Every year, high school seniors ask their teachers and guidance counselors to write letters of recommendation for them. Some letters, the really stellar ones, give college admissions committees a clear, impressive picture of who the student is. Anything less – vague, generic letters – can potentially hurt a student's application. Here is some advice, particularly for first-time letter-writers, for writing a fantastic letter for a student.
Some General Recommendation Letter Advice
What the admissions officers are looking for is information about who the student is: they absolutely DO NOT want to read something that looks like the student's resume. Not only is this boring and uninformative (chances are they are already aware of which activities a student has participated in and which awards he or she has won), it is a very clear indication that the letter writer does not know the student well. Make every effort to write about a student's character, using achievements, activities, and academics only as examples to highlight who he or she is.
Letter Writing Tips When Unfamiliar With a Student
In some cases, teachers or guidance counselors may be asked to write a letter for a student they do not know very well, causing them to write that generic, unimpressive letter. Two essential solutions to this dilemma are:
- Scheduling an informal meeting with the student to learn more about him or her, AND
- Talking to other teachers, counselors, coaches, or administrators who know the student.
These solutions are also applicable when a student with a less impressive resume asks for a recommendation. One of the most important bits of information to find out is why a student is applying a particular school, so that it is easier to customize the letter to both the student and the school.
Research and Accuracy are Vital
Being familiar with the school a student is applying to is helpful, right down to the simplest details. An admissions counselor at Harvard, for instance, will not be impressed if a letter reads, "I feel that Mr. So-and-So will be an excellent addition to the incoming freshman class at Yale." Similarly, if a student is applying to a school with a particular specialty that has been relevant in his or her high school career, it is important to address that in the letter, and to change that section with each recommendation for each school. Admissions officers will be impressed with a letter indicating that a student's enthusiasm for a particular school or program is noticeable.
Final Words of Advice
Some additional tips:
- Toward the end of the letter, write something to the extent of "Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions concerning Mr. So-and So." This shows the admissions counselor that the letter writer does in fact know the student and would be able to provide even more information if necessary.
- Proofread! Have someone else read the letters, triple check for typos, and make sure each letter corresponds to the school it will be sent to.
Most importantly, have fun writing, and put plenty of effort in! Writing a letter of recommendation is an honor and should be treated as such, because it may be what determines whether a student is accepted or rejected from his or her dream school.
