following these guidelines, you can write a compelling letter of recommendation and help secure the academic future of a deserving applicant.

Fellowship Letter of Recommendation Templates

Recommendation for academic fellowship.

Greetings Professor,

I am writing to highly recommend John Doe for an academic fellowship. John was a student in my political science class and consistently demonstrated outstanding academic performance. His knowledge and engagement with course material stood out among his peers.

Moreover, John’s intellectual curiosity and research skills make him an excellent candidate for an academic fellowship. As a student, John was always eager to delve into complex topics and to ask insightful questions. He has a keen ability to formulate and test hypotheses, which will serve him well in a research fellowship.

I am confident that John will thrive in a fellowship program and make important contributions to the academic field of political science. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you require any further information regarding John’s academic achievements and abilities.

Professor Jane Smith

Recommendation for Medical Fellowship

Dear Residency Director,

I am thrilled to recommend Samantha Brown for a medical fellowship program. Samantha completed her residency at our hospital and was one of the most impressive doctors I have worked with in my career. Her intelligence, compassion, and dedication to patient care are truly remarkable.

Samantha’s work ethic and clinical skills make her an ideal candidate for a medical fellowship program. She was a natural leader in our residency program, and I have no doubt that she will thrive and lead in a fellowship setting. She remains cool-headed under pressure, and her critical thinking skills allowed her to handle the most complex medical cases with ease.

I highly recommend Samantha for a medical fellowship program and believe that she will be an excellent addition to any medical team. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any further questions about Samantha’s abilities and potential.

Dr. John Doe

Recommendation for Teaching Fellowship

Dear Professor,

I am writing to recommend Mary Smith for a teaching fellowship program. Mary was a student in my literature class and showed exceptional promise as an educator. Her commitment to students and her ability to foster intellectual growth in her peers is a testament to her natural ability as an educator.

Mary is a thoughtful and dedicated teacher who exudes a passion for teaching and learning. Her ability to connect with students on a personal level and her ability to present complex information in an accessible way indicate that she would excel in a teaching fellowship program.

I am confident that Mary will be an excellent addition to any teaching team and that she will contribute greatly to any classroom settings she finds herself in. Please do not hesitate to reach out to me if you have any further questions about Mary’s abilities and potential.

Best regards,

Professor Jane Doe

Recommendation for Environmental Fellowship

Dear Conservation Director,

I am delighted to write this letter of recommendation for Michael Johnson for an environmental fellowship program. As a colleague at the grassroots environmental organization “Clear Water”, Michael has shown a remarkable passion and dedication to environmental conservation.

Michael is an enthusiastic and well-informed environmentalist who has worked tirelessly on various projects at “Clear Water”. His expertise in environmental policy, natural resource conservation, and public outreach has been invaluable for our organization. His ability to engage and inspire others has made him a natural leader in environmental activism.

Michael has an unshakeable commitment to preserving the natural beauty and resources of our planet. I am confident that he will continue to make significant contributions to the field of environmental conservation, and I highly recommend him for any environmental fellowship program.

Recommendation for Business Fellowship

Dear Business School Director,

I am pleased to recommend Robert Lee for a business fellowship program. Robert is a former student of mine and has proven himself to be a leader in the business community. His intelligence, work ethic, and vision make him a standout candidate for any business fellowship program.

As a student, Robert demonstrated his abilities to analyze complex business problems and develop innovative solutions. He was always willing to take on new challenges and pushed himself to excel beyond expectations. His skills in strategic planning, finance, and entrepreneurship will be an asset to any business fellowship program.

I wholeheartedly recommend Robert for any business fellowship program and look forward to seeing him continue his impressive career in business.

Professor John Doe

Recommendation for International Fellowship

Dear International Exchange Coordinator,

I am honored to recommend Sarah Thompson for an international fellowship program. As a fellow student of hers in international relations course, I have witnessed her exceptional intellectual abilities and cultural sensitivity. Sarah’s genuine interest and passion for other countries and cultures have always been impressive for me.

Her academic achievements and language skills make her an ideal candidate for any international fellowship program. She has studied extensively on the cultural nuances of the countries she aims to learn more about, and her proficiency in local languages is exemplary. Sarah has a remarkable ability to adapt to new cultures and navigate complex political landscapes.

I am confident Sarah will make a significant contribution to any international fellowship program, and I strongly recommend her for the position. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any further questions about Sarah.

Kayla Brown

Tips for Writing a Fellowship Letter of Recommendation Template

Letters of recommendation are an essential aspect of any fellowship application process. They serve as an endorsement of the applicant’s character, accomplishments, and potential, providing additional insight into the applicant’s strengths, weaknesses, and qualifications. Below are some tips on how to write a compelling fellowship letter of recommendation template:

• Personalize the letter: A generic form letter is less effective than one that is tailored to the applicant’s interests, achievements, and character. Take the time to get to know the applicant and their goals, and highlight specific examples of their abilities and accomplishments.
• Highlight relevant experience: If the fellowship requires specific skills or knowledge, highlight the applicant’s relevant experience and how it makes them an excellent candidate for the position. Make it clear why you believe that the applicant is the best fit for the position.
• Be specific: Use concrete examples to illustrate the applicant’s achievements and strengths. Don’t simply state that the applicant is “smart” or “hardworking.” Instead, provide specific examples of how the applicant has demonstrated these qualities in the past, such as a time they took on a challenging project successfully or led a team to overcome a difficult obstacle.
• Be honest: If there are areas where the applicant could improve, address them candidly. However, also provide suggestions for how the applicant could work on these weaknesses, be constructive and offer some guidance on what the candidate can do to improve their area of weakness.
• Focus on potential: The goal of a fellowship is to support applicants in reaching their full potential. Highlight the applicant’s potential for growth and future achievements, and explain how the fellowship represents an opportunity for them to achieve their goals successfully.

In conclusion, a well-written fellowship letter of recommendation template can significantly increase an applicant’s chances of success. By highlighting the applicant’s relevant experience, personalizing the letter, being specific, honest, and focusing on potential, you can create an effective recommendation letter that sets the applicant apart from the rest of the competition. Good luck!

Until Next Time: Keep the Good Vibes Going

Thanks for sticking around for my thoughts on the fellowship letter of recommendation template! I hope this article has helped you put together your own letter with greater confidence. Remember: it’s all about highlighting what makes your candidate exceptional. So, put your best foot forward and let their achievements, character, and potential shine. Now, go out there and crush it! And don’t forget to come back soon for more tips and insights on all things related to writing. Peace out!

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Recommendation Letters

Recommendation letters are a critical element of every application. They validate the claims you've made as an applicant, providing specific examples and details of your academic accomplishments, personal endeavors, and character. Selection committees rely on them to impartially evaluate your performance and potential to be successful in the opportunity you are pursuing. Good letter-writers are those who know you well enough to provide these assessments with enthusiasm and authenticity.

Academic letters are typically written by faculty, lecturers, or faculty research advisors who have overseen your work in courses, research settings, or other academic contexts. These letters generally address how you performed, your potential for future success in the field, and any other attributes that make you qualified for the particular award. Post-doctoral associates/fellows and graduate students may also have insight into your performance if they've worked with you in a course or project. However, depending on the fellowship or research opportunity, they do not usually make suitable academic letter-writers. It is important that you check the criteria of the award and/or check-in with administrators who manage the award to see whether letters from non-faculty members would be appropriate for that opportunity.

Some students, especially those in their early college years, have not yet had the opportunity to directly interact with faculty – perhaps you have had more direct interaction with Teaching Fellows ("TFs"). In these cases, you might consider asking the faculty course leader or head of a research group to work together with your TF to generate a co-signed letter. Keep in mind, though, that coordinating co-signed letters takes more time than usual, so plan ahead. Peers (other college students or recent alumni in student organizations), on the other hand,  are not suitable letter writers. If you're applying for a non-academic opportunity, or one that is specifically interested in learning about the applicant's personal attributes (character, leadership potential, commitment to service, etc.), then you might consider asking for a letter of recommendation from a College staff member or organization supervisor, coach, faculty who may be familiar with your work outside of the classroom, work supervisor, or Resident Dean or other House staff.

Letters from high school teachers or your high school years: Soliciting letters from high school teachers is not usually acceptable for fellowship and research opportunities at the college level. However, there are some exceptions to this rule. If you've engaged in research as a high school student and are applying to a competitive research fellowship that funds independent study (e.g. Herchel Smith Harvard Summer Science Fellowship ) as a first-year student, it may be acceptable to provide a letter from that experience, but only if the writer can provide strong evidence that you are qualified to pursue an independent research project.

Navigating Recommendations

Letters of recommendation are a critical part of academic and professional development. If you need a letter from a faculty member, research advisor, or other Harvard community member, do not be afraid to ask if they'd be willing to provide you a strong recommendation letter (even if the deadline is still years away, for instance, a medical school/graduate school application).

Help them help you.

• Ask for recommendation letters in advance of the deadline—at least 3-4 weeks' notice is typical. Usually, letters of recommendation are due at the  same time as your own materials! Please take note of this.
• Remind the recommender how they know you, if they have not heard from you in a while. If being in their course was significant to your development or trajectory, let them know! You might also consider re-sending a copy of a paper or project you wrote for their class, to remind them of your good work.
• Give your recommenders specific instructions – this includes how, where, and when to submit the recommendation letter and any guidance from the selection committee on specific topics recommenders should be addressing. If you'd like the recommender to highlight events, skills, or experiences that speak to your qualifications for the opportunity, tell them so. Invite their questions about your materials and the application process, and check-in with them frequently as the deadline approaches.
• Don’t be afraid to ask for multiple letters. Recommenders who have agreed to support your application for one opportunity may also be willing to recommend you for another. If you are considering asking for multiple letters, you'll need to provide specific information about each opportunity, so that your recommender knows how to tailor their letter to best complement your application. (Remember, give plenty of notice—just because they have written for you before doesn't mean they can write a new letter overnight!) Check in frequently to see if they have any questions or concerns or need more information from you.

Give thanks and provide updates.

Regardless of the outcome of your application, be sure that you let your recommenders know you appreciate the effort and time they put toward the recommendation and update them on the outcome of your joint efforts. Even after the experience is long over, do your best to check-in with those recommenders; keeping them engaged with your trajectory is the best way to keep them engaged as your advocate and mentor.

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How To Write a Fellowship Letter of Recommendation in 6 Steps

A letter of recommendation for a fellowship can be a powerful tool in helping students become competitive applicants for highly sought after awards. It helps to provide an objective assessment of the applicant’s qualifications and background and can be an important factor in the selection process. When writing a letter of recommendation for a fellowship, it is important to keep in mind the purpose and goals of the fellowship for which the applicant is applying. Demonstrating an understanding of the program and the applicant’s potential to excel in it can help to make a compelling case for their candidacy. When crafting a letter of recommendation, one should include information on the applicant’s academic background, work experience, and relevant accomplishments. In addition, it is also important to provide a candid assessment of the applicant’s character and ability to contribute to the fellowship program. Finally, your letter should be written in a professional and respectful tone, while making sure to highlight the applicant’s unique talents and skills.

What to include in a fellowship recommendation letter

If you’re writing a letter of recommendation for someone who is applying for a fellowship, take into account the following points:

Specific examples

It’s crucial to provide specific examples of the applicant’s or student’s accomplishments. This demonstrates your knowledge of their skills and abilities. Additionally, it demonstrates to the admissions committee that you are speaking truthfully when discussing the applicant. The applicant’s qualifications are better explained with specific examples, which can strengthen the letter and increase their chances of admission.

Purpose of the program

An explanation of how the student fits the program’s goals should also be included in the letter of recommendation. For instance, if submitting a research project proposal is a requirement of the fellowship program, you should discuss why you believe the proposed study will be worthwhile. Strengthening the recommendation letter by offering more assistance with the student’s research or course of study

Impact on the applicant

A description of how the fellowship might benefit the applicant is another thing you could put in. This section might discuss how a fellowship could help an applicant achieve their academic and professional objectives. Include a description of your thoughts in this section if you think the fellowship would help the applicant personally.

Positively framed weaknesses

Try to frame any of the applicants’ flaws you point out in the letter in a positive light. Instead of saying that the applicant struggled to properly cite sources in research papers, you could say that they showed a commitment to enhancing their citation styles. Explaining shortcomings in a constructive manner can show the admissions committee that the applicant wants to keep developing their knowledge and skills.

Accurate details

It’s crucial to be as accurate as possible when adding specifics to the letter’s body. Instead of overstating a student’s abilities, try to back up your assertions with facts or figures. For instance, you might mention that the applicant completed their program in the top 10% of their class rather than merely stating that they were good students. By including a statistic, you can improve the accuracy of the information and give the admissions committee a better idea of the applicant’s range of skills.

Why is it important to write a letter of recommendation for a fellowship?

When submitting an application for a fellowship, a letter of recommendation is crucial because it enables the applicant to set themselves apart from other candidates. A fellowship is a program that broadens education through study, research, or an internship. Fellowships typically include a financial grant, stipend, or other compensation to help the fellow with program expenses. Given the fierce competition for many fellowship programs, a letter of recommendation can strengthen an application.

How to write a letter of recommendation for a fellowship

Consider taking the following actions if someone asks you to write a letter of recommendation for a fellowship program:

1. Converse with the applicant

Try to speak with the applicant for a while before you start writing. Ask them about the fellowship, the program, their research proposal, and any other topics that might help you write a stronger letter during this conversation. This knowledge will help you decide what kind of material to put in the letter’s body.

2. Address the letter to the appropriate recipient

It’s crucial to make sure you’ve addressed the letter to the correct recipient at the top. Sometimes, the fellowship program is overseen by a single person, and other times, an entire committee evaluates applicants. It’s best to either mention a specific person or address the committee as a whole. This shows that you are aware of the application process and have made an effort to comprehend the particular fellowship program.

3. Write an introduction

You can mention your relationship with the student in the letter’s opening paragraph. This could include your relationship with the applicant, how long you’ve known them, and your impressions of them overall. The admissions committee will better understand your qualifications to represent the applicant after reading your introduction. Additionally, it gives you a chance to highlight your own academic and professional accomplishments. A thorough opening can lay a solid groundwork for the remainder of the recommendation letter.

4. Write body paragraphs

There are one or two body paragraphs you can write following the introduction. Recommendation letters are ordinarily one to one and a half pages long. Employers may see from a longer letter that you have a lot of positive things to say about the applicant. The body paragraphs of the letter may describe the applicant’s prior work, discuss why you believe they would be a good fit for the fellowship program, or discuss the qualities of their character that would make them a strong student. The body paragraphs contain the bulk of your recommendation.

5. Write a conclusion

Try to conclude your letter by summarizing it after the body paragraphs. The main points of the letter are reemphasized in this paragraph, which also summarizes the key information. You could say in your conclusion that the admissions team can get in touch with you if they have any additional questions. This demonstrates your willingness to speak on behalf of the applicant in addition to the recommendation letter’s contents. The letter is more effective overall when it has a solid conclusion.

6. Proofread

Before mailing the letter, its important to proofread thoroughly. You can use proofreading to make sure you wrote the details clearly and included all the necessary information. If you frequently write letters of recommendation for students, proofreading can assist you in staying organized as you work. You can verify with the applicant at this time the recipient’s name, the mailing address for the letter, and the title of the fellowship program.

A sample recommendation letter for a fellowship application is provided below:

Dear [ admissions counselors name ] ,

Introduction:

Im writing this letter on behalf of [applicants name]. Theyre applying for admission to [name of fellowship program]. I had a working relationship with the applicant for [period of time] and was [type of relationship with applicant]. I was able to learn more about the applicant’s ability to work under pressure, conduct research, and dedication to getting things done during this time. I highly recommend [applicant] for this fellowship program.

Body paragraph:

This applicant has demonstrated their abilities in a number of situations, including [description of situation]. They also demonstrated the following skills [list a few pertinent skills or abilities] The applicant has proven their suitability, and I think they possess the necessary abilities to make a valuable contribution to this fellowship.

Conclusion:

In conclusion, I think [applicants name] is a fantastic choice for [fellowship name] because of their all-encompassing skills and credentials. I would be happy to have a phone conversation with you about the applicant if you have any additional questions.

[ Your name ]

Heres an example of a fellowship letter of recommendation:

January 5, 2022

Dear Political Science Fellowship Committee,

Harrison Rodriguez, who is applying for a position in your Political Theory Fellowship Program, has asked me to write on his behalf. My name is Dr. Jones, and Ive had the pleasure of supervising Mr. Rodriguez through his postgraduate research efforts. He has made significant contributions to numerous political theory research projects, so I think he qualifies for this fellowship.

Mr. Rodriguez is a committed student with a strong passion for comprehending how political theory affects how society functions. By compiling survey data and conducting various tests, he contributed to a study on voting patterns and socioeconomic status. Mr. If Rodriguez is awarded this fellowship, I believe the academic community would greatly benefit from the way his research would address important issues in politics and contemporary society.

In conclusion, I think Mr. Rodriguez is a driven and enthusiastic student who enhances any project in which he is involved. I sincerely recommend him for this fellowship, please take that into consideration. Please reach out if you have any questions.

Dr. Jones, Ph.D.

Writing Recommendation Letters for Fellowship Applicants

Who should I ask for a letter of recommendation for fellowship?

People who know you well enough to vouch for you in your application should write you letters of recommendation. It won’t help your application if a Nobel laureate who doesn’t know you recommends you.

How long should a fellowship recommendation letter be?

The letter should provide comprehensive but detailed information on observed performance in no more than two pages. Comments should be as succinct as possible. To ensure maximum availability to fellowship program directors, the letters must be finished by July 1.

Do you need a letter of recommendation for fellowship?

Most fellowships require at least one letter from a professor who specializes in the area you are applying for. Make sure you have at least one rotation during the course of the year that will give you time with a subspecialty faculty member who can serve as your letter of recommendation writer.

What is a fellowship letter?

SHARE. Individuals in a variety of fields who have attained a certain level of education and training and wish to begin a program of further studies in a specific specialty are intended for fellowship recommendation letters.

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• Advising and Letters of Recommendation

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The fellowship application process is of great educational value and can provide opportunities for personal and professional growth. Advisors play a key role in helping students through the fellowship journey.

Thank you for supporting your students and the larger fellowship process within Yale College.

Advising Students on Fellowships

Note: This recorded webinar offers faculty and staff an overview of Office of Fellowships, available fellowship competitions, and the many resources we provide to students seeking funding for research, study, independent projects, internships, and more.

How you can make a difference

A trusted mentor can help a student craft a strong, competative fellowship project by providing guidance with the student's unique interests and goals in mind.

Fellowships for research or graduate school

Students applying for research opportunities and graduate school programs would greatly benefit from the guidance of a menotr with expertise in their field of study. By sharing their experience and insight, mentors are able to help students craft competative applications and plan for their futures.

When advising students pursuing research and graduate school opportunities, consider both the practical and long-term aspects of the experience. Practical considerations include methodology, skills, and the general structure of the proposed project. Long-term considerations relate to the student's academic and professional goals.

The fellowships process at Yale 

The Fellowships and Funding Office supports students applying to Yale fellowships as well as external funding opportunities. Funding is available for a wide range of activities. Each fellowship application has its own requirements and timeline.  

The Yale Student Grants Database is a searcheable database of all internal (Yale) and select external (non-Yale) fellowship opportunities. It is the best place for students to begin their fellowship search.

Certain external competitions require a University nomination and are therefore overseen by the Fellowships and Funding Office. These include prominent programs such as Rhodes, Marshall, Goldwater, and Fulbright. A curated list is available here .

Note: We're here to support the work you do. Fellowship Programs offers information sessions, workshops, individual advising appointments, and other resources for students interested in applying for fellowships.

Writing Letters of Recommendation

• Concrete examples of stand-out work.
• Merits of the proposed project in relation to the opportunity and the field as a whole.
• Positive impact the fellowship would have on the student's short- or long-term goals and overall educational and professional trajectory.
• Contextual support for the student's ability. Quantitative remarks and percentages may be useful, such as, "Top 5% of students in my 20 years of teaching."
• Draw on the remarks of colleagues for supporting evidence or the acknowledgement of specific strengths. Letters from professors may also draw on comments from teaching assistants who may have worked more closely with the applicant.
• Ask the student requesting the letter of recommendation to send you a current resume and relevant application materials. Have a conversation with the student about what to highlight. Understanding of the student's motivation and what they hope to achieve will be helpful as you craft your recommendation. 
• Be aware of bias in letter writing.*
• Be honest with yourself. Consider whether you can dedicate the time and energy to writing a detailed letter. If not, say no (see below.)

* Avoiding Racial Bias in Letter of Reference Writing

* Avoiding Gender Bias in Letter of Reference Writing

Tip: Think about how your letter of recommendation might help shape an interview with the fellowship committee.

On the whole, the following are not helpful: 

• Letters that consist largely of unsupported praise and fail to provide specific examples of points mentioned or generic letters sent without regard to the specific fellowship, course of study, or project proposed.
• Letters that may be read as implying criticism (beware of backhanded compliments) or whose criticisms might be taken to indicate stronger reservations than stated. Letters should be honest - and honest criticism, if generously presented, can enhance the force of a letter - but committees take critical comments very seriously.

When to Say "No"

There may be times when declining to write a letter is the best thing to do, such as:

• If the student asks too close to the deadline or approaches you in a highly unprofessional manner. We advise students to ask for letters no less than three weeks in advance of a deadline.
• If you feel that you cannot be emphatically positive in support of a student.
• If you do not have a clear recollection of the student.
• If you do not have the time to write a good letter or if you think that you are not the best person to write a letter. 

Tip: You can help the student to consider alternative letter writers, but agreeing to write for a student whom you cannot strongly support does not help.

Other Considerations

• If you are called upon to write letters for two or more applicants for the same fellowship, beware of using too much of the same language in each, especially if they will be read by the same committee. If you have questions about whether your students are applying through the same region for external fellowships, please contact Fellowship Programs ( [email protected] or 203-432-8685).
• Although we encourage students to provide their recommenders with helpful, detailed information, it is not ethical to request that students provide drafts of their own letters. Faculty should also beware of leaning too heavily on material provided by students, since students give much the same information to each recommender and following this too closely can lead to letters that sound too similar.
• If you have written a letter in collaboration with another faculty member, be mindful about how you and your colleague use subsequent versions of that letter. We want to avoid situations in which a student is represented by different letters with largely identical language from two different faculty members.

(Some of the items above are responses to an informal survey of Truman Scholarship selection panel members. With thanks to Mary Tolar, former Deputy Secretary of the Truman Scholarship Foundation.)

Note: Lost your copy of a letter you wrote? If it was submitted through our office and we still have it on file, we'll gladly send it to you upon your request.

Related resources

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• Marshall, Mitchell, Rhodes (MMR) Resources

Faculty & Staff

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• Fellowship Administrators

Asking for Letters of Recommendation

Each scholarship or fellowship application has different parameters for the required letters of recommendation. Before requesting a recommendation from a faculty member, familiarize yourself with these parameters and read the guidelines below.

Choosing a Recommender

To ensure strong recommendations, it's important to pick recommenders who really know you and your work. You could seek recommendations from faculty from whom you have taken multiple courses, faculty who have advised you on a project, etc. Make sure these are people who know you, remember your work, and can describe your contributions in concrete ways!

Pay close attention to the scholarship's requirements and suggestions for recommendations.  Some scholarships ask for a faculty reference from within your discipline; some require information from a recommender who has worked with you in a specific capacity (research, service project, etc.); some may require assessments from experts who can speak to your language skills.

In most cases your recommenders should be faculty members, though sometimes staff members or individuals who have supervised you or worked with you in professional or volunteer settings may provide strong references.  Friends or family members are not appropriate recommenders.

If you’re early in your academic career, start cultivating connections with faculty now. Go to office hours to discuss material. Attend lectures and participate in optional departmental events. Get involved in research or creative work in your field. A professor who knows you will not only want to help you but will be able to write you a better letter. Read more about how to work and collaborate with faculty here .

Have at least one or two back-up recommenders in mind. Your referees are under no obligation to write you a letter, and you need to make sure you have options in the event that someone is unable to write a recommendation.

Requesting a Recommendation

You might feel anxious or uncertain about asking for a letter of recommendation, but remember that fielding these kinds of requests from students is likely a part of your recommender’s normal job.  You are not strange or pushy for asking.

Ask for the letter of recommendation at least six weeks in advance of the deadline . You want your recommender to have time to craft a glowing letter. Requesting a professor’s help too close to the deadline does not reflect well on your character, judgement, or professionalism. Although some professors are generous about these protocols, remember that your recommenders are doing you a favor, often at a considerable expense of time and energy. You want to make sure that you seem like someone they would like to take the time and effort to help.

When requesting a recommendation over email, write a more formal request, even if your normal interactions with the professor are very casual. If asking in person, dress nicely. It is not necessary to dress as if you are going to a job interview, but wear presentable clothing. Don't put your professor on the spot by making your request right before or after class; instead, attend office hours or make an appointment.

Make your request specific, and be clear about the reasons you think the recommender can write you a compelling letter. For example:

- “Your course on ____ really helped me solidify my research interests.” - “Your advising has led me to develop my interest in ______.” - “I was really grateful for the opportunity to work with you on ____.” - “I remember our conversation about ____.”

Always make sure you give your referee an “out” -- a way to gracefully turn down your request if they are unable to write a recommendation. Present the recommendation as something that would help you as you progress, rather than something that could make or break your future career. We suggest using the follow phrasing:

Do you feel that you are able to provide a good letter of recommendation for me for this scholarship?

If a Recommender Agrees

Thank your recommender promptly and provide all the relevant information and details about the application process, including the specific type of fellowship, scholarship or program to which you are applying (for example: if you are applying for a Marshall, include the specific degree, department and university); links to relevant parts of the scholarship website (not just the main page); and contact information for CFSA. If you need to register the recommender on the scholarship website, do so.  Make sure your recommender knows how recommendations will be delivered and processed. Confirm that your referee knows the scholarship's deadlines (both official and internal Syracuse University deadlines, if applicable). We recommend providing your recommender with a filled out Student Recommendation Request Form that includes the above information.

Provide your CV or resume, your transcript, and any application materials you’re preparing. It is okay to share your application essay drafts! If your application materials are at draft stage, make sure your recommender knows that. Offer to meet in person or chat over the phone. Provide any other material you think may be relevant and could help your referee write a strong recommendation.

Always consider signing the waiver of the right to read your letters. Some students do not waive their rights to read letters and the letters written for them, no matter how glowing, are often heavily discounted by readers.  Some recommenders will not write for students who do not waive their rights to read letters.

Remember to send your recommender a thank you note or email after the letter has been submitted, and be sure to follow up to let them know the results of your application (whether or not you win the scholarship).

If a Recommender Cannot Write You a Letter

Turning down your request for a letter of recommendation is rarely a rejection of you or your work. There are many different reasons a faculty member may say no: they may be very busy and unable to find the time to give your letter the time it requires; they may feel they do not know you or your work very well; they may have another deadline around the same time that would prevent them from completing your letter; they may not feel qualified to write a recommendation for the particular fellowship or program to which you are applying.

Sometimes a "no" from a recommender you have approached can actually be a good thing. You need the strongest letters possible, and a recommendation from a faculty member who is unable to take the time to write an excellent letter, or who does not know you very well, is unlikely to help you.

Make sure you respond graciously and gratefully. A faculty member turning you down now may be happy and willing to recommend you in the future.

Three Syracuse University Students Named 2024 Tillman Scholars

Angelina lim ’25 named a 2024 beinecke scholar, julia fancher named a 2024-25 astronaut scholar, two students selected for prestigious fulbright uk summer institutes, record number receive awards through fulbright u.s. student program.

• Next »

• Letters of Recommendation
• What are Fellowships?
• Fellowships Directory
• Timeline for Fellowship Applicants
• Identifying UK Graduate Programs & Funding

Recommendation Information for Referees

• Additional Resources for US and International Students
• Resources for Graduate Students
• Applicant Responsibilities and Penn Policies
• Practice Interviews
• Past Penn Recipients

Instructions for Applicants

Selecting appropriate referees is among the most important aspects of any application. Failure to adhere to the guidelines of a specific fellowship will disqualify you from consideration for that fellowship.

When fellowships require faculty referees, at least some of your referees should be Standing Faculty (Professor, Associate Professor, or Assistant Professor).  Lecturers and Adjunct Faculty can be valuable referees, but Standing Faculty can add particular weight and support for your application.  That said, it is inadvisable to solicit letters from Standing Faculty who do not know you well enough to comment in detail on your academic performance and intellectual abilities, so choose wisely.

In any case, the most important question you should ask any potential referee ( in person , if possible) is:

"Can you write a  strong  recommendation letter  for me  for  this fellowship  by  this deadline ?"

If you receive anything less than an affirmative response to each aspect of this important question, then you should probably ask someone else to write on your behalf.

In your initial request it is important for recommenders to understand how studying or working with them has been important to your academic and/or professional development. It is always wise to thank them for their mentorship and to note how their guidance and inspiration has been important in your development. Asking faculty and other mentors with whom you have not studied or worked recently is quite common (and often necessary). In this case, it is particularly important to remind them of a paper or project you completed under their guidance, the project's findings or impacts, and in some cases the other individuals with whom you collaborated (e.g., post-docs, other organizations, etc.).

After your recommenders agree to write for you and you are about to generate an online recommendation request, you should provide your recommenders with a concise email that includes all of the following:

• your reason(s) for doing the program(s), with specifics about what you hope to study, and who you wish to study with and why
• an explanation of your long-term goals, how the program fits into them, and why the program will be helpful to you
• a discussion about how your academic coursework, research, and other relevant activities have qualified you for this program
• an up-to-date CV or resume

Keep in mind that faculty and other recommenders are extremely busy, especially during the summer when faculty are focused on their research and all recommenders are trying to squeeze in vacation time.  NOTE:  Penn online recommendation requests for Rhodes, Marshall, and Mitchell applicants should be submitted to faculty recommenders  no later than June 30  (over one year before you intend to commence graduate study).

Applicants are responsible for providing referees with as much information as possible about themselves, their goals, and the fellowship(s) for which they are applying at least six weeks before the date their letter is due to CURF (or to the fellowship, if there is no CURF deadline), including:

• a resume or CV
• to whom each letter should be addressed
• materials (such as academic papers) the applicant previously submitted to the referee
• Most importantly,  the applicant must inform the referee  of the submission deadline(s) !

Since each referee will serve a specific purpose in your application, you should help each referee understand the role s/he is being asked to play by emphasizing what aspect of your abilities you hope they can speak to in their letter. While it is extremely helpful for referees to receive a copy of your resume, you need them to write about specific instances in which they saw you working effectively.  It can be very helpful to a referee, for example, to know why you are asking them to write on your behalf by reminding them of a project or situation in which you excelled during their class, internship, or workplace, and how your work exemplifies one or more of the qualities the fellowship seeks.

See below for details specific to each fellowship . Please consult CURF advisors for questions on other fellowship recommendations or questions not addressed here.

Multiple applications

It is common for applicants to apply for multiple fellowships simultaneously, and it often makes sense to have the same referee write letters for all applications. For the prestigious fellowships CURF supports, a standard or generic letter – especially handled through a credentials service – makes a poor impression and is often logistically impossible. Instead, the referees can write one basic letter for an applicant applying to similar programs and produce one variant for each application – taking special care to refer correctly in each letter to the specific school and degree program and the specific fellowship. If the applicant is applying for dissimilar programs, the letters might vary slightly – but the essential points of the recommendation will remain much the same.

Applicants register referees with online application sites that will send an automated notice to the referees allowing them to log in and upload their letters. In some cases, these automated notices get caught in spam filters; applicants should remind referees to check their spam or junk mail folders. Many online application forms also include a space to list referees’ information; applicants should not confuse this with the actual referee registration process.

Applicants will need to register referees with each application they are requesting a recommendation for, and referees will need to upload/submit one letter for each application.  There is no mechanism to submit one letter to multiple application sites.

Academic vs non-academic

An “academic” letter of recommendation comes from someone who has supervised the applicant in coursework or research (ideally in a graded setting). All other letters are “personal” and do not need to be academic (but can be). All letters should come from someone who has supervised your work of some sort, whether academic, paid, unpaid, or community service. While mentors and informal advisors can be crucial in helping applicants think through their goals and plan accordingly, letters from these individuals often do not carry as much weight as letters from individuals who have worked closely with or supervised an applicant on a specific project(s).

Applicants must provide the exact number and type of recommendations required. Additional letters are not permitted, except in rare cases in which the number of recommendations is flexible.

Please see the Recommendation Information for Referees page to learn more about how to best support students who have asked you to write a letter of recommendation.

For information about specific recommendation letter requirements for specific fellowships, please visit that fellowship's page in the Fellowships Directory. Please consult CURF advisors for questions on other fellowship recommendations or questions not addressed here.

How to Write a Letter of Recommendation [With Tips & Template]

Every now and then, applying for a position will require that you also submit a letter of recommendation. 

Or, maybe, a coworker will ask you to write a recommendation letter for their new job application.

If you're not certain how to go about it, don't worry - nothing about recommendation letters needs to be complicated. Especially once you learn the nitty-gritty of the topic. 

This is exactly what this article is here to teach you!

What is a Recommendation Letter?

What should a letter of recommendation include.

• How to Write a Letter of Recommendation

3 Types of Recommendation Letters

• How to Ask For a Recommendation Letter
• Recommendation Letter Template

A letter of recommendation is a formal document confirming and recommending a person’s work, skills, or academic performance and potential. 

Typically, a recommendation letter is required for: 

• University admissions
• Fellowships or internship positions
• Job applications
• Volunteering opportunities

You should ideally write a recommendation for someone whose abilities and work ethic you are familiar with - for example, a colleague, student you taught, your employee, or someone you supervised at work.

Similarly, if you’re the one asking for a recommendation letter, you should ask someone who can attest to your professional or academic abilities. 

The types of recommendation letters are:

• Academic recommendation letters.
• Employment recommendation letters.
• Character recommendation letters.

Here’s what each type of recommendation letter is about:

#1. Academic Recommendation Letters

Academic recommendation letters are typically required to be submitted by students during the admission processes of graduate and undergraduate schools. 

Generally, each prospective student is requested to submit up to three references, which can be written by any education professional familiar with the candidate’s academic background. 

Academic reference letters include:

• Recommendation letter for undergraduate/graduate school
• Recommendation letter for a scholarship
• Recommendation letter for a fellowship program

#2. Employment recommendation letters 

This type makes up the most popular type of recommendation letter.

Sometimes, employers can ask you to submit up to 3 recommendation letters as part of your job application.

More often, though, a recruiter might ask you for recommendation letters if they already like your resume and want to learn more about you. 

Employment recommendation letters are written by former - or current - coworkers, employers, or supervisors.

If you can choose, pick someone with more years of experience than you. After all, the more senior they are, the more weight their recommendation carries.

Employment recommendations include: 

• Recommendation letter for a coworker
• Recommendation letter for a (former) employee

#3. Character recommendation letters

Character recommendation letters, also known as personal references, are used to describe an individual’s personality by someone who knows them well, including close friends, coworkers, or employers. 

Personal references serve many purposes, the primary ones being court cases dealing with criminal issues such as drunk driving offenses, or legal situations such as child adoption procedures. 

It is not uncommon, however, to have a potential landlord or even immigration officials ask for a personal reference. 

Personal references include: 

• Recommendation letter for a friend
• Recommendation letter for a tenant
• Recommendation letter for a patient

Recommendation letters follow a particular format and layout that make writing them significantly easier. 

In this section, we’ll cover how to do each the right way, starting with:

Letter of Recommendation Format

A letter of recommendation includes the following sections: 

• The salutation ; if you are addressing someone whose name you know or writing a personal recommendation letter, the salutation can be addressed to “Dear Mr./Mrs./Dr. Smith.” Otherwise, you may use the generic “to whom it may concern.”
• The introduction , which first and foremost includes your statement of recommendation (i.e. “ it is my pleasure to recommend… ”). It is common to also briefly state who you are and what your expertise is.
• The overview, or a description of the applicant’s top skills, attributes, and strengths.
• A personal story describing more of the applicant’s skills and qualifications.
• The closing statement , or the final call for action, is where you encourage the recruiter to contact you if additional information is needed.
• The signature , where you repeat your name and include your full contact information.

Letter of Recommendation Layout 

When it comes to the layout of the recommendation letter, all you need to do is follow some basic formatting rules. Here are the most important ones: 

#1. One page length. This rule applies to resumes too, but it’s even more essential for the recommendation letter. Recruiters go through hundreds of them, so chances are they appreciate concise, to-the-point letters that don’t waste their time. And besides, a good recommendation letter doesn’t have to be an essay to get the recruiter ‘hooked’ - especially if you follow the above format. 

#2. Single-spaced lining, with space between paragraphs . This also keeps your reference letter within the limit by shortening the text. 

#3. Traditional font. Don’t go for something too creative - pick a classic that works. We recommend Times New Roman, Calibri, Arial, Ubuntu, Roboto or Overpass.

#4. 1” margins on all sides . This creates enough white space around the margins and makes the letter easy to read. Additionally, the text should be aligned to the left - although this is a standard alignment for most documents.    

#5. 10-12pt font size . This is the font size range that makes the document easy to read. Adjusting the font size is another good way to keep your recommendation letter within the length limit.

Recommendation letters usually follow similar layout rules as resumes. Learn more about font size and style from our article on the best resume font, size, and format . 

Recommendation Letter Template 

Struggling to write a recommendation letter? 

Just follow our tried-and-tested template! 

To whom it may concern: 

[Recommend the referee for the position they are applying for.]

[Briefly introduce yourself and state your position/ job title , as well as your work experience .]

[Tell how you know the referee and describe their top skills, qualifications, and strengths.]

[Share a personal story with the referee where you highlight their strong points and key achievements .]

[Add a few more of the applicant’s skills and positive traits, preferably fitting the job description.]

[Show your availability to provide additional information for the referee if needed.]

Best Regards

[Your full signature and contact information]

How to Ask for a Recommendation Letter 

Need to ask someone for a recommendation letter? Here’s what you need to know.

The go-to person for your recommendation letter will depend on the type of reference you’ll need. 

For example, if you need an employment recommendation letter , your top choices should involve people who are familiar with your work ethic and professional abilities, but with whom you’ve also had a positive professional relationship. For example:

• Your team lead
• Department head
• CEO of the company
• Direct manager
• A coworker you’ve worked with together on a project

If you are a recent graduate with little work experience, you can ask a mentor or college professor to write you a professional reference. 

In case you need an academic recommendation letter , consider asking a professor with whom you’ve worked closely and can positively attest to your academic potential and achievements.

Your thesis advisor, for example, would make a good choice to ask for an academic reference. If you never wrote a Bachelor’s or Master’s thesis, any professor who knows you as more than just a face in a sea of students should do the trick. 

Finally, keep the following in mind when the time comes to ask for a recommendation letter: 

• Whoever you end up asking, talk to them about it in advance . Then, follow up with a formal email that should contain all reference-related information, such as the submission details and deadline. The email can also include a description of what you’re currently doing (professionally, academically, or independently), what qualifies you for the position, and some relevant skills, achievements, or noteworthy facts.
• If you’re asking for a professional recommendation letter, make sure to also include your resume and the job description in the follow-up email. This way, the person writing the letter will know more about you and your new position and will be able to write a more relevant recommendation by tailoring your skills to the job, or by mentioning some of your (relevant) achievements.
• Notify the contacts you’ll be asking - considering that in most cases recruiters ask for up to three recommendation letters - at least two weeks in advance. This will give them enough time to prepare and write a good recommendation letter. This is especially important for academic references because professors are usually writing several recommendation letters simultaneously.
• Consider attaching a recommendation letter template such as the one provided in this article to your email. The template will considerably ease or guide them through the process of writing the letter.
• Follow up by sending thank you notes to everyone who writes you a recommendation letter. Sending a letter of appreciation is a courtesy act that will let them know you are grateful for the time and effort they took to recommend you positively.

If you’re also looking to update your resume or create one, head over to our guide on how to write a resume in 2024 !

5 Tips on How to Write a Letter of Recommendation

There’s more to writing a recommendation letter than just following the layout instructions or sticking to the format.

We’re referring to content quality, which happens to be the trickiest part of the process. 

In this section, we’ll teach you how to write a recommendation letter that will impress the recruiter and help your referee!

Tip #1. Write an Attention-Grabbing Introduction  

First things first - the introduction.

This is where you need to grab the reader’s attention and get them interested in reading the recommendation letter. 

How to go about it? Before formally (and briefly) introducing yourself, aim to write an attention-grabbing recommendation statement, instead of a generic one the recruiter probably knows by heart already. 

Let’s explain this more practically: 

Dear Mr. Smith, 

I am pleased to recommend Sarah McKay for the Communications Assistant position.

Nothing wrong with this introduction at first glance, right? It’s a standard way of opening a recommendation letter after all. 

Well that’s exactly what’s wrong with it - it’s way too common. No, this probably won’t get your application disqualified, but it won’t impress the recruiter either.

Want yours to strike the right note? Try something like this instead:

Dear Mr. Smith,

I am sincerely glad to be the one recommending Sarah McKay for the Communications Assistant position.

This recommendation statement is not significantly different from the previous one, except for one thing: it gives the reference letter a head start by implying that recommending Sarah is an honor. And that’s more likely to get the recruiter’s attention - or, at least, curiosity. 

In case you’re struggling to come up with an attention-grabbing introduction, simply mention one of the following points, and you’re good to go: 

• A little-known fact about the candidate. 
• Your general consideration of the candidate’s qualities.
• A remarkable achievement or award the candidate might have won.  

Tip #2. Establish a Meaningful Relationship With the Candidate 

All recommendation letters explain what the relationship with the referee is before listing their skills and qualifications. 

To make the recommendation more meaningful, you should show the recruiter you are just the right person to attest to the candidate’s abilities. And that’s not something you can convey by simply stating how you know them. Take the following example:   

I have taught Jake Political Science for four years. 

Does this example tell the recruiter how you know the applicant? Sure, it does. 

But it does so in a boring way and without establishing a convincing relationship with them. For all the recruiter knows, Jake is just one out of a thousand students you’ve taught over the years.

It has been a pleasure for me to teach Jake for four years and guide him through his remarkable Bachelor’s thesis in Conflict Resolution.

Notice the difference? This example specifies the writer is Jake’s thesis advisor, which makes the recommendation all the more meaningful. 

Tip #3. Tailor Your Recommendation to the Application 

Want to put in the extra effort and make sure your referee truly stands out?

Tailor the recommendation letter to the job / university program they’re applying for.

Tailoring your letter to the candidate’s application is easiest when you’re recommending someone for employment (you can just check the job requirements), but it works for any type of recommendation (incl. academic). All you need to do is match the referee’s skills and strengths to whatever they’re applying for. 

Let’s assume, for example, that you’re recommending a co-worker for a marketing manager position.

Some of the job requirements are: 

• +5 years of professional experience in marketing
• Experience developing marketing campaigns 
• Excellent communication skills 
• Project-management and multi-tasking skills 

To tailor your recommendation to the job requirements, all you need to do is mention them as your referee’s best qualities. For example: 

Even after seven years working together, Ema’s skillful way of effectively communicating with clients and co-workers alike doesn’t cease to amaze me. It only comes second to her multi-tasking abilities, which I’ve witnessed throughout the many marketing campaigns we have developed and managed. 

As you can see, there’s not much to it. 

All you need to do is check the job requirements, pick several skills and qualifications, and make them part of your referee’s top skills, strengths, or personality traits.  

Tip #4. List the Candidate’s Achievements 

Mentioning some of the candidate’s achievements is another great way to help your referee really stand out.

After all, skills, strengths, and character traits are awesome, but they can also come across as meaningless if you can’t back them up with facts. 

What do we mean by this?

Let us explain:

Here’s how a typical personal story in a recommendation letter looks like:

I came to truly appreciate Eric’s work ethic, passion, and attention to detail the first time I assigned him to do a report on child trafficking. Eric was respectful of journalistic ethics but also willing to chase the story relentlessly, believing in its value and importance. 

Sure, this is a perfectly acceptable personal story. 

However, it doesn’t do much more than just list the referee’s skills, traits, and work experience through a subjective lens. 

What we’re saying is, it doesn’t really sell the candidate.

Now, let’s compare it to the following:

Eric’s ability to chase after difficult stories first became apparent when I assigned him a report about child trafficking. Despite the challenging topic, Eric not only pulled through but achieved more than expected by a) identifying a trafficking ring that put more than 50 minors into forced begging, b) interviewing 10 of the older minors and managing to bring that trafficking network down once the reportage went public and c) increasing the TV Channel’s ratings by 40% in 3 weeks. 

By mentioning those achievements, your account of the candidate’s experiences is a lot more “factual,” as well as impressive for the recruiter.

Not sure which achievements to include? Check out these 101+ achievements to list on your resum e !

Tip #5. Polish Up Your Recommendation Letter

Finally, here’s 5 more simple tips to get your recommendation letter ready:

• Maintain positive rhetoric . At no point throughout your reference letter should the recruiter sense a hint of doubt regarding the applicant’s skills and qualifications.
• Don’t overdo the positivity. Extremes are never good - which means being overly positive might also come across as a bit suspicious or weird (even if everything you're saying is true). 
• Follow the submission instructions . A bunch of employers, but also educational institutions, will provide instructions on how to submit the recommendation letter. We recommend you ask the candidate to double-check them and give you a heads up, because if you submit the recommendation letter wrong, the candidate might lose their chance.
• Use a business tone . Even when you’re being creative, your writing tone should maintain a business tone - polite, and as formal as possible.
• Mind your grammar and spelling . This is another tip that goes for all things application-related. You won’t compromise the referee’s chances with a typo, but your recommendation won’t matter much either if it’s filled with simple grammar/spelling mistakes. Run your letter through a grammar and spell-check app once you’re finished with it, just to be on the safe side of things.

Recommendation Letter FAQ

Still have some questions on how to write a letter of recommendation?

Find your answers below!

1. What is a professional letter of recommendation?

A professional letter of recommendation - also called an employment recommendation letter - refers to an official document that is typically required when you apply for a job and which describes the applicant’s professional skills, experiences, and qualifications. 

Professional letters of recommendation are typically written by current or previous employers or supervisors. A coworker can also write you a professional letter of recommendation, but it’s not as optimal as a coworker is not really an authority figure (and might just be a friend doing you a favor instead of being honest).

2. What should be written in a letter of recommendation?

Letters of recommendation generally follow the following format: 

• A formal salutation
• An introduction (which includes a recommendation statement and your professional title)
• An overview of some of the applicant’s skills, strengths, or qualifications, which you can tailor to the application
• A personal story where you can mention some of the applicant’s achievements
• A closing statement and call for action
• A signature , with your contact information

3. Who should I ask for a letter of recommendation?

If you’re asking for an academic letter of recommendation, you can ask:

• Current or former professors
• Academic mentors
• Thesis advisors

If you’re asking for a professional recommendation letter, though, you can ask:

• Current or former employers
• A supervisor or professional mentor
• Former professors
• Experienced coworkers

4. How do you start a recommendation paragraph?

To keep the recruiter reading your recommendation letter interested, you should start with an attention-grabbing introduction - specifically, an interesting recommendation statement. 

This statement is the opening sentence of the letter and it should optimally express your conviction to recommend the applicant in a non-generic way. 

If you’re struggling with coming up with something creative, just start with one of the following:

• A little-known or impressive fact about the candidate
• Your general consideration of the candidate’s qualities
• A remarkable achievement, or an award the candidate might have won

5. How do you end a letter of recommendation?

A letter of recommendation concludes with a call to action or a request towards the recruiter   showing your availability and willingness to provide additional information if needed. After mentioning that you remain available to discuss the candidate’s qualifications, you may finalize the letter with your signature - your name, title, and company.

Key Takeaways 

And that’s a wrap! We hope this article will make the process of writing a recommendation letter easier for you. 

Let’s go over some of the main points we covered: 

• A letter of recommendation is a formal letter confirming and recommending a person’s work, skills, or academic performance and potential.
• Recommendation letters follow a particular format and layout. The format typically consists of 1) the letterhead and full contact information, 2) a salutation, 3) an introduction, 4) an overview, 5) a personal story, 6) a closing sentence and 7) your signature.
• The three types of recommendation letters are employment, academic, and character recommendation letters.
• Who to ask for a recommendation letter depends on the type of reference you need. As a rule of thumb, pick someone who knows your skills and strengths well and whom you’ve had a positive experience (professional or academic) with.

Related Articles

• How to List References on a Resume [w/ Examples]
• How to Address a Cover Letter in 2023
• Motivation Letter Writing Guide + Examples for 2023

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Who Should Write Your Letters of Recommendation?

By Brittany Mihalec-Adkins

While it may not be the most stressful part the fellowship application process, your choice of recommenders actually has a lot of power to shape your application package. Being strategic at this point in the process can really give your application an edge.

To help get you started, here are four tips for choosing recommenders:

1. Make sure your recommenders know you well.

While it can be tempting to ask for letters from faculty or professionals whose names carry a lot of weight in your particular field, their letters will not be as well-received as you might hope if the recommender does not have much experience working with or mentoring you. A less-famous mentor with whom you’ve worked for over two years will be able to speak more convincingly and in much more detail about your various strengths, experiences, and potential.

2. Choose recommenders with whom you have good working relationships.

This one sounds like a no-brainer, but it is worth thinking about. In short: make sure you are confident that each of your letter-writers will give you a thoughtful, positive evaluation. To that end, it is completely appropriate for you to ask recommenders upfront if they would be willing to provide a “positive recommendation” for your application when you are soliciting letters.

3. Think about your audience before selecting recommenders.

While not all of your letters need to come from faculty or mentors in the same field, it is important to make sure that your recommenders are well-suited to craft letters appropriate for what you are applying for. For instance, if you are applying for a dissertation fellowship, a letter of recommendation from your part-time job supervisor will not be as beneficial as a letter from a professor who taught research methods courses in which you did well. The professor can speak to your knowledge of study design and statistical analysis. In other words, make sure your recommenders are familiar with the specific criteria against which your application will be evaluated.

4. If possible, try to choose a set of recommenders that can speak to a wide variety of your experiences.

This tip is useful for being strategic with your letters of recommendation – that is, giving reviewers as much about you as possible. Try to choose recommenders who can each speak to your different experiences or qualities. For example: a professor who supervised your research over the past year, another professor who sat on your thesis committee, a policymaker with whom you interned for two summers, and the director of a local non-profit organization where you volunteered on a regular basis. Of course, such a wide variety may not be as appropriate for some fellowships; for instance, for research fellowship applications, it may be better to have three researchers write your recommendations. In any case, you can still be strategic by choosing researchers who worked with you in different capacities, as opposed to two researchers who worked with you on the same project.

Brittany Mihalec-Adkins is a first-year National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellow and second-year Ph.D. student in Human Development and Family Studies at Purdue University. 

© Victoria Johnson 2017, all rights reserved.

Related Posts:

• 3 Tips for Requesting a Letter of Recommendation on Short Notice
• How to Shorten Your Personal Statement: Delegate
• Five Tips for Obtaining Successful Letters of Recommendation
• How Applicants Can Make the Most of the Thanksgiving Break
• What Should I Ask to be Included in My Letter of Recommendation?

Brittany Mihalec-Adkins , Guest Author , Recommendation Letters

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Research Fellow Positions: Epidemiology Program

Application Deadline: November 22, 2024

The National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH) is seeking exceptional candidates for two research fellow positions within the Epidemiology Program (EP) of the Division of Intramural Research (DIR). The successful candidates would support the mission of the EP, which is to conduct high-impact, high-quality cross-sectional and longitudinal studies to provide a national public health perspective on high-priority topics identified in the NCCIH strategic plan ( NCCIH Strategic Plan FY 2021–2025 | NCCIH (nih.gov) ). The EP is responsible for the design, implementation, and analyses of data from high-quality surveys and longitudinal studies that address wide-ranging questions regarding the use of complementary health approaches, including incidence, prevalence, costs, and their application to, and efficacy for health conditions. Other priorities of the EP include disparities in the management, incidence and prevalence of chronic pain and other chronic diseases, and studies examining factors that contribute to resilience, well-being, and health restoration across chronic diseases. 

Our interdisciplinary program is designed to provide experiences that foster the development of skills necessary to conduct high quality independent research. Research fellows are expected to develop their own research initiatives within the mission of the EP using the wealth of data from available cohorts and cross-sectional studies. In addition, research fellows will join ongoing clinical studies involving quantitative sensory testing (QST) in the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Pain Research Center (PRC) where training in QST can be provided. In the EP, we are seeking applicants with a range of analytical, technical, and/or clinical skills who are independently ready to tackle important public health challenges and make an impact on the lives of all people. In addition to conducting independent research and publishing in peer-reviewed journals, fellows will contribute to mentoring postbaccalaureate and/or postdoctoral fellows and participate in career development activities, present their research at NIH, and at national and international scientific meetings, and are expected to pursue research funding opportunities.

Candidates legally approved to work in the United States with an earned doctoral degree in epidemiology, demography, sociology, or a closely related field AND with post-doctoral experience, or those with a medical or dental degree with both experience and advanced graduate training (e.g., M.P.H.) in epidemiology, population health, or biostatistics within the past 10 years are invited to apply. Preference will be given to candidates with superior analytic and communication skills with additional consideration given to those with demonstrated research interests in areas currently under investigation in the EP and/or highlighted in the NCCIH Strategic Plan ( NCCIH Strategic Plan FY 2021–2025 | NCCIH (nih.gov) ). Documented programing skills in R, and/or SAS/SUDAAN, and/or SAS Studio are required. 

The successful candidates will work closely with other members of the EP, with staff of the NIH PRC, with members of other sections within the NCCIH DIR and, potentially, with intramural investigators from other NIH Institutes and Centers. Ongoing efforts are focused on disparities in health care, developing models for studying whole person health and resilience, and the combined use of validated questionnaires and QST for predicting future chronic pain across diverse populations.

Learn more about the  NIH Intramural Training Program .

Position Duties

• Take the lead in identifying compelling research questions left unresolved in the epidemiology of pain and/or complementary health approaches and/or whole person health, resilience, and health restoration.
• Take the lead in identifying existing data sets or designing novel studies involving QST that can be used to answer research questions identified above.
• Take the lead in developing and implementing analysis plans for identified data sets or novel studies identified above.
• Take the lead in interpreting data produced through implementation of analysis plans.
• Take the lead in preparing summaries and reports based on results and findings. Present these results and findings in formal and/or informal presentations at NCCIH, at other NIH Institutes/Centers, and at academic institutions and conferences.
• Take the lead in writing scientific manuscripts and submitting them to appropriate scientific journals.
• Additional duties as available may include mentoring postbaccalaureate and/or postdoctoral fellows.

This position is located in Bethesda, Maryland. 

Required Qualifications

Applicants must have a Ph.D. in epidemiology, demography, sociology, or a closely related fields and relevant postdoctoral experience or have a medical or dental degree with both experience and advanced graduate training (e.g., M.P.H.) in epidemiology, population health, or biostatistics within the past 10 years. The successful candidates must have documented programing skills in R and/or SAS/SUDAAN and/or SAS Studio. 

Salary and Benefits 

Salary will be commensurate with experience. A full civil service package of benefits (e.g., retirement; health, life, and long-term care insurance; Thrift Savings Plan) is available. (See  Pay at NIH | Office of Human Resources .)

How To Apply 

Interested candidates should submit their CV, a detailed statement of their research interests, and three letters of recommendation from references familiar with their expertise, research experience, and ability to work independently. 

Application packages should be sent to Ms. Katie Howes at  [email protected] . Please include the following in the subject line, “NCCIH – Research Fellowship Application [insert your name].” Questions should be addressed to Ms. Katie Howes at the same email address. 

Applications must be received by 11:59 p.m. ET on Friday, November 22, 2024, for consideration in the review period. Review of applications will begin on or about Monday, November 25, 2024.  Should no suitable candidates be selected during this period, the position will remain open until filled. This position is subject to a background investigation.

NIH and NCCIH are committed to building a diverse workforce and promoting an inclusive environment. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and NIH are Equal Opportunity Employers. 

Epidemiology Program  Division of Intramural Research  National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health  National Institutes of Health  U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

MyERAS® Documents for Fellowship Applicants

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Within your MyERAS ® account, you may create personal statement(s); identify the people who will write your letters of recommendation (LoRs); and release your Comprehensive Osteopathic Medical Licensing Examination of the United States (COMLEX-USA) and/or United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE) transcripts. You will also assign most documents to the programs, track the status of these and any additional ERAS documents. Applicants should research programs individually to determine those requirements before making document assignments.

The ERAS Fellowship Documents Office ( EFDO) is the Designated Dean's Office for all fellowship applicants whether a U.S. medical school graduate or an international medical school graduate. Applicants should visit the EFDO website for information about submitting their documents for upload or obtaining contact information when additional information is needed. The EFDO no longer accepts paper documents for fellowship applications. Documents sent via mail or courier to their offices will not be processed.

EFDO Online Services allows applicants to upload certain document types themselves, as well as send requests to your medical school to upload their MSPE and medical school transcript. A unique link to the EFDO Online Services account for each applicant is only available within the MyERAS portal on the Additional Documents page under Documents.

Below you will find an overview of each of the main documents used in ERAS. For detailed information, please see the Documents section of the MyERAS user guide.

Tracking Documents

Uploaded but Unassigned LoRs - Count of LoRs that have been uploaded but are not assigned to any programs, highlighting that assignments may need to be made.

Unassigned Personal Statements - Count of Personal Statements that have been saved but are not assigned to any programs, highlighting that assignments may need to be made.

Latest USMLE Request Status - Current status of the latest request made to the National Board of Medical Examiners (NBME) or the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates ( ECFMG) (for IMG Residency) after at least one program has been applied to with the USMLE transcript assigned.

Latest COMLEX-USA Request Status - Current status of the latest request made to the National Board of Osteopathic Medical Examiners (NBOME) after at least one program has been applied to with the COMLEX-USA transcript assigned.

Status of Additional Documents - Status of all other applicable documents as either Not Uploaded or Uploaded.

Dimensions: 2.5 in. x 3.5 in.

File Size: 100kb

Personal Statement

Special Note About Formatting

Creating LoR Entries - You must create a LoR entry for each LoR you intend to use during the application season.

Confirming LoR Entries - You must confirm a LoR entry before an associated Letter ID can be generated.

Uploading LoRs - The Letter ID contained in the LoR Request form must be used to upload the associated LoR through the Letter of Recommendation Portal (LoRP) .

Assigning LoRs - Applicants may assign of up to four (4) LoRs to each program.

Authorizing the Release for the USMLE Transcript - Applicants must authorize the release of their USMLE transcript in order to make assignments of the USMLE transcript to the programs they designate.

Paying for the USMLE Transcript - The NBME or ECFMG (for IMG Residency) charges a one time fee of $80 for transmitting USMLE transcripts to the programs designated by applicants.

Viewing the USMLE Requests Status Report - Applicants can view the USMLE Requests Status Report to track the status of their USMLE requests by program.

Authorizing the Release for the COMLEX-USA Transcript - Applicants must authorize the release of their COMLEX-USA transcript in order to make assignments of the COMLEX-USA transcript to the programs they designate.

Paying for the COMLEX-USA Transcript - The NBOME or ECFMG (for IMG Residency) charges a one time fee of $80 for transmitting COMLEX-USA transcripts to the programs designated by applicants.

Viewing the COMLEX-USA Requests Status Report - Applicants can view the COMLEX-USA Requests Status Report to track the status of their COMLEX-USA requests by program.

Medical School (MS) Transcript

American board of surgery in-training examination (absite), img-only documents.

ECFMG Status Report: The ECFMG Status Report confirms the ECFMG certification status for an IMG residency applicant. This report contains the month and year that examinations were passed for ECFMG Certification, but does not contain your USMLE transcript.

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