How long should a recommendation letter be for Harvard?

Asked by: Roscoe Volkman  |  Last update: January 2, 2026
Score: 4.6/5 (23 votes)

There isn't a specific word count that will dictate how long your Harvard letter of recommendation needs to be. The quality of what your teachers and counselors write will ultimately matter much more than the quantity.

Is a 2 page letter of recommendation too long?

In most circumstances, however, your letter should fill a page neatly and perhaps go on to a second page. When students apply for graduate school or a national scholarship, two-page letters are the norm, and very short letters leave candidates at a clear disadvantage.

What recommendation letters does Harvard require?

Teacher Evaluations

Ask two teachers in different academic subjects who know you well to complete the Teacher Recommendation forms (which includes an evaluation form and a letter of recommendation). If you wish to submit additional letters of recommendation, you can do so after you submit your application.

What is a good length for a letter of recommendation?

Most letters of recommendation are 2-4 pages long. One page recommendations are usually too short to demonstrate and highlight the significant nature of the relationship.

Is 4 rec letters too much?

Typically, it's best to have one professional and one academic reference letter. Some universities may ask for three or more. To get more information on how to plan, apply, and pay for college, visit CFNC's college preparation guide.

Submitting Recommendation Letters | Harvard Dean for Admissions Explains

17 related questions found

Should I submit 3 or 4 letters of recommendation eras?

Typical LoR Requirements

Most residency programs request three LoRs. Sometimes they specify certain departments or rotations from which the letters should originate. You will only be able to submit four LoRs to any given program through ERAS®. Do not send more letters than requested.

How many letters of recommendation for Ivy League?

However, most selective colleges and universities — Harvard, Stanford, and USC, just to name a few — require one to three recommendation letters, usually from your guidance counselor and at least one teacher. Multiple recommendation letters allow admissions officers to learn about you from various perspectives.

What is an example of a strong recommendation letter?

John is a very humble individual who gets along well with his peers and the entire medical team. It is therefore without reservations that I recommend him to you for any residency program that he may be seeking. I am sure he will be a valuable asset to your organization.

Is 300 words enough for a recommendation letter?

How long should a letter of recommendation be? 300-400 words long and should present your character, accomplishments, and abilities from an objective perspective. An “academic reference letter” is often given directly to you by the referee, and you can keep it for future use.

Is two weeks too short for a letter of recommendation?

Ideally, give the person three to four weeks, but never less than two weeks to complete the recommendation.

What GPA is required for Harvard?

GPA requirements for Harvard

At Harvard, the standard GPA is 4.18. (While some schools publish an unweighted GPA, most utilize a weighted GPA out of 4.0.) Harvard needs you to be at the top of your class with a GPA of 4.18. To compete with other applications, you'll need to receive almost all A's.

How rare is it to get a letter from Harvard?

Harvard sends out about 300 Likely Letters annually (photo credit: Chensiyuan). In the highly selective admissions game, colleges sometimes vie for the chance of admitting their most promising applicants.

Does Harvard accept late letters of recommendation?

All letters of recommendation must be received by the application deadline of the program to which you are applying. Deadlines for all programs can be found on our How to Apply webpage.

Is it okay to have a 2 page letter?

It's fine to have a two-page cover letter if you feel it is necessary, but you must understand that you only have so much time in front of an employer before they quickly make a decision, and possibly move on. Many employers treat cover letters/resumes like scrolling through social media channels.

Can a letter of recommendation be short?

Write your letter on your business or organization letterhead if possible. Aim for at least one page but no more than two. Focus on the most important qualifications.

What is the opening line of a letter of recommendation?

The introduction, which first and foremost includes your statement of recommendation (i.e. “it is my pleasure to recommend…”). It is common to also briefly state who you are and what your expertise is. The overview, or a description of the applicant's top skills, attributes, and strengths.

What are the strong phrases for a letter of recommendation?

Common Phrases to Use When Drafting a LOR
  • am honoured to support him as a candidate.
  • am pleased to provide a reference for.
  • am pleased to write a character reference for.
  • am delighted to be called upon.
  • am happy to recommend.
  • first came to my attention when.
  • has worked under my supervision for.
  • has been a pleasure to supervise.

What is the best length for recommendation letter?

Length: Just as there is sometimes no prescribed length for application essays, there is no standard length for recommendation letters. Most recommendations tend to be around 1 to 1.5 single-spaced pages long, although some may be longer if you have a lot to share.

How long does it take to write 500 words with references?

While writing 500 words can take about 12.5 minutes for the average writer typing on a keyboard, it can take 2.5 hours if the content needs to include in-depth research, links, citations, or graphics such as for a blog article or high school essay.

What are 11 impactful words to use in a letter of recommendation?

Adjectives to Increase
  • Successful.
  • Excellent.
  • Accomplished.
  • Outstanding.
  • Skilled.
  • Knowledgeable.
  • Insightful.
  • Resourceful.

How do you write a good letter of recommendation Harvard?

Now that you have an understanding of writing a Harvard Recommendation Letter, please keep in mind the following:
  1. Use the help of anecdotes/instances to highlight the qualities of the applicant.
  2. Focus on the skill set that makes the applicant different from his peers.
  3. Make sure the recommendation letter is well structured.

How to end a recommendation letter?

The closing of the letter should briefly summarize previous points and clearly state that you recommend the candidate for the position, graduate program or opportunity they are seeking. The recommendation letter should be written in language that is straightforward and to the point.

How does Harvard decide who to accept?

There is no formula for gaining admission to Harvard. Academic accomplishment in high school is important, but the Admissions Committee also considers many other criteria, such as community involvement, leadership and distinction in extracurricular activities, and personal qualities and character.

Is 1500 enough for Ivy?

At all schools, 25% or more of the students whose data was reported for 2022-2023 submitted a perfect score on their math section. Both before and after, the majority of students enrolling at Ivy League colleges scored at least 1500 on their SAT.

What are the first words that come to your mind to describe this student?

Describing words for students
  • A. academic. adaptable. adept. alert. ambitious. ...
  • B. beautiful. bold. brave. bright. brilliant. ...
  • C. calm. capable. careful. cheerful. ...
  • D. daring. decisive. dedicated. determined. ...
  • E. eager. empathetic. energetic. enthusiastic. ...
  • F. fluent. friendly. fun.
  • G. generous. gentle. good. gregarious.
  • H. happy. hard-working. helpful. hopeful.