college entrance letter of recommendation

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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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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Letter of Recommendation for College Application (Guide and Sample)

3 sample letters of recommendation for college admissions.

Bonus Material: College Letter of Recommendation checklist

Applying to competitive universities this coming fall? Perhaps you’ve already put in the hard work on your grades, test scores, and even your college essays. But you want to make sure that you also do everything you can to improve the quality of your letters of recommendation. 

Many students think of these as something they have no ability to affect, but the truth is you can do a lot to improve your letters of recommendation . And it matters: having stand-out letters of recommendation can set you apart from other applicants. 

At PrepMaven, we’ve guided thousands of students to acceptances at elite universities. Over that time, we’ve developed a proven system for navigating college admissions. In this guide, we’ll cover 3 sample letters of rec, discuss what makes a good letter of recommendation, and explain what you can do to ensure you have one. 

Below, you can download a sample letter of recommendation so you know what kind of work it takes to get one. In the meantime, keep reading to learn more about how you can maximize your chances of acceptance by improving your letter of recommendation. 

Download PrepMaven’s College Letter of Recommendation Checklist

Jump to section: 3 Sample Letters of Recommendation for College How Can You Improve Your Letters of Recommendation for College? How Much Do College Recommendation Letters Matter? What Makes a Good Letter of Recommendation for College? Who to Ask for College Recommendation Letters When to Ask for College Recommendation Letters Next steps

3 Sample Letters of Recommendation for College

Let’s start by taking a look at 3 excellent sample letters of recommendation, each of which we’ll break down briefly. Look at these letters carefully, and think about what you can do to ensure your letters look like this. 

Sample Letter 1

Dear Admissions Committee,  As Lila’s eleventh grade AP Language teacher, I’m eager to take this opportunity to convey what makes her such an exceptional student and classmate.  Her academic record in my class speaks for itself, but what I’d like to highlight is the uniquely passionate and incisive nature of her class contributions. I still remember (though this was last year) a class discussion of Martin Dressler by Steven Millhauser . While many students contributed meaningfully, I still distinctly recall Lila’s vociferous and insightful argument that Dressler’s character embodied everything wrong with the acquisitive, me-first mindset of deregulated business. Not everyone agreed, of course, but the energy behind her contribution sparked an intense class discussion that was one of the best of the year. Perhaps no less important was Lila’s openness to hearing other students’ opinions, even ultimately allowing her own perspective to change. That moment is indicative of what Lila brings to the classroom environment daily: passion, insight, and open-mindedness.  While I would’ve been thrilled to hear that Lila plans to study English in college, I’m equally impressed by how detailed and invested she is when she speaks about her plans to major in Economics. When she spoke to me about the importance of understanding rhetoric and narrative when looking at economic crises, it became clear to me that she’s the kind of student able to seamlessly integrate her interests into the study of the things that fascinate her.  Even though I’ve taught countless students, I can say that few have made such an impact on the energy and depth of classroom discussion as Lila has. I’m confident that any university will benefit from her presence as a thinker, writer, and peer.  Sincerely, ———-

There are three key things to notice with this first sample. 

• First, it references a specific way that the student had an effect on the life of the classroom.
• Second, it connects that instance in class with who Lila is overall as a student and thinker. 
• Third, it connects both of these elements with who Lila will be in college, and with what she wants to pursue. 

Combining these three factors is what makes an excellent letter of recommendation. It shows the college that this student really had an impact on the class and the teacher. Importantly, it goes far beyond the generic letter of recommendation, standing out from the rest. 

Sample Letter 2

Dear Admissions Officers,  From the first week of my AP Biology class this year, it was clear how much Sanjit loved the material. During each of our class discussions, he’d raise questions that went beyond just clarification, connecting our subject matter with real-world issues he’d been following. While most students were content to take notes and answer the questions I posed, Sanjit was always looking to explore the links between what was in the textbook and what was happening in the wider world, whether in politics or in new studies on human health and longevity he’d been following.  What most impressed me beyond his drive and desire to explore was how committed he was to helping other students find that same passion. During our labs this past year, Sanjit always prioritized helping his group members–and even the members of other groups–fine-tune their experiments. Indeed, during especially complex labs, I’d often find myself helping one group while another turned to Sanjit for assistance.  He never did this to show off or prove something: what Sanjit exuded was a real passion and love for the material. In our class discussions, labs, and optional after-school review sessions, he constantly sought to use what we learned as the foundation for broader, more systemic explorations, even mentioning his desire to conduct independent research over the next summer.  It really is a pleasure to hear that Sanjit plans to continue pursuing his talent for biology and to follow that talent all the way to medical school. While I’m not sure if his plans will change, I can attest to the fact that he entered my class already dedicated to exploring how he can make an impact on human health, and that I’ve rarely seen students so capable of bridging the gap between the textbook and the real world.  Wherever he goes, whatever he does, Sanjit will make an incredible contribution to the classroom and the lab.  Sincerely,  ——-

This second letter addresses each of the same three things as the first: specificity, character, and bigger picture. 

While the focus may be different, the ultimate upshot is clear: Sanjit is a student who impressed his teacher so much that she remembers specific ways he went above and beyond in the class. 

Note that it isn’t just about what Sanjit does for himself: the letter makes a point of showing how Sanjit was always there to help other students (without being a know-it-all or teacher’s pet). 

Sample Letter 3

To whom it may concern,  Hearing that William plans to study French was tremendously gratifying. While I’m happy anytime one of my students plans to continue their French study at the college level, William was a special case. From what I know of his academic success, he excelled in most subjects, and I know he was quite torn between what field he really wanted to pursue. I never push my students one way or another, but I can tell you that William is the kind of student who will profoundly change every French class he enters.  His language ability is, of course, fantastic, but that isn’t what makes him a great French student. During our classes, he showed a real fascination with the history, culture, and especially literature of Francophone countries. While most students saw the books and poetry we read in AP French as ways of learning the language, William always wanted to explore the texts themselves. In particular, he was fascinated by how the study of French language was connected with the history of French colonization. Reading The Stranger by Camus, William was the only student in class to quickly see the text’s connections to the French occupation of Algeria. He quickly became interested in the complexities inherent in speaking the language of an occupying country, and threw himself into research outside the classroom that he’d frequently integrate into our discussions.  The short essay he wrote on our final exam was one of the best I’ve read in twenty years of teaching, especially in his ability to explore sophisticated and nuanced ideas in a foreign language. It’s clear to me that William doesn’t just have the technical facility to learn and study French language and culture: he has that rare creative instinct that allows him to make wholly original contributions to the field.  Sincerely,  —

You can certainly see the pattern by now: specificity, character, and big picture all come together to paint a picture of this student as a uniquely intelligent and capable scholar. 

You might notice that every one of these letters ends by articulating that this student isn’t just smart : they’re driven, they’re original, and they stand out from the rest of the intelligent students these teachers have had. 

If you want a letter like one of these–and you should–you might be wondering how you can possibly affect what your teachers write about you. The good news is that you can : read on below to see how you can help your teachers improve the letters of recommendation they write for your college applications. 

How Can You Improve Your Letters of Recommendation for College?

You might think this sounds strange: after all, you’re not writing your letters of recommendation, and in most cases you won’t even see them. 

So, how can you do anything to improve them? It all has to do with what information you give to your letter of recommendation writers. 

Many students think that just politely asking a teacher for a college letter of recommendation is where the process begins and ends. But if you don’t give your teacher specific information, you’re very likely to get a generic letter of recommendation. 

It’ll probably say nice things: that you’re a good student, that you excel in class, that you’re dedicated and always pay attention, and so on. 

Can you imagine how many times college admissions officers at large universities or elite colleges read phrases like that? (Hint: too many!) No matter how positive the letter is, it needs to be unique and specific if you want admissions committees to remember a word of it!

So, what can you do to help your recommendation letter writers produce better letters? Give them some personal, specific information! 

• Ask your teacher to sit down for a short conversation before they begin writing your letter. Yes, it could be awkward, but we guarantee you that it’ll pay off! 
• Were there concepts that really stood out to you? 
• Did they help you overcome a challenge?
• Did they open your eyes to something new that stuck with you? 
• Did their class influence your choice of major or career?
• If not, did the class affect how you see yourself as a student and thinker?
• Can you find a connection between your major and the teacher’s class?

Not only will your teacher love hearing this (flattery always works!), but it’ll give them ideas for things they could mention in their letter. Instead of just talking about what a good student you are, they can draw on specific examples that you bring up in your conversation. 

Another option is to simply send the recommendation letter writer a short email where you describe why you’re asking them for a letter and what you gained from the class. 

The more specific you are, the easier it’ll be for them to write you a great letter!

How Much Do College Recommendation Letters Matter?

The key to a strong college application is understanding the 3 pillars of a successful college application . In a nutshell, these are the three key elements by which admissions committees will evaluate you: 

• Academic achievement
• Extracurricular distinction
• Character and personal qualities

While these overlap a little bit, here’s an easy way to understand them. 

Academic achievement is conveyed by your grades, test scores, and the rigor of your curriculum. 

Extracurricular distinction is conveyed by your achievements in the various activities you’ve been involved with. 

Character is conveyed in your essays and letters of recommendation. 

Often, it’s character that makes the difference between a good application and a great one–especially at top tier universities like Ivies!

Note that the letter of recommendation is not there to highlight your academic achievement. Why? Because college admissions committees already have your grades and transcript! 

Instead, the recommendation letter should highlight your personal attributes. What kind of student and classmate are you? How do you contribute to the intellectual life of a school? What makes you the kind of person a professor would want to have in their class?

For a successful college application, it’s crucial that all three pillars come together. Because character is primarily conveyed in your essays and recommendation letters, you don’t have many opportunities to really convey this to elite college admissions committees. 

The data bears this out. By looking at the Common Data Set for elite universities, we identified how elite colleges like Princeton prioritize letters of recommendation. 

Each school ranks the elements of a college application in one of four categories: 

• Very important
• Not considered

At Princeton, for example, the letters of recommendation are considered “very important,” just like test scores and grades!

At Yale, letters of recommendation are also considered “very important,” whereas standardized test scores are only “considered.” 

At Dartmouth, letters of recommendation are, once again, considered “very important.”

Are you picking up on the pattern yet? It might be easy to think of college recommendation letters as a tiny part of your application, but nearly every elite university considers letters of recommendation a very important part of your application! 

What Makes a Good Letter of Recommendation for College?

So, with all that in mind, we can now identify a little more precisely what makes a good college recommendation letter. 

A compelling letter of recommendation for college:

• Avoids generic phrases and claims. 
• Uses specific examples to explain how you stood out in the class. 
• Focuses on your character, not your grades. 

The criteria for a strong letter of recommendation are simple, but in our experience, the vast majority of recommendation letters fail this test!

You won’t be able to see your recommendation letter, but you can affect what information your letter writer uses. Make sure to give them the kind of detailed, specific information that aligns with those three bullet points, focusing on instances where you really demonstrated your character in the class. 

If you want to read a sample of an excellent recommendation letter, take a look at the link below: it’s short, simple, and effective! 

Who to Ask for College recommendation Letters

Our advice here is simple, but serious. 

First, make sure you ask two teachers for your academic recommendation letters, then ask a third person to write your non-academic recommendation letter (which most schools also accept). 

This third recommender can be a bit more flexible: a supervisor at work, a sports coach, or the coach of an extracurricular activity you’re involved with are all great options. 

For the two academic recommenders, pick teachers who know you best. These should be teachers you’ve had recently: don’t pick a teacher from freshman year, since that really won’t be telling college admissions committees much about your character now. 

You should also pick teachers in subjects that align with your planned area of study. If you’re going all in on a STEM field, you’re best off picking teachers whose letters can support the narrative of you as an exceptional scientific and mathematical thinker. 

If you’re more humanities focused, you’ll definitely want one letter from a teacher whose class was writing-intensive. For the second letter, you might want to think about what complements your overall story. Don’t just go for another humanities class: think about what other interests drive you, and pick a teacher who can speak to that passion. 

More than anything, however, the critical question is which teachers can best speak to your personal attributes now . Pick those teachers, speak to them, and you’ll be likely to get a great recommendation letter like the one in our free sample here . 

When to Ask for College recommendation Letters

The earlier, the better! It’s as simple as that. Once you’ve settled on your recommenders and had your conversations with them, ask them to draft your recommendation letters. 

You should do this before the summer break after your junior year. You’ll want your recommendation letters done by the end of summer. Once this pushes on into the fall, your letter-writers will be flooded with requests, and the quality of your letter will suffer. 

Speak to your teachers before summer vacation, and set a clear deadline while being respectful. Make it clear that you’ll be applying to programs early, and you’d really appreciate the letter being done by the end of the summer. 

In most cases, the teachers will appreciate this themselves. If a teacher tells you that’s impossible, make sure to respect their decision, and simply ask what timeline works for them. 

In general, however, set the end of summer as the deadline for your recommendation letters. 

If you’re already thinking about your college recommendation letters, that means you’re taking the college application process seriously. That’s great, but have you done everything you can to maximize your chances and perfect your application?

For a college application to work, every element of your academics, extracurriculars, and character has to come together. If your test scores, grades, or college essays are weak, you’ll need to put in the work to improve them. 

There’s no better way to do so than by working with one of our expert tutors. Our tutors range from exceptional undergraduates at Ivy League universities to graduate students with years of tutoring experience. 

Once you know what you need help with, we’ll pair you with the best tutor for your needs. All you have to do is contact us. 

In the meantime, read over the free sample letter of recommendation below, and take notes on what makes this so effective. 

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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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How to Get a Great Letter of Recommendation

Find the right college for you..

Some colleges will ask for two or three letters of recommendation during the application process. These letters should be written by someone who can describe your skills, accomplishments, and personality.

Why do colleges ask for recommendations? Colleges value recommendations because they:

• Show your talents beyond test scores and grades.
• Describe real-life examples of your personality and character .
• Discuss your relationships in the academic community.

A recommendation letter can help your application stand out, especially when it highlights your skills, accomplishments, and positive attitude toward education.

When Should I Ask for a Recommendation Letter?

Teachers need as much time as possible to complete a recommendation letter. They often have many recommendation letters to write, along with lesson planning and grading.

You should try to get your request to them as soon as possible, but give your references at least a month to complete and submit your letters. The start of your senior year is a good time to begin asking teachers for recommendation letters, especially if you’re applying for early decision. Remember, the more time your teacher has, the more likely they'll write you a thoughtful, detailed letter.

Who Should I Ask to Write a Letter of Recommendation?

It's up to you to find people to write academic letters of recommendation. These tips can help you through the process:

• Read each of your college applications carefully. Schools often ask for letters of rec from a specific person, such as a core subject teacher, specific subject teacher, or school counselor.
• Get advice from teachers, counselors, and family members on who would be best to write your recommendation letters.
• Be sure to select a current teacher or one from your junior year, preferably one who knows you well. Don't choose teachers you had several years ago, since colleges want to know who you are and what you are like now.
• Teachers who know you outside of the classroom are a good choice. Consider a teacher who led a club you were in.
• If requested by the college, you can also think about other adults who know you well. A coach, employer, or club adviser can say a lot about your skills and character. Ask your admissions officer if it okay to submit recommendations beyond what is required by the college.
• Above all else, choose someone who will be enthusiastic about writing your letter.
• If you’re unsure about asking someone in particular, politely ask if he or she feels comfortable recommending you. That’s a good way to avoid letters that sound weak or forced.

How to Be Sure You Get a Glowing Letter of Recommendation

Some teachers write many recommendation letters each year. While teachers don't intend to, their letters can start to seem generic after a while. Make it easy for them to give positive, detailed information about your achievements and your potential by refreshing their memory so that they can share specific details about your school career.

It can also be helpful to provide your teacher with a resume or “brag sheet.” Something you might want to include on your brag sheet or in your discussion with your teacher include:

• Your class participation
• Some of your best work/projects
• What you learned in their class
• Anything they need to discuss for specific work examples

If you need to get a college letter of recommendation from a counselor, be sure to do the following:

• Make an appointment to meet with your counselor if that’s an option, or follow your school’s specific process for receiving a counselor recommendation.
• Discuss your skills, accomplishments, and hobbies. Also, talk about what you want to do in college and beyond.
• If you have low grades or any other issues on your transcript, talk to your counselor about what happened and what you've done to improve.

It's also a good idea to follow up with your teacher or counselor to see if they have any questions on what is listed on the brag sheet or need more information. And don’t forget to say, “Thank you!”

Final Recommendation Tips

Before asking for a letter of recommendation, remember these tips:

• Waive your right to view recommendation letters on your application forms. Admission officers will trust them more if you haven’t seen them.
• Requests for recommendations are often sent via email. Make sure that they have the correct email address of the recommender.
• Let teachers know the deadline for each college and ask them about their preferred turnaround time.
• You can keep track of your letter of recommendation submissions in your application portal. You can politely follow up with your teacher if the deadline is approaching but you see your letter has not been submitted yet.
• Once your letters are complete, write a thank-you note to your references. Once you decide which college to attend, you can also tell your references where you’re going and let them know how much you appreciate their support.

Below are some of students' most-asked questions about how to ask for a college letter of recommendation.

How do I address a recommendation letter?

Be sure to give your teacher or counselor the instructions for how the recommendation will be submitted, but most recommendations are sent through an application portal. Instructions are usually provided to the recommender in the electronic request they receive from the portal.

How do I ask teachers for letters of recommendation?

It can seem daunting to ask a teacher for a recommendation, but remember that your teachers are among your biggest supporters and they want you to succeed.

The best way to ask is to simply ask. Find a time when your teacher isn't busy and ask them directly. Don't go with friends, and try to avoid emailing. Be sure you have any information your teacher may need to write the recommendation and give them plenty of time to complete it.

How should I ask for a letter of recommendation by email?

Try to avoid asking by email if at all possible. However, if you're in an unavoidable situation—for example, you or your teacher changed schools—then emailing is fine. Start by reminding them of who you are, and tell them something specific you liked about their class.

Be sure to include any links they may need. In most cases, once you have asked your teacher or counselor if they are willing to write a letter of recommendation, you will then submit the recommendation request via your application platform, like Common App. Your teacher or counselor will receive the request directly from the portal. You should confirm specific instructions for each institution or scholarship that you need a recommendation for. If the letter has to be sent through the mail, get their mailing address so that you can send them the information plus an addressed and stamped envelope.

How do I politely ask for a letter of recommendation for college?

Some teachers get so many requests for college recommendation letters that they simply can't accept them all. You can often make yourself stand out just by being polite.

Ask your teacher at an appropriate time during the day, and be sure to ask as far in advance as possible. Provide your teacher with anything they may need, like an email address or letter template, work samples, resume, and anything else that can be helpful. When you make it easy on your teacher, they'll be more likely to say yes.

How do I request a letter of recommendation from a principal?

Stop by the school office or send an email requesting a meeting with your principal. Be direct, and ask politely. As your principal probably won't have as much knowledge of your academics, you should prepare a summary and a resume. Don't forget to ask your principal as far in advance of the letter's due date as possible.

How do I ask for a letter of recommendation from someone I don't know well?

While you should always try to choose teachers who know you well for your recommendation letters, sometimes, you have no option. You should only use this option if the school you are applying to requires a letter of recommendation and you have not established a relationship with any teachers or counselors. Otherwise, you should always ask someone who knows you well. When asking someone you don't know well, the best option can often be asking them in person and then telling them more about who you are.

If the first conversation goes well, you can send a follow up email more information and consider requesting another meeting. Since they don't know you well, be sure to have a resume and a summary of your time and accomplishments in their class.

Who should I not ask for a letter of recommendation?

You may be tempted to ask a well-known teacher, but if that teacher doesn't know you well, the letter won't mean a lot. You should also avoid teachers that you had several years ago.

Don't ask a family member or a friend for a recommendation as a college may not take them seriously. You should always follow the guidelines from the colleges you are applying to when choosing who to write your letter of recommendation. Finally, if you have a teacher that doesn't have the best opinion of you, avoid asking them for a recommendation letter.

What should a college letter of recommendation include?

A recommendation letter should feel personal to the school: The teacher should state why you'd be a good fit for that particular college, and should include information that will not be found elsewhere on your application. For example, your letter of recommendation shouldn’t repeat the list of student activities already on your college application. It should include any relevant projects or work you've done. Experiences that relate to your character and academic potential are helpful, too. The teacher should include specific details about their experiences with you. Letters of recommendations can be brief and bullet points are fine! Remember that admissions officers are reading thousands of these letters, so sometimes less is more.

Related Articles

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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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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College Recommendation Letters: Expert Advice For Students

Gelyna Price

Head of programs and lead admissions expert, table of contents, college recommendation letter: where to start, who to ask for a letter of recommendation for college, what to ask writers to include in your college recommendation letter, how empowerly can help.

Stay up-to-date on the latest research and college admissions trends with our blog team.

A college recommendation letter can be one of the most important aspects of your application. A good letter of recommendation should discuss your character, accomplishments, and why you are a good fit for the school in question. The first step, though, is having someone who can write this letter for you. Whether it be a teacher, a coach, a mentor, or another significant figure in your life, it is important to create strong relationships throughout your high school experience so you have some quality candidates—qualified adults who know you and can speak to your character and your potential. Read more to learn about how to start building important relationships that will support you in your college application efforts.

Starting the process of finding the right people to write on your behalf can be tricky. Start by assessing your own strengths, accomplishments, and your level of college preparedness so you can go into your conversation with key details and material for your writer to base their recommendations on. Many people will ask you for some specific information when you ask them for a letter of recommendation. This should go past the general information listed on a resume; also think of what you are passionate about or what you hope to study within your higher educational journey. Preparing this information in advance will only further show your commitment to excellence and will help ensure the individual writing your letter of recommendation will have what they need to be concise and effective within their letter. 

One way to prepare is by taking the Empowerly Quiz. The Empowerly Quiz will give you insight into your college application readiness. If you need more information, you can also attain a separate Empowerly Score through the Empowerly portal. The Empowerly Score is an incredibly useful tool that can be used to help you identify areas of strength for your college profile. You can then share this information with those writing a letter of recommendation for you to help to avoid generic or mediocre letters. 

Asking the right person for a letter of recommendation for college applications is probably the most important factor. You want to ask someone who knows you, can speak to your character, and describe specific events or situations in which you have shown grit, integrity, and excellence. 

Some college applications will specifically ask for recommendation letters from two teachers and a counselor. In that case, you have your list narrowed down already. Others may let you choose who you ask. Either way, ask people who know you well and who know your strengths. Additionally, you will also want to be sure the person you ask is excited to help you. Consider asking a teacher whom you like, have performed well academically for, and one who has the time to write a well-thought-out letter. You can also ask a  teacher who may have also been your coach or involved in your extracurricular pursuits as they can talk about your performance and ability in and out of the classroom. 

While it is a good idea to plan to include at least three letters of recommendation for your college applications, you can always ask a few extra people as a backup plan. If you ask additional teachers or administrators who know you, you can avoid any issues of a late or delayed letter. If your college prefers that you don’t see your own letters before submission, be sure to comply—the reason for this rule is to prevent students from influencing the teacher’s opinions. If you do have a chance to see them beforehand, however,  pick which letters are unique, tailored to you, and show your best qualities and accomplishments. 

It is important to note that you need to give your teachers, counselors, etc. plenty of time to write your letter. You will want them to have the ability to take their time, consider what they want to say, and make edits as needed. Not to mention, they might be writing letters of recommendation for a handful of other students around the exact same time. Don’t forget to thank your recommenders, as well; a handwritten note goes a long way.

As mentioned, it is important to prepare specific information about yourself and your accomplishments for those selected to write your college recommendation letter. Even if you have a great relationship with a teacher or counselor, they may not know everything about you or your other extracurriculars. It is a good idea to put together a packet of information such as a resume, unofficial transcript, and information regarding your extracurriculars. A college admissions counselor can also help you to prepare information and help you make the best selections for who to ask for your letter of recommendation. Empowerly offers counseling services with college admissions experts to help you through the process and set you up on the best path toward success. 

You should also research some of the partnership offerings we offer. Empowerly provides many workshops to schools and community organizations to help you through the college admissions process. Our expert counselors can provide college letter of recommendation insights and tips to help guide you through the ins and outs of asking and receiving strong letters of recommendation from your teachers.  You only get one shot to impress college admissions. You want each aspect of your college application including your letters of recommendation to stand out above the rest. Quality, informative, and well-thought-out recommendation letters are key to a successful college application. Using resources such as Empowerly can help you ensure you have what you need to submit great recommendation letters and an overall competitive college application and we are here to help you every step of the way.

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Letters of Recommendation for College: Who, When, and How to Ask for One

When you apply to college, you’ll have quite a checklist of things to prepare for submission: your transcript, SAT/ACT scores, essays, and—one that can be easy to forget—letters of recommendation. It’s already a given that in order to have a successful transcript and SAT/ACT score, you must study hard and stay focused in school, but how do you get a hold of a successful letter of recommendation?

What is a letter of recommendation?

Let’s start with the basics and first take a look at what a letter of recommendation is and why it’s important to your college application process. A letter of recommendation is a document written by a professional, third-party individual that describes the student’s academic and extracurricular successes.

It writes from a perspective outside of grades and test scores by focusing on the student’s personality and values. Colleges utilize these letters to learn more about them beyond their scores and find those who have the potential to succeed holistically in their strong, diverse college communities.

Who should you ask for a letter of recommendation?

Some colleges have specific requirements for whom to choose as your reference. Just to be sure, you can review the exact requirements for your letter of recommendation on the school website or by contacting the admissions office. It is otherwise up to you to find someone who can speak strongly about you.

If you do have the power to choose who your references are, avoid asking your parents, neighbors, or friends. Although they probably know you best, colleges are looking for references who vouch honestly and objectively for your positive academic performance.

It would be difficult for recruiters to view your academics when your letter of recommendation focuses on how nice of a person you are or for babysitting your friend’s cat one weekend.

Your best choice is to ask teachers or counselors who know you well. They will be able to describe your academics and personal strengths accurately and from a professional perspective.

I would also recommend choosing teachers who taught you within the latter half of your high school career; people constantly change and grow, so those who have worked with you most recently will better understand your personality and academic strengths.

When I applied to college, I decided to reach out to my junior-year English teacher, because I was confident that she understood how hard I worked in school. I’d had a good relationship with her and knew that she could write about my achievements with enthusiasm.

When is the best time to ask?

Don’t wait until the last minute to ask someone to write your letter of recommendation. It’s important to give your references enough time to sit down and write a strong, thought-out description of you.

Look at the big picture and think realistically about your timeline: if you are planning on applying for early decision, for example, you would want gauge whom to ask by the end of your junior year. Try to be considerate of your references—you don’t want to pressure them to write your letter of recommendation in a rush.

If you aren’t able to ask that far in advance, try to give them at least one month before your deadline. But be wary; some teachers may choose only to write a certain amount of letters each year. If this is the case, you should try to ask them before they’ve reached their limit.

How to achieve an Optimal Letter of Recommendation?

It is all about quality, not quantity. If you have a handful of letters of recommendations that do not really showcase who you are, you won’t benefit from it. Instead, you should try to get 2-3 letters with context that can highlight your best traits as a student and person as a whole.

To help your letter, I recommend providing your references with a guideline of what you’d like them to focus on. Remember, they have a lot of other students, so it’s good to remind them of your own accomplishments.

Give them this information in writing (paper, email, or any other form of text) so that they have the information accessible at all times. Here are a few areas that you can mention in your guideline:

• Academic achievements
• Academic history
• Plans for the future
• Your participation in that teacher’s class
• Projects that showcase your skills
• Academic challenges you have overcome
• Why you’re applying to that specific college

This information can help you stand out and allow your references to give specific examples of your success so that each letter of recommendation is a great one.

Your GPA and SAT/ACT scores tell college admissions how well you do in school, but your letter of recommendation shows the journey of how you got to where you are.

Sending Your Letter of Recommendation to a College

To ensure honesty, most colleges require students’ references to submit their letters of recommendation directly, often providing a portal for references to make electronic submissions. The colleges I applied to, for instance, had a system that let me track my application status.

Though I couldn’t read the letters themselves, I was able to submit requests to my references’ emails and see when they submitted their letters.

Letters of recommendation have a huge impact on your college application. Think hard about who can showcase your talents and best qualities, and impress admissions offices with the effect you had on others!

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Sat / act prep online guides and tips, 3 examples of *excellent* letters of recommendation from counselors.

Letters of Recommendation

School counselors play a huge role in helping students get into college. Not only do counselors support students in laying the groundwork for their applications through class selection and extracurricular involvement, but they also provide them with the very important counselor letter of recommendation.

Whether you're writing a letter yourself or getting one for your application, letter of recommendation examples can help you see why an effective letter is effective. In this guide, we've written 3 strong recommendation letter examples for you to use for inspiration.

What Makes for a Great Letter of Recommendation?

The best counselor recommendation letters illuminate a student's intellectual and personal qualities. They speak to the student's strengths and goals for the future, as well as show how she's grown over her years in high school. While teachers can discuss a student's performance in the classroom, school counselors may focus more on the student's personal strengths and how she's contributed to the school community.

Strong recommendations are focused and highlight the key characteristics of a student. These recommendation letter examples, therefore, focus on a few main themes. The first highlights a student's contribution to her community, the second focuses on a student's special talent, and the third talks about a student's unusual maturity. After each letter, we'll take a closer look at exactly what techniques these letters use to express a strong statement of support.

Letter Example #1: Highlighting Contribution to School Community

Dear Admissions Committee,

It is my pleasure to recommend Noah for admission to your undergraduate program. As his school counselor for the past four years, I have witnessed the exceptional contributions that Noah has made to our school community. Not only is he an excellent and hard-working student, but he has dedicated himself to enriching the lives of students and faculty around him. Noah is truly special for his compassion and commitment to helping others.

Noah has committed himself specifically to bringing mental health awareness to the school. After enduring the tragedy of losing a family member to suicide, Noah devoted himself to bringing greater education about mental health into the curriculum. He said that he wanted to break the stigma around these discussions. Noah found a branch of the Mental Health Foundation's Live Laugh Love Club at the school. Noah has helped bring in speakers to address the school as a whole, held events, and led campaigns about the devastating effects of bullying. While he started out high school on the reticent side, he has since grown to have a powerful voice in our school community, speaking up for what he believes in and proving himself to be an impassioned and inspiring leader.

Noah plans to study psychology in college and would like to work in the field of psychology, social work, or non-profits. His academic accomplishments are especially impressive in AP Psychology and the humanities. Noah's teachers describe him as an insightful, sensitive, perceptive, and diligent student. He has truly proven his resilience and strength through the challenging circumstances in his life. The hardship Noah has faced has motivated him to advocate for mental health awareness as a core aspect of our school's climate and curriculum. Noah's efforts around bullying prevention and social-emotional wellness will continue to nurture our students' well-being long after he's graduated.

Noah has my enthusiastic recommendation. He is a kind, compassionate, intelligent, and strong person who has a clear sense of direction and purpose. I am confident that he will bring the same warmth, support, insight, and hard work to his college classes and social community. Please do not hesitate to contact me for any further information.

Ms. Easton School Counselor

This letter has a lot of positive comments about Noah, but it focuses especially on what he's brought to his school community. What features of this letter help it come across as a strong and effective recommendation?

Letter Example #2: Highlighting Special Talent or Skill

I am excited to provide this letter of recommendation for Brett, or should I say Hamlet, John Proctor, or Erik (of Phantom of the Opera lore)? Brett has established himself as a bit of a theater star in these parts, where he's made our fall dramas and spring musicals come to life in his moving and memorable starring roles. Outside of school, Brett is also involved in the local theater group. Brett is an incredible actor with contagious enthusiasm and a passion for storytelling. He has my highest recommendation for admission into your theater program.

For Brett, theater is as essential to his day to day life as breathing. He has been passionate about creating characters and singing his whole life and was involved in school plays throughout middle and high school. He is deeply committed to his craft, having taken acting classes and singing lessons and been involved in local theater groups for most of his life. Brett has an incredible stage presence and equally excels at comedic and dramatic roles. Not only does he give subtle, nuanced performances in which he disappears entirely into his character, he also has an incredible singing voice and is involved in the school chorus. While he is certainly a talented individual, Brett doesn't rest on his natural gifts. He has put in countless hours to improving his craft.

Brett especially excels in his English and history classes, which he says are his favorites for the stories and insights into human nature. He reads widely, which he told me helps him get a more complex sense of people's characters, feelings, and motivations. Outside of the classroom, Brett volunteers with DramaMatters Afterschool at the Boys and Girls Club, working with children to help them express themselves through the arts. He has said that performing has helped him gain a greater understanding of himself and others and build his self-confidence. He loves having the opportunity to bring that experience to the kids he works with. Brett is enthusiastic, fun, sensitive, and driven. He's been a delightful presence both in and out of the classroom.

Everyone here at Lincoln High School, myself included, is excited to see Brett continue to commit himself to the study and performance of theater. While the arts can be a competitive field to make a name in, Brett has the singular commitment, drive, and passion to develop his talents to the utmost. He has my enthusiastic recommendation, and I can't wait to see what dynamic and challenging roles lie in Brett's future.

Ms. Pepper School Counselor

Like in the first letter, this second example casts a strong vote of support for the student. How does Ms. Pepper choose to present Brett to admissions officers?

This letter presents Brett as a driven, committed, passionate student who's made a big impression in the school community. Ms. Pepper emphasizes that Brett doesn't rest on his laurels and natural talents, but rather is hard-working and committed to improving as a performer, qualities that are likely to impress admissions officers.

She emphasizes his passion for theater, along with his excellence in English and history. By sharing examples of his starring roles and work with the Boys and Girls Club, Ms. Pepper gives a dynamic sense of who Brett is as a student, actor, and volunteer.

With phrases like "excited to provide this recommendation" and "can't wait to see what...lies in his future," Ms. Pepper makes her enthusiasm clear. Above all, she emphasizes Brett's long-term commitment and effort, and states her confidence that he'll continue to strive towards his goals in the future.

This letter stands out for its enthusiastic language, specific examples, and focus on Brett's commitment to theater. It's made more effective because it's customized to the type of program Brett is applying to, a theater program.

While this letter spotlights Brett's special skills, the following example talks about a student's maturity and sophistication for her age.

Letter Example #3: Highlighting Maturity

It is with great pleasure that I write this letter of recommendation for the truly exceptional Laila. It is rare to meet a student with as much compassion and self-awareness as Laila. Her resilience, positivity, and humor are especially astounding given the challenges she has overcome in her life. As a refugee of war, Laila's strength of character has not only helped her adapt to a new home, culture, and language, but it also serves as an education and inspiration to others. Given the depth of her experiences and her sophisticated understanding of world events, Laila has an unusual maturity beyond her 17 years.

Laila experienced the violence and upheaval of war in her home country of Syria. Her family lost their business and home before moving to the U.S. with the help of the UN. Her extended family remains in her home country, often off the grid of communication. Throughout these unstable and uncertain times, Laila tirelessly committed herself to her education while balancing part-time jobs to help support her family. She spoke little English upon arriving here in 9th grade, and immediately dedicated herself to studying English and conversing with her peers. Now she is not only fluent, but also a gifted storyteller. She promotes dialogues as president of our school's Arabic Club, and she strongly believes in the power of education to create peace and reduce inequity.

I'm truly amazed with all that Laila has accomplished, and I feel that she is one of our most determined, caring, and balanced students. Her enthusiasm is contagious when you speak with her, as her face lights up when she speaks about her friends, family, education, and ambitions for the future. I've been especially impressed by her fearlessness in making friends and participating in class. Laila speaks with maturity and sophistication about world events and talks about her desire to promote multicultural understanding and peace among all. From the events, including hosting powerful speakers and movie nights, she's organized through Arabic Club to her active participation in her classes, Laila has already contributed a great deal to the school in pursuit of these goals.

The challenges that Laila has faced have truly made her a uniquely strong and courageous individual. Her resilience and optimism have served her well as she has moved between cities and countries, and they will continue to serve her well in college and her future life. Laila has my highest recommendation. I know that she will continually impress you with her involvement in the school community, her international perspective, her unshakeable resilience, and her focus on her academic and career success. I am excited to see how far her educational and professional journey will take her in the future. Please call me if you have any questions.

Ms. Wolfe School Counselor

This letter focuses on Laila's strength of character, capacity to adapt, and mature perspective on the world around her. How does Ms. Wolfe choose to present Laila in her letter of recommendation?

Ms. Wolfe is clearly very impressed with Laila's resilience, adaptability, and sophisticated world view. She shares her personal story to give insight into how astonishing her success has been, in terms of acquiring English quickly, adjusting to a new culture and way of life, and educating others at the school through Arabic Club.

Just as in Noah's letter, it's appropriate for Ms. Wolfe to share Laila's personal story to give insight into who she is and the hardship she has experienced. Also like the other letters, this one uses enthusiastic, glowing language and specific examples to demonstrate Laila's strength of character.

While Laila's story may be somewhat rare, many counselors may focus on a student's unusual maturity for her age. This can be an impressive quality to admissions officers, especially if the student has a strong sense of direction or purpose.

Discussing this also adds a dimension to the student's application that may or may not be present elsewhere. It reveals something important about the student and helps present a fuller version of who she is and what she'll accomplish at college. If a recommendation letter communicates this, then it has done its job.

All of these letters share certain features that make them strong recommendations. Let's review what techniques the writers use, along with any other ones that can make a recommendation letter stand out.

What Makes a Recommendation Letter Stand Out?

Strong recommendation letters sound warm, genuine, and enthusiastic. They state strong support with phrases like "highly recommend" or "it's my pleasure to recommend," like in the examples above.

They tend to have a distilled theme and focus, rather than listing everything about a student. Strong letters also contain examples to back up their assessment, as well as demonstrate that the recommender knows the student well and is qualified to assess her.

If a student is applying to a specific program, major, or selective school , then it can further strengthen the letter to customize it, as in Brett's recommendation for acting school. If you, as the counselor, know something about the program or perhaps attended it yourself, then you could also speak about what a good fit the student would be.

It can be tough for counselors to get to know all their students well, since many work with hundreds of students. To help personalize the recommendation letter, counselors and students should meet, discuss the "brag sheet," and talk about what should go into the letter.

While students may not see the ultimate letter that gets written, they can still have a lot of input by getting to know their counselor and sharing their interests, accomplishments, and goals. Then they can help their counselor write a strong, insightful, and genuine letter for their college applications.

What's Next?

For more on how counselors can write strong recommendations for their students , check out this full detailed guide .

What else do students need to prepare when requesting a letter of recommendation? Read about how to ask for a recommendation letter here.

Are you interested in reading more rec letter examples? Check out these great letters from teachers and bad letters from counselors .

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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