Everything You Need to Know About Letters of Recommendation for College Admissions
Letters of recommendation can be a powerful tool when it comes to college admissions. A well-written letter of recommendation can help your application stand out from the crowd and make you look more attractive to the admissions committee. But how do you go about getting a great letter of recommendation? What should it include, and how can you make sure your letter stands out? We’ve put together a guide to help you get the most out of your college recommendation letter.
A letter of recommendation for college admissions is a written statement from someone who knows you well and can vouch for your skills, achievements, and character as a student. This could be a teacher, faculty member, mentor, or employer who has seen you excel in some way and can provide an honest evaluation of your strengths and weaknesses. It gives the admissions committee an insight into who you are beyond just the numbers associated with your application. A great letter of recommendation can help you stand out from the crowd and give you a better chance of getting accepted to the school of your choice.
Character and values have become increasingly important factors in the college admissions process, as universities are now looking for students who not only excel academically but can bring something different to the table. A letter of recommendation can provide evidence of your dedication, integrity, leadership skills, problem-solving ability, creativity, and other qualities that make you stand out from the crowd. These traits are highly valued by colleges and will give you a better chance of being accepted into the school of your choice!
Your letters of recommendation are typically read by one or two college admissions officers or an admissions committee. They carefully consider each letter of recommendation to get an accurate picture of who you are as a person, student, and leader. Your letters of recommendation can help paint a full portrait of you and make the difference between being accepted or denied by the school of your choice. Therefore, it is important to choose your recommenders wisely - select those who know you well and can speak to your strengths and accomplishments in an honest yet positive way! Your recommender should be able to provide specific examples of how you have excelled both academically and extracurricularly.
It is ideal to ask a core academic teacher from your junior year in high school to write your letter of recommendation because they can provide insight into your most recent performance in their class. A core academic teacher is a teacher who teaches math, science, English, social studies, or a foreign language. Core academic teachers can provide important insight into your performance in their class and speak to your attention to detail, creativity, problem-solving skills, and other positive traits that will come through in the letter of recommendation. A strong letter will show colleges what you are capable of academically and how you approach difficult concepts and challenges.
There are many reasons why a student should create good relationships with their teachers, including as a way to secure a personal and strong letter of recommendation. Students should get in the habit as early as freshman year of attending office hours for extra help, asking questions in class, and volunteering to answer questions in class or help their peers. Additionally, we recommend that students actively participate and engage in the classroom and provide thoughtful comments on assignments and projects. Showing your teachers that you are serious about learning is key to creating positive relationships which will ultimately result in strong letters of recommendation.
Colleges typically recommend or require between zero to two academic letters of recommendation. It is important to check the requirements for every college you apply to in order to ensure that you have the correct number of letters. In addition, most colleges require or allow a letter of recommendation from your guidance counselor. Some colleges also ask for or allow applicants to submit an “other” letter of recommendation. An "other” letter of recommendation is a letter from someone other than an academic teacher or counselor such as an employer, mentor, or coach who can vouch for your work ethic and attitude. As with your academic letter writers, it is important to choose someone that you trust to give an accurate portrayal of yourself as a student and person!
It is best to ask your teachers for letters of recommendation at least two months before your college deadlines. Check with your high school to see if there are any rules in place as to when students should approach their teachers for letters of recommendation. Many high schools allow students to ask their teachers as early as the spring of their junior year. Asking early gives your teachers enough time to write a meaningful letter that reflects your academic achievements and character. Being organized and giving plenty of notice also shows respect for their time and allows them to provide thoughtful insight into who you are as a student
If possible, it is best to ask your teacher in person to write you a letter of recommendation. When asking your teachers for a letter of recommendation, it is important to be polite, professional, and direct. Make sure to explain why you specifically chose them to write your letter. For instance, do you value their perspective? Do you feel you made the most growth as a student in their class? You should also provide clear information about when the letter will be due.
Be sure to thank your teacher for their time and offer to provide any additional information or documents they may need. Providing them with a current resume, transcript, or portfolio of work can help make the letter writing process easier. Lastly, it can be helpful to remind them when the letter is due if the date approaches and they haven’t yet submitted it, but make sure not to nag. Thank them again for their time, and show your appreciation for any help they have provided in the past or may provide in the future.
Should you get a letter of recommendation from the most famous or important person that you know or kind of know? It is not uncommon for a student or parent to ask us if their aunt’s brother-in-law’s mother’s third cousin (fill in the blank here with Oprah, a well-known politician, a significant donor to the college) should write them a letter of recommendation. Unless this person intimately knows you, we don’t recommend asking someone famous or connected to write your letter since they may not be able to provide meaningful details about you as a person and student. Again, your recommenders should have an in-depth knowledge of your skills, work ethic, strengths, and accomplishments in order to help flesh out the details of your college application.
Last, make sure to waive your FERPA rights to see your letters of recommendation. FERPA stands for Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act. This law protects the privacy of student education records, including letters of recommendation. Many high schools will not send letters of recommendation, and many colleges will not accept letters of recommendation if you choose not to waive your rights because they want to ensure that the recommender provides an honest and unbiased opinion of your abilities. By waiving your rights, you are showing that you trust in the ability of your recommender to provide an accurate assessment of your skills and qualifications.
Letters of recommendation can be a powerful tool in college admissions. To make sure your letter stands out, it's important to select the right person and provide them with enough information about yourself so that they can craft an honest and detailed letter. By following these tips, you can ensure that your letter of recommendation is accurate, detailed, and tailored to you. With a great letter of recommendation, your college application will be sure to shine! Good luck!
If you are looking for support to help your child conquer the admissions process in a stress-free and productive way, contact North Shore College Consulting today to learn more about our one-on-one, individual college consulting packages.