\documentclass[a4paper,10pt]{article}
\usepackage[utf8]{inputenc}

% Standard imports
\usepackage{color}
\usepackage[hidelinks]{hyperref}
\usepackage[round,sort]{natbib}
\usepackage{wrapfig}
\usepackage{subfig}
\usepackage[margin=1in]{geometry}
\usepackage{color}
\usepackage{url}
\usepackage{verbatim}
\usepackage{multirow}
\usepackage{algorithm}
\usepackage[noend]{algorithmic}
\usepackage{xspace}
\usepackage[pdftex]{graphicx}
\usepackage{epsfig}
\usepackage{amsmath}
\usepackage{epstopdf}
\usepackage{amssymb}
\usepackage{pbox}
\usepackage{booktabs}
\usepackage{sidecap}
\usepackage{titlesec}
\usepackage{etoolbox}

\setlength{\parindent}{0mm}
\setlength{\parskip}{\baselineskip}

\renewcommand\refname{\vskip -\baselineskip}

% FILL IN THESE SECTIONS
\newcommand{\whofor}{Whole Name}
\newcommand{\whoforshort}{First Name}
\newcommand{\whoforinstitute}{University of California, San Diego}
\newcommand{\whichclass}{CSE 158 (Recommender Systems and Web Mining)}
\newcommand{\whenclass}{Fall 2024}
\newcommand{\genderHeShe}{he}
\newcommand{\genderHimHer}{him}

\newcommand{\gradeAplus}{an A+. This puts \genderHimHer{} in around the top 20\% of the class}
\newcommand{\gradeA}{an A. This puts \genderHimHer{} in around the top 20-50\% of the class}
\newcommand{\gradeAminus}{an A-. This puts \genderHimHer{} around the middle of the class}

% Select the appropriate grade here
\newcommand{\grade}{\gradeA{}}

% Modify this example. One sentence on what the project was concerned with, one sentence on what techniques were used.
\newcommand{\project}{(EXAMPLE) describe project in a couple of sentences.}

%opening
\title{Recommendation Letter for \whofor{}}
\author{Julian McAuley}

\newcommand{\xhdr}[1]{\vspace{0mm}\noindent{{\bf #1}}}
\newcommand{\xhdre}[1]{\vspace{0mm}\noindent{{\it #1}}}

\newcommand{\todo}[1]{\textcolor{red}{\bf  TODO: #1}}

\begin{document}

\noindent\includegraphics[width=4.5cm]{../gl-1-logo}

\section*{Recommendation Letter for \whofor{}}
\noindent\textbf{Julian McAuley}\\
\today

I am happy to write in support of \whofor{} for admission to your department's graduate program.

% If *not* using Interfolio
Some schools do not support letter submission services, and since I am no longer able to respond to individual requests, I may have asked \whofor{} to submit this letter via a class TA, hence why the submission e-mail may not match my own.

\whoforshort{} was a student in my class, \whichclass{}, in \whenclass{}, in which \genderHeShe{} received a grade of \grade{}.
% If currently taking the class, use the following:
%\whoforshort{} is currently a student in my class, \whichclass{}. While grading is not yet completed, \genderHeShe{} is on track to receive a grade of \grade{}.

My class covers the basics of machine learning, including regression, classification, and dimensionality reduction. It also covers applications such as natural language processing, social network mining, and recommender systems. The class has a significant project component, in which students develop practical recommender systems on real-world datasets.

%PROJECT
\whoforshort{}'s project was concerned with \project{}

%SUMMARIZE
Based on \whoforshort{}'s performance in my class, I can attest that \genderHeShe{} has mastered the fundamental concepts covered in this class, and I believe \genderHeShe{} is ready for graduate study.

Happy to answer further questions in support of \whoforshort{}'s application by e-mail or over the phone.

Sincerely,

% \includegraphics[width=2.5cm]{../signature}\\
\textbf{Julian McAuley}

\vfill

\noindent\textbf{Computer Science Department}\\
University of California, San Diego -- 9500 Gilman Drive \#0000 -- La Jolla, CA 92093-0000\\
Tel: 858 534 2230 -- jmcauley@ucsd.edu

\end{document}