Writing Letters of Recommendation

The Astronaut Scholarship recognizes outstanding undergraduates (sophomores or juniors) in a STEM field who are planning careers in research.  Recommenders should emphasize the applicant’s research achievements and assess their likelihood to influence and advance their field through a future career in research.  The Astronaut Scholarship Foundation values initiative, creativity, and academic excellence.

Send or deliver your completed recommendation letter, signed and on letterhead, to CFSA. Upon receiving all of the applicant’s materials, CFSA will submit them to the Astronaut Scholarship.  Syracuse University nominates two students each year for the Astronaut Scholarship.

The Beinecke Scholarship supports juniors of “exceptional promise” in the humanities, social sciences, or arts who have concrete plans to earn a graduate degree in their field.  The Beinecke Scholarship provides a substantial award to be applied toward graduate school tuition.  Recommenders should highlight students’ intellectual curiosity and character, and comment on their sincere commitment to and aptitude for graduate work and a career of research and academic or creative accomplishment. Letters should speak to students’ significant intellectual experiences, including independent research, conference presentations, exhibitions, and publications. Beinecke letters can be similar to recommendation letters to graduate school since the scholarship supports students who will succeed in graduate study and in academic careers.

Students must demonstrate a financial need to be eligible for this award. Recommenders may comment on how receiving this scholarship would significantly increase the student’s likelihood to attend graduate school if they are familiar with the applicant's circumstances.

Send or deliver your completed recommendation letter, signed and on letterhead, to CFSA. Upon receiving all of the applicant’s materials, CFSA will submit them to the Beinecke Scholarship.  Syracuse University nominates one student for the Beinecke Scholarship each year.

The Boren Fellowship and the Boren Scholarship, for graduate students and undergraduate students respectively, funds the immersive study of a critical need language through coursework and/or independent study abroad. The Boren is awarded to students focused on learning a critical need language and whose career interests align with U.S. national security. Recommenders complete a form submitted through the online application that asks the following questions:

• How long and in what capacity have you known the applicant?
• Please comment on the applicant’s academic, linguistic, and personal preparation for the study plan, especially as they relate to Boren Fellowship objectives. Please comment on the feasibility of the applicant’s ability to carry out the plan in the allotted time. If possible, comment on the applicant’s understanding of the relationship between his or her plan and U.S. national security, broadly defined, as well as his or her career interests.
• Please add anything else that you think is relevant for the reviewers to know.

Recommenders should comment on on the student’s academic, linguistic, and personal preparation for their proposed study plan, including their level of commitment to studying the target language consistently when abroad. Previous language study is not necessary but a history of successful study of the target language, or a demonstrated aptitude for language learning generally, helps to illustrate a student’s level of commitment. Recommenders should evaluate how the proposed experience abroad will prepare the applicant to achieve their career goals, including the Boren required public sector work commitment.

Applicants enter their recommenders’ email addresses into the online Embark application. Recommenders will receive an email generated from the system with login information and directions on how to submit letters of recommendations through the online application system.  Letters should be signed and on letterhead.

The James G. Gaither Junior Fellows Program, administered by the Carnegie Endowment, is designed to provide a substantive work experience for students who have a serious career interest in the area of international affairs.  Strong applicants have excellent research skills, a competitive GPA in a relevant field, and a commitment to a career in international affairs. Recommenders should speak to all of these qualities, particularly emphasizing the candidate's research and writing skills. If possible, comment on coursework or independent research directly related to the applicant's interest in a specific Carnegie Endowment project. If applicable, comment on the applicants's language skills, or other special skills or experiences relevant to the research project in which the candidate is interested.

Syracuse University may nominate two students for the Gaither Junior Fellows Program each year.  CFSA coordinates submission of Gaither Junior Fellows applications. Letters should be signed and on letterhead, and may be sent electronically or by mail to CFSA.

The Critical Language Scholarship (CLS) is an intensive overseas language and cultural immersion programs designed to promote rapid language gains in a critical need language. Recommenders should comment on the following selection criteria: academic record and potential to succeed in a rigorous academic setting; ability to adapt to a different cultural environment; plan for continuation of study of the language; and plan to use the language in future career.

Recommendations should be written as a narrative letter. In the most recent recommendation request form, writers were asked to respond to the following questions within their letters:

• How long have you known the applicant? In what capacity?
• Please comment on the applicant’s overall academic preparation and promise.
• If you are familiar with the applicant’s language-learning abilities, please comment on the applicant’s aptitude for learning a new language.
• This program requires students to study a language intensively in a situation of prolonged interaction with fellow students and to function in a challenging social and cultural environment. Please comment on the applicant’s nonacademic attributes (e.g. emotional and social maturity, motivation, adaptability, cooperation, patience, articulation, politeness, self-reliance, self-image/confidence, open-mindedness, and ability to work well within a group and relate to others).
• How willing would you be, were you leading a group, to have the applicant as a participant? Consider the necessity of cooperating with a group of people and of adjusting to new situations that require great tact, social sensitivity, maturity, and personal integrity during an intensive period of study in a host country.
  • Eager
  • Willing
  • Reluctant

Applicants will register contact information for recommenders in teh online application system.  Recommenders will receive an email from CLS containing a link with instructions for submitting a recommendation letter.

The German government offers a variety of scholarships and grants through the DAAD program to students, recent graduates, researchers, and professionals. Each program has a specific set of criteria for applicants. Please see the website and/or contact CFSA for detailed requirements.

For all DAAD programs, recommenders are asked to comment on:

• academic achievements
• academic and personal qualities
• (if applicable) the feasibility, relevance, quality, and planning of the student’s project
• the significance of this scholarship to the applicant’s academic and professional career goals

Recommenders should submit letters on university letterhead, signed, and in a sealed envelope to CFSA, as well as three additional copies. The letters will be attached to other application materials and sent to the scholarship’s New York office. For some programs, recommenders will also be asked to email their letter to the appropriate email address below:

Graduate study scholarship (current and rising graduate students): gradscholar@daad.org

Undergraduate study scholarship: undergrad@daad.org

Research (graduate and undergraduate): gradscholar@daad.org

Recommenders for students applying to one of the DAAD RISE programs must upload their letters through the online application portal.  Recommenders receive instructions by email after an applicant submits their contact information.

Competitive applicants show evidence of superior academic achievement and a high degree of promise of continuing achievement as scholars and teachers. The Ford Fellowships emphasize diversity as an educational resource and expect Fellows to engage with underrepresented communities in higher education. When possible, highlight applicants’ capacity to engage students from diverse backgrounds and sustain or encourage representation from historically underrepresented groups in learning, teaching, and scholarship at the university level.

Recommendations should expand on applicants’ personal statement and statement of previous research. It is highly recommended that you read both of these essays to provide additional detail and to shape a coherent and cohesive application.

Applicants will enter your contact information into their online application. You will receive an email notification containing your login information and requesting a letter of recommendation. Letters must be uploaded to the online application portal. All letters must be PDF files written in a standard 12-point font. Please do not include headers or footers.

Recommendation letters are considered “supplementary materials” and are therefore due by the supplementary materials deadline (generally several weeks later than the application deadline).

Competitive applicants show evidence of superior academic achievement and a high degree of promise of continuing achievement as scholars and teachers. The Ford Fellowships emphasize diversity as an educational resource and expect Fellows to engage with underrepresented communities in higher education. When possible, highlight applicants’ capacity to engage students from diverse backgrounds and sustain or encourage representation from historically underrepresented groups in learning, teaching, and scholarship at the university level.

Recommendations should expand on applicants’ personal statement, statement of previous research and scholarly productivity, and proposed plan of graduate study. It is highly recommended that you read these essays to provide additional detail and to shape a coherent and cohesive application.

Applicants will enter your contact information into their online application. You will receive an email notification containing your login information and requesting a letter of recommendation. Letters must be uploaded to the online application portal. All letters must be PDF files written in a standard 12-point font. Please do not include headers or footers.

Recommendation letters are considered “supplementary materials” and are therefore due by the supplementary materials deadline (generally several weeks later than the application deadline).

Fulbright English Teaching Assistantship recommenders will be asked to fill out and submit an electronic form rather than uploading a letter.  The Fulbright ETA recommendation form containing a series of short-answer questions that ask you to assess the candidate's communication skills, interest in teaching, ability to facilitate cultural exchange, and ability to work in unstructured environments.  Please be aware that the form has character limits and compose your responses accordingly.  Brief, single sentence answers are unlikely to be helpful--please try to make the most of the character limit available to you.

It can be helpful to read the candidate's Statement of Grant Purpose - the essay in which applicants propose how they will spend their Fulbright year - and Personal Statement before filling out the form. Strong recommendations will attest to the candidate's suitability to the ETA placement using vivid, compelling and specific examples. Fulbright notes that these letters should not merely be character references; the Commission asks recommenders to evaluate applicants’ ability to teach English in a classroom abroad.

The most recent Fulbright ETA sample reference form includes the following questions:

• Based on your observation of and experience with the applicant, comment on their ability to overcome challenges. (120 words or approx. 10 lines)
• In your view, how has this applicant demonstrated qualities associated with teaching or mentoring? (120 words or approx. 10 lines)
• Based on your observation, how might the applicant interact with students, faculty, and community members, among others, in an unfamiliar or unstructured situation or in a different cultural environment? (120 lines or approx. 10 lines)
• What kind of impression, in your view, would the applicant make as a representative of the United States abroad? (120 words or approx. 10 lines)
• Please comment on any other factors which you believe may have a bearing on the applicant's potential to have a successful experience abroad as a Fulbright ETA (comments regarding academic and/or personal experience, maturity, adaptability and flexibility are welcome). (120 words or approx. 10 lines)

References will receive an email from the Fulbright Application system after the applicant has submitted your contact information. Follow the link and the instructions in the email to log in to the online application system. References must be submitted online through this system.

For further instructions and tips, visit Fulbright's Instructions for ETA Recommendation Writers.

Recommenders should highlight applicants’ maturity, adaptability,  (the student will need to persevere through any culture shock or other emotional obstacles), and motivation. Strong letters will address a candidate’s academic and linguistic preparation for the proposed project or study program, and ability to adapt to a different cultural environment. You should also consider the applicant’s likelihood of making a favorable impression of the United States as a cultural ambassador.

It will be useful to take a look at the applicant's Statement of Grant Purpose – the essay in which applicants propose how they will spend their Fulbright year – and Personal Statement. Strong letters will confirm that the candidate's proposed project is feasible and has merit. Letters should speak to an applicant’s level of knowledge and potential for future growth, their research skills (if applicable), as well as their ability to think and write analytically. Fulbright notes that study/research recommendation letters should not merely be character references; the Commission asks recommenders to evaluate applicants’ ability to complete the proposed project.

Only comment on what you feel prepared to comment on or what falls within your area of experience/expertise. For example, while recommenders are asked by the Fulbright Commission to comment on an applicant’s linguistic ability, do not feel compelled to comment if you are unsure of or do not know your student’s linguistic ability.

Vivid, compelling, and specific examples illustrating your assessment of the applicant’s project and character are essential to a candidate’s success in this competition.

Recommenders will receive an email from the Fulbright Application system after the applicant has submitted their contact information. Prepare your letter as a Word document or a PDF, on institutional letterhead and signed. Log in to the online application system using the login information in the Embark email and upload your letter to the system. Letters of recommendation must be submitted online through this system.

For further instructions and tips, visit Fulbright's Instructions for Study/Research Recommendation Writers.

The Fulbright Commission lists “evidence of leadership qualities and initiative, academic ability, character, adaptability and ambassadorial qualities, as well as an interest in the UK and its culture.” Ideally, recommenders will be able to speak to and highlight these characteristics, as well as comment on how the specific program goals align with the student’s academic goals. Students should tell you which program they are pursuing.

Letters should be written specifically for this Fulbright application (the US-UK Fulbright Commission especially discounts any recommendations that appear to be generic in content). Letters will be pasted into an online submission form. All references must be submitted through this form. Applicants should direct referees to the form.

The Gates Cambridge requires three letters of recommendation; two are academic and one is a personal reference which specifically addresses the Gates criteria. The applicant should indicate which letter you are providing.

References are submitted by the referee via an Electronic Reference System, which referees have access to after the student registers the referee in the University of Cambridge GRADSAF online application.

Equally weighted, the Gates criteria include: outstanding intellectual ability; leadership potential; a commitment to improving the lives of others; a good fit between the applicant's qualifications and aspirations and the postgraduate program at Cambridge for which they are applying

Academic reference:

The letter should not be pro forma; discuss the student’s suitability for their chosen program at Cambridge. Selectors consistently indicate that they look for specific actions rather than general qualities, with detailed evidence or suggestive anecdotes to support adjectives. Straightforward letters about the student doing all of the coursework, writing good papers, and getting good grades are not helpful. In fact, boilerplate letters with general praise probably hurt a student more than they help in this competition.

Explain how long and in what capacity you have known the student and clarify where the student ranks in relation to other students you have taught or worked with. If possible, the letter might compare the student with other students who have gone on to top graduate/professional programs.

Please discuss the student’s research interests and projects you have supervised. Be specific in relating instances of academic achievement, be it in a classroom, laboratory, or individual setting. If describing research or a final paper, the letter should help the committee understand its significance and the contribution it has made. If the candidate performed highly efficient lab work, explain if and why that particular work was especially challenging. Is there evidence of creativity and innovation in the candidate’s approach to answering questions or solving problems?

A commitment to improving the lives of others: Discuss the implication's of the student's work and future goals in relation to community and public service. Comment on the prospects for the student to play an influential part in the betterment of society at a local or global level through both their scholarly and personal activities.

A good fit between the applicant's qualifications and aspirations and the postgraduate program at Cambridge for which they are applying: How does the proposed academic program fit the candidate’s scholarly and career plans? Make it clear that the applicant has the potential to perform well in his or her chosen program of study, knowing that students will be expected to work much more independently than in a US program. Explain how study at Cambridge will make a difference in the student’s intellectual growth.

Personal reference:

Outstanding intellectual ability: What is the potential for the student to be a productive member of the discipline? Note any evidence of the candidate's growth over time and how you see potential for further growth.

Leadership potential: Remark upon the leadership qualities of the applicant. Describe the student’s personality, work habits and interpersonal skills. Has s/he built productive relationships with people, engaging with them in his/her field or beyond? Does s/he appreciate the needs, motives and concerns of others? Is the student self‐confident and able to seize opportunities?

A commitment to improving the lives of others: Discuss the work of the student in relation to community and public service. Comment on the prospects for the student to play an influential part in the betterment of society at a local or global level through both their scholarly and personal activities. Non-academic examples might include events organized by the student and volunteer work that demonstrates the candidate’s commitment to helping others.

A good fit between the applicant's qualifications and aspirations and the postgraduate program at Cambridge for which they are applying: How does the proposed academic program fit the candidate’s scholarly and career plans? Make it clear that the applicant has the potential to perform well in his or her chosen program of study, knowing that students will be expected to work much more independently than in a US program. Explain how study at Cambridge will make a difference in the student’s intellectual growth; like the student’s application essay, the letters can help demonstrate a consistent story line of where the students have come from, where they are now and why they ought to be going to this program.

Goldwater referees should comment on the following criteria:

• potential and intent for a career in mathematics, the natural sciences, or those engineering disciplines that contribute significantly to technological advances
• the ability and desire to pursue advanced degrees in the sciences and engineering
• developed career objectives and involvement in an academic program that fosters the student’s ability to make a significant contribution to the chosen field
• demonstrated outstanding academic performance, maturity, initiative, and motivation

Successful letters present the student as a mature researcher and express confidence in the applicant’s research abilities and desire to pursue an advanced degree. Winners are expected to contribute significantly to their fields and display intellectual intensity in their disciplines. It is acceptable for references to provide details of a student’s research to present context, significance, or demonstrating the student’s personality or achievements. However, referees should avoid getting too detailed, clinical, or impersonal with their letters.

Recommendations are submitted online. You will be emailed instructions immediately after the applicant submits the application.

The Hertz Fellowship is one of the most prestigious fellowships available to graduate students in the applied physical, biological, and engineering sciences. Given the financial value and freedom offered by the award, it is extremely competitive and selective.

Hertz Fellows make a unique moral commitment to apply their "skills available to the United States in times of national emergency.” Although the Foundation does not offer a definition for “national emergency,” it lists several examples, including fuel shortages, transportation or communication system overloads, deterioration of environmental quality, and malevolent use of cyberspace. Fellows are charged with responding to these “emergencies” if and when they personally determine that they pose a threat to the United States. That said, the Hertz has a hint of patriotism incorporated into its values and selection process. Referees may want to consider this when writing letters.

The Hertz Fellowship uses the following criteria to screen applicants. References should speak to these cri

• exceptional intelligence and creativity, with particular emphasis on those aspects pertinent to technical endeavors

• excellent technical education evidenced not only by transcripts and reference reports from senior technical professionals, but also by the results of a personal, technical interview

• orientation and commitment to the applications of the physical sciences

• extraordinary accomplishment in technical or related professional studies, which may offset slightly lower academic records, or add luster to outstanding ones

• features of temperament and character conducive to high attainment as a technical professional(the assessment of which is difficult, albeit important to the Foundation)

• appropriate moral and ethical values(of considerable interest to the Foundation in the furthering of its basic goals)

• leverage(what difference the award of the Hertz Fellowship is likely to make in the kind, quality, and/or personal creativity of the student's graduate research)

References must submit the requested Reference Report through an online portal. After the applicant has registered you as a referee, you will receive an email with the necessary access ID and password. Follow the directions in this email to submit your Reference Report. You must use the Hertz Fellowship’s format to answer specific questions presented through the online portal.

The Luce Scholars Program awards recent graduates with a professional placement and language training in Asia. The program is for young professionals who have had limited exposure to Asia. Although candidates may have taken Asian language or Asia-focused courses and may have spent up to 12 weeks in Asia, it is not helpful (and may be harmful) for you to emphasize an applicant’s familiarity or expertise in Asia.

Because the Luce Scholars Program is experiential rather than academic in nature, personal qualities such as flexibility, adaptability, creativity, humility, openness to new ideas, and sensitivity to cultural differences are as important as academic achievement. You should emphasize all relevant personal characteristics in your letter.

Luce Scholars demonstrate an outstanding capacity for leadership and have a record of high achievement. They have mature and clearly defined career interests with evidence of potential for professional accomplishments. Recommenders should reference these criteria in their letters of recommendation. Explain how participation in the Luce program fits the candidate’s scholarly and career plans. Make it clear that the applicant has the potential to perform well in a professional placement in an Asian country, knowing that Scholars will be placed in extremely different business and linguistic environments. Explain how exposure to Asia and the ability to come to know Asian culture will make a difference in the student’s professional and intellectual growth. Like the student’s application essay, the letters can help demonstrate a consistent story line of where the students have come from, where they are now and why they ought to be going to Asia.

Please note that nominees are not judged on whether they have developed specific plans for experience abroad. A candidate may have general ideas about the kind of placement preferred, but this is not considered as either a negative or positive factor.

Straightforward letters about the student completing coursework work, writing good papers, and earning good grades are not very helpful. In fact, boilerplate letters with general praise probably hurt a student more than they help in this competition.

Letters must be signed and sent (as a hard copy) to CFSA. The letters will be added to the candidate’s application and then sent directly to Luce.

Created to honor James Madison’s legacy, Madison Fellows supports graduate study for social science teachers in grades 7-12. The Program seeks to improve teaching about the US Constitution in secondary schools. Recommenders should read the candidate’s application essays and are highly encouraged to discuss specific attributes, personal qualities, and professional accomplishments that were not addressed elsewhere in the application.

Recommendations must be submitted online. You will receive an email with instructions for completing the online recommendation after the applicant submits your contact information.

Candidates for the Marshall are evaluated based on three selection criteria: academic merit, leadership potential, and ambassadorial potential. Reviewers look for candidates who have the potential to excel as scholars, as leaders and as contributors to improved UK-US understanding, especially students who will be active in their host university. For a more detailed review of the selection criteria, see the  Marshall Scholarship - Candidate Evaluation Criteria.

Recommenders should include frank, detailed, and focused evaluations of the candidate, including reviews of the candidate’s character and self-esteem. You may include how the student’s “fares” by criteria outside of academics and university life. Recommendations should explain how studying in the UK in the applicant’s proposed course of study will benefit their future career and prepare them to contribute significantly to society.

Applicants elect one of their recommenders as the “preferred recommender,” who should have supervised the applicant’s university training/study. All recommenders, if possible, are encouraged to evaluate the candidate’s academic proposal and how the proposed academic program fits with the candidate’s academic and career goals. However, the “preferred recommender” is expected to speak to the candidate’s adequate preparation for the proposed course of study.

Marshall reviewers find recommendations without any acknowledgement of a student’s weaknesses to be suspect and therefore discredit them. Be careful of hyperbole and stay specific. It is appropriate to incorporate criticism and a discussion of the student’s areas for growth into this recommendation. It may be helpful to read about constructive ways to incorporate criticism here.

After logging in through the provided URL (sent via email), you will be able to type or copy and paste your recommendation into a form. You will also have full access to the candidate’s application. The word limit for your letter is 1000 words, and a word count facility has been provided.

For more guidance and suggestions on writing a recommendation letter for a Marshall candidate, please contact CFSA.

Applicants are judged on three criteria: scholarship, leadership, and a sustained commitment to community and public service. More specifically, Mitchell selectors are looking for the following criteria and all three fields are equally important:

• Demonstrated record of intellectual distinction, and strong preparation for the proposed course of study;
• Character, integrity, generosity of spirit, leadership; and
• Sustained commitment to service and community, indicating potential for future leadership and contribution to society.

Make sure to include leadership and service directly, and feel free to define these broadly. Evaluate how the student’s proposed academic program fits into the candidate’s scholarly and career plans. Explain how study in Ireland will make a difference in the student’s intellectual growth; like the student’s application essay, the letters can help demonstrate a consistent story line of where the students have come from, where they are now and why they ought to be going to this particular graduate program in Ireland.

The Mitchell Scholarship funds a small cohort of scholars to study in Ireland each year. The small size makes it a more personal program, so application readers are especially interested in applicants’ character. Do not hesitate to include specifics when evaluating a student’s character.

While it is not necessary, it is highly encouraged to include peace and conflict issues in Ireland and US-Irish history and their relevance to the student’s course of study or career goals if appropriate. Mitchell scholars serve as cultural ambassadors and must demonstrate a desire to get to know the culture and people of Ireland and Northern Ireland.

Mitchell reviewers find recommendations without any acknowledgement of a student’s weaknesses to be suspect and therefore discredit them. Be careful of hyperbole and stay specific. The Mitchell Scholarship recommends that references are forthright and acknowledge an applicant’s limitations and potential for growth. It may be helpful to read about constructive ways to incorporate criticism here.

Recommenders will receive a link to submit their letter of recommendation online. You may either type directly into the text field or copy and paste from a recommendation written in a word processing program. Please note that there is no special formatting in the long text fields provided (bold text, indentation, etc. will be stripped). The web browser will time out every 20 minutes, so save your recommendation if you are typing it directly into the online field.

For more guidance and suggestions on writing a recommendation letter for a Mitchell candidate, please contact CFSA.

Rising juniors spend five weeks at George Washington’s Mount Vernon learning from experienced corporate, government, and military leaders. The leadership development program culminates in a community service-focused capstone project.

Letters should speak to the candidate’s character, academic achievement, and leadership potential. The program is looking for young adults “of action” who will commit themselves to a cause they believe in. When possible, share details about how your applicant has shown excitement, passion, and creativity when encountering a challenge. Comment on the student’s sense of adventure and vision.

Because all Fellows complete a capstone project, it is recommended that references speak to the applicant’s ability to prepare and pursue an action plan around a central cause. If possible, discuss the applicant’s past work on this cause.

Recommendations are sent by email to MVFellowsPorgram@mountvernon.org and can be addressed to the Manager of the Leadership Fellows, Amanda Hadad. Please write the subject line as “Recommendation for Firstname Lastname.”

This unique dual-mentored program supports doctoral study and research both at the National Institutes of Health and either the University of Oxford or Cambridge.

Letters of recommendation are weighed especially heavily in the application process, particularly letters written by research mentors. Because of the intensive nature of the program, recommenders should comment on the applicant’s organizational, time management, and research skills. Referees should also speak to the student’s focus, drive, and intellect, as well as the applicant’s potential for a productive career in the biomedical sciences.

NIH OxCam administrators outline a number of criteria for selecting recipients. Not all of the criteria below are necessary, but they will bolster the applicant’s application. Letters of recommendation should comment on these criteria when possible. It is highly recommended that referees read the applicant’s personal statement and expand on the themes therein to help craft a cohesive and coherent application.

• Academic achievements
• Substantial research experience (This is one of the best predictive factors for success in the program. The Director of Admissions notes that most successful applicants worked in a laboratory during college and it is not unusual for applicants to have at least two to three years of research experience.)
• Scientific publications (co-authored manuscripts, poster presentations, conference participation)
• Honors and awards from the university or outside agencies

Referees will receive an email request for a letter of recommendation after the applicant has entered recommenders’ contact information and has saved the application. Letters must be submitted through the online application.

The NSF GRFP considers two overarching criteria – intellectual merit and broader impacts – and gives the following guidelines:

Intellectual Merit: The intellectual merit criterion includes demonstrated intellectual ability and other accepted requisites for scholarly scientific study, such as the ability to: (1) plan and conduct research; (2) work as a member of a team as well as independently; and (3) interpret and communicate research findings. Panelists are instructed to consider: the strength of the academic record, the proposed plan of research, the description of previous research experience, the appropriateness of the choice of references and the extent to which they indicate merit, Graduate Record Examinations (GRE) General and Subject Tests scores, and the appropriateness of the choice of institution for fellowship tenure relative to the proposed plan of research.

Broader Impacts: The broader impacts criterion includes contributions that (1) effectively integrate research and education at all levels, infuse learning with the excitement of discovery, and assure that the findings and methods of research are communicated in a broad context and to a large audience; (2) encourage diversity, broaden opportunities, and enable the participation of all citizens—women and men, underrepresented minorities, and persons with disabilities—in science and research; (3) enhance scientific and technical understanding; and (4) benefit society. Applicants may provide characteristics of their background, including personal, professional, and educational experiences, to indicate their potential to fulfill the broader impacts criterion.

It is especially important for NSF GRFP recommendation writers to read their student’s graduate research plan and to focus on the student’s ability to contribute significantly to their field. Recommenders should discuss the student as a scientist/mathematician/engineer. In addition to noting the applicant’s publications, lab work, and teaching (if applicable), recommenders should speak to the applicant’s temperament and resourcefulness, as well as comment on how the applicant has or could represent the university well at recruiting events, presentations, or conferences. Feel free to share your opinion of the applicant’s potential for future significant achievement. Discuss the unique qualities or activities of the applicant; help your student stand out from the crowd.

Unlike other recommendation letters, it is appropriate and sometimes necessary to give some scientific detail and background to provide context for the student’s research goals and/or previous work.

GRFP reference letters may be up to two pages in length. If possible, submit your letter on letterhead. Letters should be signed, prepared on standard 8.5” x 11” page size, and use 12-point Times New Roman or Computer Modern font.

Letters must be submitted through the Fastlane online application portal. Referees will receive an email with instructions on submitting letters through this portal after the applicant completes the appropriate section of the application.

For further information and tips from NSF GRFP, see their reference requirements here.

Both the Payne and the Rangel Fellowships fund a combined graduate study, internship, and mentorship program for students interested in pursuing a career in the Foreign Service. The Payne Fellowship prepares award recipients for work in the USAID specifically while the Rangel Fellowship presents a pathway into the Foreign Service more broadly. The fellowships have different deadlines, but they share selection criteria and are both administered by Howard University. Letters of recommendation have the same parameters and submission protocol. However, Payne Fellowship applicants and referees must speak specifically to the applicant’s interest, commitment, and suitability to working for the USAID.

The selection panels for these awards judge applicants on several criteria, including: clear interest in a Foreign Service career with the U.S. Department of State; academic background and achievement; potential to succeed in graduate school; commitment to service; leadership skills; financial need for graduate school; diverse interests in areas such as international affairs and government; cultural sensitivity; writing skills; resourcefulness; integrity; composure; and an ability to overcome obstacles.

Referees should speak to the applicant’s strengths, particularly of the skills in the chart below. Make sure to comment on the applicant’s potential to succeed in graduate school and the Foreign Service. Referees are also invited to comment on the applicant’s areas for improvement.

Of the two letters of recommendation required for these scholarships, one should come from a faculty member, and one should come from a community leader. These referees should speak to different qualifications. The community leader should comment on an applicant's non-academic accomplishments and potential, including work ethic, initiative, dependability, composure, goal-orientation, inter-personal skills, etc. Examples of community leaders could include an internship supervisor, a faculty advisor for a student organization, or a work employer or supervisor. The faculty reference should speak to the student’s academic performance and likelihood to excel in the chosen graduate program.

Referees will receive an email with directions and a recommendation form. You are asked to both provide a narrative recommendation as well as ranking the applicant in several criteria in the provided chart:

Letters of recommendation should be limited to 12-point font or larger and should not exceed two pages.

Letters of recommendation for the Pickering Fellowship at both the undergraduate and the graduate levels should reference the “13 dimensions” of a Foreign Service Officer. Whenever possible, speak to these qualities in your student. Referees should explain why the applicant is uniquely qualified for the fellowship and, if possible, the applicant’s potential to thrive in a graduate program.

Once the applicant has submitted your email address, you will receive an email from The Washington Center, which administers the Pickering application process. The email will direct you to an online form where you will enter some basic information and upload your letter.

CFSA highly recommends that referees read the applicant’s personal statement before crafting a letter of recommendation to help shape a coherent and cohesive application.

The Rhodes criteria include:

1. literary and scholastic attainments

   This is an absolute necessary but not sufficient requirement. Student typically have a 3.8 or above.

2. energy to use one's talents to the full, as exemplified by fondness for and success in sports

   Rhodes is looking for “not merely bookworms.” “Sports” has been extended to include a variety of active hobbies. Reviewers want to see evidence of vigor, outward-looking leadership, “sparkle in the eye.)

3. truth, courage, devotion to duty, sympathy for and protection of the weak; kindliness, unselfishness and fellowship

   Competitive candidates will have the ability and inclination to “fight the World’s fight” through service that is sustained, meaningful and integrated with academic life.

4. moral force of character and instincts to lead, and to take an interest in one's fellow beings

   Applicants must not only have “fire in the belly,” but can effect positive change in their chosen field of study and in the world.

Applicants are also more competitive if they can demonstrate a desire and a need to study at Oxford and their specific program of choice.

The Rhodes Trust requires applicants to submit at least five but no more than eight letters of recommendation. At least four of these letters must come from academic instructors at the undergraduate or graduate level, and at least one letter must speak to an applicant’s character. Because of the high number of recommendations, it is important for recommenders to get detailed in how you know and have worked with the student, and to show concrete evidence that this student is among the nation’s best. Address what is most relevant to you, your discipline, and your relationship with the applicant.

Recommenders must distinguish what makes the student especially accomplished and especially able to influence the nation (now or in the future). If possible, emphasize the student’s public service and athletic ability

Rhodes reviewers find recommendations without any acknowledgement of a student’s weaknesses to be suspect and therefore discredit them. Be careful of hyperbole and stay specific. It is appropriate to incorporate criticism and a discussion of the student’s areas for growth into this recommendation. It may be helpful to read about constructive ways to incorporate criticism here.

The student will register you as a recommender in the online application system. The Rhodes online application system will send an email with instructions for submitting your letter by the national deadline. The letter should be signed and on letterhead. Address your letter to the Rhodes Scholarship Selection Committee.

For more guidance and suggestions on writing a recommendation letter for a Rhodes candidate, please contact CFSA.

For guidance and suggestions on writing a recommendation letter for a St. Andrew’s candidate, please contact CFSA.

New in the 2016-2017 academic year, the Schwarzman Scholars program requires four letters of recommendation. For current students, one of these letters comes from the institution and provides context for university-specific awards, grading systems, extracurricular activities, scholarships, etc.

All referees should comment on the applicant’s leadership qualities, experience, and potential. If possible, speak to the candidate’s ability to thrive in an intensive academic and cross-cultural setting. Although the scholarship only has one cohort of successful applicants thus far, the award winners are all extraordinarily high-achieving, innovative, and risk-taking students.

Submitted in narrative form, Schwarzman requests that letters address the following questions:

• How long have you know the candidate and in what capacity?
• How does this candidate’s intellectual and academic abilities compare to other students from your institution? Does s/he demonstrate broad interests, sharp insights on complex issues, flexibility of thinking, and curiosity about the world? To the extent that your knowledge of the candidate permits, please provide specific examples.
• Please describe this candidate’s personal characteristics and experiences that will contribute to her/his potential to take on leadership roles in the future. How does this candidate compare to others who have gone on to leadership positions after studying/working/volunteering with you?

After the applicant has completed and saved the recommendations portion of the online application, referees will receive an email with instructions on how to upload letters of recommendations online. All letters must be submitted electronically.

Successful applicants demonstrate exceptional academic achievement and a strong interest in peace and security issues. Candidates have preferably completed graduate study, a college major, extensive coursework or independent reading that relates directly to the fellowship’s subject of focus. Selectors especially seek out candidates with experience in public-interest activism and/or advocacy, particularly if these activities relate to peace and security issues. The fellowship gives preference to applicants without substantial experience in Washington, DC public-interest or governmental work.

Letters of reference should address: the accomplishments and standing of the candidate; the candidate’s interest and experience in international peace and security issues; the candidate’s ability to communicate, both orally and in writing; the candidate’s maturity and judgment, and the candidate’s potential to make a significant contribution to peace and security issues.

Referees may submit their letters either directly to Scoville (at apply@scoville.org) or to CFSA, where the letters will be bundled with the student’s other application materials. Signatures are preferred but are not required. The letter must be submitted as an attached Word of PDF document rather than in the body of the email. Please title the document “Last name of applicant-Last name of letter writer.” In certain cases, Scoville will (reluctantly) accept paper references.

Soros Fellows are selected as examples of the richness that refugees and immigrants contribute to the United States. The Soros Fellowship program awards especially promising New Americans in an effort to “level the playing field.” In addition to suggesting that all referees read the applicant’s essays (which are unique to the Soros Fellowship application), Soros offers the following suggestions for recommenders:

• Highlight how an applicant meets the Fellowship's criteria, which emphasize creativity, initiative, originality and sustained accomplishment.
• Explore the applicant's commitment to the Bill of Rights and Constitution, or more broadly, their sense of citizenship in a community.
• Contextualize the challenges, opportunities and choices that an applicant has faced, whether they are cultural or educational.
• Educate the reader about an applicant's field or sub-field, and the level of an applicant's strengths and work within that context.
• Describe the extent of the applicant's promise of significant contributions to US society, culture or their respective academic field.
• Explain the relevance an applicant's graduate training to his or her long-term career goals, and of potential value in enhancing his or her future accomplishments.

Once an applicant registers you as a recommender, you will receive an email from the online application system directing you to the “Recommender Registration” page. After registering, you will be able to upload your letter of recommendation. Please save and upload your letter as a PDF or a Word document. You cannot type the recommendation directly into the online system.

The Tillman Scholars program supports American active-duty service members, veterans and military spouses. Only one character recommendation is required for Tillman applicants.

Tillman Scholars are chosen based on the following criteria: record of personal achievement, academic and career ambitions, demonstration of service to others in the community, desire to continue to serve others and make a positive impact on your community, leadership potential, compelling, thoughtful, genuine and thorough essay question responses, record of military service and/or community impact as a military spouse. It is recommended that referees speak to these criteria and read the applicant’s essay to help craft a cohesive and coherent application.

Applicants must submit the name and contact information of one referee. After doing so, the referee will receive log-in information from the Pat Tillman Foundation and will answer “three standardized short questions” about the candidate’s character. Each question has a maximum word count of no more than 200 words. No separate letters are required.

Successful applicants usually demonstrate an extensive record of campus and community service, commitment to a career in government, nonprofit, or advocacy, communication skills, a high probability of becoming a “change agent,” and a strong academic record with likely acceptance to the graduate school of the candidate’s choice. In general, the record of campus and community service and the commitment to a career in public service are the most important criteria. Letter writers should focus on these two criteria. It is important to read through the student’s application essays to align your recommendation letter with the applicant’s goals written therein.

Truman applicants submit three letters of recommendation. Each letter addresses one of three selection criteria outlined below. References are welcome to address more than one criteria in one letter, but you must address the criteria written on the cover sheet provided to you by the student. It may be helpful to know who the other letter writers are and the angle they are taking so you can provide a different perspective.

• Leadership Abilities and Potential:  This letter should confirm the experience described in Question 7 (specific example of your leadership).  The letter writer need not have witnessed the example first hand, but he or she should be able to discuss the example and how it fits within the context of the student's leadership.
•  Commitment to a Career in Public Service:  This letter should confirm the experience described in Question 8 (recent, satisfying public service activity).  The letter writer need not have witnessed the activity first hand, but he or she should be able to discuss the example and how it fits within the context of the student's commitment to a career in public service.
•  Intellect and Prospects for Continuing Academic Success:  This letter should discuss the student's overall academic background in context of the student's future plans for career and graduate school (Questions 11 to 13).  It is recommended, though not required, that the writer have taught the student at some point.

Unlike many other scholarships, the Truman Scholarship does not shy away from students who are comfortable with public abrasion; in fact, the Foundation celebrates these students. Truman Scholars are expected to be the movers and shakers of the future. Do not be afraid to incorporate anecdotes or other specific examples that speak to the applicant’s fervor or comfort with public abrasion.

Letters should be addressed to the Truman Selection Committee and should not be more than two pages. Complete and sign the cover sheet provided by the student, attach your letter of recommendation, and send or deliver the letter to CFSA. CFSA will package all application materials together and send them to the Truman Scholarship Foundation.

It is especially helpful to read the student’s prepared essays before writing a recommendation letter for the Udall Scholarship. Applicants must prepare several responses that clearly articulate their personal background, educational and career plans, as well as an essay applying Congressman Udall’s achievements to the applicant’s own background. These responses can provide excellent substance, and tying the content of these responses into your letter can have a big impact on the reader. Refer to the applicant’s written materials when you can.

It is important to be very clear about the student’s relation to their chosen topic (environmental issues, tribal health care, tribal policy, Native American issues). Tailor your letter to reflect the student’s interest and commitment to the topic.

In addition to the suggestions above, recommenders should include the following criteria in their letters: evidence of academic success and confidence in future academic success; communication skills, especially those that may be used to contribute to the applicant’s chosen field; confidence about the student’s potential to contribute significantly contributions to the chosen field. Candidates who most often stand out are those that demonstrate a commitment to activities, volunteerism, and leadership.

Udall selection committee members warn references not to focus too much on the content of the scholarship or Congressman Udall. If you choose to do so, relate the information back to the applicant as soon as possible.

Letter writers are recommended to keep their letters to one page. Recommenders should send their letters to CFSA via email. CFSA will upload them to the online application portal.