Your Recommenders Should Know You Well
Your recommenders should be individuals who know you well and who can go into detail about your strengths, what makes you a strong award candidate, and can speak to your ability to be successful fulfill the award’s expectations.
Recommendations Should Be Tailored To The Award
We encourage you to review the award websites for additional information and resources for letter writers; this information is available on most competitive award websites. Additionally, we encourage you to review our Faculty Guide on writing letters of recommendation and share it with your recommenders.
Recommendation Length And Format
Strong recommendation letters for competitive awards are generally 2-3 pages long. These letters require more depth than a standard character letter of recommendation. All recommendation letters should be signed and on letterhead. There may be additional format requirements expected depending on the award.
Start Early
Identify and communication with your recommenders early. Your recommendation letters are an important part of your application, and it’s necessary to be thoughtful and intentional with this component.
Know How And Where Recommendations Are Submitted
For some awards, recommenders can submit their letters directly to the award portal via a link provided in email. For others, recommenders are required to send their letters directly to PAF at prestigiousawards@miami.edu. Each award has its own requirements, so we encourage you to carefully review the Award Listings page to see if there are specific campus instructions for your award.
Questions? Contact Us
If your recommenders have questions about what should or shouldn’t be included in a recommendation or best practices, please have them contact us at prestigiousawards@miami.edu. We also welcome you to reach out with any questions not covered here.
