What Reviewers Look For in the Nursing School Recommendation Letter (BSN/ABSN)

This review looks at whether a recommendation clearly explains how the writer knows the applicant, what the writer directly observed, and why those observations support readiness to learn nursing. It also checks for a clear final recommendation, honest handling of any requested growth area or limits of observation, and professional, focused writing.

What We Check

Mistakes We Flag

Saying you know the applicant well without explaining how

Readers need enough context about your relationship and contact with the applicant to understand what you can credibly assess.

Using praise without examples

Words such as hardworking, dedicated, compassionate, or outstanding are less useful when they are not tied to a task, action, or response you observed.

Claiming nursing ability instead of readiness to learn

Entry nursing applicants may not yet have nursing responsibilities. Explain what the applicant has done that shows preparation to learn nursing rather than presenting them as already functioning in a role they have not entered.

Giving a strong endorsement without support

A concluding recommendation should follow from the observations and judgment explained in the reference, not rely on a superlative alone.

Treating a limit on your observation as the applicant’s weakness

Be clear about what you did and did not observe. If a form asks about growth, give an honest, behavior-based answer rather than confusing your limited contact with a fault in the applicant.

How this rubric reads your essay

• Built from published reader guidance — the sources are listed below.
• Scored per section against defined criteria, not general impressions.
• Calibrated for consistent scoring, so a better draft shows up in the score.

References

Frequently Asked Questions