When you are applying to a top school like NYU, you should always try to present the best version of you to the admissions committees. Therefore, a great letter of recommendation (LOR) from an authentic referee is of utmost importance. This is because your recommender can give insights into your work that tells the admissions panel about your potential to succeed in a top school.

The first thing the admissions committee would want to look at in a reference letter is “How long have you worked with your referee and in what capacity”. Many applicants are mistaken that a letter from the Head of the Department or the CEO will be the ideal one – however, the truth is that such a reference will have ZERO value if you have not directly worked with your referee. A good reference must always come from someone you have worked with for at least six months.

Always Include Proof and Examples

A strong recommendation letter should not just contain a plethora of superlatives like “Ms Jon Doe is persistent in learning and very hardworking.” It should also include examples that reflect your qualities and strengths. Clear examples that support your attributes are a great way to showcase your strengths. Without examples, your reference will look as if it was “a cut, copy, paste, generic” kind of a reference that the referee gives out to anyone and everyone that asks for one.

Here is an excellent example of a letter of reference written for a student who got into NYU law school. 

Sample Letter of Recommendation for NYU

It is a true pleasure to write this letter of recommendation for Mr. Jon Doe, whom I have known for three years. He has worked at my TV channel, CNBC as a host/ presenter for the program ‘Youth Forum,’ the idea he conceived himself. Three years ago, I first met this young, inspiring leader at a Closing Ceremony for the Student Leadership Program of NYU. With his clear, loud, and engaging voice, he was the host for the evening, and while listening through the program, I felt a spark in him. This made me believe that this young leader has a bright future ahead of him.

A few weeks later, I asked my team to arrange an interview to work out any opportunities for him, as I firmly believed that his presence would provide more youthful energy to the team. And to my surprise, during the interview, he proposed creating a Youth Forum where college students shall share their insights on social issues. At age 17, he was the youngest member of our team. I deem it necessary to mention here that he showed immense commitment towards the program’s planning, which required research on finding engaging topics of discussion for the 56 episodes.

Within the first few episodes, the show started gaining good TRPs and recognition from youngsters. This is because Jon avidly discussed real and sensitive social issues of practical importance with the youth and engaged with them actively. Another trait of his personality that is worth mentioning is the positive attitude he carries around himself. For example, during one of the episodes at Columbia Business School, a girl was disheartened by the current state of politics. However, Jon used his optimism and asked her to focus on the betterment of the country by playing her role as an individual. This was a sign of his broad vision with clear objectives to help build a strong society around him.

Within a year, Jon became an integral part of the team at CNBC. Once, he helped substitute for live coverage for the Baseball match’s commentary at prime time, which his peers in the media industry acclaimed. Performing life is a hard job, but he did it flawlessly. He must also manage a good balance between his undergraduate degree and working at the channel. At the end of season 1, he managed to participate in the US Department of State’s SUSI Program, which helped him further identify his future as a professional who will work in the utmost way to bring good to society. After Jon left for the SUSI program and started focusing on his legal career, we felt a distinct void at CNBC, and many of Jon’s viewers constantly contacted us asking about the program. I understood that Jon had higher aspirations and always encouraged him to pursue them.

Since Jon left, he has continuously touched me to discuss his career and prospects. I strongly feel that his personality embodies all the traits of a successful legal career. Not only is he self-motivated, but he is also passionate about politics and law, which makes him an ideal person for constitutional law. Being in the media, I am constantly in close connection with many law school graduates from NYU. Most of these graduates now actively contribute to Journalism, such as Mr. XXY. I feel that Jon is also following in their footsteps. Jon has all the traits of being a NYU student and representing the US globally.

Jon will be an excellent addition to your diverse student body, as he will bring the right blend of experiences and knowledge to initiate fruitful discussions in class. A little introduction about me will also help you better gauge Jon’s application. I was just 22 years and a fresh graduate when I made CNBC TV a success. I strongly believe in youth and its power, and when I saw Jon’s ability to interact with people of every age group, I was instantly taken aback by him.

If interested, it will be a pleasure for me to share the links to the recording of the Youth Forum Program with your kind office. Furthermore, if there is any other query, I will be happy to assist you.