Show Updated June 29, 2022 A College Recommendation Letter is an endorsement of a college applicant that is written to bolster chances for admission. Recommendation letters are brief, formal statements that should highlight positive qualities and explain why the candidate will be successful in college studies. Though friends or family might be able to sing the applicant’s praises, the best letters are usually written by teachers or employers.
What to IncludeThis letter should provide key details about the relationship between recommender and applicant, and highlight the applicant’s positive attributes. It should include:
Though it is easy to write a laundry-list of positives, it is better to tell a story. Simply put, try to show rather than tell why the applicant will be a success in higher education. Why Use a College Recommendation Letter?Many colleges require recommendation letters from applicants. But even if recommendations are not a strict necessity, they can help to build the case for admission. These letters matter for what they say, but they also add some default value to an application just for being included. Even if the admissions committee does not carefully read recommendation letters, they are likely to note that they were included with the application, and that the applicant in the kind of person who can drum up recommendations – a positive quality all its own. Who to Select?A teacher, coach, or counselor are ideal choices and should be able to state key facts about the student including being able to describe their personality traits, work habits, and skills. Furthermore, the individual chosen by the student should be someone that they have had a relationship with outside the hours of school such as part of a volunteer program, sports team, or academic club. An advantage to this is that Colleges and Universities understand that, on top of a full curriculum, having other activities take away from schoolwork. Therefore, if it comes down to an application with a generic reference versus another with an authentic reference, the latter will most likely get the nod. VideoHow to Write (Format)A recommendation letter should fill an entire page (usually 400 – 500 words) and contain an introduction, two (2) body paragraphs, and a conclusion. The student should be described in a way that highlights both their academic skills and personal qualities. If the letter is written well, it will provide a complete picture of the candidate which goes beyond their grades and personal resume. IntroductionThe introduction should be anywhere from 2 to 6 sentences that, more or less, describe the relationship with the student. Depending on the person it can be as short as:
In this sample introduction the student is being recommended by the head of a noteworthy club (the “math team”) which is a stand-out recommendation.
Here we have a coach that is introducing the student immediately as a leader and disciplined player. Two (2) key personality traits that a school looks for in a candidate. Paragraph #1The first body paragraph of the letter should provide a positive description of the student’s character, as well as list any achievements and awards that they may have earned. This paragraph will provide the main body of the letter and should therefore be at least 4-6 sentences in length.
In this example a physics teacher demonstrates the student’s positive character attributes by referencing the student’s personal achievements and commitments.
This sample has a school counselor drawing upon their lengthy relationship with the student to describe their personal impression of the student’s character, highlighting the student’s work ethic and exemplary performance in multiple fields. Paragraph #2The second body paragraph is going to expand upon the first one, emphasizing the student’s participation in school and in school groups, citing specific examples of their positive character traits. Try to connect the student’s various interests and aptitudes to paint a coherent and memorable portrait. This paragraph can run from 3-6 sentences, depending on how many examples are given.
The above sample uses descriptive language and specific examples to highlight the student’s communication skills, personal interests, and positive personality traits.
This example uses less descriptive language, instead relying more upon examples that pertain to the student’s extracurricular activities, demonstrating their participation, leadership skills, and sense of responsibility. ConclusionThe conclusion paragraph can be anywhere from 2-4 sentences long and its purpose is twofold: to summarize the author’s personal recommendation, and to provide a contact method for further questions.
The above sample has a brief summary of the student’s of positive attributes, as well as two contact methods contained in the paragraph body.
In this concluding paragraph, the summary is geared specifically towards the college program which the student is applying for. By being specific, the author clearly demonstrates why the student is a suitable applicant for a particular college or university. Sample 1
Sample 2
Sample 3
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