Letters of Recommendation
What are the guidelines for letters of recommendation?
Format:
Letters of recommendation should be written according to the following guidelines:
- must be written in English
- on official letterhead of the writer’s organization or institution whenever possible
- include the writer’s signature/name and organization
- range from 500 to 1,500 words
Content:
Letters should reference the Penn Engineering Online program you are applying to and should not be reused from a different program.
Your letters of recommendation should be written by people know the applicant well and who have evaluated the applicant in some capacity and can write objectively about their aptitudes and capabilities in an academic or work setting. Examples of recommenders are current or former supervisors or managers, instructors, professors, clients, etc. Please note – recommenders should not be friends or family members. If choosing professional recommenders, they should be individuals who are above the applicant on the organizational chart, such as a supervisor, manager, director etc. They should not be work colleagues that are on the same organizational level as the applicant.
Due Date:
All letters of recommendation are due by the application deadline. Late letters of recommendation will not be considered and may disqualify the applicant from the admissions process. Please be mindful of the application deadlines.
Can I reuse letters of recommendation from previous applications?
Your letters should focus specifically on your qualifications for the specific Penn Engieering program you are applying for, so we encourage you not to reuse letters from a different program. If you’re reapplying, your recommenders may resubmit the previously written letters with your new application. If you started an application in a previous term but never submitted and are now applying to the current term, your recommenders will have to resubmit their letter or you may choose new recommenders.
Can I send my recommendation letters via email or mail?
No, letters of recommendation must be submitted online through the application portal.
The questions on the questionnaire do not apply to my recommenders. What should they do?
Your references can leave a section blank or approach the questions through a broad lens. For example, your recommender can respond to “How many students do you supervise?” by writing about your role in supervising employees.
I’ve submitted my application for a Penn Engineering Online degree program. Can I make changes to my list of recommenders?
To make changes to your recommenders, log in to the application portal and follow the link to the recommenders page of your application. You can then edit the recommender’s information or exclude the recommender and add a new one by clicking the “edit” button.
How can I check on the status of my letters of recommendation for my application?
You can see the status of your letters of recommendation by reviewing your application portal. You can even send your recommender a reminder by following the link to the recommenders page of your application and clicking “edit.”
Do letters of recommendation need to be submitted by the application deadline?
Yes. All required documents, including a minimum of two letters of recommendation, must be submitted by the application deadline.
Would it be helpful to have more than two letters?
Yes, while we only require two letters, we recommend asking three people to write such letters in case one of the letters does not arrive before the deadline. The more evidence you can provide that you will succeed, the better.
How should my references format my letters of recommendation?
Letters of recommendation should be written according to the following guidelines:
- written in English
- include the writer’s name, organization and signature
- range anywhere from 500 to 1,500 words
For additional instructions and guidelines, please review Application Instructions: How to Navigate Letters of Recommendation on our website.
What is the process for getting letters of recommendation?
As part of the online application, you’ll provide contact information for your references. The system will then send each reference a unique link to the application portal, where they will upload their letter. Letters submitted by your recommenders will be automatically attached to your application even after you have submitted it. Please note that at least two recommendations must be received by the deadline in order for your application to be considered.
Who should I ask to write letters of recommendation for me?
Your letters of recommendation should be written by people know the applicant well and who have evaluated the applicant in some capacity and can write objectively about their aptitudes and capabilities in an academic or work setting.
Examples of recommenders are current or former supervisors or managers, instructors, professors, clients, etc. The title or position of the recommender is not as important as his/her ability to comment knowledgeably and specifically about you.
If you do not have an academic reference or direct supervisor, consider clients (if you own a business), military personnel or community leaders.
Please Note – recommenders should not be friends or family members. If choosing professional recommeders, they should be individuals who are above the applicant on the organizational chart, such as a supervisor, manager, director etc. They should not be work colleagues that are on the same organizational level as the applicant.
Do I need to wait until my letters of recommendation are in to submit my application?
No! We encourage you to submit your application as soon as possible. However, please note that an application is not considered complete and ready for review until at least two letters of recommendation have been submitted.