LOR Samples for MS in Electrical Engineering: How to Draft a LOR for MS in Electrical Engineering?

1.  Academic LOR

An academic LOR is a document (letter) addressed to the university, drafted, and sent directly by professors, mentors, project supervisors, etc. It focuses on the academic journey and highlights the academic accomplishments, setbacks, and overall growth of the applicant. If the recommender was a project supervisor, they must talk about progress and the role of the student in that project work. Remember, the recommender must have a positive outlook of the applicant and must project the same in the letter.

2.  Professional LOR

A professional LOR is essentially similar to an academic LOR. The only difference is that it is drafted by the applicant's senior, supervisor, team lead, manager, or employer. A professional LOR must highlight the working and/or professional skills of the applicant. This includes the projects they worked on, how their presence influenced the team, and what soft skills they developed/projected during their stint in the company.

It is important to note that the recommender must include only those skills relevant to the interactions with the applicant. For example, the employer may talk about how punctual and diligent the applicant was, but may not be able to adequately justify how the applicant influenced and worked with the team on the XYZ project unless he was directly involved with the project.

Generally, universities offering MS in electrical engineering require a set of three sample LOR for MS in electrical engineering. It is recommended that they should be a mix of Academic and Professional LORs. Commonly, for MS in electrical engineering, universities give more preference to the academic LORs. However, that by no means implies that a professional LOR is unimportant.

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How to Write a LOR for MS in Electrical Engineering?

 Now that we have an idea of the different types of LORs, let us discuss how to draft them. A LOR for MS in electrical engineering can be broken down into three sections—introduction, body, and conclusion.

Introduction

The recommender should start by introducing themselves, along with stating the purpose of this letter, which is to recommend the applicant for the program. They do not have to mention their names, but they must cite their experience in the field. The recommender must also mention their relationship/affiliation and overall impression of the candidate. That gives credibility to their words and establishes the groundwork for the rest of the LOR.

Body Paragraph

Here the recommender can talk about performance, skills demonstrated, relevant experiences, qualities, etc, that made the applicant stand out and makes them a good candidate for the MS in electrical engineering at that particular university. It is necessary to emphasise the skills and qualities relevant to the program and must back those up with suitable examples. These examples give credibility to the statements made by the recommender and improve the overall impact of the LOR samples for MS in electrical engineering.

Besides, the recommender can also talk about a specific project that the applicant was part of if they were directly involved. It is important to shed light on the applicant’s role in the project and how their involvement was critical to its success. But be mindful that the project discussed must be relevant to the program.

Further, the recommender should also highlight the interpersonal skills that the student possesses by mentioning their participation in extracurricular activities and such.

Conclusion

The recommender needs to summarise the whole LOR here, emphasising why they think the applicant is the best candidate for the program. They can also mention how the candidate will benefit from the program and vice versa. To finish it off, they need to express willingness to answer any further questions that the admission committee may have, and sign off in the traditional formal letter format with the recommender's name, designation, and contact details at the end.

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LOR Requirements of Top Universities for MS in Electrical Engineering

So, what are the LOR requirements of the top universities for the MS program?

Here is a list of top universities that offer MS in electrical engineering. The LOR requirements mentioned here are standard to the program. However, it is recommended that you check the latest updates on the official university website.

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Important Tips for Writing LOR for MS in Electrical Engineering

So is there something you need to be wary of while drafting a LOR?

While we have discussed different types of LOR samples for MS in electrical engineering, their structure, and their requirements by the universities; still, there are more aspects that the recommender and applicant must be mindful of.

The following are a few tips that you must know while drafting your sample LOR for MS in electrical engineering.

• The LOR must be concise and convey the information clearly: LORs that are vague are highly discouraged. Thus, it is vital to ensure that they are concise and lucid.
• Proofreading is a must: Grammatical errors result in a bad impression, regardless of how capable you are. Thus, do your best to double-check your content to avoid these errors.
• No Plagiarism: Plagiarism will lead to instant rejection of your application. Therefore, be mindful not to copy others' work.
• No Informal Tone: A LOR is a formal letter, but it must not be too bland. Therefore, it is necessary to keep it formal and personal.
• Must not be similar: All LORs must not sound similar as they are written by different people. If they look identical in the tone or topics discussed, it will instantly tarnish their credibility.
• Talk about the relevant skills: It is important to note that the skills discussed must be relevant to the program the applicant is going for. The common skills that can be included for MS in electrical engineering are the following:
• Mathematical acuity
• Drive to learn more
• Technical knowledge and skills
• Understanding of electrical machinery
• Circuit designing
• Critical thinking
• Programming skills
• Research skills
• Positive attitude
• Hard work
• Communication skills
• Interpersonal skills
• Leadership Skills
• Organisational skills
• Problem-solving skills
• Work ethic

• Common do’s and don’ts: Following are the common factors to keep in mind while choosing a recommender.
  • The recommender must’ve interacted with the candidate on a personal level. If the recommender doesn’t know the applicant personally, they won’t be able to provide an impeccable sample LOR for MS in electrical engineering.
  • The recommender must have a positive impression of the candidate. Only that way will they be able to provide a favourable LOR. The candidate MUST NOT approach someone who won’t provide a favourable LOR.
  • It is also important that the recommender must be willing to extend help since the universities may contact them personally.
  • Best if it is someone relevant to the program the candidate is applying to, like a senior who was an engineering student or a professor who has written a research project in the same/similar field.
• The candidate must help the recommender with appropriate facts: There might be cases where it has been a while since the candidate graduated. While professors may remember a candidate's personality and performance, they might not remember the exact grades they gave or the specifics of the project the candidate worked on. Thus, it is the duty of the applicant to provide recommenders with relevant facts.
• Must be the official email: Personal emails are generally frowned upon by the university. They also bring the credibility of the LOR down. Thus, it is necessary to provide the official email ID of the recommender.

We understand writing a LOR can be daunting. With so many steps, a student or recommender can get confused about what to include and what not in a LOR. But don’t worry, Yocket is here to help you understand the nuances and draft a succinct sample LOR for MS in electrical engineering in terms of format and guidelines.

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