Letters of Recommendation
Letters of recommendation are an incredibly important part of your college applications.
When it comes to applying to a highly selective university, a student’s grades and activities aren’t enough. Admissions counselors want to get to know a potential student and learn why he or she is the best fit for their university. That’s why letters of recommendation are so important.
Not all colleges require a letter of recommendation, however it is important for students to plan ahead and begin developing meaningful relationships with their counselors and teachers.
So what does a letter of recommendation from a counselor look like? It contains three sections. The first section is the opening statement. This introduces the student and elaborates on the counselor’s relationship with him/her. It explains why the counselor feels this student would be a good fit for the school he/she is applying for. The opening statement includes the full name of the student, introduces who is writing the recommendation, and how they have known the student.
The second section of the letter is the character assessment statement. This section contains the specific examples of the student’s talents and abilities. It provides anecdotes that illustrate how the student exhibits these characteristics.
The last section of the letter is the closing statement. Here the counselor clearly but briefly summarizes the points and again states why this particular college would be a good fit. It again reaffirms the counselor’s confidence in the student’s abilities. Also, it’s very important for the writer to add their contact information in case the college wishes to contact them.
Writing can be intimidating for counselors, especially since so much is at stake for the student. Students can make this process easier on the person composing their letter by providing them with a “High School Resume” that outlines their involvement and accomplishments. Students should also be mindful of writing a formal thank you letter to those that take the time to write them recommendations.
By writing the letter of recommendation, the counselor is personalizing the college admissions process by creating a picture of the student. While the letter of recommendation is only one component of the enormous college application process, it has the ability to make an immense impact on college admission officers.