大多數學校都要求申請人提供二至三封推薦信。有力的推薦是錄取的重要條件之一。推薦信要客觀、公正、切忌流於形式，內容空洞，要與申請人的其它材料(如成績單)等相符。推薦信也應注意格式、文法等。因為向來有“名師出高徒”之說。推薦信的格式與一般書信基本相同。有信頭，發信日期，收信人姓名，稱呼，正文，信尾謙稱，簽名，推薦人姓名，職稱及工作單位等部分。但推薦信還應著重以下方面：
1. 為了便於校方查閱，必須提到被推薦者的全名。
2. 必須交待與被推薦者的認識期間(何時開始認識或認識多久)，認識程度(偶爾見面或密切接觸)及關係(師生關係，上下級關係，同事等)。
3. 對被推薦者的優點介紹及評價，這是推薦信的核心。主要包括被推薦者的天賦，學習成績，研究能力，工作經驗，學習精神，組織能力，品行及個性方面。
4. 必須表明推薦人的態度，是極力推薦還是有保留地推薦。
最近一些學校出於各種原因，設計了推薦表格，由推薦人填寫，但其主要內容也和推薦信涉及的相同。
範例1 計算機教授推薦信
At the request of Mr. Xizhen Chen, my former student in the Department of Computer Science, Beijing Univ. of Sciences, I am glad to write this letter furnishing my evaluation of his academic aptitude for your
reference. Mr. Chen is interested in your graduate program in Computer Science.
I came to know him in September 1987 when Mr. Chen enrolled in my class on FORTRAN IV Programming, a three semesters' course. In the class he was one of the most outstanding students. At the semester final he earned a high grade of 81, which should be "A" according to our grading system. I also found him good at other studies.
After the class, he had personal talks with me several times. He indicated a great interest in computer hardware, In my opinion, Mr. Chen has a potential in Computer Science, which can be further developed. In view of his previous achievements in this College, I am firmly convinced that Mr. Chen will make a successful graduate student. Your favorable consideration of his admission will be highly appreciated.
範例2 商管系教授推薦信
BAIDU_CLB_fillSlot( '920314' );
It gives me a great pleasure to recommend Mr. Cheng as a transfer to the School of Business Administration of your University in the summer quarter of 1989.
During academic year 1980-1984, he was a student in our Department, World College of Journalism. I found him very diligent and intelligent. He often participated in extracurricular activities contributing a great deal to community affairs.
Though Mr. Cheng graduated from this college 5 years ago, he keeps, contact with me very often. Worthy of mention also is his personality, honest, reliable, responsible and mature.
I strongly recommend this promising young man and your favorable consideration and assistance to him will be very much appreciated.