A LOR samples for MS in civil engineering is a critical element of your admission application because your other application materials, such as SOP and application essays are subject to bias. This is because it’s ‘you’ who are writing these essays. However, a LOR is a testimony to your work ethic, interpersonal qualities, and personality coming from an external perspective, which is why it plays a pivotal role in your MS application.
Different LORs for Civil Engineering
A letter of recommendation (LOR) is a document that provides a third-person testimony of your capabilities, competence, and character. Usually, LORs are of two types academic and professional. Since a LOR samples for MS in civil engineering focuses largely on your academic performance, universities require you to submit academic letters of recommendation rather than professional LORs. However, if you have significant work experience, you can submit a professional LOR written by your boss, supervisor, or HOD. For MS programs, most universities require two to three letters of recommendation.
Let’s explore the constituents of each academic and professional LOR.
1. Academic LOR
Following is the structure of an academic LOR:
- The introductory paragraph discusses the recommender's qualifications, such as his or her name, title, university, and the subjects that he/she has taught the student. The first paragraph includes information, such as how long the recommender has known the applicant and other factual information about his/her characteristics.
- The body of the LOR should address some of the vital traits observed by the recommender, such as research acumen, technical proficiency, charisma, collaboration, attention to detail, practical knowledge, and awareness. The recommender may provide an example to explain these characteristics that are regarded as a key part of a LOR in demonstrating the student’s unique traits.
- Recommenders writing LOR for MS in Civil Engineering can emphasise the applicant’s technical knowledge and expertise in areas, such as:
- Map reading
- Ability to design and analyse blueprints
- Planning and execution
- Design comprehension
- Computer-Aided Design (CAD) knowledge
- Understanding of environmental factors
The recommender can also discuss further characteristics different to the ones stated above, emphasising other traits of the applicant via claims to support the traits listed. With such examples, the admission officer of the relevant university will be able to understand the applicant's potential and ensure that the recommender is not giving false claims.
- The conclusive paragraph outlines the applicant's abilities through the recommender's passionate endorsement of their application.
2. Professional LOR
- The introductory paragraph of a Professional LOR is similar to that of an Academic LOR where it discusses the recommender's name, qualifications, firm, city, and relationship with the applicant. It includes information, such as how long the recommender has known the applicant and information about their involvement, work ethics, etc.
- The body of the LOR should address some of the vital traits, such as research acumen, technical proficiency, charisma, collaboration, attention to detail, the capacity to adapt to new situations, work habits, and awareness. The recommender may provide an example to explain these characteristics that are regarded as a key part of a LOR in demonstrating the applicant’s unique traits.
- Discuss further characteristics different to the ones stated above, emphasising other traits of the applicant via claims to support the traits listed. With such examples, the admission officer of the relevant university will be able to understand the applicant's potential and ensure that the recommender is not giving false claims.
- The conclusive paragraph outlines the applicant's abilities through the recommender's passionate endorsement of their application.
Suggested: Letter of Recommendation Guide for MS, MBA, and Others
How to Write a LOR for an MS Program?
Your recommender can either write the LOR or fill out the recommendation form of your institute that consists of various questions related to the suitability of your candidature for MS. Since the LOR samples for MS in civil engineering are not prepared by you, it's better to approach the recommender ahead of time to address the content.
- From the recommender's standpoint, the major element of a LOR for MS in civil engineering should showcase your accomplishments and talents. The major focus of the LOR should be on your passion, skills, interpersonal features, etc.
- Provide strong assurance of the traits stated in the letter of recommendation by giving an example. Excessive use of adjectives and lengthy explanations must be avoided. The letter of recommendation should be succinct and written in straightforward and concise terms.
- Internships, team projects, research work, participation in workshops, club memberships, and other relevant experiences or achievements should be addressed in the LOR. Attributes such as the ability to converse well, interpersonal relationships, empathy, versatility, critical reasoning skills, problem-solving abilities, and the like can also be emphasised in the LOR.
While the goal of a recommendation letter is to highlight all your outstanding attributes, it should not be overstated. The recommender's perspective should represent fair judgment and appraisal based on factual observation.
Although in most cases, recommendation letters are one-page documents of 400-500 words, you can check if the university you’re applying to has special guidelines. Additionally, the layout and content organisation of your LOR are critical to properly address your message. The contents should be organised in 4-5 paragraphs, with each part covering a different element, and the overall flow should be logical.
Suggested: How to Write an SOP for Masters in Civil Engineering?
LOR Requirements of Top Universities for MS in Civil Engineering
Following is the list of top civil engineering universities along with their LOR requirements.
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology
- University of California, Berkeley
- University of Cambridge, England
1. Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)
MIT requires three to five letters of recommendation for the master's program in civil engineering. It is advised to get a strong letter of recommendation from the people who know you well like professors, supervisors, etc.
2. University of California, Berkeley (UCB)
UCB requires two letters of recommendation, out of which one letter must be written by an academic teacher or instructor. The second letter can be written by anyone the student selects, ideally someone who knows them well. Examples include a second teacher, college adviser, counsellor, coach, employer, clergy, etc.
Hence, one academic LOR and one professional LOR have to be drafted.
3. University of Cambridge, England
The LORs of the University of Cambridge must include the following pointers:
- Applicants must provide the names and contact information of two referees who can offer written recommendations in English.
- If you are still in higher education or have only been out of higher education for less than three years, you will need to provide two academic references.
- If you left higher education over three years ago, you can provide one academic and one professional reference.
- If you left higher education over six years ago, you can provide two professional references.
- When completing the online application form, you will be requested to give the names and email addresses of your referees.
Suggested: Sample LOR for Masters (MS)
Now you know the LOR samples for MS in civil engineering requirements. However, to make it more impactful, explore these invigorating tips.
Important Tips for Writing LOR for MS in Civil Engineering
Include the given pointers in your letter of recommendation.
- Since it’s a letter, keep all the formalities to the left-hand side as per modern letter-writing convention.
- Communicate and stay in touch with your potential recommenders (academic or professional) when you plan on requesting recommendations from them.
- Target the purpose for which the letter is written clearly once at the beginning and once at the end.
- Ensure that each LOR has distinctive anecdotes and qualities to showcase.
- Assess your strengths/capabilities and present them candidly without exaggerating what is not true.
- The letter should demonstrate the familiarity between the student and the recommender. If the recommender does not know about the student, he/she should have sufficient information to substantiate such familiarity.
- The candidate's capabilities, interests, and observed conduct should be specifically stated with anecdotes and examples.
- Share your resume, a scanned copy of the LOR, and the content of the LOR with your recommender when an online recommendation form is required to be submitted as part of the university application. This will help the recommender vouch for your candidature better.
With so many steps, a student or recommender can get confused about what to include and what not in a LOR. Therefore, if at any step you need end-to-end guidance or a customised service plan, choose Yocket premium. With this, our well-qualified and trained counsellors will mentor you for a successful study abroad ride.
