re: xuesheng hao
from: philip stone, full professor, xyz university
to: graduate admissions committee
date: july 18, XX
i have prepared this letter for xuesheng hao to use as a letter of reference for her application for admission to a graduate program in north america. i will provide her with specific letters when these are required.
i am professor of biology at xyz university (san francisco, usa) and have taught there for more than 30 years. at the time of writing, i am on sabbatical leave and have been teaching and conducting research at chongqing university, china. xuesheng hao was one of my students in the course ecology (#7900480) which i taught in the english language.
thirty students took this course and xuesheng hao was the most outstanding in every respect. i have been told by a colleague at chongqing university that her year class is unusually good, having several strong students. i think this is true – but even in a class with several strong students, xuesheng hao was exceptional, having many strengths.
firstly, xuesheng hao has excellent command of english. she comprehends quickly and expresses herself clearly. her vocabulary is extensive, and her diction is good.
secondly, she has an inquisitive mind of the kind that is necessary for someone to become a successful scientist. she was the only student in the class who was clearly driven to an interest in the subject of ecology by curiosity about the natural world. others were variously motivated, including curiosity about me as a teacher, but no one else asked questions that dug deeply into the theoretical heart of the subject. questioning a teacher is not a usual part of the learning culture of china, but i explained at the outset of the course that i would welcome critical questions. xuesheng hao understood the concept of constructive criticism, and enjoyed the intellectual challenge.
thirdly, she is a volunteer by nature. at times she translated some of the more complex ideas for those students who had less facility with english. she was also one of the several students who took part in all of the activities of the course. i had not taught in china previously and initially created an over-ambitious program containing too much independent work. chinese students spend much longer in classrooms than do their counterparts in north america, thereby having little time for independent study. xuesheng hao not only kept up with my initial expectations, but reveled in the opportunity to read primary scientific literature, give a presentation, and attempt field research.
finally, she has a pleasant easy-going personality, and an interest in cautious adventure. she has been raised in a hard-working intellectual family, and has no shortage of the chinese traits of patience, endurance, duty and dedication. for these reasons she will adapt successfully to the learning and research culture of north america, and will readily fit in among her student peers.
for all of these reasons, i recommend xuesheng hao without reservation as a student with outstanding potential to excel in a graduate program. she has bright prospects.
sincerely,
philip stone
professor of biology, faculty of science, xyz university, san francisco, usa