Letters of Recommendation
How to Write a Letter of Recommendation for Grad School
By Dr. Philippe Barr, former professor and graduate admissions consultant. Most advice on how to write a letter of recommendation for grad school focuses on format.That’s not what determines whether the letter actually helps the applicant. If you’re trying to learn how to write a letter of…
PhD Letter of Recommendation: What Admissions Committees Actually Look For
By Dr. Philippe Barr, former professor and graduate admissions consultant. A PhD letter of recommendation is one of the most heavily weighted parts of your application. But most applicants misunderstand what these letters are actually used for. They assume letters are meant to confirm that they are…
Letter of Recommendation Template for Graduate School
By Dr. Philippe Barr, former professor and graduate admissions consultant A letter of recommendation template for graduate school can be helpful, but only if you understand what it is supposed to do. Most applicants look for a template because they want to make the process easier. Admissions…
Letter of Recommendation for Grad School Example (What a Strong Letter Actually Shows)
By Dr. Philippe Barr, former professor and graduate admissions consultant. A letter of recommendation for grad school example is useful only if you understand what the example is proving. Most applicants look for examples because they want something to follow. Admissions committees read letters for a different…
Who Should Write Letters of Recommendation for Grad School (Most Applicants Choose Wrong)
By Dr. Philippe Barr, former professor and graduate admissions consultant. Choosing who should write letters of recommendation for grad school is not a formality. It is one of the most important strategic decisions in your application. Most applicants think the goal is to choose people who like…
How to Ask for a Letter of Recommendation for a PhD (Without Risking a Weak Letter)
By Dr. Philippe Barr, former professor and graduate admissions consultant. Asking for a letter of recommendation for a PhD is not a courtesy email, and it is not an administrative step you squeeze in after finishing your statement of purpose. It is one of the most consequential…
How to Get Letters of Rec When You’ve Been Out of School
It’s no secret that having strong letters of recommendation can make or break your grad school applications. But if you’re like most adults who have been out of school for a few years, getting recommendations from professors and other professionals may seem like an impossible task. Don’t…
Letter of Recommendation for Graduate School: How Admissions Committees Evaluate Risk
By Dr. Philippe Barr, former professor and graduate admissions consultant. Most graduate school rejections do not happen because of GPA, test scores, or résumés. They happen quietly, after the file is already “strong enough,” when an admissions committee reaches the part of the application designed to answer…
Should I Waive My Rights to Review Recommendation Letters?
By Dr. Philippe Barr, former professor and graduate admissions consultant. Yes. In almost all cases, you should waive your rights to review recommendation letters. Graduate admissions committees consistently treat waived letters as more credible and non-waived letters as less reliable. While there are rare exceptions, choosing not…
Letter of Recommendation for a PhD Program: What Actually Matters
By Dr. Philippe Barr, former professor and graduate admissions consultant. In doctoral admissions, a letter of recommendation for a PhD program is not a formality, and it is not a character reference. It is one of the most heavily weighted qualitative evaluations in the entire doctoral admissions…