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Letters of Recommendation

While the best recommendation letters are unique to each student, they all share certain key features that make them effective. This guide provides you with a structure to help you produce an outstanding letter of recommendation.

Not only will this recommendation letter template guide you through the writing process, it'll also assist you in determining whether you’re able to truly recommend a student for admission to college. Before outlining the steps, let’s consider what goes into a good letter of recommendation.

What Makes for a Good Letter of Recommendation?

The best recommendation letters are enthusiastic and highly positive about a student. They’re not just filled with compliments, though. They dive deeply to illuminate a student’s key intellectual and personal qualities. Additionally, these letters give specific examples to back up what they have to say.

Rather than tell admissions committees everything they could ever want to know about a student, strong rec letters are focused on a specific narrative. You don't have to cover a broad range of qualities, but rather you can focus in on the most significant ones, especially as they relate to your relationship with the student.

You should start every recommendation letter by brainstorming the qualities you wish to highlight and examples you want to give. If you find you haven’t come up with much that’s positive or personal, then you might ultimately decide that you’re not the best person to write that student a recommendation letter for college.

Let’s look more closely at this first stage in the rec letter writing process: brainstorming .

The Brainstorming Stage

There are a few main considerations in the brainstorming stage. First, how do you feel about recommending the student and why? Second, what key qualities do you intend to communicate in your letter? And third, what stories can you share to illustrate your points? Read on to consider each of these thoughts individually.

How Do You Feel About the Student?

Before delving into specifics, you should pause here and ask yourself how you feel about recommending the student. Are you able to genuinely provide a positive endorsement? If you feel relatively neutral, do you need more information from the student? In the case that you feel negatively towards a student, you may suggest that she ask another teacher to provide her with a letter.

A lukewarm or negative letter would not be useful, or could even hurt, the student’s application. Admissions officers have a discerning eye when it comes to reading letters. They’ll be able to tell if you wrote your letter with reservations.

If this is how you feel, then you may have to do the difficult thing and inform the student that you’re unable to provide a recommendation letter. If the student still wants you to fulfill the requirement, she should know that your letter may not do much to boost her chances of admission.

In all three cases, you should root out the reasons behind your evaluation of the student. What qualities of the student have stood out to you?

What Qualities Do You Plan to Highlight?

Considering the features mentioned above, what intellectual and personal qualities of the student have you noticed or been impressed by?

Intellectual qualities you could highlight include problem-solving skills, analysis, curiosity, creativity, communication, collaboration, and foreign language skills. Some personal qualities you could emphasize might be strength of character, honesty, integrity, courage, humor, thoughtfulness, maturity, cultural awareness, and compassion for others.

Once you’ve narrowed down the key qualities you want to present, you can think about stories and examples.

What Anecdotes Can You Share?

After considering what qualities you plan to highlight, you should think about what specific anecdotes you can share to illustrate your assessment and help the student come alive in the eyes of the reader.

These stories can be based on your interactions with and observations of the student. They may also be informed by the student herself, through discussions and her “brag sheet.” The student should provide you with her thoughts on her goals and significant experiences that have shaped who she is today. These reflections can be helpful reminders, but ideally you also know the student well enough to write an insightful letter based on your familiarity with her academic work and personal character.

Some potential anecdotes include times when the student you're writing the letter for showed exceptional intelligence, compassion, motivation, tenacity, leadership skills, and/or teamwork abilities. Once you’ve come up with a list of what you want to focus on and how to back up your evaluation, you can begin to draft.

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The Drafting Stage

After brainstorming, you can start to shape your thoughts into the typical structure for a recommendation letter. It's usually a full page consisting of four paragraphs: the introduction, body paragraph 1, body paragraph 2, and conclusion. 

Let's look at what should be included in each paragraph, and how a teacher and counselor might write their first body paragraphs with different ideas in mind. You can choose to start your letter as creatively as you wish, but all introductions should include certain key information , as you'll see in the next section.

Introduction

What does the reader want to know when she starts reading your letter? One, she wants to know who the letter is about. Just as importantly, she wants to know who you are , along with what makes you qualified to assess this student.

Logistically, you should answer the latter question by providing your name, school, and contact information in official letterhead at the top. In your introduction, furthermore, you should explicitly state who you are and how you know the student. If you’ve taught the student in more than one class or gotten to know her in other contexts, like as the advisor of a club, then you should include that as well. The better you know the student, the more weight your recommendation carries.

Here are a couple examples for starting out your recommendation.

To Whom It May Concern,

It is my pleasure to recommend Judy, whom I taught in my 11th grade honors English program.

Dear Admissions Committee,

I am delighted to recommend the multi-talented Eduardo for admission to your undergraduate program. As Eduardo’s 11th grade music teacher, as well as his chorus leader throughout all four years of high school, I've watched him grow into an outstanding and dedicated musician.

Your entire introduction should be three to five sentences. After stating who the recommendation is for, who you are, and how you know the student, you may add about two sentences describing the student and introducing what’s to come. If you’re customizing your letter to a specific program or college, then you’ll mention that here too.

Once you’ve introduced the student and yourself, you’ll move onto the first body paragraph. If you’re a teacher, you may focus on the student’s intellectual qualities and academic work. If you’re a counselor, you may speak more to a student’s growth throughout high school and role in the school community. Let’s start out by considering the first body paragraph that a teacher might draft.

Body Paragraph 1 (Teacher)

Your first body paragraph should consist of four to six sentences. As a teacher, you may use this paragraph to hone in on the student’s key academic strengths and interests. In your brainstorming, you should have come up with the main qualities you want to describe, along with a meaningful anecdote to back up what you’re saying.

Make sure to use enthusiastic and vivid language that will make the letter interesting and memorable to an admissions officer, who might be reading through hundreds of teacher rec letters . If the student especially impressed you, you might use a statement of high ranking, calling her, for example, one of the best students you’ve taught.

This example uses a statement of high ranking and will go on to focus on Bella’s writing talent.

Bella is one of the most talented writers I’ve had the pleasure of teaching in my ten years at Forks High School. She demonstrates a nuanced understanding of literature and is comfortable within spaces of ambiguity and interpretation. She produced a particularly thought-provoking thesis paper on spirituality in Native American literature...

This second example focuses more on Dave’s strong interest in the subject of computer science.

Dave has developed an avid interest in computer science. Not only was he an excellent student throughout the year, but he also worked on developing an app that would use a school-wide crowdsourcing strategy to clean up the school grounds…

As mentioned above, a teacher will draw on her experience with the student from class. A counselor, on the other hand, may speak more clearly on a student’s development over the years and/or participation in the greater community.

Body Paragraph 1 (Counselor)

While a teacher interacts with a student every day in the classroom, a counselor has a different relationship with the student. Rather than speaking to their work as a student, the counselor may talk about the student’s maturity, development, community service, and interactions with other students and faculty.

As with a teacher recommendation, a counselor recommendation should hone in on a few specific qualities and give an insightful example. In the following examples, the counselor touches on one student’s school leadership and on the other's growth throughout high school.

Rory brings an infectious energy and enthusiasm to her fellow students and teachers. As Class President, she organized fundraisers and events that both raised money for class projects and were enjoyed by all. Last spring, she set up McKinley High’s version of The Sing Off, complete with spinning chairs for the judges to scoop up contestants for their teams. The entire performance was recorded and is available on our new YouTube channel, which Rory and her fellow student council members set up and have added to throughout the year.

Michael has impressed all of us at Washington High School with the incredible progress he’s made over his four years. While he arrived in 9th grade with limited English, he’s grown his language abilities in leaps and bounds. Now he actively participates in his classes and contributes to the school newspaper. His latest article on college planning for ELL students, in which he shares his personal story and family background, has been shared among faculty and counselors here at the school.

While the teacher and counselor may start out their recommendations by focusing on different aspects of the student, their second body paragraph may share more similarities. Here you might discuss the student’s impressive personal qualities.

Body Paragraph 2

In the second body paragraph, you might focus on revealing the student’s personal strengths and personality. You could talk about traits like integrity, honesty, compassion, courage, and resilience, to name a few.

Admissions officers want to know if the student has overcome any particular challenges in life, or if there are any special family circumstances that have affected the student. Apart from shedding light on the student’s personal journey, you also want to consider how you can add to her application. What has she already shared, and how can you both complement and add to her story?

Whatever you choose to share, it should be something that you can speak in some depth about. In the following example, the recommender speaks about Jamie’s strong value of integrity.

Not only is Jamie an outstanding history student, but he also displays exceptional strength of character. When you speak to any of his teachers about Jamie, the first word that comes up is "integrity." He’s an honest and caring young person committed to upholding these values in our school community. When administrators revised the school handbook last year, Jamie volunteered to review and give input into the section on academic integrity and plagiarism. He helped promote the ideas throughout the school and stayed after for discussion groups on what leads students to turn to cheating.

Once you have two strong body paragraphs, you’ll finish your letter with a succinct and memorable conclusion.

In the conclusion of your letter, you should reiterate your support for the student’s application to the college or program. You can add a concluding statement of her strengths and assets, making sure to reinforce the points you made above while still adding fresh language.

On top of this, your conclusion may offer a vision of how the student will perform in the future , both in terms of personal achievement and contributions to her college community. Finally, finish up by inviting admissions officers to contact you for any further information. Most letters end with the salutation of “Sincerely,” followed by your name, position, and school.

Outside of this overall four-paragraph structure, there are a few formatting points to keep in mind.

Format of Your Recommendation Letter

Your recommendation should be a full page in length. Any less may look that you didn’t have much to say about the student. Any more is unusual and not necessary apart from exceptional circumstances.

Use official school letterhead and include all the necessary contact information described above. Ultimately, you’ll upload your letter to the Common Application or a college’s individual application portal.

In closing, let’s review the structure to follow when brainstorming, drafting, and revising your recommendation letter.

Following the Recommendation Letter Template

As you brainstorm exactly what you want to communicate in your letter, keep in mind how you can structure your thoughts according to the recommendation letter template described above. To review, let's go over the key elements you should include:

• Introduction:  Here, you'll state your support for the student, describe how you know the student, and touch on her key strengths and achievements.
• Body Paragraph 1: In your first body paragraph, you may speak about a student's academic strengths and interests, along with an anecdote to back up your assessment. If you're a counselor, you may focus more on the student's community involvement in this first body paragraph.
• Body Paragraph 2: In the second body paragraph, you can reveal the student's impressive personal qualities, ones that admissions officers may not know about from the rest of her application. Make sure to include a meaningful example to back up your assessment.
• Conclusion:  Restate your support of the student, and provide a vision of her future success. Invite admissions officers to contact you with any questions.

While letters will vary in terms of writing style and emphasis, the best ones will include these key elements. To write an effective letter, as well as to make sure that you can genuinely recommend a student, you should take the time to plan and map out your letter according to this template.

You can include meaningful anecdotes based on your interactions with the students and discussions with her about her college plans and application strategy. By gathering thoughts from the student herself and informing yourself about how to structure your rec letter, you'll be poised to write a memorable letter that will both impress admissions officers and help them get to know the student better. Your letter can reveal meaningful insight into the student's academic and personal strengths and thereby make a significant impact in improving her chances of admission to college.

What's Next?

Now that you've learned about a template you can use to structure your recommendation letter, check out these sample recommendation letters. Here you can read 4 great teacher recommendation letters , plus 3 examples of bad teacher recs .

Beyond this structure, what else do you need to know about writing a letter of recommendation? This complete guide discusses how to write a strong letter of recommendation , from how to choose powerful language to the common traps to avoid.

Are you a counselor writing a letter of recommendation? Check out our guide that includes three excellent examples of counselor letters of rec to give you some ideas.

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Rebecca graduated with her Master's in Adolescent Counseling from the Harvard Graduate School of Education. She has years of teaching and college counseling experience and is passionate about helping students achieve their goals and improve their well-being. She graduated magna cum laude from Tufts University and scored in the 99th percentile on the SAT.

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Letter of Recommendation Examples for College Applicants

Admissions pros highlight what makes a recommendation letter stand out.

College Recommendation Letter Examples

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To help applicants and recommenders know what colleges are looking for in recommendation letters, some schools provide examples on their admissions website.

Recommendation letters can serve as powerful testimonials about a student's accomplishments, and the most effective letters demonstrate a candidate's potential for greatness, according to college admissions officers.

The best person to write a letter of recommendation is someone who knows the applicant well and can describe that person's journey in detail, says Kristen Capezza, vice president of enrollment management and university communications at Adelphi University in New York.

Ask for a recommendation letter from the teacher with whom you have the strongest rapport, Capezza suggests – not just someone who gave you a high grade. "That, to me, makes for a more powerful letter, because it will be more personalized and less generic."

Strong relationships shine through in letters and can help in situations where grades are poor, says Denard Jones, lead college counselor at Empowerly, a college admissions consulting company. Jones previously worked in college admissions at Elon University in North Carolina and Saint Joseph's University in Pennsylvania.

"Some of the best recommendation letters I’ve read over the years actually came from where a student might have had a lower grade than just an A," he says. "The reason being was the teacher knew that student and was able to go through and talk about the time they struggled and how they worked through the processes to overcome mastery of a new subject."

Similar to personal essays , recommendations should add to a student's application rather than repeat information, experts say. Admissions officers want to hear the story behind students to understand them holistically. For example, learning about a creative project a student participated in or the fact that the basketball player also starred in the school musical are examples that provide deep context, Jones says.

To help applicants and recommenders know what colleges are looking for in recommendation letters, some schools provide examples on their admissions website. Arizona State University provides this template , which shows how to format the letter as well as the type of content that should be included.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology also provides a breakdown on how to craft a strong letter, with several example letters and critiques on what makes them effective or ineffective.

College admissions pros also offered U.S. News insights on outstanding recommendation letters they've read during their careers.

Recommendation Letters That Swayed Admissions Officers

Admissions officials note that various types of recommendation letters can help a student's admissions odds. Those include letters that explain difficult personal circumstances, showcase remarkable achievements or reveal a student's personality.

Effective recommendation letters help admissions officers imagine how a student could contribute to their class, Capezza says.

"Reading about stories of perseverance, tales of transformation or simply honest accounts of the student's dedication to learning and the community help me to visualize the student as a future member of our community – and that visualization can be the turning point for a difficult admission decision," Capezza wrote in an email.

Challenges Faced and Overcome

Sometimes recommendation letters explain extenuating circumstances that clarify why a student's academic performance was subpar during a particular period in high school, says Skye Telka, admissions counselor at Sora Schools, a virtual private middle and high school. Telka previously served as a college admissions counselor for Warren Wilson College , a liberal arts school in North Carolina.

For instance, she once received an application from a student who performed exceptionally well in her freshman and sophomore years, but faltered in her junior and senior years.

The letter explained that the student's mother was critically ill, and the student had assumed the responsibility of parenting her own siblings, becoming her family's caregiver. Because of this letter, the Warren Wilson admissions committee accepted the student despite her lackluster grades, Telka says.

She also recalled admitting a student who had struggled in mathematics until eventually being diagnosed with dyscalculia , a learning disorder that affects a person's ability to do math.

"This letter of recommendation was important in not only revealing the student’s intellectual capacity, adaptability, and persistence, but also helped further contextualize their academic journey," Telka wrote in an email. "Especially in light of a global pandemic and some of the knowledge loss or academic irregularities associated with that, a clear and dedicated passion can really win over an admissions committee in the review process. Such passions are weighed heavily when it comes to shaping the incoming class."

This letter example from MIT shows how a school counselor provided context about a student's difficult life outside of school and previous struggles in the classroom.

Jane is an outstanding young woman whose academic record may not fully reflect her ability. Her parents were divorced during her junior year, and, for several years before that, her home situation had been in turmoil with a great deal of fighting between her parents. Her father has an alcohol problem, and Jane certainly endured a great deal of emotional distress. The fact that she has been able to do as well as she has done given the circumstances says a lot about her. Now that the home situation has stabilized, her performance has improved. I believe her senior year grades are a much better reflection of her ability.

The anonymous critique provided on the MIT admissions website says some may wonder if it's appropriate for recommendation letters to include such personal details. It is, the critique explains.

"We appreciate anything that gives us insight and perspective into a student’s performance and the environment," the critique reads. "Comments about problems that a student has experienced will help us understand the context in which they have accomplished whatever they have achieved. The extent to which they have dealt with these problems is useful to know as well."

These types of letters can be particularly valuable in cases where a student is less eager to share the details on their own, Jones says.

Information about a student's difficulties can not only mitigate deficits in an application, but also increase scholarship opportunities, Jones says. He adds that if a recommendation letter is especially compelling, the admissions committee might offer a student a scholarship or a spot in the honors program.

Abilities and Passions

Admissions officers say there are some recommendation letters that convey a student's strong interest in and aptitude for a specific academic discipline. Telka says she was amazed by a recommendation letter for a prospective agriculture student that was written by the student's employer at an apple orchard. The student had worked to revive a nearly extinct heirloom apple variety by planting it in various places.

"Because I had such context of what they had already achieved, it allowed me to reach out to faculty on campus (and) reach out to a couple of endowed scholarship opportunities," Telka says.

Another example from MIT shows a student interested in journalism who took on leadership responsibilities for the school newspaper and yearbook.

As business manager for the paper and co-editor of the yearbook the past two years, Mary has done an outstanding job. She personally brought the town’s business community from the view that the school newspaper was a charitable organization to the realization that the paper is a direct pipeline through which advertisers can reach students. She also took the initiative to set up the advertising rate schedule for the paper that produced enough revenue to expand coverage from a four-page paper, so that it is an eight-page and often twelve-page paper. Her work as photographer for both publications has been equally outstanding.

"Lots of specifics here give us a very clear impression and help us to know why that impression is held," the critique reads. "We have evidence of her newspaper directives and overall character."

When a student says he or she is strongly committed to a specific field or a particular type of community service , it is a plus if that statement is corroborated by a third party in a recommendation letter, Telka says.

It's also helpful when recommendation letters highlight a student's unusual interests. "We like to see nuggets of authenticity and anything that makes the student stand out," she says. "Clubs, extracurricular activities or anything else that makes a student unique. For example, we had one student who founded the juggling club at their high school. That sticks with you."

Strong Character

A recommendation letter may also offer insight into a person's character. Capezza recalls a letter she received about a student in a military family who had moved across the country. Written by a high school counselor , the letter described how the student had adjusted to the various places he moved.

"Throughout it all, the student was able to show upward trajectory in the grades and the types of classes being taken, but it also spoke to the student's ability to adapt to new situations," Capezza says. "No matter how overwhelming and daunting it was, the student was up for a new challenge and really learned to become his own self-advocate, and it was just a story of transformation by way of circumstance."

The following example, provided by college admissions consulting company IvyWise, describes a high-performing student's character.

Ashley’s teachers say she is an organized student who is not afraid to ask questions when she is uncertain about a skill or concept. She also works well in group settings, always making sure all members are actively involved in the work, instead of simply taking over, as many of her similarly high achieving peers are wont to do. She is also extremely goal-oriented; once she sets her mind to completing a task or project, she pursues it in earnest until it is done, regardless of any obstacles that pop up along the way. Far from the ruthless competitor, however, her peers characterize her as a compassionate friend, someone that everyone feels comfortable opening up to.  

This section of the letter "backs up the things the committee will likely see in her other recommendations and essays and provides a qualitative understanding of who she is as a student and a member of a school community," says Carolyn Pippen, master college admissions counselor for IvyWise.

A Strong Introduction and Conclusion Help

Like any piece of writing, it's important for a letter of a recommendation to immediately grab the attention of the reader. Though students don't necessarily have control over how a letter is written, experts say having deep relationships and offering anecdotes can help recommenders craft a more compelling letter.

"Experienced readers glance at the opening and concluding sentences before deciding if the letter is worth reading," he says. "A good anecdote is far more effective than even the most carefully chosen list of adjectives."

Jones provided an example of a teacher's recommendation for a fictitious student that demonstrates this well.

Introduction

One of my professors used to remind us daily of a quote by Ralph Waldo Emerson, “Nothing great has ever been accomplished without enthusiasm.” ... Jack epitomizes this quotation because he displays enthusiasm and energy toward everything he commits. Whether it be his intense dedication to academics, his devotion to making sure his customers are happy, his role as a lead in our Future Business Leaders of America club, or his overall school spirit, Jack puts forth every effort to produce the best possible results. He seems to live a fearless life. I have witnessed this first-hand.

The letter goes on to explain how Jack started his own lawn care service as a 10th grader and was managing more than 20 properties by his senior year. It also explains that Jack spent time working alongside his mother at a medical treatment center to help restore a decades-old barn that would help a local farm rebuild its revenue stream.

The conclusion should summarize the letter and tie everything together, Jones says. This example, written from the perspective of a school counselor for the same fictitious student, demonstrates that well, he says.

Jack is well-rounded – academically sound, athletic, and a leader. He has an entrepreneur's outlook, spirit, and risk-taking calculus. Life is more than what's happening for him today or next weekend – he is a strategic, forward thinker who enjoys planning for the future. He wants the next part of his journey to be in an environment where he can stretch himself, try different things, and confidently spread his wings. I am happy to give my full recommendation for admission to Jack Wright!

"A brief summary of the student's accolades will leave the reader with a positive feeling," Jones says.

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College Recommendation Letter Samples & Writing Guide

It's important to review college recommendation letter samples if you are applying to college soon or if you have been asked to write a letter for a prospective student. In this increasingly competitive admissions climate, college letters of recommendation as just as important as college essays and GPA. Keep reading to learn more about college recommendation letters, how to make sure you secure and write a compelling one, as well as examples of great letters of recommendation that will definitely inspire your own.

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Article Contents 14 min read

What are college recommendation letters and why do they matter.

As the name suggests, college recommendation letters are essentially positive endorsements of an applicant's skills and qualities. Their aim is to recommend the applicant in question for a particular college or university. Most four-year colleges, like the easiest ivy schools to get into , or the best undergraduate business schools, for example, have a holistic admissions process. This means that they want to know the "whole person" behind the IB or AP courses, grades, and test scores. Recommendation letters and personal essays play a significant role in making that happen. They give the admissions board more information about how students view themselves and how others see them.

A strong letter of recommendation holds substantial weight in admissions decisions. It allows the admissions committee to get a better idea of who you are as a person and what you would be like as a student. A strong letter can be the deciding factor between receiving an acceptance letter, an interview invitation, or a rejection letter when the school is faced with two equally qualified applicants. 

Want to know more about the college application process? This video will walk you through it:

College recommendation letters should be written by someone familiar with your work, character, and accomplishments. Someone who knows you well enough to illuminate your intellectual and personal qualities will write a better letter than someone who has little knowledge of who you are.  Depending on your academic and professional background, there are three main types of letters that you can request from various referees.  

A personal reference, also called a character reference, is a letter written by a friend, family member, mentor, neighbor, or anyone who knows the candidate well enough personally and who can attest to the traits that would make them a good addition to the school or program that they are applying to. This type of letter should explain how the writer knows the applicant and discuss the qualities and attributes that make them the ideal candidate.  ","label":"Personal references","title":"Personal references"}]" code="tab1" template="BlogArticle">

Regardless of the type of letter you are requesting, one important thing keeps coming up: the referee should know you well! You do not want writers with whom you have not worked personally or with whom you’ve only had brief interactions. These have not had time to evaluate you and your skills, so they will most likely end up writing a very generic sounding letter. Remember that the recommendation letter is supposed to give the admissions team information about you that can't be found anywhere else in your application. 

Before we get into the structure of a recommendation letter, what it needs to include, and those examples that we promised, we want to go over a few things that you need to keep in mind if you want to have recommendation letters that stand out. 

• The earlier, the better:   Any good college advisor will tell you that you need to start planning and working on your college applications early. College applications have a lot of components that require time and focus to get right. That's why it is ideal for you to request your recommendation letters early, as it gives you more time to focus on other aspects of your college application, like writing your common app essay or reviewing common college interview questions . Furthermore, the earlier you speak with your chosen writers about your reference letter, the sooner they can start working on it. Therefore, the higher your chances of getting a strong letter of recommendation.
•  Ask tactfully:   It's important to remember that when you're asking for a letter of recommendation, you are essentially asking for a professional favor. It's therefore important to be courteous and professional when asking your chosen writers for one. We recommend doing it face to face whenever possible, but if that's not an option for you, then you may send the request by email. In both cases, you should explicitly ask for a letter of recommendation and provide them with all the information they may need. This brings us to our last point...  
•   It's your responsibility:   As the applicant, it is your responsibility to provide your chosen writers with everything they need to write the strongest letter they can. You should provide them with supporting documents like your supplemental essay, high school resume if you have one, and a short biography to fill in any gaps. They also need to know what format the letter should be in, if anything specific is required by the school, whom they should send the letter to, and when. You should also make sure they have your contact information to get in touch with you if they need additional information. At the end of the day, this is your college application, so you need to follow up with every single component, even if you are not writing your own letter of recommendation .    

There is no golden template for college recommendation letters. You just need to make sure that the letter is grammatically correct, easy to read and follow, and communicates the right information. It is important to check the guidelines and instructions given by the school you are applying to. Some colleges can request that references be submitted in a specific format, and it is your responsibility to inform your chosen writers of this. You may have a form that your selected referee will need to fill out or specific questions that the school requires them to answer in their letter.  

Unless otherwise stated, we recommend using the following format: 

A letter of recommendation is a document that is supposed to highlight an applicant\u2019s positive attributes, skills, and accomplishments. A strong letter will be clear and provide specific examples to back up any claims made about the student. People tend to remember narratives, so this is one of those instances where it is better to show instead of telling. We recommend using brief anecdotes and specific examples of exceptional projects or meaningful interactions. "}]">

Conclusion and college recommendation letter examples

College letters of recommendation are challenging. Whether you're requesting a letter of recommendation or have been asked to write one for a prospective college student, there are a lot of things that you need to keep in mind. It's important to use a format that is easy to read, a structure that is easy to follow, and to have specific examples that will show the admissions board why a candidate belongs in their school or university. Following the tips outlined above will definitely help you come up with a recommendation letter that is as compelling or maybe even better than the outstanding examples that we'll share with you below.

Have you started working on your college admissions essay? This video has some great tips you can use:

College recommendation letter sample # 1 

To whom it may concern,  

It is with great pleasure that I write this letter of recommendation on behalf of Jane Doe. I have known her for three years, having served as both her English teacher and her supervisor on the XYZ High School newspaper. I firmly believe that Jane would be an excellent addition to the XX College English program.  

 I have watched Jane grow into a capable and confident leader. She started as one of the junior writers of our high school paper, and from the very beginning, Jane was always early to newspaper meetings, and she always came prepared. Whether it was with research for the stories she wanted to pitch or a pen and paper to take notes on whatever assignment she would get. She worked her way up to features editor and she has been occupying this role for one year.   

  Her leadership skills are reflected every day in how she delegates work to her assistant staff and motivates the other writers on her team with words and creative contests that appeal to their competitive side. For example, she recently bought two tickets to a concert and offered them as a prize for the junior writer who came up with the most interesting angle for a story about renovating the school cafeteria. All of the writers had been staying away from it because it seemed like a pretty boring subject but now, they are all looking for ways to make it interesting.   

  She has also been able to manage her commitments to the school paper and the cheerleading team without compromising her grades, which is a testament to her organizational skills. She has consistently been an active participant in class discussions and has demonstrated her impressive written and verbal communication skills through numerous research papers, newspaper articles, and class presentations. Jane intends to spend her years in university honing those communication skills and learning how to be a better journalist, something that I know she is very passionate about and will excel at.  

  I am confident that Jane would be a great addition to your school, as she has so much to offer, both inside and outside the classroom.    If you have any questions regarding Jane's qualifications, please feel free to contact me at (514) 123-4567 or [email protected] .  

Regards,   

Izzie Stevens,   

English teacher, XYZ high school   

College recommendation letter sample # 2 

  To Whom It May Concern,  

I have had the pleasure of supervising George Yang at BBG Auto dealership for a little over two years now, and I can say without a doubt that he would make a great addition to the student body of ABC program.   

I have been impressed with how reliable and responsible George is. Many part-timers in the car dealership business are high school or college students, and often, they require a certain amount of handholding, but this has never been the case with George. From the very beginning, he was always punctual and respectful with customers. One gentleman in particular was so impressed with the service that he received that he booked a separate appointment with me, just to tell me how friendly and helpful George was as he went through the process of buying his daughter’s first car. The customer insisted that George deserved a raise.   

  Moreover, when he is not using his downtime to catch up on schoolwork, he is either taking initiative and cold calling potential customers to tell them about upcoming promotions that might interest them or helping his coworkers complete additional tasks, like cleaning up the cars in the showroom, updating the price tags on the cars and sometimes even helping the other salespeople close on a deal.   

  In addition to being a team player, he also shows great leadership potential. At his request, I gave him the opportunity to run one of our promotional campaigns, and he did a fantastic job. He came up with a marketing plan that attracted over 60 customers to the dealership in one day, and he delegated tasks when he had to make sure things ran smoothly. Furthermore, and perhaps most importantly, in my opinion, he sought help from myself and other members of management whenever he needed it.   

  George has mentioned that he is interested in pursuing a degree in business, a niche in which I am positive he will excel. His dedication to learning makes him a focused student, and I am optimistic that he will graduate with flying colors.   

  I give George my highest recommendation for enrollment in the business program in your college, without reservation. Please feel free to contact me at (819) 123-5678 or [email protected] for any further information.  

Sincerely,  

Jacob Blake  

Sales Manager, BBG Auto Dealership  

To Whom It May Concern  

I am writing this recommendation letter at the request of Jonathan Smith, who is applying for admission to X university. Jonathan has been a student at JKL High School for three years and the captain of our football team for a year now. As the team's coach, I have had the pleasure of getting to know him as an athlete but also as a person and a student.  

 As an athlete, it is evident that Jonathan strives to win and enjoys the sport in its pure form. As a person, I have watched him learn to be a better leader by listening to his teammates and often asking questions that gave me a pause. I remember a particular instance where he sat next to me on the bus as we were coming back from a game and asked if it was his role to intervene when two team members were having a personal dispute that could potentially affect the game but had not gotten to that point yet. It was one of those moments that showed me that he takes his role as a captain seriously.  

As a student, Jonathan is always eager to learn. I have noticed it when we study plays, and he takes careful notes and asks follow-up questions. Many of my colleagues at JKL high school have also commented on his ability to quickly grasp concepts and follow up on the rare occasions where he is not able to do so on the first try. It is one of the main reasons why he was able to secure an ‘A’ in his AP Biology class even though he joined the class later than the other students.   

As you can probably tell from the few stories that I have shared with you, Jonathan is a focused young man who takes his responsibilities and commitments very seriously. He has assured me that he is committed to becoming one of the best physical therapists in the country and that X university gives him the best chance of achieving this goal.   

I recommend Jonathan for your program without any reservations, as I am confident that he will contribute to your alma matter in great ways, both in and out of the classroom and on the football field. I can be reached by phone at (800) 123-8888 or email at [email protected] if you require any further information.  

Tucker O'Malley,   

JKL High School   

College recommendation letter sample # 4 

It is without hesitation and with great pleasure that I write to you today regarding Aisha Bellgam's application to your prestigious institution. I have been a counselor at XYZ high school for over ten years, and Aisha is one of the most promising students that I have had the pleasure of working with.   

  Aisha first came to me for guidance during her first year of high school. She was new to the country, unfamiliar with our educational system, and dealing with some pretty heavy family problems that made it difficult for her to focus in school. The reality of my job is that I often have to offer my help to students who need it, or other teachers have to send them to my office. So, as you can imagine, I was pleasantly surprised that Aisha had decided to take this step by herself.   

  Over the years, I have noticed that taking this kind of initiative comes naturally to her. For example, once we had worked through her issues and she was more comfortable in school, she decided to help other students like her. Our school is located in an urban community with many children from immigrant families. Being one herself, Aisha is uniquely qualified to identify some of the things that make it difficult for these children to adapt to their new environment, and she recognized that. In her sophomore year, she came to me and asked if she could volunteer in my office and provide resources to help students new to the country integrate faster.   

  Furthermore, many of her teachers have commended her for often taking the time to tutor other students after school. Her compassion, willingness to help, and amicable nature are why she was elected president of the student council. They are also the reason I believe that she will excel in college and go on to change many lives for the better after graduation if she is admitted into your social work program.   

  I am writing this letter today because I wholeheartedly believe that Aisha will be a fantastic addition to your social work program. I have watched her grow into a confident, compassionate young woman who is continually working to better herself and those around her. I look forward to seeing her continue to do so in college and beyond.   

  Please do not hesitate to contact me by phone at (204) 123-4567 or email at [email protected] for any additional information regarding this application.   

  Sincerely,  

Iris Doe  

XYZ High School counselor  

College recommendation letter sample # 5 

My name is Jonathan Sheperd, and I am writing to you today in support of Mr. James Doe's application to the pre-med program at X university.   

  I have been a family physician for over twenty-five years. I currently own and operate a small walk-in clinic in downtown Toronto, and James has been volunteering with us since January 20xx. I have had the pleasure of supervising him and observing him work for over a year now, and I can confidently say that he will make an excellent doctor in the future.   

  I personally believe that bedside manner is one of the hardest things to teach future doctors, but I do not think that will be the case with James. He is always patient, friendly, and courteous with the incoming patients. I realized this during one of his first full shifts at the clinic when a patient who was having a problem controlling their bowel movements came into the clinic and was looking for assistance. Even some of the most experienced members of my staff were having a hard time staying professional, but James volunteered to help this young man with no complaints, and he did so with a smile. In the end, I heard the patient thank him for helping him through one of the most embarrassing days of his life.   

  This is the type of great impression that James leaves with patients and colleagues as well. Even though he only works the front desk at the clinic for 20 hours every other week, the entirety of my staff has acknowledged that his willingness to help and work ethic are things we can always rely on. He has often volunteered to work longer hours when we need extra help, and he always accepts new assignments with enthusiasm.  

  He recently informed me that he made the dean's list again this spring. It did not surprise me because I know that he brings the same level of dedication and work ethic to his studies. He has a very curious mind that is always at work. We actually have a running joke in the office about the little notebook that he carries around and writes in constantly. When I finally asked him about it, he told me that he likes to write down some of the terms that he repeatedly hears in the office so that he can research them or ask his biology teacher about them.   

  His work ethic and eagerness to learn are undeniable, and I am convinced that they will help him succeed as a student and, later on, as a physician. I strongly recommend this applicant for your pre-medicine program as I believe that his professionalism, positive learning attitude, and thirst for knowledge will make him a great addition to your student body.   

  Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any additional questions. You can reach me by phone at (618) 123-3698 or email at [email protected] .    

Dr. Jonathan Sheperd  

  FAQs

It's a document that highlights a candidate's skills and qualifications and recommends that they be admitted to a particular college or university. 

Very important! College admission boards like to get a sense of who is the applicant is beyond their academic background, and college essays and letters of recommendation allow them to do just that. In other words, a strong letter of recommendation can mean the difference between an acceptance letter and a rejection one.

You can ask your high school teachers, school counselors, mentors, supervisors, etc. Just make sure that it is someone who knows you well enough to talk about your skills and other positive attributes.

The earlier, the better. You should ask for your recommendation letters at the very beginning of your college application process. You can even mention it to your chosen writers before then and simply remind them when it comes time to apply to colleges.

We recommend that you ask for a letter of recommendation face to face. Remember to be polite and professional, be specific in your ask, and provide all the information your referee will need to write a strong letter.

You should provide your chosen writer with supporting documents about your background, like your personal essay or high school resume, and information about the letter format, content, and submission deadline.

Ideally, college recommendation letters shouldn't be longer than one page.

In short, a narrative and specific example. Instead of just telling the admissions board that the applicant is a capable student with leadership skills, it would be best to share an example or a brief anecdote that shows that they are.

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Have a question ask our admissions experts below and we'll answer your questions.

Please can the recommender's email be personal?.

BeMo Academic Consulting

Hello Valetine! Thanks for your comment. It is always best to put down the professional email of your referees, so do your best to include them instead of personal email. However, if your referee is no longer working in an official capacity (retired, for example), you can use their personal email. Though we always recommend using a professional address. 

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3 Incredible College Recommendation Letter Samples To Help Your Child Get Into College & Win Scholarships

While it is important to have a high GPA and great test scores, your teacher recommendation letters might just make the difference between whether or not you get into your dream school.

Colleges and universities want to see that their applicants are well-rounded, passionate, and determined. Thousands upon thousands of students can earn a 4.0 GPA, but far fewer students are able to do so while also demonstrating strong leadership skills, advanced critical thinking skills, and impeccable character.

Schools rely on recommendations from teachers to get a more holistic view of their applicants, allowing them to see which students have what it takes to thrive on their campus and contribute to the institutions.

If you want to get into your dream school, you are going to need to get great letters of recommendation from your teachers that showcase your strengths.

The last thing you want is a generic letter that makes it sound like you were just another face in a sea of hundreds of students within a teacher’s classroom.

Asking teachers who know you well and giving them plenty of advanced notice (at least two weeks) will help you receive better recommendations.

 Here are four college recommendation letter samples of effective letters that will help you know what type of letter can boost your chances of admission:

Dear Admissions Committee,

My name is Mr. Smith, and I have had the honor of teaching John in AP Literature and Composition at High School X, during which I noticed his impeccable character, discipline, and leadership. John is a self-motivated student who always went above and beyond in my class. It is a pleasure to recommend him.

John has an insatiable desire to learn, and he demonstrated this throughout his year in my class. His questions were insightful and eloquent, and he produced work that was far above that of the average student. John’s writing and research skills are phenomenal. For his final project, he produced a truly remarkable essay analyzing cultural identity in Jhumpa Lahiri’s The Namesake. John’s academic strengths are unparalleled, and I know he will be an asset to your institution.

John’s character is also impressive. He acts with generosity and compassion, and he is well respected by his peers and teachers alike. John is a natural leader, and he was such a joy to have in class.

As a learner and a leader, John is beyond exemplary. He has my strongest recommendation. Please feel free to reach out to me if you have any questions.

English Teacher

High School X

It is with great pleasure that I recommend Jill for admission to your institution. Jill is one of the strongest students I have taught in my 22 years of teaching, and I am beyond impressed by her academic performance and her leadership skills. Jill was in my AP Literature and Composition class, and I had the honor of coaching her on the High School X debate team. I am happy to recommend her, and I know that she will be a great addition to your university.

As captain of the debate team, Jill has spent countless hours conducting research and analyzing sources to prepare for our competitions. Her hard work and dedication led to her winning first place at the Iowa State Tournament this year. Jill not only has a strong aptitude for learning and debate, but she is also a strong leader. I watched her go beyond what is required of her to take students under her wing and help them become better debaters throughout our season. She is an incredible captain that understands the importance of leading by example and serving others. I firmly believe that both her personal and academic strengths will contribute greatly to your school.

Jill is an exceptional student, and she has my strongest recommendation. Please feel free to reach out to me if you have any questions.

Debate Coach

It has been a pleasure to have Jason in my English classes over the past four years. Jason is an exceptional student, and I have long been impressed by both his academic and interpersonal skills. Throughout the years that I have known Jason, his natural curiosity and desire for learning, his maturity and leadership, and his desire to serve his community have been remarkable. He has my strongest recommendation for admittance into your institution.

In my AP Literature and Composition class, Jason wrote some of the most insightful papers I have read in my 12 years of teaching. I was blown away by his analytical skills and his ability to make connections between different texts. His paper on Toni Morrison’s Sula, was one of the most incredible pieces of student work that I have ever had the joy to read.

Jason’s personal strengths are also strong. He treats his peers and teachers with respect, and he is one of the most compassionate and gracious students I have had in class. Jason is a strong applicant, and I know he will be the perfect addition to your university.

Please feel free to reach out to me if you have any questions.

Dear admissions committee,

Teaching AP Physics at High School X is rewarding because of students like Abigail. I have had the joy of watching Abigail’s critical thinking skills and passion for science grow over the past four years in my AP Physics class and as captain of the High School X Robotics team. Abigail is one of the brightest and hardest working students I have had in all of my years of teaching, and it is truly an honor to recommend her for admission to your institution.

Abigail takes her position as captain of the Robotics team very seriously. I have seen her go above and beyond what is required of her to make new members feel welcome and ensure our team is prepared to do well during our competitions. I have never met a student with her level of dedication and passion for sciences, and I know she will be a strong addition to your school’s engineering program.

In addition to her academic strengths, Abigail also has strong leadership skills. She always takes initiative, tackles challenges head on, and serves as a role model for the other students on the team. I know her work ethic and leadership abilities will make a positive impact at your institution.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me.

Physics Teacher

Robotics Team Coach

These four college recommendation letter samples are so strong because they highlight the student’s strengths, back these qualifications with strong and specific examples, and use language that makes it clear that they know the student well.

When you request a letter of recommendation from your educators, make sure you choose teachers that know you well enough to write insightful, detailed letters of recommendation. It might just make the difference that helps you get accepted into a great college.

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How to Write a Recommendation Letter for College

Madelyn Goodnight © The Balance 

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When a student applies for college, he or she will need at least one or two letters of recommendation from a high school teacher, or occasionally an employer. College admissions offices are looking for particular things in a student’s letters of recommendation.

Read below for advice on  how to write a persuasive letter of recommendation  for a student, plus review sample recommendation letters for college.

Advice for Writing a College Reference Letter

Think carefully about saying yes.  Make sure you only agree to write the letter if you can write a positive recommendation. If you don’t think you can, tell the person you are not comfortable writing the recommendation. Here’s information on how to turn down a recommendation request.

If you feel you cannot write the letter, you might also consider pointing the student towards a teacher or administrator who might be a better fit.

Focus on the particular school.  Ask the student for information on the school where he or she is applying. Try to focus on the student’s skills that relate to their ability to succeed at that school. Even if it is a more general letter, ask the person about the types of schools they’re hoping to attend. The letter you write for a student attending community college will be different than one you’d do for someone who plans to go to a state or private university.

Collect information.  Ask the student for a copy of his or her resume, so that you can speak to the person’s experience. You might also consider meeting with them in-person, to get a better sense of their interests.

Mention how you know the student.  At the beginning of the  recommendation letter , explain how you know the student and state how long you’ve known them. If you’re a teacher, state how many courses he or she has taken with you. If you are an employer, describe the student’s role and their performance with your organization.

Include specific examples.  In the letter, provide specific examples of ways in which the person has demonstrated various skills and qualities. Try to think of examples from when he or she was in your class or your company.

Remain positive.  State that you think this student is a strong candidate for the school. You might say something like you “recommend this individual without reservation.” Emphasize this, especially at the beginning and end of the letter. After all, you want to help the student stand out.

Avoid clichés.  There are many common clichés on student recommendation letters, including vague phrases like “hard worker” and “diligent student.” Make sure to avoid these clichés, and back up any statement with specific evidence.

Share your contact information.  Provide a way for the school to contact you if they have further questions. Include your email address, telephone number, or both at the end of the letter.

Follow the submission guidelines.  Ask the student how to submit the letter. Make sure you follow any requirements, especially about where to send it and when, as well as the format (for example, PDF, physical letter, etc.). Double-check the submission deadline so that there will be no question of not having your letter arrive on time.

College Recommendation Letter From a Teacher

You can use this recommendation letter sample as a model. Download the template (compatible with Google Docs and Word Online), or read the text version below.

College Recommendation Letter From a Teacher (Text Version)

Dear XYZ College Admissions Committee,

I have known Beth Crawley for the past two years, having served as both her English teacher and her supervisor on the ABC High School newspaper. I believe Beth would be an excellent addition to XYZ College.

While a student at ABC High School, Beth has always challenged herself academically. She is an active participant in class discussions and grasps material quickly. She has superb written and verbal skills that are a pleasure for any teacher to encounter. Beth even tutors incoming high school freshmen who are struggling with their English courses.

Beth also excels in extracurricular activities. She has served as the features editor of our high school paper for the past two years and has written a number of insightful, thought-provoking articles. Her ability to delegate work to her assistant editors also reflects her organizational skills and strong leadership abilities.

Beth would bring so much to your school, both inside and outside of the classroom. If you have any questions regarding Beth's qualifications, please feel free to contact me at (555) 555-5555 or Kara.White@email.com.

English Teacher and Department Chair ABC High School

College Recommendation Letter From an Employer

I highly recommend Peter Ballis as a candidate for XYZ College. I have served as Peter's supervisor in his capacity as a camp counselor at ABC Summer Camp for the past four years.

From serving as a counselor-in-training in eighth grade to being promoted to head counselor last year, I have watched Peter develop into a confident and capable leader.

Peter is extremely responsible; not only is he accountable for a group of fifteen children every summer, but, as head counselor, he also supervises the counselors-in-training and assists them with any issues they may have. On days when I am not on site, Peter is the counselor I know I can rely on to make sure the other counselors' days run smoothly. He is a natural leader who can always be counted on.

I am extremely impressed by Peter's organizational skills. Not only does he come up with detailed weekly schedules for his campers, but he also makes sure that his group arrives on time to every activity.

I know this ability to organize and budget time will serve him well in a college setting. Peter is an organized, intelligent, and capable young man who would be an excellent addition to your school. Feel free to contact me with any questions at (555) 555-5555 or Madeleine.Grimes@email.com.

Madeleine Grimes

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College Recommendation Letter Sample & FAQs

The College Recommendation Letter – An Introduction

As you begin your college application process, you will likely hear a lot about college recommendation letters. In this guide, with insight from CollegeAdvisor’s expert Admission Officers, we’ll explain exactly what a college recommendation letter is. We will also cover how to request a recommendation letter for college. And, we will present an example of what a strong college recommendation letter sample looks like. 

After reading this guide, hopefully you will understand the importance of the recommendation letter for college. Above all, you will want your college recommendation letter to be written by someone who knows you well. That way, your letter of recommendation for college will be the strongest it can possibly be. As you’ll see in the college recommendation letter sample that helped one student earn admission to Harvard University , a strong letter of recommendation can help you attend your dream school . But we’re getting ahead of ourselves. Let’s begin with the most important question: what is a letter of recommendation for college? 

What is a college recommendation letter?

A college recommendation letter is exactly what it sounds like. It’s an opportunity for those who know you in an educational setting to explain to an admissions committee the ways you stand out. It also helps them highlight why you would be a good candidate for college admission.

Your recommendation letter for college admission will help admissions officers get to know you from a third party perspective. They will glean insight into you beyond your personal essay , academics , and extracurricular achievements . It will help admissions officers understand: What are you like in the classroom? How do you lead your peers? What qualities do you have that would make you a great fit for the university you want to attend? A good recommendation letter for college will answer these questions and more.

Later in this guide, you’ll see a sample college recommendation letter that will demonstrate this. The college recommendation letter sample will show you first hand the type of content your teachers will be writing about you. The letter in this guide is a real recommendation that helped a student earn admission to Harvard University ! 

These 4 steps break down how to get a great letter of recommendation for college in more depth. And, here are some more FAQs about the letter of recommendation for college admission. For now, let’s discuss why a letter of recommendation for college matters so much. 

Why is a college recommendation letter important?

Not all colleges will require a letter of recommendation, but the majority do. So, it’s generally best to plan to secure them as part of your college application process. It’s impossible to weigh the role letters of recommendation play in the overall admissions process. It will vary a bit by school. However, many schools have shifted to a holistic admissions strategy as they review college applications. A holistic admissions approach means that colleges will consider all components of your college application more evenly. This includes your academics, your extracurriculars, and especially the recommendation letter for college. 

According to Inside Higher Ed , more than 60% of colleges reported that the counselor recommendation had at least ‘moderate importance’ in admissions decisions. The article explores the fairness and validity of letters of recommendation. However, one thing is for certain: they will continue to be used in the application process. 

So, it is worth understanding how to secure strong college recommendation letters. Due to COVID-19 , standardized testing has taken a back seat and some high schools are resorting to pass/fail grades. Therefore, letters of recommendation may matter even more in the admissions process, especially at more selective schools.

Let’s take a look at the times when a letter of recommendation for college admission can play an even more important role in college admission decisions.

When might a letter of recommendation for college matter most?

A few scenarios can play out where your letter of recommendation for college could be a deciding factor in an admission decision. Firstly, at highly selective schools , where each component of the application process counts, this may very well be the case. Let’s say for instance the admissions committee is deciding between two candidates. Both applicants have similar profiles in terms of academic interests, extracurricular involvement, test scores (if applicable), GPA, and curriculum. A strong letter of recommendation for college admission just may be the deciding factor.

In a second scenario, let’s take a less selective school with a truly holistic admissions process. A candidate might seem like an average student, but a strong letter of recommendation for college might show admissions how the student excels beyond grades. A strong letter of recommendation might motivate an admissions officer to take a chance on that candidate.

The deciding factor

Lastly, a common scenario at selective schools is one in which a candidate may be on the cusp. Academically, they aren’t strong enough for a definite offer of admission, so the decision can go either way. That’s when a recommendation letter for college or a personal essay can really make all the difference. A strong combination of the two can provide that boost admissions officers need to settle on a decision to admit.

At the end of the day, while a required recommendation letter for college isn’t the end-all be-all in the college application process, these letters can play an important role in the final decision. They are a third-party testament to your ability to excel. This insight can be an important addition to your college application packet. As such, it’s best to ensure your letters are as strong as possible. You’ll see an example of that in our college recommendation letter sample.

Asking for a recommendation letter for college: Things to know

Now that we’ve explained the basics of the letter of recommendation for college admission, let’s get into some more detail. We’ll even look at a sample college recommendation letter later on to give you a clear idea of what these letters look like!

Check out this step-by-step guide to the process, and keep reading to see our college recommendation letter sample later in this guide.

Who should I ask for a letter of recommendation for college?

This is probably the most important question you will ask yourself as you begin to think about your college recommendation letters. Deciding who should write your letter of recommendation for college admission requires careful consideration. It sounds a bit transactional, but you should take inventory of your teachers early in your junior year . The college application process requires planning , so you need to assess every step of the way. Be intentional about building strong relationships with your teachers with your letter of recommendation for college in mind.

Do you already know what particular school, major, or program you will be applying to? If so, you will certainly want to ask a teacher in the appropriate subject. If two letters are required, we suggest one letter of recommendation for college from a math or science teacher and another recommendation letter for college from a humanities teacher. Our college recommendation letter sample below is from a math teacher, so the best contrasting letter would be an English or history teacher. 

Junior-year teachers are best

Junior year teachers are ideal candidates to write your letter of recommendation for college admission. This is because they are the last ones to have taught you for a full year before the application process, and your classes are more rigorous. If you are lucky enough to have a junior year teacher that you had in previous years, that could certainly be an advantage. Either way, make sure to forge relationships with your teachers throughout your junior year. Let them know your interests, go to see them during their office hours, and be an active participant in class discussions.

Do you have the opportunity to work with one of your teachers outside of your class? Perhaps your history teacher advises the Yearbook committee, or your calculus teacher advises the Black Student Association. It’s a good idea to join the clubs your teachers advise so they can get to know you better outside of the classroom. Of course, these should be activities that you’re genuinely interested in.

Counselor recommendations

In addition to the teachers you will ask for a letter, your school counselor will also submit a letter of recommendation for college. This letter of recommendation for college admission will typically provide an overview of your years as a high school student. It will discuss your academics, extracurricular involvement and impact, as well as your personal traits and growth throughout the years. For that reason, even if you do work with an outside advisor (such as one of CollegeAdvisor.com’s Advisors ), it is also important to form a relationship with your school-assigned counselor.  

Your counselor’s recommendation letter for college can help fill in gaps in your application story by providing contextual information. For example, if your GPA suffered your sophomore year due to your parents’/guardians’ divorce or separation, or a death in the family, your counselor can include that information. For some information, such as medical conditions, your counselor will require written consent to include said information in your letter of recommendation for college.

Some colleges and universities will allow you to submit a supplemental letter of recommendation for college admission. The amount will vary by school, but one is typically enough.

This letter could come from:

• Supervisors
• Religious mentors
• Community leaders
• Research advisors
• Band teachers

You will want the person writing your supplemental recommendation letter for college to provide a unique perspective different from your other letters. A word of caution: be sure to check the individual college’s policy on the submission of a supplemental letter of recommendation for college admission. Not all schools welcome them, so do not have an additional letter of recommendation for college sent if they specify that it is not wanted.

Keep reading to see a favorite college recommendation letter sample of ours!

How to ask for a letter of recommendation for college?

You should try to ask for a college recommendation letter face-to-face rather than over email. If possible, ask your potential recommenders in person or ask to set up a meeting online. Understand that your teachers can decline your request to have them write a letter of recommendation for college. However, teachers know about the process of writing a recommendation letter for college and will be open to writing one for you. 

One important thing to do ahead of time when asking for a college recommendation letter is to prepare a resume and a list of key extracurricular activities and awards to give your potential recommenders. This will make their job much easier! They’ll know exactly what they should be highlighting as they write your letter. As you’ll see below in our sample Harvard recommendation letter, the student’s recommender lists her extracurriculars in the letter. This helps paint a more well-rounded picture of the student for admissions officers. 

Verify in the portal

Once you’ve confirmed who your recommenders will be, you will need to verify them through your application portal. For example, on the Common App, you invite the recommender to write you a letter by putting their email into the recommendation section of the application. The recommenders will receive a notification and be able to upload their letter of recommendation for college admission directly to the application portal. 

Looking for more information on how to ask for a letter of recommendation for college admission? Check out this article. And, keep reading to see us analyze a strong college recommendation letter sample. 

When should I ask for a college recommendation letter?

We cannot stress enough the importance of respecting your teachers’ time when asking for a letter of recommendation for college admission. While you should ask four weeks in advance at minimum , we advise asking in May or June before the end of the school year . Many teachers will use their free time during the summer to write college recommendation letters, so the earlier the better. 

You don’t want to be the student asking your teachers for a letter of recommendation for college admission just days before the application deadline; your teachers have enough to juggle. Ask your teachers in person if possible, and understand that they can decline.

What is the deadline for teachers to submit college recommendation letters?

If you are applying to schools with a November deadline, your teachers and counselor will generally submit your letters by then. Likewise for applications with a January deadline.

A letter of recommendation for college admission can generally come in after the deadline , within reason. Sometimes your college counselor will continue to submit information on your behalf throughout the cycle if necessary. What matters is that your application is submitted by the deadline. For schools with rolling admissions, your application will not be reviewed until it is complete.

What can I do as a sophomore/junior to ensure a good college recommendation letter?

The best thing to do to ensure a good letter of recommendation is to form relationships with your teachers. You can accomplish this by coming to class prepared so that you can answer questions and also ask questions. That said, you will want to make sure you consistently complete your homework and class assignments on time. 

You can set yourself apart by contributing to class discussions, respecting your peers, and getting along with your teachers. You can also show leadership by volunteering to help out in class and take the lead on group projects. You’ll want to identify teachers you trust and can ask for help in order to build relationships with your teachers. Additionally, you’ll also want to get to know your teachers and allow them to get to know you. In fact, you’ll see in our college recommendation letter sample how one student set herself apart for all four years of high school. 

For more information on how to get a great recommendation letter for college, check out this article . 

Letter of Recommendation for College: Form and Function

Now, we’ll go into detail about what the college recommendation letter should look like, what it should contain, and how many letters you should aim for. Keep reading for our analysis of a college recommendation letter sample as well. 

How long should a college recommendation letter be?

The standard length of a college letter of recommendation is one page. Some teachers may write a bit more or a bit less in a letter of recommendation for college. But expect approximately a page worth of content. Below, you’ll see our sample college recommendation letter is one full page, single-spaced.  

What should a college recommendation letter include?

A strong recommendation letter for college will provide key details that are not obvious from the rest of your application. In fact, you will see exactly what we mean below in the college recommendation letter sample. While you may have a strong academic profile, a letter of recommendation for college admission can provide contextual information. Information such as: your journey in that particular class; insight into how you think; how you treat your classmates; your relationship with your teacher; and how you contribute to the class. That’s information that a simple letter grade cannot provide.

Thinking beyond the “A”

And speaking of grades, you don’t have to ask teachers whose classes you earned an A in to write your letters. Sometimes the strongest letters can come from teachers whose class you didn’t ace — that’s not always the end result of hard work, after all. A strong letter can attest to the commitment you made to do well. You might have met the teacher outside of class, seen a tutor, or asked for additional resources to better grasp the material. What admissions committee wouldn’t appreciate a teacher speaking to your resilience and work ethic? Admissions officers aren’t looking for perfection, but they are looking to form the ideal class of students who can thrive academically.

Wondering about writing a recommendation letter for college from the teacher’s perspective? Check out this guide from MIT about what they like in a letter. Looking to read a college recommendation letter sample? We’ll be analyzing a very strong sample college recommendation letter below!

Who should my teachers address the college recommendation letters to?

Each letter of recommendation for college admission can simply be addressed “To whom it may concern,” as they are not written for specific colleges. Or, see our college recommendation letter sample for how to start a letter. 

How many letters of recommendation for college?

Usually, you will need two letters of recommendation. We suggest you get one recommendation letter for college from a STEM teacher, and one recommendation letter for college from a humanities or social sciences teacher. This helps to show colleges that you are a well-rounded student.

However, if you are applying for a specific program or major , for example any very competitive engineering programs, you may want to instead get a college recommendation letter from both a math teacher and a science teacher. Our college recommendation letter sample is from a math teacher, so if that student were applying for engineering, she may want to get a second college recommendation letter from a science teacher.

Some colleges allow you to submit more than two recommendation letters. It may be helpful to check out schools on your college list ahead of time so you know whether to ask for a third recommendation letter for college. 

Supplemental letter of recommendation for Harvard

For example, our sample letter below is a Harvard recommendation letter. Although you only need two Harvard recommendation letters, the college will accept a supplemental Harvard recommendation letter. A third Harvard recommendation letter can help the admissions committee to see an additional part of your background or personality. You can touch on things not already covered in your application or first two Harvard recommendation letters.  

However, do not think that every additional Harvard recommendation letter that you send will subsequently increase your chances of admission. In fact, sending too many additional Harvard recommendation letters may make the admissions office wary of accepting you. Knowing when enough is enough is key.

Now, let’s check out a sample college recommendation letter. This college recommendation letter sample will provide you with a concrete example of what these letters should look like. And, it helped Jennifer gain acceptance into Harvard!

College Recommendation Letter Sample

The moment you’ve been waiting for: a real college recommendation letter sample. Below, we’ll discuss what makes this a strong college recommendation letter sample, and how you can get a similarly strong college recommendation letter. This sample letter is actually a real Harvard recommendation letter that helped one student gain admissions Harvard University.

The above college recommendation letter sample is a strong example of a good college recommendation letter. We can break this Harvard recommendation letter down into three parts: the student’s academic background, specific examples of the student’s high achieving behavior, and the student’s extracurricular background. The recommender closes out the letter by offering an overall endorsement of the student. Now, let’s dive into the details of this sample college recommendation letter. 

The letter provides context

This college recommendation letter sample begins by offering context for Jennifer as a student and how the recommender knows Jennifer. This demonstrates to admissions officers why the recommender is qualified to endorse Jennifer as a candidate for admissions; Jennifer was a past student in two of the recommender’s extremely challenging courses. 

It highlights academic accomplishments with examples

The first paragraph of this sample college recommendation letter focuses on Jennifer’s academic accolades. She took AP Calculus freshman year of high school, then moved on to take a college level course in Multivariate Calculus as only a junior in high school. 

This college recommendation letter sample also mentions Jennifer’s successes on the AP exams, not only in math courses, but in AP Computer Science and AP History as well. Finally, this college recommendation letter sample details that Jennifer has taken multiple classes at the college level. All of this is extremely impressive, and we’re only on the first paragraph of this college recommendation letter sample!

In the next paragraph of this sample college recommendation letter, the recommender discusses specifics of Jennifer’s work that were outstanding. These specific examples back up the claims made in the above paragraph: Jennifer is a unique and brilliant student. 

Describes excellence outside the classroom

Finally, this college recommendation letter sample discusses Jennifer’s accomplishments outside of the classroom. This is always helpful for a recommender to mention in a letter of recommendation for college admission. It emphasizes that Jennifer is well-rounded and that her recommender took the time to get to know her outside of the classroom space. As we mentioned before, you can provide your recommender with a list of key extracurriculars and accomplishments. That way, like in this Harvard recommendation letter, your recommender can address the many facets of your high school career!

This sample college recommendation letter specifically highlights Jennifer’s success in mathematical courses. However, it also talks more broadly about Jennifer’s involvement in other courses and extracurriculars. It’s no wonder this Harvard recommendation letter helped earn Jennifer admission into the college. In fact, it really contributed depth and detail to her application. A college recommendation letter like this college recommendation letter sample would be a huge asset to an application!

College Recommendation Letters: Additional FAQs

Now that we’ve gone through a sample college recommendation letter, you should have a pretty clear idea of what a letter of recommendation for college admission looks like. Below, we’ll answer remaining questions you may have about getting a letter of recommendation for college admission. 

Can a college recommendation letter be from a family member?

No. A family member cannot write a letter of recommendation for college on your behalf. You could have a mentor or a boss write a recommendation letter for college, but they should not be related to you. 

Will I be able to read my college recommendation letter?

Your teachers will typically submit your letter of recommendation for college admission to your school counselor. From there, it gets uploaded to the platform your school uses such as Naviance or MaiaLearning, from which your counselor will submit your supporting documents to the colleges you’ve selected.

Typically, students must sign a FERPA waiver when they request their letters of recommendation for college. This agreement states that you waive the right to view your recommendation letter for college admission. 

How do I know if my college recommendation letter is good?

The quality of a recommendation letter for college can vary depending on the teacher writing it. Not all teachers are wordsmiths, and that’s ok. What matters most is the content, which is why it’s important to forge those teacher connections and choose recommenders who know you and your abilities best. If a teacher feels that they would not be the best person to write a solid recommendation on your behalf, they may decline your offer.

Letter of Recommendation for College- Final Thoughts

We hope this guide has provided a comprehensive explanation of the college recommendation letter process. We hope you also gained a better sense of what a strong ​​college recommendation letter sample looks like. Remember that not all letters of recommendation will be exactly like the above college recommendation letter sample. So, you shouldn’t compare your successes to the student in the college recommendation letter sample. You are you , and that’s the greatest advantage in the college admissions process! Find recommenders who understand you, and be sure to ask for a college recommendation letter far before the deadline. Be prepared to provide recommenders with a list of extracurriculars, as the student in our college recommendation letter sample did. Your personal essay (if you’ve written it) may also be helpful for recommenders to see. Any additional information you can provide will be helpful for your teachers. Like in our college recommendation letter sample, you want to seem a well-rounded, unique, and hard working student. 

For more information on the college recommendation letter process, check out this Common App article. Good luck!

This informational article was written by CollegeAdvisor.com Admissions Experts and former Admissions Officers. Didn’t see your question on the list? Get help writing your college essay from our talented team of advisors and other CollegeAdvisor admissions experts, click here to schedule a free meeting with one of our Admissions Specialists. During your meeting, our team will discuss your profile and help you find targeted ways to increase your admissions odds at top schools. We’ll also answer any questions and discuss how CollegeAdvisor.com can support you in the college application process.

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Recommendation Letters: How to Prepare, Write, and Format (for educators)

May 14, 2023 | Articles , Essays & Recommendation Letters , Financial Aid & Scholarships

So, a student asked you for a recommendation letter . Now what? How do you write a high-impact recommendation letter?

Recommendations are critical for securing scholarships and admission. A 2019 survey from the National Association for College Admission Counseling found that colleges put more weight on recommendation letters from counselors and teachers than activities or interviews, especially schools with test-flexible policies. Use these tips to help.

Getting Started with Your Recommendation Letter

Ask the applicant for supporting information (resume, transcript, application) to make writing the letter easier for you and more focused on what the student hopes to achieve.  Once you have that information, make sure you follow the specific request requirements. Pay close attention to where and when to submit, the required format (PDF or other), what content to include, etc.  Note to counselors:  It’s a good idea to set a deadline for students to ask teachers for recommendations. This will discourage last-minute requests that make teachers scramble to get recommendations in on time. 

Know Whom You’re Recommending

Encourage your students to choose recommenders carefully—those they know and who have a good feel for whether or not they would succeed at the school they’re applying to.  Only write recommendations for students for whom you can give a positive recommendation. Your letter can make a difference in a student’s future. If you cannot be positive, decline the request. Suggest possible alternative recommendation sources, if you can.

Go Deeper than Their Accomplishments

When you write a recommendation letter , do your best to tell stories instead of just stating facts. Students will highlight their activities and academic strengths in their application and academic resume. Your job is to add color to what they’ve accomplished in their high school career. If you can, use examples that are rich with details to sway readers. The more specific and detailed the information you include, the more valuable the letter will be to selection committees.  Always consider your audience. Put yourself in the place of the recipient (dean, admissions officer, director) and think about what you’d want in a meaningful recommendation letter.

How to Write a Recommendation Letter

Remember that less is more. Get to the point and clearly explain why the student would be a good fit for the school.

Paragraph 1. Start with a strong introduction like, “It’s my pleasure to recommend…” and share your position/school, how you know the student, and how long you’ve known them. Build the context quickly so you can get to the most important part of your letter.

Paragraphs 2-4+. Highlight key strengths or character traits of the student. Provide the evidence to support your words through specific descriptions, using examples and data if possible.

Closing. Emphasize your endorsement with phrases like “strong candidate” or “highest recommendation.” Include your phone number and email in case the school or program has additional questions. 

Review, edit, and proofread. Double-check that you’ve included all the required information and provided the best recommendation possible. Reread aloud, acting as the recipient, and decide if you would select the student based on your letter. 

——

Writing recommendation letters can be a thankless task. Beyond the satisfaction of knowing that you may have catapulted someone’s future, we hope that you’ll at least receive a handwritten thank you note. You’ve more than earned it.

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How To Write a Letter of Recommendation For College Admission

There are many other application documents that you have control over, but the truth is that you don't have much control over your recommendation letters. These are letters that will be written by someone else, and they will be valuable to the admissions office of the college you are applying to. 

Fortunately, you can do things to ensure that your recommendation letter comes out perfect for helping you guarantee a place in your dream university. This post will describe how to write a recommendation letter, what you should do, and step by step. Let's get started. 

The recommendations that accompany your application are essential and informative. An average student in the 80th percentile with truly outstanding recommendations may be preferable to an exceptional student in the 99th percentile whose teachers cannot develop more original adjectives than “hardworking” and “diligent.” 

Here are some pointers for communicating with both your school counselor and teachers when requesting a recommendation.

Tips for Communicating with your Counselor:

• Set up a meeting (or several meetings) to introduce yourself.
• Prepare for the meeting with a clear list of questions.
• Complete your resume and leave it with your counselor so that he/she has this information in writing.
• Provide your counselor with written notes about specific things that make you a unique applicant.
• Discuss any relevant mitigating circumstances that have affected your academics.
• Treat your counselor as if he/she is doing you a favor by going to bat for you.

Tips for Communicating with your Teachers About Recommendations: 

• Ask at least four weeks in advance of the deadline.
• Provide your teacher with a complete list of colleges you are applying to and the deadlines for recommendation letters.
• Communicate the specific ways that you contributed to the class.
• Share the topics you learned that you genuinely enjoyed in the teacher’s class. (If you did outside work that was inspired by the class, be sure to mention that.)

Part 1: The Fundamentals of a Recommendation Letter: Quick Guide for Students 

What is a recommendation letter.

A recommendation letter is a document highlighting a candidate's character and work ethic to help them in various applications, including college applications. 

A person who has shared experience with the candidate in a professional setting will usually write a recommendation letter. 

A recommendation letter then helps the university admissions committee have an honest overview of the candidate regarding their strengths, weaknesses, and accomplishments. 

Are recommendation letters important? 

Everything you submit for your college application is essential, and that includes your letter of recommendation. A recommendation letter helps in presenting your information to another person in another voice. 

In other words, a recommendation letter helps reveal your strengths, weaknesses, goals, and achievements through someone else, such as your teachers, coaches, mentors, among other people. While most people might see a recommendation letter as a punishment, letters of recommendation will play a significant role. 

Also, it is essential to note that you should not read your recommendation letter before submitting it (if your recommender didn't send it on their own). Usually, CommonApp will provide you with a waiver, which is optional, requiring you to sign and acknowledge that you didn't read the recommendation letter before submitting it. 

How Many Should You Submit? 

The number of recommendation letters will depend on the college you are applying to. That said, it is crucial that you carefully check the requirements of the college. If your college accepts CommonApp, be prepared to submit two recommendation letters. 

Never submit any additional documents during your application process if you are not asked to. This is because the college admissions committee receives a heap of applications that requires them to go through all, and submitting many unnecessary documents can do more harm than good. 

If, in any case, you choose to submit an additional recommendation letter, make sure that the content in the two recommendation letters is different and adds a positive impact to your application. If you go contrary, this will do more harm than good to your application. 

Who Should Be Your Recommender? 

Sure, it sounds so obvious, but to some applicants, this may be a daunting task. First, you need to approach those teachers whom you think will recommend you any day. These teachers probably developed a stellar relationship by consistently scoring higher grades in their subject or following their instructions to a tee. 

Do you have a course or subject you struggled with, had to work extra hard, and did your hard work pay off in the end? Teachers who walked you through these courses probably loved your hard work, and they won't mind writing you a glowing letter of recommendation. 

Maybe you want to pursue a specific career, and you have a stellar relationship with the teacher who taught you coursework related to your dream career. You can approach your teacher and ask them if they can write a recommendation letter to help you with your college application process . In most cases, they will be more than willing to help you. 

It can help submit a range of letters, though it is not necessary if your college doesn't suggest. If you are unable to narrow down your list of recommenders, you can ask your teachers to write you a recommendation letter based on different disciplines in your high school. If you were insanely good in some subjects, it would help if it was captured in your letter of recommendation. 

How and When to Ask for a Recommendation Letter 

You should never worry about choosing your recommenders too early. The chances are that your teacher will receive a ton of requests from students, which means that they will have a lot more recommendation letters to write. That said, it would be best if you start reaching out to your preferred recommenders by the end of your junior year. 

Also, you should make sure that you approach your recommenders early enough to have ample time to write you the letter. You are reaching out to your recommenders a month or two before the submission deadline would be a great idea. In some cases, your preferred recommender could be swamped. So you need to have alternatives to avoid being in dire straits. 

When reaching out, whether via email, telephone, or in person, make sure you let your recommenders know which school you will be submitting your recommendation letter and the due date. This should give him or her an overview of what to write and when to complete it so that you don't end up missing the deadline. Finally, making sure your request is in the form of a question because it's not a guarantee that your preferred recommender must write you a recommendation letter. 

How You Can Help 

In as much as you are seeking letters of recommendation from people who already know you, you should provide additional information about yourself, highlighting your goals, achievements, skills, and so on. This will help your recommenders write your letter of recommendation faster and as detailed as possible. 

The chances are that you already have a resume. It would, therefore, help if you provided your referees with a copy. Additionally, you may want to share with your preferred teacher why you chose them to write your recommendation letter, which could also help. Maybe you worked hard to attain their desired pass marks, or you probably were not afraid to lead the class during their lessons. 

It is also essential to give more details about the college you will be sending your applications to so that your recommender can better understand and write a letter of recommendation in line with what the college is known for. This will eliminate the chances of your referee writing a substandard letter of recommendation because he or she has no idea of the college you will be submitting the recommendation letter. 

It will help if you schedule a meeting with your recommender to explain some information in person. This will help clarify any conflicting information and make it clearer to your recommender. If you cannot meet in person, still, there is no need to worry. You can always clarify anything that's not clear in writing and send it out to your referee. 

Bonus Tips for Students 

Once you've established a healthy relationship with your supervisor, feel free to honor a recommendation letter. Unsurprisingly, you may be asked to draft the first part of your recommendation letter for practice purposes.  

This is a one-time opportunity you shouldn't let go of. Instead, make the best out of it. Ensure that you include all the relevant skills you intend to offer to make your recommendation letter a standout. Below is how to do so: 

• First, prepare a draft of your recommendation letter by outlining all your strengths and skills. Select a few out of your list and include them in your letter citing your performance in each of them. Your supervisor should attest to all your accomplishments for credibility. Your letter of recommendation should have at least one achievement related to your experience with the mentor.   
• Use the right voice. This means that letter should come out in the tone of the recommender. You'll, therefore, use the third person to refer to yourself. 
• Your recommendation letter needs to be intense, and as such, you'll have to begin by stating its primary purpose. For instance, "It is my happiness to recommend Julianne for admission to your college. I have known Julianne for three years now, during which she served as a student as well as a teaching subordinate for my procurement course."  
• Maximize your positive achievements and skills because that's the primary purpose of a recommendation letter, after all. Meanwhile, be precise about your abilities and experiences. Make it even more snappy by attaching comparative performances of your achievements. For example, you may say, "Out of 80 students, Julianne earned the highest grade in the procurement course," instead of general.   

How do you get to follow up? Having a CommonApp is a plus, especially when you want to receive updates regarding submitting your recommendation letter from your professor. If your supervisor happens to delay, please give them a call and remind them of the due date. Who knows, he or she might have forgotten for reasons best known to them. 

Say Thank You!

Unlike all the other parts of your recommendation letter, this is the most critical section. Saying a big thank you at the very end won't hurt. It indicates your sincerity towards their services. Write a short letter of gratitude because they are doing you a huge favor. And it doesn't end there. Keep them updated on the way forward because you might still need them in the future. They deserve to know your progress - whether good or bad!

Part 2: How to write a Student Recommendation Letter - Quick Guide for Recommenders

An honest recommendation goes a long way because you need to give the whole experience you have had with the candidate. That said, you must have some knowledge about the candidate. So below are things you need to consider before accepting to write any recommendation letter: 

• Whether or not you have worked together with the candidate. 
• Are there any relevant skills that you know about the candidate? 
• Are there any samples of the candidate you can include? 
• Is there any positive feedback you have regarding your candidate? 

In short, it matters a lot whether you can write a distinct recommendation letter before accepting any request to do so. If you find it difficult always to give stories about someone, it is essential to let the candidate know in advance. 

Elements of a Student Recommendation Letter

Now, there are essential elements that your recommendation letter should have. These elements include: 

• Describe yourself and state clearly who you are, your relationship between you and the candidate, and your expertise. 
• Give a brief overview of the candidate's accomplishments, strengths, and how these relate to the recipient. 
• You can then give a story about your experience with the candidate, and this should be a story that directly relates to the candidate's strengths or accomplishments. 
• Write your closing that explains why your candidate is a perfect match for the college or whatever opportunity the candidate could be applying to. 
• Sign off with your name and contact details, so the recipient can contact you whenever they need more information. 

If your candidate didn't provide you with their resume or additional information to help you craft their recommendation letter, make sure to ask them if they can. This will help you prepare well to write a detailed letter of recommendation for them. 

That out of the way, let's cut to the chase - how to write a recommendation letter, step by step. 

1. Ask for academic information from the candidate

The first thing you need to do is ask your candidate for their academic accomplishments, whether or not they participate in extracurricular activities, and probably their GPA. Additionally, it is vital that you know which college or job they are applying to. This will make it easier for you to craft a letter in line with whatever they are using. 

If your candidate is applying for any job, you need to make sure that they provide you with their resume to have a better understanding of their accomplishments. You can also ask the candidate to give you an overview of the job description to tailor his or her recommendation letter based on the job they are applying to. 

If the candidate is applying for a college, you may want to go through the student's essay to get a glimpse of what they have included in their essay. If possible, you can always suggest changes to the candidate if the piece doesn't sound on point. And the basis of doing all these is that you don't want to recommend someone with lots of mistakes, so it's upon you to find these mistakes and make changes. 

2. Detail the letter of recommendation

Detailing the letter and tailoring it to the correct person could help a lot. So you want to write a more personalized letter and not just a random note. The chances are that the candidate already knows the person the letter will address, so ask him to let you know the name and probably any additional information about the person. 

For example, a letter of recommendation could be tailored towards an admissions counselor, a hiring manager, head of a department, among others. If the candidate does not know whom the letter will address, it is still okay to address the letter to the human resource because they are always responsible for hiring. 

In case your candidate is applying to different colleges or jobs, it is crucial to make the letter general, but do some quick research about the institutions so that your letter doesn't sound robotic. Within the letter, you can throw in a few words that illustrate that you know about the institution. 

3. Give brief information about yourself and your career

Credibility plays a vital part in a recommendation letter, and as such, you'll need to introduce yourself and briefly state your relationship with the applicant. This enhances your student's chances of securing admission to the school. 

In addition to your credibility, state your job qualification and the specific course you taught your student. If you've never had the student in your class, you may say his or her role in a particular extracurricular activity. For instance, you may have chaired a basketball team but never had the student in your Procurement class.  

4. Discuss your experiences with the student both in academics and extracurricular activities

Make your introduction a little intense by providing detailed information on how long you've known the student. You may include this information in your job title section, explaining your specific role in your student's career.  

Also, include your first impression of the student in the picture. If perhaps they had some weaknesses, how have they bypassed them? Most importantly, emphasize the positive attributes of the student in whichever field to enhance their credibility.  

5. Viable examples goes a long way when highlighting your student's qualifications

Let's face it - many companies or institutions often consider applicants with positive accomplishments. And yes, they want someone who'd actively contribute towards the school and help them enhance their culture for the better.  

Apart from academics, the admission committee will want to know some of your student's abilities in other fields, such as extracurricular activities. And because you want to prove their credibility, kindly attach certificates showing the student's accomplishments. 

6. Conclude your letter

This is the last part of your letter, and you need to give a good ending. Maybe you'd want to show your support for the candidate and endorse him or her. You should make it clear that you are available if the recipient needs more information about the candidate. 

You should include your contact details to make it easier for the recipient to reach out whenever they need more information about the student. 

Bottom Line 

Writing a good letter of recommendation goes a long way - you have to prepare yourself to produce a detailed letter that admission counselors can't help but offer you a place at your dream college. 

This post included two parts: the first part explaining everything you should know and the second part, which is everything your recommender must do. And while the second part of this guide isn't directed to you, it can still help make sure your recommender does everything right.

I wish you well with your application. 

1. Character reference sample - What is it?

It is a letter usually drafted by someone else, not necessarily your employer, to showcase your abilities and character. So the difference between a professional reference and a personal reference is that the person writing the letter is not an employee, but someone who knows a thing or two about you. 

2. What’s the length of a recommendation letter? 

First, it is essential to note that a letter of recommendation should be clear and concise. So, you don't want to write a too-long recommendation letter . One page will be enough, but something lesser than that means that the person writing it does not know you, or they don't just fully endorse you. 

3. What makes a strong letter of recommendation?

A strong recommendation letter is a letter that adds some bit of real examples by the recommender. For instance, if the recommender has worked with the candidate, the recommender can give an example of how the candidate was helpful. In cases where the recommender worked with other people, he or she can rank the candidate. 

4. What should be featured in a recommendation letter?

Your recommendation letter should include these elements - introducing the candidate, the relationship between the candidate and the recommender, your personal experience or expertise. Additionally, a recommendation letter must highlight the candidate's strengths and weaknesses. 

5. Re-using recommendation letters - Is it safe?

This is almost impossible if you are in the United States. Usually, the recommender is responsible for writing and submitting your recommendation letter to the admissions committee. This means that you may not see the letter’s content, and you cannot request to reuse the same letter.

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How to Handle College Admissions: Advice and Tips

If you’re reading this article, your long-awaited dream of going to college will probably come true. You are most likely already imagining how you will start a completely new life, get new growth opportunities, make new acquaintances, and have an unforgettable experience. However, not everything is fabulous because there is another side of the coin. Long preparation, planning, and choosing a college may scare you, but the main thing is not to panic but to approach the process wisely. The right strategy is what will help you achieve academic and personal success. So, where do we start when applying for admission? Let’s find out.

Defining College Admission: Key Components

Not without standardized admissions tests, right? Make sure you take the SAT or ACT tests (find out which tests are important to your list of top colleges so you can be better prepared). Then there are transcripts, which are your high school grades. Everyone knows that the higher your grades, the better your chances of admission. In addition to your studies, don’t be lazy about participating in extracurricular activities. The admissions committee needs to ensure that applicants have leadership skills and interests, be it sports, community service, other activities, or hobbies.

The next key component is writing an essay, and it is essential to be thoughtfully prepared because this is your chance to make a statement about yourself, to stand out from the rest of the applicants, and to talk about yourself, your values, perceptions, and experiences. If you need the help of experienced writers, get papers writing help – masterpapers.com .

Researching Colleges and Understanding Admission Requirements

Do you want to apply to your dream college successfully? Learn about the requirements down to the smallest detail.

Admission Deadlines

Missing an application deadline equals missing a chance for admission. Don’t mess around with it; find out the exact dates in advance, and don’t procrastinate until the last minute. For example, mid-October is the latest start for the top 25 ED universities and November 1 for the top 20 ED colleges. However, those are deadlines, so in general, October 1 is the ED application deadline. October 15 is the deadline for college applications.

Application Materials

Make a list of all required materials. Usually, this includes test scores, transcripts, as mentioned above, personal essays, and letters of recommendation. Keep in mind that programs may vary! Sometimes, additional essays or documents may be needed.

Preliminary Requirements

Find out if you meet any specific requirements; do not just rely on chance. If any programs have particular prerequisites, be kind enough to take the necessary steps to meet them.

Understanding the College Culture

Are your perceptions accurate? Don’t be romantic about some institutions. Perhaps the learning style won’t suit you. So, it’s best to:

• talk to students in person or on forums to learn about the college’s values.
• read on the Internet or official website what academic programs are available.
• visit college fairs, and walk around the campus in person or virtually if you don’t have the opportunity.

Start Early to Guarantee Success

So, take some free time to sit down and create a schedule that includes a step-by-step plan of action and deadlines for your college application. Set aside time not only for tests and writing letters of recommendation but also for visiting college campuses. Try to look at the list every day to do everything on time and not miss anything. Do not rush; while others will be hustling, you will be quietly doing your stuff.

Take on Writing a Statement

You should share your unique experiences, passions, and aspirations for a persuasive letter. The key is to find what makes you stand out from the rest. Maybe you have some dreams, values, or innovative ideas. Don’t hesitate to ask for help from teachers or acquaintances to ensure your writing is high quality.

Proceed With the Letter of Recommendation

Choose reliable recommenders. They should know you well and be aware of your academic achievements, character, and contributions. However, even if you know the recommender well, provide them with all the information they need to make the job easier. This could be a resume and a summary of your accomplishments and goals. Be sure to notify the recommender of the deadline; it would be a shame if they let you down.

Prepare for the Test

Study regularly and familiarize yourself with test-taking strategies. Practice using all kinds of resources, including paid and free SAT or ACT practice tests, books, tutors, and online courses. Choose what works for you, but doing it all at once is better.

Make a List of Accomplishments in Your Extracurricular Activities

Quality, not quantity, is essential. Mention the projects in which you participated and had an impact. Describe your role, responsibilities, and qualities.

Find Out if Financial Aid Is Available

Don’t be afraid to apply for scholarships, even with a low GPA. There are also many employment programs, loans, grants, and financial aid forms (FAFSA and CSS Profile). Research what financial aid opportunities are available. Ask questions on forums, read online articles, and talk to students who have received aid.

Don’t Let Stress Control You

Find something that relaxes you and takes away negative thoughts, for example:

• 1. Take breaks.
• 2. Do not disrupt your diet.
• 3. Prepare only for one subject at a time.
• 4. Don’t forget your sleep schedule.
• 5. Try to start meditating.

We hope our advice will help you prepare successfully for enrollment. Try not to worry; everything will work out if you approach the matter responsibly. The main thing is not to postpone all of it for later. Good luck to you!

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