A letter of recommendation is a written assessment by a teacher, professor, or other adult who knows the applicant, submitted as part of a university application to support the applicant's candidacy.
Letters of recommendation provide admissions committees with a perspective on the applicant from someone who has observed them academically or professionally. Most US university applications require two teacher letters and one counselor letter. UK UCAS applications require one teacher reference. Most Pakistani universities do not require formal recommendation letters, though LUMS and Habib ask for two.
A strong recommendation letter is specific — it references particular work, moments, or qualities the writer has directly observed. A weak recommendation letter consists of generic praise ("She is a hardworking student") that could apply to any applicant. The best letters tell a story about the applicant that the application itself cannot tell.
In Pakistan, the recommendation letter tradition is unfamiliar to most teachers. Teachers may ask you to draft your own letter for them to sign — this is culturally common. If this happens, write a strong draft that highlights specific academic qualities and moments, then encourage your teacher to personalise it before signing. Daakhla helps students prepare recommender packets (a brief document briefing the recommender on what the letter should address) that significantly improve letter quality.
Our mentors help students from underserved districts navigate every step of the admissions process — for free.
Apply for free counselling →