Email Reference Request Examples - Advisor and

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By Alison Doyle
Updated August 16, 2016

When you are completing undergraduate or graduate studies, or have earned your degree
recently, you will likely want to ask a professor or an academic advisor for a reference as you
begin to apply for jobs.

People familiar with your academic work and performance are excellent choices to ask for
recommendations as you begin your career. You may not have a lot of related work experience
in your chosen field, and your professors can speak about the knowledge and skills you have
demonstrated that will help you succeed in the industry you are targeting.

What to Include in the Message

When sending the email message include your name in the subject line. If you don't know the
professor or advisor well, mention the classes you have taken or the projects you have worked on
with them. It can be helpful to include a summary of related coursework and school activities,
along with your resume and cover letter.

The more detailed information you provide, the easier it will be for the reference writer to
endorse you. Review these tips for what to include and how to ask for a reference from a
professor.

The following are examples of email messages to use when you are requesting a reference for
employment from an academic advisor or a college professor.

Email Reference Request Letter for an Advisor

Subject: Jessica Angel Reference Request

Dear Ms. Jones,

I am writing to you to request that you provide a reference for me as I begin my job search. As
you know, I will be completing my graduate studies this spring, and have found several exciting
opportunities that I am exploring.

As my undergraduate thesis advisor and mentor, I believe that a reference from you would
provide a potential employer with information to recommend me as a school counselor.

If you need any additional information, please contact me via email or phone.

Thank you for your consideration and support.

Sincerely,
Jessica Angel
555-123-4567
jessicaa@aaa.com

Email Request for a Recommendation from a Professor

Here's a sample email message asking a professor to provide a recommendation for employment.

Subject: Recommendation Request - FirstName LastName

Dear Professor LastName,

I have greatly enjoyed and benefited from the four classes which I took with you over the past
three years. I was hoping that you might know me well enough and have a high enough regard
for my abilities to write a general recommendation for my credentials file.

As you can see from the attached cover letter, I am targeting positions in the publishing industry
which will draw upon my writing and editing skills ,as well as my organizational ability.

I have included a summary sheet to refresh your memory about some of my key papers including
my senior thesis. I have also attached my resume which will bring you up to date about some of
my accomplishments outside the classroom.

Please let me know if you are comfortable endorsing my candidacy for jobs in the publishing
industry. I would be happy to answer any questions and provide further information which will
help you to write your recommendation. Can we meet during your office hours to discuss this
further?

Thanks so much for all you have done for me and for taking the time to review this request.

Sincerely,

Firstname Lastname
Your Address
Your City, State, Zip Code
Your Phone Number
Your Email

Dear [Name of Employer or Graduate School Committee]:

I am pleased to write a letter of recommendation for [name of student]. I highly
recommend [name of student] to your organization for the position of [job title].
I have known [name of student] for the past [number of months, semesters,
years] as [he/she] has taken the following courses that I teach: [list courses, give brief
description of content of course]. As [his/her] professor, I have had an opportunity to
observe [his/her] participation and interaction in class and to evaluate [name of
student]s knowledge of the subject matter. [He/she] is and outstanding student in all
respects. [Name of student] has proven that through hard work, follow though, and team
work, [he/she] can accomplish tasks in a courteous and timely manner.
[Give one or two specific examples of the student's performance. Also, list other
activities that the student is involved with at the university and outside of the university.
Point out the areas in which this individual has learned and had the chance to grow with
these opportunities.]
[Name of student] is well equipped to grow from challenges that [he/she] is presented
with. [His/her] [list three key traits (examples: patience, teaching ability, strong computer
programming stills)], prepare [him/her] beautifully for
your [company/organization/school/program]. I strongly endorse making [name of
student] a member of your team at [list company name/school/program].
Sincerely,
[Your Name
Phone number
Email Address
Sample Letter #4: Joe the Hard Worker

Dear Admissions Committee,

It is my pleasure to recommend Joe, who I taught in my 11th grade math class. Joe
demonstrated tremendous effort and growth throughout the year and brought a great
energy to class. He has that combination of a positive attitude and the belief that he can
always improve that's rare in a high school student, but so essential to the learning
process. I am confident that he will continue to display the same commitment and
diligence in everything he does. I highly recommend Joe for admission to your school.

Joe would not describe himself as a math person. He's told me on several occasions
that all the numbers and variables make his mind go fuzzy. Joe did, in fact, struggle to
comprehend the material at the beginning of the year, but his response to this is what
really struck me. Where so many others have given up, Joe took on this class as a
welcome challenge. He stayed after school for extra help, got extra tutoring at the
nearby college, and asked questions in and out of class. Due to all his hard work, Joe
not only raised his grades, but he also inspired some of his classmates to stay after for
extra help, as well. Joe truly demonstrated a growth mindset, and he inspired his peers
to adopt that valuable perspective, too. Joe helped contribute to our classroom
environment as one where all students can feel supported and able to ask questions.

Joe's strong belief in his ability to acquire new skills and improve through practice was
likely shaped by his years as a baseball player. He's played all through high school and
is one of the team's most valuable players. In his final for our class, Joe designed an
impressive project calculating and analyzing batting averages. While he initially
described himself as not a math person, Joe reaped the benefits of his tremendous
effort and found a way to make the subject come alive for him in a way that he was
personally invested in. As a teacher, it is incredibly fulfilling to witness a student make
this kind of academic and personal progress.

Joe is a trustworthy, reliable, good-humored student and friend who supports others in
and out of the classroom. He was a pleasure to have in class, and his positive attitude
and belief in himself, even in the face of difficulty, is an immensely admirable asset. I'm
confident that he will continue to demonstrate the same diligence, perseverance, and
optimism that he showed myself and his peers. I highly recommend Joe for admission
to your undergraduate program. Please feel free to contact me with any further
questions at fortheloveofalgebra@gmail.com.

Sincerely,

Mr. Wiles
Math Teacher
Euclid High School
While the students featured in the first three examples were top of their class or
demonstrated leadership in the school, Joe isn't a top achiever in the traditional sense.
However, this recommendation is still a strong one, even if it says he struggled in the
teacher's class. What does Mr. Wiles focus on to recommend Joe?

The Break Down

Mr. Wiles writes a strong letter for Joe, with the same kind of enthusiasm and specific
examples as the other three letters. Even though Joe may not have gotten the
strongest grades in his math class, he found an enthusiastic recommender in his math
teacher. Mr. Wiles was extremely impressed with Joe's attitude, effort, and growth
mindset, which he demonstrated throughout the year and inspired in his fellow
classmates.

Mr. Wiles focuses on Joe's substantial personal strengths, ones that would likely
be impressive to his future educators. Even in a subject that may not come naturally
to him, Joe is diligent and committed. He's not self-conscious about asking questions or
seeking extra help, and he retains a strong belief in himself that he can continuously
learn, improve, and acquire new skills.

This letter, like the others, is effective because it is focused, supportive, and backed up
with examples. As you can tell from these examples, recommendations can
communicate a great deal about a student. Because of this, they can have a powerful
impact on a student's chances of admission. So what can teachers and students
do to make sure they are sending a strong recommendation letter that will help their
chances?
How to Get a Strong Recommendation Letter

While these letters are about different students with different interests, they share
certain fundamental features. One, they sound excited and enthusiastic. The teachers
clearly communicate that they are impressed by these students and eager to help them
get into college.

At the same time, the letters don't go overboard because they have examples to back
up their assessments. Specific examples and stories are key for backing up the
assessment. Plus, they make a letter more interesting and memorable. Rather than just
another engineering applicant, Stacy is the student who researched sound-absorption to
spare her parents from hours of guitar scales.

Finally, the teachers all discuss their students' personal strengths, along with their
academic strengths. They present the holistic view that admissions officers are looking
for, along with their strong vote of confidence in the students' future success.

Teachers should incorporate all these features into their letters, and students should
help provide them with the raw material to write about. While students should choose a
teacher who knows them well and has stories and observations to share, they should
also give their teachers a detailed "brag sheet" and let them know what would go into
their ideal letter. That way it can be even more personalized and complement the story
the student is telling in the rest of her application.

While recommenders may or may not share their letters with students, there should still
be open, two way communication when the student makes her request. That way
students and teachers can work together to produce an insightful, enthusiastic, and
specific letter of recommendation to send to colleges.

Sample Letter #3: William the History Buff and Social Organizer

Dear Admissions Committee,

It is hard to overstate the meaningful contributions that William has made to our school
and surrounding community. As both his 10th and 11th grade History teacher, I've had
the pleasure of seeing William make profound contributions both in and out of the
classroom. His school and community service is motivated by a strong sense of social
justice, which he informs through a nuanced and sophisticated understanding of
historical trends and events. I can say with confidence that William is one of the most
caring and driven students I've ever taught in my fifteen years at the school.

As a child of immigrant parents, William is especially drawn to understand the immigrant

experience. He produced an extraordinary semester-long research paper on the
treatment of Japanese-Americans in the U.S. during WWII, in which he went beyond all
expectations to conduct Skype interviews with relatives of his featured subjects to
incorporate into his paper. William has a great capacity to draw connections between
past and present and to ground his understanding of current issues in the context of
historical events. He never retreats to a simple answer or explanation, but is
comfortable dealing with ambiguity. William's fascination with U.S. and World History
and skill for deep analysis have him an exemplary scholar, as a well as a motivated
activist driven to promote civil rights and work towards social equity.

In sophomore year, William noticed that the college planning seminars students
attended included little information for first generation or immigrant students. Always
thinking about how institutions can better serve people, William spoke with counselors
and ESL teachers about his ideas to better support all students. He helped collect
resources and design a college planning curriculum for immigrant and undocumented
students to enhance their college access. He further helped organize a group that
connected ESL students with native English speakers, stating his mission to be helping
ELLs improve their English and increasing multicultural awareness and social cohesion
at the school as a whole. William identified a need and worked with students and faculty
alike to meet it in an extremely effective and beneficial way. Ever the history scholar, he
did plenty of research to back up his ideas.

William believes passionately in social progress and working for the common good. His
own personal experiences, along with his profound grasp on social history, drive his
advocacy work. He is a talented, intelligent student with the charisma, confidence,
strong values, and respect for others to make a huge difference in the world around
him. I'm looking forward to seeing all the good that William continues to do for his fellow
humanity in college and beyond, as well as the excellent work that he will produce at the
college level. William has my highest recommendation. If you have any questions,
please contact me at thethingstheycarried@gmail.com.

Sincerely,

Mr. Jackson
History Teacher
Martin Luther King, Jr. High School

Mr. Jackson's letter makes William sound like a pretty amazing student and person.
How does he go about expressing his admiration for William in this rec letter?
The Break Down

Like Ms. Randall did in her letter, Mr. Jackson provides a statement of outstanding
ranking for William, calling him one of the most caring and driven students he's ever
taught. Considering his long teaching career of 15 years, this says a lot about William
as a student and a person.

Also like in the last example, Mr. Jackson focuses on a few core aspects of William's
character. He talks about his love of history and how it informs his social activism. He
comments on his exceptional historical scholarship, as well as his personal qualities of
caring for those around him and working for the social good.

Mr. Jackson also gives insight into William's personal life, explaining how he has a
personal connection to his projects and volunteer work as the child of immigrant
parents. This letter reveals that William is a thoughtful, motivated individual who
connects his own experiences with his learning and desire to contribute to his
community.

This letter gives specific examples, of William's research paper and his work
supporting the academic and personal needs of ELL students, to demonstrate his
exceptional accomplishments. Mr. Jackson expresses his enthusiastic recommendation
while illuminating William's love of learning and strength of character. This letter would
be both impressive and memorable to admissions officers considering William for
admission to their school.

This next example comes from a math teacher. Let's see what Mr. Wiles has to say
about Joe.
Sample Letter #2: Stacy the Engineer

Dear Admissions Committee,

It is a great pleasure to recommend Stacy for admission to your engineering program.

She is one of the most exceptional students I have encountered in my 15 years of
teaching. I taught Stacy in my 11th grade honors physics class and advised her in
Robotics Club. I am not surprised to find out she is now ranked at the top of an
extraordinarily capable class of seniors. She has a keen interest in and talent for
physics, math, and scientific inquiry. Her advanced skills and passion for the subject
make her an ideal fit for your rigorous engineering program.

Stacy is a perceptive, sharp, quick individual with a high aptitude for math and science.
She is driven to understand how things work, whether they be the old computer hard
drives in the school library or the forces that hold our universe together. Her final project
in class was especially impressive, an investigation of frequency-dependent sound
absorption, an idea that she said was sparked by not wanting to bother her parents with
her hours of guitar practice at home. She's been a strong leader in Robotics Club, eager
to share her knowledge with others and learn new skills. I have the students in the club
prepare lessons and take turns leading our after-school meetings. When it was Stacy's
turn, she showed up prepared with a fascinating lecture on lunar nautics and fun
activities that got everyone moving and talking. She was our only student teacher to be
met with much deserved applause at the end of her lesson.

Stacy's personal strengths are as impressive as her intellectual accomplishments. She's

an active, outgoing presence in class with a great sense of humor. Stacy's the perfect
person to get a group project rolling, but she also knows how to sit back and let others
take the lead. Her cheerful nature and openness to feedback means she's always
learning and growing as a learner, an impressive strength that will continue to serve her
well in college and beyond. Stacy is just the kind of driven, engaging, and curious
student that helped make our classroom a lively environment and safe place to take
intellectual risks.

Stacy has my highest recommendation for admission to your engineering program. She
has demonstrated excellence in all that she puts her mind to, whether it's designing an
experiment, collaborating with others, or teaching herself to play classical and electrical
guitar. Stacy's endless curiosity, combined with her willingness to take risks, leads me
to believe there will be no limit to her growth and achievements in college and beyond.
Please don't hesitate to contact me at milevafanclub@gmail.com if you have any
questions.

Sincerely,

Ms. Randall
Physics Teacher
Marie Curie High School
Ms. Randall is clearly as much of a fan of Stacy as she is of Mileva Mari. How does
she communicate her recommendation?

The Break Down

Ms. Randall plugs for Stacy right off the bat with a statement of outstanding ranking:
Stacy is one of the most exceptional students she's had in 15 years of teaching. A
statement like this is pretty extraordinary and will make an impact in the mind of its
readers. Stacy sounds like a special student, and she chose her recommender well.

Like in the last example, this letter uses strong, specific language, calling Stacy a
perceptive and sharp person who has the confidence and good humor to take
intellectual risks. Through its accurate and expressive language, this letter helps Stacy
come to life in the mind of the reader.

Beyond the evaluation, Ms. Randall gives specific examples of Stacy's academic and
personal strengths. She talks about her successful teaching in Robotics Club, her
leadership in group projects, and her dedicated practice to teaching herself to play the
guitar.

Rather than spreading the letter too thin, Ms. Randall highlights a few core
themes. She connects Stacy's love of music with her passion for physics by talking
about the frequency-dependent sound absorption project. All the threads tie together in
a nice, memorable bow.
This letter is a strong vote of support for Stacy's application to an engineering program.
Her physics teacher admires Stacy's skills and goals, and she made it clear that Stacy
had her highest recommendation in this letter.

This next example also comes from a teacher who's extremely impressed with his
student. It focuses on the student's performance in class and his volunteer work outside
the classroom.

ample Letter #1: Sara the Poet

Dear Admissions Committee,

I had the pleasure of teaching Sara in her 11th grade honors English class at Mark
Twain High School. From the first day of class, Sara impressed me with her ability to be
articulate about difficult concepts and texts, her sensitivity to the nuances within
literature, and her passion for reading, writing, and creative expression- both in and out
of the classroom. Sara is a talented literary critic and poet, and she has my highest
recommendation as a student and writer.

Sara is talented at considering the subleties within literature and the purpose behind
authors' works. She produced an extraordinary year-long thesis paper on creative
identity development, in which she compared works from three different time periods
and synthesized cultural and historical perspectives to inform her analysis. When called
upon to give her thesis defense in front of her peers, Sara spoke clearly and eloquently
about her conclusions and responded to questions in a thoughtful way. Outside of the
classroom, Sara is dedicated to her literary pursuits, especially to poetry. She publishes
her poetry in our school's literary magazine, as well as in online magazines. She is an
insightful, sensitive, and deeply self-aware individual driven to explore art, writing, and a
deeper understanding of the human condition.

Throughout the year Sara was an active participant in our discussions, and she always
supported her peers. Her caring nature and personality allow her to work well with
others in a team setting, as she always respects others' opinions even when they differ
from her own. When we held a class debate about gun laws, Sara opted to speak for
the side opposite her own views. She explained her choice as motivated by a desire to
put herself in other people's shoes, view the issues from a new perspective, and gain a
clearer sense of the issue from all angles. Throughout the year, Sara demonstrated this
openness to and empathy for the opinions, feelings, and perspectives of others, along
with shrewd powers of observation, all qualities that makes her outstanding as a student
of literature and burgeoning writer.

I am certain that Sara is going to continue to do great and creative things in her future. I
highly recommend her for admission to your undergraduate program. She is talented,
caring, intuitive, dedicated, and focused in her pursuits. Sara consistently seeks out
constructive feedback so she can improve her writing skills, which is a rare and
impressive quality in a high school student. Sara is truly a stand-out individual who will
impress everyone she meets. Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions
at callmeclemens@gmail.com.

Sincerely,

Ms. Scribe
English Teacher
Mark Twain High School

This is a thorough, glowing recommendation for a student that Ms. Scribe clearly knows
well. What other features make it stand out as a strong letter of rec?

The Break Down

Ms. Scribe has a high opinion of Sara and her skills at writing and literary analysis. One
way that she expresses this is by using powerful and specific language. She doesn't
merely say Sara is a good writer. She says she's articulate about difficult concepts and
sensitive to the nuances within literature. She calls her insightful and self-aware with
shrewd powers of observation.

These descriptors don't happen by accident. Ms. Scribe took the time to choose her
words carefully, and that effort paid off with a strong letter that captures Sara's special
qualities.
Ms. Scribe also supports her characterization of Sara with examples. She describes
her thesis paper and how she responded to questions thoughtfully under the pressured
situation of her thesis defense. She gives the example of the debate on gun laws to
illustrate Sara's openness to many different points of view.

In addition to illuminating her intellectual and personal strengths and supporting them
with specific examples, Ms. Scribe speaks to Sara's goals for the future. She points
out that she is talented at writing, poetry specifically, and that she is committed to
continuing to improve as a writer in her future.

This letter, by virtue of its wording, length, and specificity, shows that Ms. Scribe took
the time and effort to recommend Sara thoughtfully and with conviction. The fact that
she knows Sara well and is committed to helping her application succeed with a
thoughtful letter further adds weight to her assessment.

This letter would be a boon to Sara's application, especially if she's applying to study
writing or English. She clearly impressed her English teacher and, in return, got a
memorable, complimentary letter of recommendation for her college application.

This next example is similarly enthusiastic and detailed. It's for a student applying to
an engineering program.
Personal Recommendation Letter Template
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By Alison Doyle
Updated March 15, 2017

A personal recommendation, also known as a character recommendation or a character reference,

is a letter of recommendation written by someone who can speak to the job candidates
personality and character.

A person might ask for a personal recommendation if they do not have much work experience, or
if they feel their employers cannot write positive references.
A recommendation letter should provide information on who you are, your connection with the
person you are recommending, why they are qualified, and the specific skills they have that you
are endorsing.

A personal recommendation focuses on the personality and soft skills of the candidate, and uses
examples from the candidate's life outside of work.

Read below for a personal recommendation letter template. Use this template as a guide
to writing your own recommendation letters, making sure all relevant information is included.

How to Use a Letter Template

A template helps you with the layout of your letter. Templates also show you what elements you
need to include in your letter, such as introductions and body paragraphs.

You should use a template as a starting point for your own recommendation letter. However, you
should always be flexible. You can change any of the elements of the template to fit your own
needs. For example, if a letter template only has one body paragraph, but you want to include
two, you should do so.

Personal Recommendation Letter Template

Heading
If you are writing a letter, follow the proper business letter format.

Begin with your contact information at the top of the letter, followed by the date, and then the
contact information of the employer.

If you are sending the letter as an email, you do not need to include this heading. However, you
will have to come up with a subject line for the email. In the subject, briefly include the purpose
of your letter, and the name of the person you are writing about.

If you know the job the person is applying for, you can put that too. For example: Subject
Line: Recommendation for Firstname Lastname, Account Analyst
Salutation
When writing a recommendation letter, include a salutation (Dear Dr. Joyner, Dear Ms. Merrill,
etc.). If you are writing a general letter, address it "To Whom it May Concern" or simply don't
include a salutation and start with the first paragraph of the letter.

Paragraph 1
The first paragraph of the personal recommendation letter explains how you know the person
you are recommending (and for how long you've known them) and why you are qualified to
write a letter to recommend employment or graduate school. With a personal letter, you are
writing a recommendation because you know the person and their character.

Paragraph 2 (and 3)
The second paragraph of a recommendation letter contains specific information on the person
you are writing about, including why they are qualified and what they can contribute. If
necessary, use more than one paragraph to provide details.

Be sure to provide specific examples of times the person has demonstrated specific qualities. It is
fine if these are not work-related examples after all, you do not know the person from a work
setting.

Focus on examples from your relationship with that person.

When writing a letter referring a candidate for a particular job opening, the recommendation
letter should include information about how the person's skills match the position they are
applying for. Therefore, ask the candidate for the job listing ahead of time, or at least ask what
types of jobs the person will be applying for (if it is a general recommendation letter).

Conclusion with Summary

This section of the recommendation letter contains a brief summary of why are you are
recommending the person. State that you "highly recommend" the person or you "recommend
without reservation" or something similar.

Conclude the letter with an offer to provide more information. Include a phone number within
the paragraph, or other form of contact (such as an email address).
Signature
End the letter with a sign-off such as Sincerely or Best. If you are mailing this letter,
conclude with your handwritten signature, followed by your typed signature.

If this is an email, conclude with your typed signature. Below your signature, include any contact
information.

How to Write a Letter of Recommendation

Advice on how to write a letter of recommendation, including what to include in each section of
the letter, how to send it, and sample letters of recommendation for employment and academics.

Letter of Recommendation Samples

Reference letter and email message samples including academic recommendations; business
reference letters; and character, personal, and professional references.

How to Ask for a Letter of Recommendation

Advice on who to ask for a recommendation, when to ask, and how to frame your request. Also
see advice on how to use email to request a recommendation, and what additional information
you should provide the recommendation writer.

Character Reference Letter Sample and Tips

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Job Searching
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By Alison Doyle
Updated October 03, 2016

A character reference (also known as a personal reference) is a reference written by someone

who knows you well. It might be a family friend, neighbor, someone you volunteered with, or
someone for whom you did casual work, like babysitting or gardening.

An employer might ask for a character reference in addition to other employment references. It is
a way to learn a bit more about you and your character, particularly your character outside of
work.

You might also choose to submit a character reference to an employer in place of (or in addition
to) an employment reference. This is a great way to make your job application stand out if you
do not have a very strong employment background (for example, if you have not worked in
awhile, or if you are new to the job market).

In a character reference, aspects of your personality are emphasized, including your

trustworthiness, loyalty, and ethics, as opposed to your skills and experiences relating to a
specific job.

Read below for tips on asking for and writing a character reference letter, as well as a sample
letter.

Tips for Asking for and Writing a Character Reference Letter

Below are tips for asking for a character reference:

Consider whom to ask. Ask someone who knows you well, and can speak to your
positive qualities. While this can be someone you worked with in some capacity (such as
someone you babysat for), this can also be someone who knows you only personally,
such as a neighbor or friend. What matters most is that they are able to provide you an
honest, positive reference.

Provide information. If the person says yes, give them all the information they need to
write you a reference letter. Tell them what job you are applying for, how to submit the
letter, and the deadline for submission. Also send them any material that might help them
write the letter, such as your resume.

Send a thank you note. Send a thank you note afterwards to the writer. Be sure to
emphasize how much you appreciate them taking the time to write you a reference.

Below are tips for writing a character reference:

Think before saying yes. Before agreeing to write a reference letter, make sure you can
write the person a positive letter. If you cannot, it is better to say no; that will give them
the chance to ask someone who might be able to write a stronger letter for them. You can
simply say, I dont feel I am qualified to write a letter on your behalf.
Request information. If you decide to write the letter, make sure you have all the
information you need. In particular, make sure you know what the letter is for (whether it
is for a particular job, a college application, etc.), how to submit it, and when it is due.
Then, ask if the person has a resume or something else that you can use to help write the
letter.
Be specific. In your letter, focus on two or three specific, strong qualities the person has.
While you might not be able to, try to think of qualities that would also make them a
good fit for the job (look at the job listing, or similar listings, for a sense of the qualities
the employer might be looking for). Provide a specific example of a time the person
demonstrated each of those qualities.
 Provide contact information. If you feel comfortable, provide contact information so
that the employer can reach you with further questions.
Edit, edit, edit. Be sure to thoroughly edit your letter so that it is polished and
professional. Ask a friend or family member to read over the letter before you send it.

Sample Character Reference Letter

The following is a sample character reference for someone who is a babysitter:

To Whom it May Concern:

I have had the pleasure of knowing Katherine Kingston for eight years. During the years of our
acquaintance, I have known Katherine in many capacities. Katherine is my neighbor, and she has
been my babysitter since the birth of my first child five years ago.

Since that time, she has become the babysitter for my three children. In the eight years Ive
known her, Katherine has demonstrated great maturity and creativity.

Katherine is mature beyond her years. She was only eleven when she first became our babysitter,
but she was so responsible. Katherine even began a policy of writing a brief summary at the end
of each babysitting job, with information on what they did and how each child behaved. She
demonstrates an impressive professionalism.

Katherine is also extremely creative. Over the years, she has designed multiple games and art
projects for children ranging from newborns to eight-year-olds. One time in particular, she
designed a play, created costumes and a set with our children, and they performed this for us
after a week of rehearsing. Not many teenagers have this kind of creativity, and take this kind of
initiative.

Katherine is an intelligent, capable, dedicated, and personable young woman. She is always
quick on her feet, with sensible reactions in all the circumstances I've seen her in. I feel confident
in saying that she is capable of handling any situation with thoughtfulness and maturity.

Please dont hesitate to contact me (555-555-5555) with any other questions.

Regards,

Jill Johnson

More Reference Letter Examples

More examples of reference letters written for friends, co-workers, clients, employees, students,
vendors, and professional connections.

Character Reference Letter Example and Tips

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By Alison Doyle
Updated August 10, 2016

A character reference (also known as a personal reference) is a letter of reference provided by

someone who can attest to your personality and character. Most often, a character reference is
written by someone other than an employer, such as a family member, friend, or acquaintance.

The following is a character reference letter example written by an acquaintance. Below are also
tips for both writing and requesting a character reference.

Character Reference Letter Example

To Whom It May Concern,

I have known Jane Doe in a variety of capacities for many years. She has been my daughter's
riding instructor for the past several years. In addition, she is my partner in a small business
where she is responsible for writing and editing articles and website content.

Jane is efficient and extremely competent. She often successfully finishes a task well before the
deadline. She is extremely organized, and never misses a deadline or forgets an assignment.

Jane also has an excellent rapport with people of all ages. She has taught riding to both young
children and the elderly, and every age in between. Her excellent communication skills (both
written and verbal) allow her to connect with all kinds of people.

In summary, I highly recommend Jane for any position or endeavor that she may seek to pursue.
She will be a valuable asset for any organization.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Sincerely,

John Smith
555-555-5555
jsmith@email.com

When to Provide a Character Reference

Some employers request character references in addition to letters of reference from former
employers. These references give employers a sense of your personality.

Some job seekers choose to use personal references for their first job search, since they may not
have any former employers.

Some people also use character references if they worry their bosses will not write positive
references. Sometimes a strong character reference can help make up for a weaker employer
reference, or a lack of employer references.
Tips for Requesting a Character Reference

Think carefully about who you want to ask to write a reference for you. Make sure you pick
someone who knows you well enough to offer insight into your personality. Pick someone who
you think will speak positively about you. You can ask a family member, friend, or neighbor.
You can also ask a teacher, advisor, volunteer leader, coach, or business acquaintance.

Be sure to ask your reference as early as possible, so she or he has time to write the letter. Offer
to send them your resume or update them on your life if they would like some more information.
Afterwards, send them a thank you note to show your appreciation.

Here are more tips on how to ask for a reference.

Tips for Writing a Character Reference

When asked to write a character reference, only say yes if you can speak positively about that
persons personality and work ethic.

If you say yes, be sure to include a few key elements in your letter:

First, state your relationship with the job candidate, and how long you have known him
or her.
The body of your letter should focus on one or two of the candidates strongest qualities
or skills that you think will make them stand out in the job search. Try to support each
claim you make about the person with a specific example.
At the end of the letter, provide any contact information that you feel comfortable sharing
with the employer.

Be sure to thoroughly edit your letter before sending it. You also want to make sure your letter is
thorough, but not too long.

Three to five paragraphs is enough no more than one page.

Read some reference letter samples to get started on your own letter.
Read More: Character and Personal References | Employment Verification | Requesting
References | Sample Letters of Reference | Will Employers Check Your References?

Personal Recommendation Letter Template

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Job References
Basics
Career Advice
Best Jobs
Job Listings
Job Application Tips
Resumes
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Cover Letters
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Job Interviews
Letters & Emails
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Leaving Your Job
VIEW ALL
By Alison Doyle
Updated March 15, 2017

A personal recommendation, also known as a character recommendation or a character reference,

is a letter of recommendation written by someone who can speak to the job candidates
personality and character.

A person might ask for a personal recommendation if they do not have much work experience, or
if they feel their employers cannot write positive references.
A recommendation letter should provide information on who you are, your connection with the
person you are recommending, why they are qualified, and the specific skills they have that you
are endorsing.

A personal recommendation focuses on the personality and soft skills of the candidate, and uses
examples from the candidate's life outside of work.

Read below for a personal recommendation letter template. Use this template as a guide
to writing your own recommendation letters, making sure all relevant information is included.

How to Use a Letter Template

A template helps you with the layout of your letter. Templates also show you what elements you
need to include in your letter, such as introductions and body paragraphs.

You should use a template as a starting point for your own recommendation letter. However, you
should always be flexible. You can change any of the elements of the template to fit your own
needs. For example, if a letter template only has one body paragraph, but you want to include
two, you should do so.

Personal Recommendation Letter Template

Heading
If you are writing a letter, follow the proper business letter format.

Begin with your contact information at the top of the letter, followed by the date, and then the
contact information of the employer.

If you are sending the letter as an email, you do not need to include this heading. However, you
will have to come up with a subject line for the email. In the subject, briefly include the purpose
of your letter, and the name of the person you are writing about.

If you know the job the person is applying for, you can put that too. For example: Subject
Line: Recommendation for Firstname Lastname, Account Analyst
Salutation
When writing a recommendation letter, include a salutation (Dear Dr. Joyner, Dear Ms. Merrill,
etc.). If you are writing a general letter, address it "To Whom it May Concern" or simply don't
include a salutation and start with the first paragraph of the letter.

Paragraph 1
The first paragraph of the personal recommendation letter explains how you know the person
you are recommending (and for how long you've known them) and why you are qualified to
write a letter to recommend employment or graduate school. With a personal letter, you are
writing a recommendation because you know the person and their character.

Paragraph 2 (and 3)
The second paragraph of a recommendation letter contains specific information on the person
you are writing about, including why they are qualified and what they can contribute. If
necessary, use more than one paragraph to provide details.

Be sure to provide specific examples of times the person has demonstrated specific qualities. It is
fine if these are not work-related examples after all, you do not know the person from a work
setting.

Focus on examples from your relationship with that person.

When writing a letter referring a candidate for a particular job opening, the recommendation
letter should include information about how the person's skills match the position they are
applying for. Therefore, ask the candidate for the job listing ahead of time, or at least ask what
types of jobs the person will be applying for (if it is a general recommendation letter).

Conclusion with Summary

This section of the recommendation letter contains a brief summary of why are you are
recommending the person. State that you "highly recommend" the person or you "recommend
without reservation" or something similar.

Conclude the letter with an offer to provide more information. Include a phone number within
the paragraph, or other form of contact (such as an email address).
Signature
End the letter with a sign-off such as Sincerely or Best. If you are mailing this letter,
conclude with your handwritten signature, followed by your typed signature.

If this is an email, conclude with your typed signature. Below your signature, include any contact
information.

How to Write a Letter of Recommendation

Advice on how to write a letter of recommendation, including what to include in each section of
the letter, how to send it, and sample letters of recommendation for employment and academics.

Letter of Recommendation Samples

Reference letter and email message samples including academic recommendations; business
reference letters; and character, personal, and professional references.

How to Ask for a Letter of Recommendation

Advice on who to ask for a recommendation, when to ask, and how to frame your request. Also
see advice on how to use email to request a recommendation, and what additional information
you should provide the recommendation writer.

Membuat study plan(rencana studi) untuk melamar sekolah

atau beasiswa.
Posted on September 19, 2011by tsulusun

Pada proses seleksi beasiswa study plan dan surat rekomendasi adalah dua faktor yang sangat
menentukan diterima atau tidaknya seorang pelamar. Hal ini karena secara umum para pelamar
akan memiliki IPK dan nilai TOEFL yang sama atau relative dekat. Sering terjadi seorang
pelamar dengan IPK yang rendah (dibawah 3 atau dibawah 3.5 ) mampu mendapatkan beasiswa
dengan menyingkirkan pelamar lainnya dikarenakan study plan yang outstanding. Berikut ini
adalah tips2 membuat study plan:

Ringkas. Usahakan study plan seringkas mungkin dengan jumlah halaman maksimal 2 lembar 1
lembar lebih baik. Hal ini karena umumnya pelamar beasiswa berjumlah ratusan orang, sedangkan
komite hanya terdiri dari 3-7 orang. Study plan yang terlalu panjang akan membuat komite : 1 malas
membacanya 2 poin penting tidak terbaca 3 bila 2 hal tersebut terjadi otomatis anda akan gugur
dalam seleksi.
hanya menulis yang penting dan berhubungan dengan riset dan studi anda. Hindari menuliskan
tentang: 1 cita2 masa kecil anda, hobby, riwayat hidup atau aktivitas yang tidak berkaitan dengan
rencana studi anda.
 Jalaskan rencana riset anda. Dalam studi plan anda harus menjelaskan rencana riset anda dalam 1
paragrap lengkap dengan poinya. Misal anda ingin meneliti tentang membuat LED dari material
organic. Maka anda harus menjelaskan di bagian LED mana anda akan focus, materialnya apa.
Bagaimana dengan metoda penumbuhan atau pembuatannya, karkateristik apa yang ingin anda
tonjolkan dari LED anda. Misal anda focus di surface Plasmon LED anda dan sebagainya. Semakin
detail dan lengkap maka peluang anda untuk memenangkan beasiswa semakin besar.
Jujur. Bila anda berbohong hal ini akan mudah diketahui oleh para komite, Karena mereka ini rata2
sudah sangat berpengalaman dalam menyeleksi pelamar beasiswa.
Kreatif. Agar riset plan anda dilirik oleh calon prof. maka buatlah riset itu menarik dan unik. Untuk
itu anda harus membaca minimal 50 paper yang berkaitang dengan riset anda. Mulailah dengan
membaca paper review di sekitar bidang itu, setelah itu focus pada satu masalah, kemudian
mulailah mencari paper yang setopik denga masalah itu.
Grammar yang bagus. Mintalah teman anda atu dosen anda untuk mengkoreksi study plan anda.
Berkonsultasi dengan dosen pembimbing anda.
Semoga bisa membantu.

LPDP 1: Tips Lolos Administrasi Beasiswa LPDP

Posted on January 24, 2015by endahanomsari

Pertama dan utama, dalam melamar beasiswa apapun, adalah untuk mengetahui beasiswa itu
sendiri. Sebelum bertanya apapun tentang LPDP, bacalah informasi lengkap yang tersedia di
dalam website resminya. Apabila ada yang kurang jelas, silahkan ditanyakan melalui e-mail atau
twitter LPDP. Jangan pernah bertanya informasi yang sudah ada jawabannya, itu menandakan
sebagai pelamar beasiswa Anda tidak punya cukup keseriusan dan kemauan untuk membaca.
Usahakan hanya bertanya lebih lanjut dan mendetail yang memang jawabannya belum tersedia
atau kurang jelas.

Nah, bagaimana? Sudah dibaca informasinya? Sudah tahu kalau LPDP menyediakan beberapa
macam beasiswa; S2 dan S3 dalam dan luar negeri, beasiswa affirmasi, beasiswa presiden,
beasiswa thesis dan doktoral, juga beasiswa dokter spesialis? Sudah tahu syarat-syaratnya? Kalau
ada yang ingin diperjelas, investasikan waktu untuk bertanya pada sesama pelamar
atau awardee periode sebelumnya. Percayalah, banyak orang bersedia berbagi informasi dan
pengalaman secara cuma-cuma. Kunjungi blog-blog atau grup Facebook yang membahas
beasiswa ini. Saya mengucapkan terima kasih kepada semua orang yang telah berbaik hati
membalas komentar atau e-mail saya terkait beasiswa ini, semoga Anda semua mendapat
balasan-Nya J
Dari saya, mungkin tidak bisa dibilang benar-benar tips karena setiap orang memiliki strategi
mereka sendiri. Sekadar berbagi pengalaman saja.

Pertama, baca baik-baik informasi yang tersedia. Pikirkan syarat apa yang sudah Anda punya,
apa yang belum. Setelah itu, susun jadwal untuk memenuhi persyaratan tersebut, mulai dari
TOEFL atau IELTS, rekomendasi dari dosen atau tokoh masyarakat, dan essay-essay. Semuanya
harus dicek, dipenuhi. Apabila belum punya, perkirakan sendiri kira-kira butuh waktu berapa
lama untuk bisa memenuhi persyaratan. Misal untuk sertifikat kemampuan Bahasa Inggris Anda
butuh les atau tes, ya hitung sendiri kira-kira berapa lama Anda butuh waktunya. Jadi tentukan
periode kapan Anda akan mendaftar beasiswa LPDP! Untuk surat rekomendasi, jangan terlalu
mepet! Orang yang Anda mintai rekomendasi bukan pengangguran, jadi usahakan meminta
suratnya jauh-jauh hari. Saya berniat mendaftar periode November dan sudah mengantongi
rekomendasi sejak awal Oktober.
Terima kasih untuk Ibu dan Bapak dosen saya yang telah menyediakan waktu, pikiran, dan
dukungan untuk menulis surat rekomendasi untuk saya J
Kedua, ketahui mengapa Anda mendaftar! Kalau hanya iseng atau coba-coba siapa tahu untung,
Anda berkesempatan besar untuk kebingungan membuat essay. Untuk LPDP jalur reguler (BPI),
ada tiga essay yang harus Anda tulis: kesuksesan terbesar dalam hidupku, peranku bagi bangsa,
dan rencana studi. Essay ini yang makan waktu paling lama bagi saya. Jangan kira menulisnya
cukup sehari dua hari. Bagi saya, menulisnya butuh dua tiga bulan hehe Relatif berapa lama
kok tidak harus selama saya, tapi yang jelas jangan sampai mepet. Mengapa?
Essay menunjukkan siapa kita. Dalam essay, kita berusaha menjual diri dengan kejujuran
setinggi-tingginya. Artinya kita harus menunjukkan kekuatan kita tetapi bukan lantas kita
berbohong. Ketiga essay, menurut saya, bukan sekadar tulisan, tapi seperti pertanyaan yang
menstimulasi saya memikirkan masa depan seperti apa yang ingin saya raih. Saya jadi
memikirkan bagaimana masa lalu saya, bagaimana perjalanan saya untuk jadi saya yang
sekarang, apa yang saya punya, apa yang saya inginkan, dan apa yang bisa saya lakukan di masa
depan. Essay ini merupakan rencana hidup! Sebagian kecil dari rencana hidup! Jadi tulislah baik-
baik, kenali diri, setelah menulis lakukan revisirevisirevisi Kalau perlu minta teman
untuk membaca dan mengkritisi essay kita.
Untuk mendapatkan inspirasi cara menulis essay, banyak pelamar atau awardee yang mau
membagikan essay aplikasi mereka. Coba saja utarakan maksud Anda ingin membaca essay
mereka! Dengan bahasa santun ya! Perhatikan net-ethic, kalau bisa jangan berkomentar di blog
orang lain sebagai anonim. Berdasarkan pengalaman saya, banyak blogger merespon positif
permintaan essay kok. Saya mendapat kiriman beberapa essay di e-mail saya, tentunya hasil dari
saya berkomentar di blog mereka. Namun ingat, essay orang lain bukan panduan wajib diikuti.
Essay mereka hanya bagian brainstorming yang bisa Anda lakukan. Essay itu bersifat personal,
jadi jangan mencontek! Beda orang, beda rasa! Terima kasih untuk kakak-kakak baik hati yang
sudah mau mengirimkan essay-essay pada saya J
Ketiga, LPDP memperbolehkan orang yang belum memiliki LoA untuk mendaftar. Tapibukan
berarti Anda tidak perlu tahu universitas mana yang menjadi tujuan. Ini juga makan waktu lama
bagi saya (yang sering galau :-P). Boleh belum memiliki LoA tidak berarti Anda bisa mencomot
nama jurusan dan universitas sesuka hati. Anda perlu tahu mengapa Anda memilihnya! Jadi
lakukan riset kecil, pilih jurusan yang paling Anda minati dan pilih universitas mana saja yang
menyediakan jurusan itu. Bandingkan universitasnya, mana yang paling sesuai minat atau yang
paling Anda inginkan. Untuk universitas luar negeri, informasi jurusan biasanya lengkap,
termasuk kurikulum ada di website mereka. Apabila ada yang kurang jelas, hubungi e-mail
universitasnya. Selalu ingat, tanyakan sesuatu yang jawabannya belum tertulis!
Persiapan mendaftar beasiswa bagi saya bersamaan dengan persiapan mendaftar universitas.
Selain mempersiapkan berkas LPDP, saya juga harus belajar untuk tes officialIELTS,
memikirkan personal statement, mengkontak programme director/professor universitas tujuan
saya, dan mulai merencanakan surat rekomendasinya. Mengapa harus bersamaan? Karena saya
belum memiliki LoA. Saya tidak mau panitia LPDP mengira saya hanya main-main padahal saya
serius ingin mengambil Magister. Saya menunjukkan keseriusan saya. Selain itu, saya juga ingin
mendaftar universitas sedini mungkin agar persiapan kuliahnya nanti tidak terlalu mepet. Saya
ingin kuliah September 2015. Amiin.
Keempat, buat akun pendaftaran online. Buatlah pendaftaran dulu dan mulailah mengisi
identitas dan kolom-kolomnya secara perlahan. Ada banyak yang perlu disediakan informasinya,
yaitu: sekolah, pengalaman kerja, pengalaman organisasi, prestasi, pengalaman pelatihan
atau workshop, pengalaman seminar atau konferensi, penelitian, karya ilmiah dan publikasi, dan
penghargaan. Ada baiknya, kumpulkan sertifikat-sertifikat kegiatan di atas karena nanti akan
ditanyakan tanggal penyelenggaraannya. Bagi yang masih kuliah, hendaknya mulai mencatat
kegiatan apa saja yang mereka lakukan agar ketika membutuhkannya tidak akan kesulitan untuk
mengingat. Tidak apa-apa mengisi pendaftarannya pelan-pelan karena dokumen bisa disimpan.
Sebelum Anda mengeklik tombol submitpendaftaran Anda belum akan diproses LPDP dan baru
tersimpan di dalam web (bisa dilanjutkan lain hari saat Anda login ke akun Anda lagi).
Kelima, cek, cek, dan cek lagi. Cek semua persyaratan apakah sudah sesuai panduan apa belum.
Apabila sudah sesuai dan mantap, pastikan Anda sudah membaca user manual LPDP.Unggah
dokumen-dokumen Anda ke akun yang sudah Anda buat. Ukuran maksimal per dokumen hanya
1 MB. Jika Anda men-scan dokumen langsung ke PDF, kemungkinan besar ukurannya lebih
besar dari itu sekalipun Anda sudah mengompresnya. Caranya adalah scan file ke gambar dahulu
(misal jpg), kompres gambar, kemudian baru convert gambar tersebut ke PDF. Pastikan
ukurannya tidak lebih besar dari 1 MB jauh-jauh hari, daripada nanti repot gagal upload karena

itukan sayang
Selain itu, cek deadline pengumpulan formulir karena jadwal bisa berubah. Di jadwal resmi
LPDP yang dibuat awal tahun, periode November deadline-nya tanggal 21 tetapi pada
kenyataannya dimajukan menjadi tanggal 19. Jadi, rajin-rajin cek akun Twitter LPDP karena
mereka akan mengumumkan kapan batas terakhir pengiriman aplikasi. Ada beberapa orang yang
mengikuti jadwal awal tahun, mereka mengirim pendaftaran tanggal 21, dan mau tak mau
mereka akan diikutkan seleksi tahun 2015. Menunggu lebih lama jadinya.

Keenam, sebelum submit, lihat detail formulir pendaftaran Anda. Di sana tertera semuanya
mulai dari identitas diri, identitas orangtua, sampai essay-essay. Cek apakah semuanya sudah
terpenuhi, apakah masih ada informasi penting yang tertinggal. Kalau sudah lengkap dan
pendaftaran Anda sudah maksimal apa yang ada pada diri Anda, submitpendaftaran. Sekali Anda
submit, formulir pendaftaran Anda akan diproses LPDP. Anda tidak bisa lagi mengedit formulir.
Yang Anda bisa lakukan adalah menunggu pengumuman seleksi administrasi sebelum berlanjut
ke seleksi wawancara dan LGD.
Apabila ingin berdiskusi lebih lanjut, silahkan berkomentar J Saya akan mencoba menjawab
berdasarkan pengalaman saya sendiri. Sampai jumpa di Part 2 yang akan menyusul kemudian.

Artikel ini ditulis beberapa hari setelah pengumuman administrasi tapi baru saya publikasikan
di blog

LPDP Series #1: Persiapan Dokumen

Beasiswa LPDP
Posted onSEPTEMBER 3, 2014CategoriesAbout Scholarship
Hi,
 Kali ini saya mau bercerita agak serius tentang pengalaman saya hingga lolos menjadi calon awardee Beasiswa
Pendidikan Indonesia (BPI) dari LPDP. Semoga bisa menjadi referensi buat temen-temen yang mau mendaftar beasiswa
ini. Anyway, karena ini saya tulis berdasarkan pengalaman pribadi, pasti banyak unsur subyektivitasnya. Bisa jadi pada
seleksi selanjutnya beberapa peraturan LPDP mengalami perubahan sehingga beberapa tips yang saya tulis (berdasarkan
pengalaman saya) tidak dapat diterapkan sesuai kenyataan karena beberapa kondisi, jadi jangan timpuk saya pake bata ya
gan :D.
Mengetahui Informasi Beasiswa LPDP di Bulan Juli 2013
Saya pertama kali tahu informasi tentang LPDP di Bulan Juli 2013 dari blog motivasibeasiswa. Kebetulan
saya follow blog itu, karena banyak postingan di blog itu yang bisa menghibur duka lara seorang pejuang beasiswa macam
saya ini yang semangatnya timbul tenggelam kayak ombak di lautan.
Setelah membaca postingan tentang LPDP di blog motivasibeasiswa, saya jadi menemukan oase di tengah panasnya
Surabayah *ini emang beneran*. Lantaran sejak tahun 2014, beasiswa DIKTI jenis BPPLN diperuntukkan khusus
untuk Dosen. Sedih? Iya tapi nggak pake banget, karena ada berita gembira dari LPDP kalo siapapun boleh mendaftar
beasiswa dari LPDP asalkan Warga Negara Indonesia (berdasarkan aturan dari LPDP tahun 2013: Pelamar dengan status
Dosen Tetap PTN/PTS dan telah memiliki NIDN disarankan melamar Beasiswa DIKTI). Akhirnya saya mantepin
hati untuk mempersiapkan amunisi untuk mengikuti beasiswa ini tahun depan.
Tentang LPDP
Daritadi ngomongin tentang LPDP, apaan sih LPDP itu? LPDP memiliki kepanjangannya Lembaga Pengelolaan Dana
Pendidikan. Beasiswa yang ditawarkan ada lima : Beasiswa Pendidikan Indonesia (BPI), Beasiswa Tesis
Disertasi, Beasiswa Afirmasi, Beasiswa Spesialis Kedokteran dan Beasiswa Presidensial (Top 50 ranking University). Apa
bedanya? Silakan cekidot ke link masing2 beasiswa tersebut.

Salah satu Foto yang saya capture dari website LPDP

Dananya didapat darimana? Baca halaman Sejarah.
Amandemen keempat UUD 1945 mewajibkan negara memprioritaskan anggaran pendidikan sekurang-kurangnya dua
puluh persen dari APBN sejak lebih dari sepuluh tahun lalu. Setelah lima tahun, dalam rangka memenuhi amanat
konstitusi, pemerintah mulai mengalokasikan anggaran untuk kepentingan pendidikan tersebut melalui APBN-P 2010.

Tahun 2010, Menteri Keuangan Sri Mulyani Indrawati berinisiatif menyisihkan alokasi dana pendidikan tersebut ke
dalam poin Dana Pengembangan Pendidikan Nasional melalui UU Nomor 2 tahun 2010 tentang APBN-P 2010. Undang-
undang yang sama juga menetapkan bentuk dana kelolaan berupa endowment fund (dana abadi).

Saya tertarik untuk mendaftar beasiswa ini karena :

1. Beasiswa ini dari Pemerintah Indonesia.

2. Beasiswa ini membekali awardee nya dengan Pelatihan Kepemimpinan (PK) selama 1 minggu. Calon awardee baru
mendapatkan SK Beasiswa setelah awardee lulus PK.
3. Beasiswa ini dibuka sepanjang tahun, dalam setahun ada empat kali seleksi. Hal ini berbeda dengan beasiswa dari luar
negeri macam AAS, Fulbright, Monbukagakusho, Chevening, DAAD atau NESO yang dibuka setahun sekali.
4. Beasiswa ini akan membiayai berapapun biaya yang kita butuhkan disana. Sehingga bisa dipastikan kita tidak sampai
mengemis cinta bekerja part-time untuk memenuhi kebutuhan hidup kita.
Tapi ingat ya, uang beasiswa yang diberikan ini didapat dari APBN dimana pemasukan paling besar dari pajak yang
dibayarkan oleh rakyat Indonesia. Sudah seharusnya awardee awas dalam menggunakan amanah uang rakyat ini. Jadwal
seleksi BPI dari LPDP bisa dilihat di gambar ini.

Jadwal Seleksi BPI Tahun 2014

Bergabung dengan Grup LPDP di Facebook
Teman saya mengajak saya untuk bergabung di Grup Beasiswa LPDP 2013 di Facebook. Grup ini bukan grup resmi dari
LPDP, tetapi grup ini dimotori oleh beberapa senior yang telah menjadi awardee dari LPDP yang bertujuan untuk
saling sharing berbagai macam informasi mengenai pendaftaran beasiswa LPDP. Grup ini sifatnya closed group, sehingga
yang ingin bergabung harus ask to join terlebih dahulu, lalu diapprove oleh anggota grup. Saya sangat menyarankan untuk
bergabung di grup ini, karena informasinya sangat-sangat-sangaaaat membantu saya dalam proses persiapan dokumen.
Dimana daftarnya? Disiniiiii.
Mempersiapkan Persyaratan Dokumen
1. Mempersiapkan Nilai TOEFL
Ingat, jangan sekali-kalii mendaftar beasiswa LPDP dengan nilai TOEFL yang mepet dengan banned score nya, karena
seleksi dokumen ini sangaaaaat ketat. Lebih bagus kalau nilai TOEFL yang digunakan untuk mendaftar beberapa poin di
 atas syarat minimal LPDP. Nah, ketika itu saya memprioritaskan untuk memperbaiki nilai TOEFL. Apakah saya langsung
dapet nilai TOEFL tinggi? Kata siaaapaaa? Baca dulu post yang ini ya :). Saya juga sempet baca kalau LPDP udah nggak
nerima TOEFL ITP lagi, tapi minimal iBT atau IELTS. Lalu dengan berat hati *sambil lihat dompet*, saya ambillah
TOEFL iBT di UB (cerita nyusul ya :D).
Iseng-iseng, saya tanyakan ke panitia, apakah harus pakai iBT untuk daftar LPDP? Eh, ternyata nggak harus. Ini capture
email jawaban dari panitian LPDP.

Capture jawaban dari panitia LPDP tentang ketentuan TOEFL

2. Meminta Surat Rekomendasi Atasan/Dosen
Di tengah perjalanan mencapai nilai TOEFL yang sesuai, di bulan Januari 2014 kalo gak salah, saya mengawali tahun
2014 dengan pdkt ke beberapa Dosen untuk minta rekomendasi beliau bikinin saya surat rekomendasi :D. Saya kan udah
nggak pernah beredar di kampus selama 2 tahun-lah, maka dari itu saya harus mulai Te-Pe Te-Pe lagi di kampus *errrrr.

Tips untuk meminta surat rekomendasi:

Hubungi dosen yang benar2 mengetahui track record kita selama di kampus (bisa Dosen PA, Dosen Pembimbing Skripsi,
Dosen yang pernah bekerja sama dengan kita atau Ketua Jurusan dan Dekan).
Minta surat rekomendasi ke Dekan atau Kajur bakal meningkatkan penilaian kita di mata reviewer lho. Untuk kasus
mencari sekolah di luar negeri, bagi mereka, nggak mudah mendapatkan rekomendasi dari Dekan/Kajur, only the selected
ones lah yang bisa dapat rekomendasi dari Dekan/Kajur.
Buatlah draft surat rekomendasi (menurut kita sendiri, dari sudut pandang penilaian orang lain) sebelum menghadap ke
Dosen. Dosen juga manusia lah ya, nggak mungkin beliau mengingat pencapaian kita apa aja bla bla bla. Nah dengan
adanya draft ini akan sedikit membantu Dosen mereview ulang memori tentang kita *salahfokus*. Contoh draft dapat
darimana? Ah, belom kenal Mbah Google ya neng? Cari tuh di google banyaaaak source-nya. Kenapa saya ngga minta
rekomendasi dari tempat kerja? Karena saya nggak ada niatan balik ke tempat kerja saya sepulang dari studi, hehe
*semoga ngga dibaca temen kantor ato pakboss*. Biasanya yang minta surat rekomendasi ke atasan di kantor itu kalo kita
akan kembali mengabdi ke kantor tersebut (mostly kasusnya PNS). Nah, saya kan pegawai swasta.
3. Menulis Essay dengan Tema sesuai Ketentuan LPDP
Ini gampang-gampang sulit ya, essay yang diminta LPDP ada tiga tema: Peranku bagi Indonesia; Sukses Terbesar
dalam Hidup dan Rencana Studi (untuk program Magister). Sesuai dengan motto LPDP adalah untuk mencetak
pemimpin bangsa, nah, sebisa mungkin tonjolkan di essay bahwa kamu siap memberikan kontribusi positif untuk negara
(jangan coba-coba berbohong di essay ini, kalo kalian ada niatan bohong, nanti pasti ketauan di sesi wawancara). Saya
mikir essay ini sampe berbulan-bulan, buat draft kasarnya, minta koreksi ke temen kerja, adik saya dan dosen, lalu saya
revisi lagi, begitu seterusnya sampe hampir deadline ==.
Sebagai referensi ada beberapa blog yang saya jadikan rujukan untuk membuat essay dari blog-nya Mas Ridwan dan
beberapa contoh essay yang saya minta langsung dari temen di Grup LPDP di Facebook. Essay ini bisa ditulis dalam
bahasa indonesia maupun bahasa inggris. Saya sih pake Bahasa Indonesia.
4. Keaktifan di Organisasi
Nah, saya sewaktu mahasiswa nggak begitu aktif di kegiatan mahasiswa seperti HMJ. Kenapa? Bukannya nggak mau,
saya dulu nggak keterima sih, gara-gara salah satu persyaratannya ada yang kurang. Nah, akhirnya saya banyakin deh
aktivitas organisasi di luar kampus. Contohnya : karang taruna, remaja masjid atau ikutan yayasan sosial lainnya. Seberapa
pentingkah itu? Penting banget. Nanti deh saya ceritakan di postingan blog selanjutnya tentang seleksi wawancara.
Apalagi ya? Ntar deh kalo ingat, saya tulis lagi . Untuk lebih jelas mengenai persyaratan LPDP, bisa merujuk ke
website LPDP.
Saat itu, saya berharap bisa mengikuti seleksi LPDP untuk periode April 2014. Namun, saya harus memupus keinginan
saya lantaran nilai TOEFL saya tidak kunjung meningkat di atas 550 *brb nangis di pojokan*. Akhirnya dengan langkah
gontai saya ikut di periode bulan Mei 2014. FYI, pada saat saya mengikuti seleksi di Bulan Mei 2014, saya apply tanpa
LoA (Letter of Acceptance). Menurut aturan LPDP, LoA memang optional sih, toh LPDP akan memberi kita waktu 1
tahun untuk hunting LoA :). Semisal kalian udah ada LoA juga lebih baik, karena akan mendapat jadwal PK (Pelatihan
Kepemimpinan) lebih awal.
Apakah LoA menjamin lolos tidaknya mendapat beasiswa LPDP? Tidak. Saya punya 2 contoh real nih, pada saat sesi
wawancara, saya bertemu dengan peserta, lets say Si A dan Si B, yang udah punya LoA di Manchester University UK,
while ada lagi satu peserta lain, Si C, yang belum dapat LoA. Saya kira Si A dan Si B udah pasti lolos beasiswa LPDP
karena udah punya LoA, dan Si C kesempatannya masih gambling lah. Ternyata, setelah pengumuman seleksi wawancara
beasiswa LPDP, saya salah. Si A nggak lolos beasiswa LPDP, Si B dan Si C lolos. Artinya, ada maupun tidak ada LoA
nggak mempengaruhi kelolosan kalian di Beasiswa LPDP. Reviewer menilai your personality.
P.S : Update on 8 Oktober 2014. Ini saya lampirkan list Perguruan Tinggi (dalam dan luar negeri) yang dibiayai oleh
LPDP, cekidot di link ini.
Pesan saya, jangan berhenti berjuang sebelum mencoba tapi jangan menganggap enteng tantangan yang akan
dihadapi. Allah has the perfect time.

P.S: Update per Tanggal 12 Agustus 2014.

Bapak/Ibu Dosen PTN/PTS sudah bisa mendaftar Beasiswa LPDP. Berikut ini saya lampirkan surat edaran dari LPDP
yang banyak di-share oleh salah satu awardee LPDP di Facebook.
 Surat Edaran dari
LPDP tentang Dosen PTN/PTS kini bisa apply LPDP