Не рекомендательные письма, а к примеру здоровая конкуренция? Как по поводу этого?

Like what? What do you have in mind in particular? I'd like to learn.

Да, кстати, забыли упомянуть, что рекомендации идут в основном от кого именно?

The letters of recommendation are from the peers -- students request those themselves. Usually they come from professors in their colleges/universities who taught those students or worked with them before.

Additional information: grades in major, GPA, courses takes, if they had previous research experience is great too (but this is not required). But we try to also give a chance to students who are willing to learn, but had no opportunity.

I didn't have to type all of that -- if I could simply send you to the website of our program that describes all of that...