推荐信
一般学校要求2－3封推荐信，其中至少有一封是学校老师的。在中国，由于没有写推荐信的传统，推荐人往往不愿或不能提供好的推荐作用的推荐信，所以申请者多数情况下只能自己先写出原稿，然后找老师修改签字。
选择推荐人要遵循熟悉、专业的原则，即推荐人和你必须是已经熟悉的，推荐人的身份要合理，最好是相关专业的。如果你是一大四学生，则可选系主任，专业任课老师，和课外活动，社会活动见证人作为推荐人。如果你已经毕业一两年了，则可选你的直接上司，大学毕业论文指导老师或任课老师，系主任作为你的推荐人。完全没有必要千里迢迢，费尽周折找一个和你的专业不熟悉，和你不熟悉的院士或大公司总裁之类的人作为你的推荐人。
另外还要切记：在写推荐信之前，申请者和推荐人应该就申请者要申请的专业和课程进行过详细谈论，推荐人应该针对申请者所申请的专业进行推荐；推荐不是吹捧，所以推荐信的“装扮”要适度，不能太花哨，太渲染。要尽量用平实可信的语言，增加细节性的例证说明。
推荐信范例（教授推荐信）：
Dear Admissions Officers:
As the student counselor of Miss Vivian class when she studied in College of materials Science and Engineering, I have known her since she was a freshman. Miss Vivian stood out among her classmates as the most diligent and gifted.
In the Materials Science and Engineering department, the students are in charge of cleaning the labs and equipment. While some students shy away from the dirty work, Miss Vivian always did more than her fair share of it. The first to arrive and the last to leave, she took pride in making sure that everything was in order and well maintained. I thought that this demonstrated a mature attitude and her attention to every aspect of research work.
I also got to know her to be a superior student. During class and in our frequent conversations outside of the classroom, she asked penetrating questions that showed she had a comprehensive understanding of the course material. An independent learner, she frequently asked for suggestions of further readings that could give her a deeper understanding of her studies.
During our conversations I came to know just how dedicated to becoming an outstanding engineer that she was. I saw the depth of her familiarity with the industrial application of materials engineering when I took the class on a trip to study a materials factory in summer vacation. Going to the Yaohua Company's production plant, one of the largest glasses companies in China, Miss Vivian was clearly in her element. Every time she visited the plant she carried a camera, and her notebook, taking detailed notes for future reference. She sketched designs of the production line, and took numerous photographs. Asking detailed questions to teachers and the plant engineers, she got an understanding of every step of the industrial processes. While other students took breaks, Miss Vivian continued to explore the workings of the plant. In her final examination on the project she demonstrated the depth of her understanding, getting one of the highest scores in the class.
On top of her materials engineering skills, she is also fluent in English. As English is the international language, which most reference materials are in, it is necessary for one to be proficient in both conversational and technical English in order to be a successful researcher.
I unhesitatingly and whole-heartedly recommend Miss Vivian for admission to your program. With her dedication and understanding she will one day be a leader in the manufacturing industry.
Respectfully
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