how to write a recommendation letter college essay guy

	You might be using an unsupported or outdated browser. To get the best possible experience please use the latest version of Chrome, Firefox, Safari, or Microsoft Edge to view this website.

How To Write A Letter Of Recommendation For A College Application

Updated: Aug 3, 2023, 10:38am

How To Write A Letter Of Recommendation For A College Application

Letters of recommendation are crucial to the college application process at both the undergraduate and the graduate level. As a teacher, professor, employer or mentor, you can attest to an applicant’s qualifications and character by writing a letter of recommendation that highlights their academic performance and rounds out their college application.

As admission cycles begin, a student may ask you to write a letter of recommendation for their application. If you’re unsure how to write a letter of recommendation, start by telling the admissions committee something about the applicant that they’re unlikely to glean from a résumé or transcript.

Read on to learn more about how to write a letter of recommendation for college admissions.

Why You Can Trust Forbes Advisor Education

Forbes Advisor’s education editors are committed to producing unbiased rankings and informative articles covering online colleges, tech bootcamps and career paths. Our ranking methodologies use data from the National Center for Education Statistics , education providers, and reputable educational and professional organizations. An advisory board of educators and other subject matter experts reviews and verifies our content to bring you trustworthy, up-to-date information. Advertisers do not influence our rankings or editorial content.

6,290 accredited, nonprofit colleges and universities analyzed nationwide
52 reputable tech bootcamp providers evaluated for our rankings
All content is fact-checked and updated on an annual basis
Rankings undergo five rounds of fact-checking
Only 7.12% of all colleges, universities and bootcamp providers we consider are awarded

What’s the Purpose of a Recommendation Letter?

Schools count on letters of recommendation to present admissions officers with a more rounded picture of an applicant. These letters should cover the applicant’s skills and accomplishments and reveal something of the applicant’s character.

Letters offer a platform to highlight human qualities that even the most impressive GPA or list of extracurriculars can’t convey. Essentially, the recommendation letter helps an applicant stand out against the competition.

What to Expect from a Letter of Recommendation Request

Being asked to write a letter of recommendation can feel honorable, but if asked last-minute or without materials, it might feel more like a burden.

Applicants should demonstrate a respect for your time by giving you advanced notice. Six to eight weeks is the standard for academic references.

Applicants should also provide basic reference material for your letter—at least an up-to-date and properly formatted résumé, work samples or a portfolio. A “brag sheet” listing an applicant’s noteworthy awards or achievements can help direct the letter.

Don’t hesitate to ask for these materials if the applicant hasn’t provided them, or pass on the letter if the request feels too last minute.

Questions to Consider Before Saying ‘Yes:’

Did the applicant give you enough notice.

Ask yourself if you have enough time to write a good letter. Decide whether a late request merits the same consideration you’d give to an applicant who submitted a request on time.

Do You Have Enough Experience With the Applicant?

Remember that your own credibility, not just the applicant’s, is at stake in a recommendation letter. A sincere recommendation describes your direct experience with the applicant.

Before agreeing to write the letter, recall times when you supervised or advised the student on projects or papers. Did their work display skills and strengths you can discuss?

If you conclude that you don’t have adequate experience with the applicant, you’re most likely not the best choice to write the letter of recommendation.

Are You Excited to Recommend the Applicant?

Any hesitation on your part may be a warning sign. If your gut is telling you that you can’t provide unqualified support, or write an adequate recommendation with the materials or timeline provided, it’s probably better for both parties if you decline the request.

What to Do if the Answer Is ‘No’

Let the applicant know quickly and politely, so they have time to find an alternate recommender.

How to Write a Letter of Recommendation

Begin with the traditional components of a business letter in the standard format. On separate lines, first include the date followed by the recipient’s name, title and address. If you’re submitting a print letter, make sure it’s printed on your institution’s official letterhead.

If possible, address the recipient by name, using “Mr.” or “Ms.” If you don’t have an actual name, use “To Whom It May Concern.” In both cases, follow the salutation with a colon instead of a comma.

Introduction

Open by introducing yourself and describing your relationship to the applicant. Give a concise account of your professional experience and expertise.

Recommendation Overview

Summarize your experience with the applicant, describe their strengths (including examples), and explain their relevance to the undergraduate or graduate school application at hand. Cite academic abilities and qualifications while highlighting characteristics like a talent for problem-solving or collaborating with others.

Personal Anecdote

This is where you can make your letter personal. What was it like to teach or work with the applicant? Include firsthand observations and specific details from your time together.

Think about how you can humanize the student. Mention one or two personal traits relevant to an academic career (curiosity and persistence, for instance), and address any hurdles the applicant has overcome—both in and out of the classroom—that have contributed to their growth.

Finish with a statement summarizing your recommendation, then provide contact information and encourage the school to reach out to you for any follow-up questions. Use a straightforward and professional signoff, like “sincerely” or “best regards.” Follow your printed name with your full title and the name of your school or institution.

Tips for Writing a Recommendation Letter

Examples are key.

The human element counts for a lot in a recommendation letter. Your letter should help the reader better understand the person you are recommending. Provide specific examples related to the applicant’s class performance while highlighting intellectual attributes and personal qualities that distinguish the applicant.

Focus on the Positives

Your recommendation should be a sincere show of support, so avoid criticism or commentary that allows for negative interpretation. Convey genuine enthusiasm through your choice of adjectives and verbs.

Additionally, avoid “faint praise” such as mentioning the student’s attendance record or ability to complete assigned readings—these are baseline requirements that every candidate is expected to fulfill.

If a superlative comparison between the applicant and other students is warranted, include it. (For example, “She is one of the most promising researchers I have ever encountered in my academic career.”)

Maintain a Formal Tone

Adhere to a formal, polite tone throughout your recommendation, much as you would in a standard business letter. Concision counts: Aim for a length of one to two pages unless the institution specifies a length. The admissions committee may regard anything longer as overkill.

Similar principles apply to formatting. Whether submitted in print or electronically, a recommendation letter should use a business-like font like Times New Roman or Arial (in other words, this is not the place for Comic Sans). Stick to an 11- or 12-point font size or email equivalent (“Normal” in Gmail, for instance).

Pay Attention to the Instructions

The applicant should provide specifications on how to submit the letter, including content, length and deadline. Look for instructions regarding format and whether the institution expects to receive a hard copy, an email, or (less likely) submission via an online form. Above all, keep the due date in mind.

Carefully proofread the letter to catch any grammatical mistakes or typos. Print a hard copy and read it out loud; that way, you’re less likely to overlook errors. To be truly thorough, let someone else review a draft of your letter before you send it off.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About How to Write a Letter of Recommendation

How do i write a good letter of recommendation.

A successful letter of recommendation adopts a formal, polite tone and demonstrates the writer’s personal experience with the applicant in one to two pages. The letter should round out the applicant’s college application alongside their transcript and résumé. It should highlight firsthand evidence of the applicant’s abilities and personal characteristics.

How do I write a simple letter of recommendation?

Begin by introducing yourself and describing your credentials. Tell the reader whom you recommend, how long you’ve known the student and in what contexts you’ve interacted with them. From your perspective as a teacher or mentor, describe the applicant’s strongest qualities and share a few details about what the applicant is like as a person.

Ranking The Most Affordable States For College Students
How To Apply For College
Should You Attend Graduate School Online?
Choosing A Major: How To Find What Major Is Right For You
What Accreditation Should A College Have?
Do You Need The SAT For College Admission?
How To Get A Free Laptop For College
How To Transfer Universities
Online Checklist For Students
ACT Vs. SAT
Are Community Colleges Free?
Get Accepted: What Is The Average SAT Score Needed For College Admission?
Where Can You Take CPA Courses Online?
What’s The Difference Between A College And A University?
The Best Ways To Learn A New Language While In College
Is College Worth It?
Online Dual-Degree Programs
Can International Students Attend Online College In The U.S.?
Online Jobs For College Students
Preparing For Senior Year Of High School
Weighted Vs. Unweighted GPA
What Are AP Classes?
What Is A Double Major?
What Is A Good GPA In College, And Does It Matter?
What Is A College Minor?

What Is The ACT Test? A Complete Guide

2024 IELTS Preparation Guide

College Application Deadlines 2024

ASVAB Study Guide 2024

How To Learn German: Tips And Tricks

How To Learn Korean Online: Everything You Should Know

Jeff Tompkins is a writer and teacher of English as a Second Language living in New York City. He was born in Hartford, Connecticut, in 1967 and was educated at Brown University and University College London. His articles and reviews have appeared in CHA Review of Books and Films, the Brooklyn Rail, the Chicago Review of Books, PopMatters, Words Without Borders, and other outlets.

SAT BootCamp
SAT MasterClass
SAT Private Tutoring
SAT Proctored Practice Test
ACT Private Tutoring
Academic Subjects
College Essay Workshop
Academic Writing Workshop
AP English FRQ BootCamp
1:1 College Essay Help
Online Instruction
Free Resources

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.

how to write a recommendation letter college essay guy

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.

Privacy Preference Center

Privacy preferences.

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.

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.

>> Want us to help you get accepted? Schedule a free initial consultation here <<

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.

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.

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.

Want more free tips? Subscribe to our channels for more free and useful content!

Apple Podcasts

Like our blog? Write for us ! >>

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.

Get Started Now

Talk to one of our admissions experts

Our site uses cookies. By using our website, you agree with our cookie policy .

FREE Training Webinar:

How to make your college applications stand out, (and avoid the top 5 mistakes that get most rejected).

How to Write a College Recommendation Letter

#scribendiinc

Tips for writing a great college recommendation letter

We all know who needs college recommendation letters (wide-eyed students full of hopes/dreams/optimism). We all know who reads college recommendation letters (bleary-eyed admissions counselors full of cynicism/regret/doubt). But who writes college recommendation letters? The answer is anyone (managers/employers, business professionals, teachers, guidance counselors, clergy, community organizers, friends, and family); it's a tremendous honor to be asked but it's also very weighty. Along with their college admissions essay , your letter might be the factor that determines whether this individual fulfills their dreams.

Involve the potential student

It's a safe assumption that you will know the student that you are writing the college recommendation letter for, and you will have a relationship with that student, but there are many people in your life and it might be difficult to remember the specifics about that particular student. Ask that student to provide a list of their extracurricular activities and a copy of their transcript (if applicable). These will help you to reference specifics in your letter of recommendation.

The Introduction

Begin with the standard "To Whom It May Concern." The first line should provide the name of the person you are recommending. Next, state how long you have known the individual and in what context.

Admission counselors want to hear two things. They want to hear specific examples of the individual's personal qualities, leadership abilities, generosity, dedication, drive/ambition, and they want to know why this individual would be a good fit for their school. Bottom line: be specific. Sometimes it is helpful to review a college recommendation letter sample to see exactly how your letter could be formatted.

How do you end a college letter of recommendation? Nothing fancy, no bells, no whistles. The standard "If you have any questions about this individual, please don't hesitate to contact me at 555-555-1234" is more than adequate. Bear in mind that a college recommendation letter full of spelling/grammatical errors reflects not only on you but on the individual that you are recommending. In order to avoid this, forward a copy of your letter to our professional proofreaders to ensure that you are representing yourself and the individual in the best way possible.

Image source: Unsplash/Pexels.com

Achieve Perfect Writing with High-Quality Proofreading

Try our personal proofreading service , or get a free sample.

Have You Read?

"The Complete Beginner's Guide to Academic Writing"

How to Write a Candidate Rejection Letter

How to Write a Letter of Recommendation

Upload your file(s) so we can calculate your word count, or enter your word count manually.

We will also recommend a service based on the file(s) you upload.

File	Word Count	Include in Price?

English is not my first language. I need English editing and proofreading so that I sound like a native speaker.

I need to have my journal article, dissertation, or term paper edited and proofread, or I need help with an admissions essay or proposal.

I have a novel, manuscript, play, or ebook. I need editing, copy editing, proofreading, a critique of my work, or a query package.

I need editing and proofreading for my white papers, reports, manuals, press releases, marketing materials, and other business documents.

I need to have my essay, project, assignment, or term paper edited and proofread.

I want to sound professional and to get hired. I have a resume, letter, email, or personal document that I need to have edited and proofread.

Prices include your personal % discount.

Prices include % sales tax ( ).

What are your chances of acceptance?

Calculate for all schools, your chance of acceptance.

Your chancing factors

Extracurriculars.

Peer Letter of Recommendation: Everything You Need to Know

Letters of recommendation from teachers and advisors are commonplace in college admissions, but some colleges require or encourage submitting a peer rec letter as well.

Davidson currently requires a peer recommendation, and Dartmouth strongly encourages submitting one, which, at such a selective school, is essentially the same as a requirement.

If you’re contemplating applying to Dartmouth or Davidson, or have been asked to write a letter of recommendation for a friend, keep reading to learn more about this uncommon college application requirement.

What is a Peer Letter of Recommendation?

A peer letter of recommendation is just what it sounds like: a letter from someone who knows you well that provides insight into who you are outside of an academic setting. Peer letters of recommendation play an integral part in a holistic admissions process that considers the student as a whole person, not simply a collection of grades and test scores. A letter of recommendation from a friend can speak to your personality, character, and interests outside of school. It can also shed light on how you’ll fit in and contribute on campus.

A compelling letter can help separate yourself from other applicants at such competitive schools. Formal recommendation letters from teachers generally focus on your academic achievement and potential, and letters from advisors focus on past achievements and future potential. Peer recommendations are typically more personal. At their simplest, a peer letter of recommendation is a friend making a case for why a college would want you on their campus.

Pros and Cons of Submitting a Peer Rec Letter

There are numerous pros offered by a letter of recommendation from a friend. Friends see more of each other in daily life than they do teachers and advisors, who they might see for just a brief window of time daily or weekly. Because of this, your friends can paint a more vibrant picture of you, including your attitude, unique traits, and how you interact with others. While teachers can speak to how you’ll fit in a college classroom, friends can share how you’ll fit on a college campus.

Friends and teachers also prioritize different attributes in people. For example, teachers commonly focus on performance and academic achievement, while friends value qualities like leadership, motivation, trustworthiness, and dependability. Even if a teacher values qualities like leadership, they often only witness you displaying it in a small, confined setting. A friend can tell a college about all your positive attributes that teachers don’t get to see.

Teachers are also subject to their own personal biases, which is something that is particularly harmful to students of color. For example, a 2016 Stanford University study found that teachers are less likely to expect Black and Latinx students to complete more than high school when compared to white students. Similarly, another Stanford study found that Black students are more likely to be labeled as troublemakers and subject to harsher punishment than their white peers. A peer recommendation allows a student to pick someone who is not as influenced by these biases.

Just as there are pros to a peer letter of recommendations, there are also cons. Just as a great letter of recommendation from a friend can bolster your odds of acceptance, a poor letter can hurt them. This makes it vital that students choose the right person to advocate for them—a creative and clear communicator, who knows you well and has your best interest in mind.

Letters of recommendations from friends can also disadvantage students coming from low-income and less-competitive schools. Students coming from these schools are less likely to have a peer group as capable of writing a highly persuasive letter as students coming from more high-income and private high schools.

Who Should You Ask for Peer Recommendation?

Both Davidson and Dartmouth offer clear instructions on who should write your peer recommendation.

Davidson directs applicants to have their letter “completed by a classmate or close friend who knows the applicant well and can evaluate the applicant’s strengths.”

Dartmouth instructs applicants to get their letter written by “anyone the applicant considers a peer. It should not be someone who is in a supervisory or oversight role in the applicant’s life. A few examples are a classmate or teammate; brother, sister, or cousin; a co-worker; a friend met at summer school or summer camp; lab or debate partner.”

Digging deeper, there are certain characteristics you should look for in the person you ask to write your peer recommendation. They should be:

A strong, engaging, and persuasive writer
Someone who can share personal anecdotes or examples of you demonstrating your strengths
Someone who knows you well and can speak to your character and personality
Supportive of your college ambitions
Someone who has the time to devote to writing you a compelling recommendation
Willing to learn about the schools you’re applying to and what they’re looking for in applicants

Discover your chances at hundreds of schools

Our free chancing engine takes into account your history, background, test scores, and extracurricular activities to show you your real chances of admission—and how to improve them.

How to Write a Rec Letter for a Friend

Writing a letter of recommendation for a friend is a great honor—and an enormous responsibility. If a friend asks you to perform this important task for them, here are a few steps you can take to ensure you make a compelling argument for your friend.

Generate an Idea

Before putting pen to paper or clicking away on your keyboard, think about the characteristics that you find admirable in the person you’re recommending.

What makes them stand out?
What qualities in them impress you?
What have the two of you bonded over?
What successes or adversities have you shared?

After you’ve identified an area to write about, build a list of examples and experiences that highlight them. The best recommendation letters from friends show that the person you’re writing about has demonstrated a particular strength or skill, rather than plainly stating it. For example, instead of simply writing that your friend is persistent, you can share a story about how they got cut from the baseball team freshman year but, after dedicating themselves to practice, they made the team the following year and started for the varsity team as a senior.

Create an Outline and Write a Draft

A peer letter of recommendation is generally about one page long and is less formal than letters of recommendation coming from teachers and advisors. While you can write a letter of recommendation for a friend in a more personal voice, this is still a persuasive piece of writing. A good piece of persuasive writing contains three sections: an introduction, body, and conclusions.

Introduction: The introduction should tell the reader who you are and what your relationship is to the person you’re writing the letter for, include a statement of recommendation, and grab the reader’s attention.

Body: In the body of your peer letter of recommendation (normally two paragraphs), you want to offer examples that back up the reasons why you’re recommending your friend that you provided in your statement of recommendation. Remember to show using anecdotes and incidents, not just tell. Attention-grabbing letters make the person you’re writing about jump off the page and provide a fully formed picture of the person you’re writing about.

Conclusion: This is your closing argument as to why a college should accept your friend, so make it count. It’s important to reaffirm your statement of support for your friend in the conclusion and end with something that the reader will remember.

Proofread and Revise

A letter of recommendation is a big deal and deserves to be treated as such. Reread your letter and make sure it presents a clear, concise, and captivating argument for your friend’s acceptance. Also, take time to ensure you’ve used clear examples demonstrating your friend’s strengths and that the tone is something you’re comfortable sending to a college.

At schools like Davidson and Dartmouth, a peer letter of recommendation is just one part of the admissions process. Our free chancing engine takes into account your GPA, test scores, extracurriculars, and other data to predict your odds of acceptance at over 500 colleges across the U.S. It will also show you how you stack up against other applicants and how to improve your profile. Sign up for your free CollegeVine account today to get started!

Choose Your Test

Search Blogs By Category
College Admissions
AP and IB Exams
GPA and Coursework

How to Write a Great Peer Recommendation

Letters of Recommendation

So your friend/sibling/classmate wants you to write her a peer recommendation. Being the awesome friend/sibling/classmate that you are, you've not only agreed to write the letter, but you plan to write the BEST recommendation letter of all time.

Apart from good intentions (check!), what else do you need to write an outstanding peer recommendation? This guide will break down the content and structure of peer reference letters so you can help get your bestie into the college of her dreams (which is probably Dartmouth or Davidson, the only colleges I currently know of that require peer evaluations).

First, here is your mission, since you've chosen to accept it.

The Purpose of the Peer Recommendation

So far, only Dartmouth and Davidson ask for a peer evaluation as part of their applications. Some students choose to send one as a supplementary letter of recommendation. This can be a good idea if it adds an important dimension to their application or makes up for lackluster letters from teachers and counselors who don't know them well. In most circumstances, extra material tends to be discouraged, or admissions officers might prefer that the additional letter come from a coach, boss, or other supervisory person.

For Dartmouth and Davidson, though, the peer letter of recommendation is an important part of the application. A mediocre one probably won't destroy an application, but a truly outstanding one can give it a serious boost. What a truly outstanding letter can do is give deep insight into a student's character and personality , beyond what a teacher or counselor can communicate in their evaluation.

Obviously Dartmouth, as an Ivy League school, is incredibly selective and has high academic expectations. Davidson is also quite selective and chooses highly academically driven students. However, the peer recommendation isn't really meant to rave about a peer's academic abilities. Instead, it can speak to the applicant's character and personality, as well as to how she'll interact socially on a college campus.

According to Dartmouth, it doesn't " want another letter from a teacher, coach, or other supervisory presence in your life; we have enough of those. Ask a peer who can provide fresh insight into our interests and your character . "

Davidson , similarly, says, " You, as a close friend or classmate, know the applicant in a different way than do teachers, counselors, principals, and advisors. Your insights will help us to understand the nature and extent of the respect accorded to the applicant by peers ." In addition to a statement of support, Davidson asks peer recommenders to rate their friends on qualities like self-confidence, leadership, concern for others, reaction to criticism, and energy and initiative.

As a peer recommender, you can give another dimension to and perspective on your friend's personality and help the admissions committee get to know him/her more deeply. This may sound like a tall order, because it is! But before you start worrying about getting writer's block, read on for suggestions on how to start.

How do I help my friend get into college?!

How to Write a Strong Peer Recommendation

The best rec letters aren't written in a day, and it's definitely a good idea to consult a guide like this, rather than just winging it. Let's break down the steps to writing a great peer recommendation, starting with brainstorming.

Step 1: Brainstorm

Ah brainstorming, that oft suggested but little used first step. While perhaps you can afford to skip this step in other pieces of writing, I strongly recommend taking the time to do some mental mapping before writing your peer recommendation. The reason for this is that the best recommendation letters are focused and specific.

They highlight the most important strengths and impressive qualities in the applicants. Rather than presenting someone as well-rounded in everything, the most memorable reference letters zero in on particular areas. Then they tell specific stories that illustrate and, in a sense, provide evidence for these qualities. There are three main questions you should ask yourself before you start outlining and drafting:

What qualities most impress me about my peer?
What specific examples and anecdotes can I provide to demonstrate these qualities?
What tone should I use to best express my recommendation?

Let's consider each of these questions individually. First, what qualities do you want to highlight?

I plan to highlight your exceptional fuzziness.

Personal Qualities and Traits

As you start brainstorming, try to come up with a list of the qualities that most impress you and others about your friend. Is s(he) exceptionally loyal? Supportive? Confident? Adventurous? How about encouraging, mature, energetic, insightful, or brilliant?

This is a great stage to consult with your friend and get a sense of what she's writing about in his/her application or if she's applying to any particular program. If she's highlighting her passion for world events and multicultural exchange, for example, you could talk about that time you both went on the school trip to Europe and she conversed with all the people you met. If she's applying to be pre-med, you could talk about her passion for helping people and somewhat annoying tendency to pick science documentaries on movie nights.

In other words, find out what your friend is saying in other parts of her application, as well as what's missing. Then figure out how you can both complement and add further dimension to her story.

Once you have your list, try to narrow it down to the three or four qualities that best characterize your friend. Consider whether they're the type of qualities that will impress admissions officers (though don't worry too much about this; you don't want your letter to read as if you're just saying what you think they'd like to hear). What I mean is stating that your friend is always the life of the party might come off as immature, whereas saying she takes on a role of leadership in group situations and has a great talent for mobilizing and energizing people might be interpreted more favorably.

Once you've narrowed down the traits you'd like to focus on in your letter, you can move onto the second phase of brainstorming: thinking of specific stories and examples.

That time you saved Timmy from the well is a perfect example of your bravery and selflessness.

Anecdotes and Examples

Which of these excerpts is more effective:

1. Anna is a kind person who loves to help others. She is a caring friend and student. 2. When Anna realized our school didn't provide any orientation for new students, she organized a club called New Kids on the Block , where new and established students get together to have lunch and share their experiences. This is just one example of her kind and loving spirit and drive to make everyone feel connected and included.

The first is fine, but it doesn't do much to differentiate Anna from other applicants whose friends speak of their kind and caring nature. The second, though, proves that Anna cares about others and paints a picture of her organizing a club and bringing students together in the school.

Just like you use examples to support your points in a persuasive essay for English class, you can use meaningful stories to illuminate your friend's character. This will sound more powerful and effective, plus it will help your letter stand out among the rest. This approach will make it a more interesting piece of writing overall, rather than a list of positive adjectives that blend together before a tired admission officer's eyes.

In other words, don't just tell the college how great your friend is. Show them.

Think About Tone

Finally, I would suggest considering tone and style. Your recommendation doesn't have to sound especially formal, like most teachers and counselors' letters would. As a peer, you can write more intimately and personally, as well as inject humor into your writing.

At the same time, don't try to be funny if comical writing isn't your strong suit. Instead, choose the tone that's most authentic for you and can most powerfully communicate a vision of your friend. Perhaps most important is to sound earnest, sincere, and heartfelt.

After you've brainstormed and determined the focus of your letter, it's time to start outlining and drafting. The following structure is a helpful guide for most peer recommendation letters.

Structure is very important. Those sticks aren't going to pile themselves.

Want to write the perfect college application essay? We can help. Your dedicated PrepScholar Admissions counselor will help you craft your perfect college essay, from the ground up. We learn your background and interests, brainstorm essay topics, and walk you through the essay drafting process, step-by-step. At the end, you'll have a unique essay to proudly submit to colleges. Don't leave your college application to chance. Find out more about PrepScholar Admissions now:

Step 2: Outline and Draft

Letters of recommendation are typically one page. It may go onto a second page, but I wouldn't advise making it much longer than that. While you can be creative in your presentation, there are a few key elements that all rec letters should include. Let's start with what should go into the introduction.

Introduction

At the beginning of your evaluation, you should state your support for your friend's application to the school. You should also say who you are , what your relationship to the applicant is, and how long you've known her. This gives weight to your qualifications to assess the applicant. If there are any other special circumstances that make you an especially good person to evaluate her, then you can include those as well.

All of these elements - your statement of support, introduction of yourself, and qualifier of your relationship - could be wrapped into one, or stated separately, like in these few examples.

I'm so excited to picture Allie on Dartmouth's campus. I have no doubt that she will bring the same infectious energy, silly humor, and deep friendship with her that she's shown to me and our peers all through high school. I'm honored and excited to provide this statement of support for David, who I recommend without reservation for Davidson College. When I was the nervous new kid in 6th grade, Sam didn't hesitate to invite me to sit next to her at lunch and show me around the school. Her caring and compassion for others, combined with her fearlessness in making new friends, makes me completely certain that she'll have no trouble adjusting to college campus life. From study groups to sleepovers, track meets to a tour bus on our school trip to Italy, I've gotten to know Jess as a student, athlete, explorer, and, most importantly, best friend.

Again, it's up to you to decide how exactly you want to start your recommendation, but your introductory paragraph should include an actual statement of recommendation, along with the context of your relationship to the applicant and hint as to why it makes you qualified to assess him/her. Which brings us to the next part of the letter, the actual evaluation of your friend.

Let's wrap this up...I have a very important nap to take.

In the conclusion to your peer recommendation, it's a good idea to restate your support for your friend, much as you did in the introduction, as well as describe how you envision her at college. Just like pieces of writing can grab a reader's attention with a strong hook at the beginning, they can leave a memorable impression with a strong statement at the end.

Think of the main impression you want to leave in admissions officers' minds after they finish reading. Why is it in their and the college's best interest to accept your friend?

Brian is the most talented, motivated, and well-spoken person I know. I recommend him enthusiastically for admission to Dartmouth. Sam has always aspired to study medicine and help make the world a healthier and more equitable place. I truly can't think of anyone better suited for this role. Who's that person I see in the bustling newsroom, writing groundbreaking stories as lead editor of The Dartmouth one year from today? Oh right, that's Sam. She's doing an amazing job, just as we all knew she would.

After drafting your letter of recommendation, go ahead and hit submit. Just kidding. You should definitely take the time to revise this important piece of writing.

Not just yet, carrier pigeon...there's still some revising to do.

Step 3: Revision

Hurray! You have your first draft of your peer recommendation complete. Now how can you make it even better? First off, I would again encourage you to check that you've given explicit examples and stories. Make sure it doesn't sound too abstract and uses anecdotes to demonstrate, rather than simply describe. As they say (whoever "they" is), actions speak louder than words.

Additionally, consider your word choice . Did you use "nice" when "generous" or "compassionate" might have been more appropriate? I'm not saying to use a thesaurus and add long synonyms where plain words work just as well, but check that you're using accurate and powerful words that express exactly what you want to say about your friend. It's also good to avoid cliches and consider how you can phrase your sentences in a fresh and creative way.

In a similar sense, pay close attention to your phrasing and consider whether it could come off in the wrong way. You might want to ask someone else to read it and give you feedback. For instance, you might want to express how close your friendship is by saying, " My friend is so loyal that we've done everything together since elementary school ." While this sounds great to you, it might come off as if your friend is disinterested in connecting with other people. Make sure that your phrasing is on point and won't be taken as a negative when you mean it to be positive.

You may even show the letter to your friend for feedback and comments. This is up to you, as recommendation letters are generally thought to be confidential and you're not obligated to show her.

Once you've made sure the spelling, grammar, and sentence structure is flawless and it reads as a powerful statement of support for your friend, you can go ahead and submit the letter to the college.

Step 4: Submit Your Letter

As peer recommender, you absolutely must get your recommendation in by the stated deadline. Make sure you know when that deadline is and exactly how to submit (no frantic midnight phone calls about the Common App website being down or your internet not working).

Your friend will invite you as the " Other Recommender " on the Common App for Dartmouth, and you'll likely upload your Davidson recommendation here . Once everything's done and submitted, you can give yourself a pat on the back. You're an awesome friend!

Trending Now

How to Get Into Harvard and the Ivy League

How to Get a Perfect 4.0 GPA

How to Write an Amazing College Essay

What Exactly Are Colleges Looking For?

ACT vs. SAT: Which Test Should You Take?

When should you take the SAT or ACT?

Get Your Free

Find Your Target SAT Score

Free Complete Official SAT Practice Tests

How to Get a Perfect SAT Score, by an Expert Full Scorer

Score 800 on SAT Math

Score 800 on SAT Reading and Writing

How to Improve Your Low SAT Score

Score 600 on SAT Math

Score 600 on SAT Reading and Writing

Find Your Target ACT Score

Complete Official Free ACT Practice Tests

How to Get a Perfect ACT Score, by a 36 Full Scorer

Get a 36 on ACT English

Get a 36 on ACT Math

Get a 36 on ACT Reading

Get a 36 on ACT Science

How to Improve Your Low ACT Score

Get a 24 on ACT English

Get a 24 on ACT Math

Get a 24 on ACT Reading

Get a 24 on ACT Science

Stay Informed

Get the latest articles and test prep tips!

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.

Ask a Question Below

Have any questions about this article or other topics? Ask below and we'll reply!

Tufts Blogs

Current tufts students, inside admissions, how to write a great letter of recommendation.

To the teachers and counselors working hard to support students – thank you so much for your hard work! We have the privilege of reading more than 30,000 applications and an integral piece of each student application are the letters of recommendation we review from teachers and counselors. For many files, these letters share valuable insight into how students will interact with one another in our classrooms, dining halls, and other places on campus. With the school year around the corner, I wanted to share advice on creating a strong letter as well as some thoughts we have when reviewing applications.

When our committee reviews an application, we are on the search for two broad categories: academic potential and student experiences/perspectives. Why? Well, we want to see if a student will be set up for success in our rigorous academic programs and we want to get a better understanding of how each student will contribute to the community at Tufts.

Centering your letter around these two ideas is a starting point. The first pitfall we see is when a recommender doesn’t know what their student is including in their application . Students are required to send in their transcripts and a list of their extracurricular activities. If your letter tells us that a student got As in math and science and that they are a varsity swimmer, that’s probably going to be something we learn somewhere else in the application.

The recommendation letter is a unique opportunity to show a side of the student that they cannot write about. Instead of rehashing what is already in the application, write about the the context behind the student .

That A+ Jeremy got in Calculus? He was the only person to do that in his class of 300 students.

Denise is a varsity swimmer? She swims the fastest 100m the school has seen in 7 years.

Samantha may have received a C in AP Spanish, but she commutes 45 minutes to school each way and was the only student in the school who took the exam. She got a 4.

Another way to provide context in your recommendation letter is through anecdotes. It’s the old adage: “ Show don’t tell ”. Instead of telling us that a student is a hard worker, a leader in the classroom, or a kind friend, show us examples using short anecdotes to highlight moments that we might see if this student is on our campus.

Anecdotes can be short, two to three sentences long that highlight an otherwise standard superlative. We don’t need three pages of growth narrative from their ninth grade year, one solid page is perfect.

“Every day before school, Isaiah arrives early to ask questions about topics that we covered the previous week. He pulls out his folder and the details in his notes are far above that of most students I teach.”

“Our school receives new students frequently, and during every study hall I see Maria introducing herself and starting conversations with her new peers. She goes out of her way to make them feel welcome, I’ve even had a new student come to me and say that without Maria they would have felt lost.”

At Tufts, we see so many amazing students with different personalities and in our application pool. We like them all! We want a mix of leaders and team-members, extroverted and introverted, students who know exactly what they want to study and those who are excited to figure it out when they get to college. There isn’t one “type” of student that finds success in our review process .

As we review a file, we build an impression of a student through their writing, their activities, and their grades. Your letters are not just a confirmation that our understanding of the student is correct, but can become an expansion of the student’s application. Your letters are what allow us to have a fuller understanding of the impact a student has on their current community, and potentially the community we have at Tufts.

With the Fall semester around the corner, we look forward to receiving and reading your thoughtful letters of recommendation!

Recommendation Letters

Financial aid, seven year medical programs, college lists, waitlist and deferral, majors and minors, school rankings, tips for parents, school spotlight, scholarships, admissions stories, college application tips, applytexas application, school comparisons, how to get into, college interview, coalition application, recent articles about recommendation letters, how to thank teachers who wrote recommendation letters.

Parent Brag Sheet: How to Fill it Out + Example

Should You Use AI to Write a Student Rec Letter?

How to Help Your Teachers Write Strong Letters of Recommendation

An Introvert’s Guide to Connecting with Teachers

How to Determine If a Teacher Will Write You a Strong Recommendation Letter

6 Qualities Teachers Look for When Writing Recommendations

How to Make Yourself a Unique College Applicant

Peer Letter of Recommendation: Everything You Need to Know

What is FERPA? Should You Waive it on the Common App?

How to Get a Strong Recommendation Letter for Scholarships

What is a Brag Sheet for College Recommenders?

How to Build Strong Relationships With Your High School Teachers

How to Pick Which Teachers to Ask for Letters of Recommendation

Letters of Recommendation for International Students

9 Rules For Requesting Letters of Recommendation from Teachers

Applying to College: How to Get a Great Recommendation Letter

Saying Thank You: Gift Ideas for Anyone Who Helped in the College Application Process

Next ›
Last »

Other ways to search:

Events Calendar

Want to write a college essay that sets you apart? Three tips to give you a head start

1. Keep it real. It’s normal to want to make a good impression on the school of your choice, but it’s also important to show who you really are. So just be yourself! Compelling stories might not be perfectly linear or have a happy ending, and that’s OK. It’s best to be authentic instead of telling schools what you think they want to hear.

2. Be reflective . Think about how you’ve changed during high school. How have you grown and improved? What makes you feel ready for college, and how do you hope to contribute to the campus community and society at large?

3. Look to the future. Consider your reasons for attending college. What do you hope to gain from your education? What about college excites you the most, and what would you like to do after you graduate? Answering these questions will not only give colleges insight into the kind of student you’ll be, but it will also give you the personal insight you’ll need to choose the school that’s right for you.

Have questions about college prep? We're here to help.

Written by CU Boulder Office of Admissions

College-Prep

The University of Colorado does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, pregnancy, disability, creed, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, veteran status, political affiliation, or political philosophy. All qualified individuals are encouraged to apply. You may view the list of ADA and Title IX coordinators and review the Regent policy .

As a student or prospective student at CU Boulder, you have a right to certain information pertaining to financial aid programs, the Clery Act, crime and safety, graduation rates, athletics and other general information such as the costs associated with attending CU Boulder. To view this information visit colorado.edu/your-right-know .

Apply for Admission

Visit Campus

Support CU Boulder

Safety & Health Services
COVID-19 Information
Campus Communications
Emergency Alert System
New Student & Family Programs

Getting Around

Campus Events
Parking & Transportation
Visit Information

Information for

Faculty & Staff
Journalists

Initiatives

Business & Industry Collaborations
Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
Free Speech
Innovation & Entrepreneurship
Public & Outreach Programs
Sustainability
Understanding Your Cost of Attendance

Supported by

JD Vance, an Unlikely Friendship and Why It Ended

His political views differed from a transgender classmate’s, but they forged a bond that lasted a decade — until Mr. Vance seemed to pivot, politically and personally.

Share full article

JD Vance speaking behind a Trump-Vance sign.

By Stephanie Saul

Stephanie Saul, who covers education, reviewed about 90 emails and text messages spanning between 2014 and 2017.

When his book, “Hillbilly Elegy,” was published in 2016, JD Vance sent an email apologizing to a close friend from his Yale Law School days. The friend identified as transgender, but Mr. Vance referred to them in the book as a lesbian.

Listen to this article with reporter commentary

“Hey Sofes, here’s an excerpt from my book,” Mr. Vance wrote to his friend, Sofia Nelson. “I send this to you not just to brag, but because I’m sure if you read it you’ll notice reference to ‘an extremely progressive lesbian.’”

“I recognize now that this may not accurately reflect how you think of yourself, and for that I am really sorry,” he wrote. “I hope you’re not offended, but if you are, I’m sorry! Love you, JD.”

Nelson wrote back the same day, calling Mr. Vance “buddy” and thanking him for “being sweet,” adding, “If you had written gender queer radical pragmatist, nobody would know what you mean.” Nelson asked for an autographed copy, then signed off with, “Love, Sofia.”

That exchange is from a series of emails between two friends, part of a close-knit group of 16 students who remained together throughout their first law school semester in the fall of 2010. As now-Senator Vance seeks the vice presidency, Nelson has shared about 90 of their emails and text messages, primarily from 2014 through 2017, with The New York Times.

We are having trouble retrieving the article content.

Please enable JavaScript in your browser settings.

Thank you for your patience while we verify access. If you are in Reader mode please exit and log into your Times account, or subscribe for all of The Times.

Thank you for your patience while we verify access.

Already a subscriber? Log in .

Want all of The Times? Subscribe .

IMAGES

10 College Recommendation Letter Samples (Free Templates)
College Recommendation Letter: How to Write (with Template and Examples)
10 College Recommendation Letter Samples (Free Templates)
10 College Recommendation Letter Samples (Free Templates)
10 College Recommendation Letter Samples (Free Templates)
10 College Recommendation Letter Samples (Free Templates)

COMMENTS

How to Write a Recommendation Letter for a Student
Summarize the student's qualities and accomplishments that you wish to emphasize. End with an emotional comment—that you will miss them, that you have learned from them, that you are sorry to see them go, that they are your favorite, etc. Final tips from Sara. Have someone edit/review your letter of recommendation.
How to Ask for a Letter of Recommendation
Step 1: Grab paper and pencil, or open a new doc for notes…. Step 2: And then open this up. That's the Common App's Teacher Recommendation Form. Step 3: Take some time and imagine how your teacher/s might fill it out for you.
How to Write a Letter of Recommendation: Counselor's Guide
Use a title: "Letter of Recommendation for John Doe" Or. Put the student's name in the first sentence: "It is my great pleasure to write this letter of recommendation for John Doe." Suggestions for the first paragraph: Write an anecdote. A story is always a great way to draw the reader in. Write a summary of the student's strengths.
A Great College Recommendation Letter Template · PrepScholar
The Drafting Stage. After brainstorming, you can start to shape your thoughts into the typical structure for a recommendation letter. It's usually a full page consisting of four paragraphs: the introduction, body paragraph 1, body paragraph 2, and conclusion. Let's look at what should be included in each paragraph, and how a teacher and counselor might write their first body paragraphs with ...
How to Write Better Recommendations in Less Time
A walkthrough of several different efficiency-based tools (including an AI rec letter generator) to make letter writing easier and less time-consuming. Sample student and family surveys to collect source information for recommendations that will help your students stand out. Register for the Event.
How To Write A Letter Of Recommendation For A College Application
Whether submitted in print or electronically, a recommendation letter should use a business-like font like Times New Roman or Arial (in other words, this is not the place for Comic Sans). Stick to ...
Letter of Recommendation for College Application (Guide and Sample)
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.
How to Get a Great Letter of Recommendation
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.
College Recommendation Letter Samples & Writing Guide
College recommendation letter sample # 3. 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.
How to Write a College Recommendation Letter
How to Write a Letter of Recommendation Writing a recommendation letter may seem like a daunting task. Here are some guidelines that can help you get the style, tone, content, and presentation of your letter just right. The end result will be an effective and professional recommendation.
4 Amazing Recommendation Letter Samples for Students
Sample Letter #4: Joe the Hard Worker. Dear Admissions Committee, It is my pleasure to recommend Joe, who I taught in my 11th grade math class. Joe demonstrated tremendous effort and growth throughout the year and brought a great energy to class.
How to Get the Best Letters of Recommendation for College (Sample
Here's a sample letter of recommendation follow-up email: Dear [Teacher's Name], I hope all is well with you. I plan to submit my college applications [on date or in # of days/weeks], so I'm sending a reminder regarding your recommendation letter. Please let me know if there is any additional information I can provide.
Peer Letter of Recommendation: Everything You Need to Know
A peer letter of recommendation is generally about one page long and is less formal than letters of recommendation coming from teachers and advisors. While you can write a letter of recommendation for a friend in a more personal voice, this is still a persuasive piece of writing. A good piece of persuasive writing contains three sections: an ...
Letter of Recommendation Examples for College Applicants
Conclusion. 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 ...
Who Should I Ask for a Letter of Recommendation for College?
Of course, who you ask to write your recommendation is extremely important because it will affect how the admissions committee sees you. Most schools require two letters from academic teachers. That means teachers in core subjects: science, math, history, English, or a language. Refrain from asking your gym teacher or coach.
508: What Colleges Want (Part 7B): Recommendation ...
SHOW NOTES. Today's episode is all about writing letters of recommendation for teachers and counselors. Continuing our series on What Colleges Want, Tom Campbell (CEG's Community Manager) is joined by Hanah Lim (CEG's Director of Workshops and a former high school English teacher), where they provide their tips, tricks, and hacks to help ...
How to Write a Great Peer Recommendation
Show them. Think About Tone. Finally, I would suggest considering tone and style. Your recommendation doesn't have to sound especially formal, like most teachers and counselors' letters would. As a peer, you can write more intimately and personally, as well as inject humor into your writing.
How To Ask for a Recommendation Letter for College
At the very least, the person writing it 1) has to know you well and 2) should be connected deeply with the school. Also if you can snag a letter from Barack Obama we're okay with that. Ask early . Teachers have a lot of students and a good teacher will get a lot of requests for rec letters. You don't want to be at the end of their lists.
Letter of Recommendation for College Students (With Examples)
Example of a letter of recommendation from a teacher. Here's an example recommendation letter that a teacher may write for a prospective college student: Dear sir or madam, My name is Stacey Jefferson. I have 15 years of experience working as a fine arts instructor at Academy High School and have seen many students come and go.
How to Write a Great Letter of Recommendation · Inside Admissions
The recommendation letter is a unique opportunity to show a side of the student that they cannot write about. Instead of rehashing what is already in the application, write about the the context behind the student. That A+ Jeremy got in Calculus? He was the only person to do that in his class of 300 students. Denise is a varsity swimmer?
College Essay Guy
College Essay Guy believes that every student should have access to the tools and guidance necessary to create the best application possible. That's why we're a one-for-one company, which means that for every student who pays for support, we provide free support to a low-income student. Learn more.
Recommendation Letters
How to Help Your Teachers Write Strong Letters of Recommendation. 6 minute read Livestreams Recommendation Letters. An Introvert's Guide to Connecting with Teachers. ... College Essays Livestreams Recommendation Letters. Peer Letter of Recommendation: Everything You Need to Know. 5 minute read 12th Grade Recommendation Letters.
Want to write a college essay that sets you apart? Three tips to give
Writing the personal essay for your college application can be tough, but we're here to help. Sometimes the hardest part is just getting started, but the sooner you begin, the more time and thought you can put into an essay that stands out. Check out some tips: 1. Keep it real.
Counselor Resources
This resource offers 6 ready-to-go syllabi that counselors/teachers/other mentors can use to lead students through the college essay writing process. There are 3 in-class syllabi (a 3-day, 4-week, and 8-week version) and 3 flipped classroom syllabi (also as a 3-day, 4-week, and 8-week version). The syllabi can be tweaked, or used as they are.
JD Vance, an Unlikely Friendship and Why It Ended
Nelson wrote back the same day, calling Mr. Vance "buddy" and thanking him for "being sweet," adding, "If you had written gender queer radical pragmatist, nobody would know what you mean."
The Common App: A How-to Guide
Create your Common App account. Click the "Start your application" button. Optional: download the mobile app. Choose "first-year student" or "transfer student" (more on transfers below) Add your name, email address, physical address, phone number, date of birth, enrollment year.

How To Write A Letter Of Recommendation For A College Application

Why You Can Trust Forbes Advisor Education

What’s the Purpose of a Recommendation Letter?

What to Expect from a Letter of Recommendation Request

Questions to Consider Before Saying ‘Yes:’

Do You Have Enough Experience With the Applicant?

Are You Excited to Recommend the Applicant?

What to Do if the Answer Is ‘No’

How to Write a Letter of Recommendation

Introduction

Recommendation Overview

Personal Anecdote

Tips for Writing a Recommendation Letter

Focus on the Positives

Maintain a Formal Tone

Pay Attention to the Instructions

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About How to Write a Letter of Recommendation

How do I write a simple letter of recommendation?

What Is The ACT Test? A Complete Guide

2024 IELTS Preparation Guide

College Application Deadlines 2024

ASVAB Study Guide 2024

How To Learn German: Tips And Tricks

How To Learn Korean Online: Everything You Should Know

Letter of Recommendation for College Application (Guide and Sample)

3 Sample Letters of Recommendation for College

Sample Letter 1

Sample Letter 2

Sample Letter 3

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

Top College Essay Posts

Privacy Preference Center

How to Get a Great Letter of Recommendation

When Should I Ask for a Recommendation Letter?

Who Should I Ask to Write a Letter of Recommendation?

How to Be Sure You Get a Glowing Letter of Recommendation

Final Recommendation Tips

How do I address a recommendation letter?

How do I ask teachers for letters of recommendation?

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

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

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

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

Who should I not ask for a letter of recommendation?

What should a college letter of recommendation include?

Related Articles

College Recommendation Letter Samples & Writing Guide

Article Contents 14 min read

Conclusion and college recommendation letter examples

College recommendation letter sample # 1

College recommendation letter sample # 2

College recommendation letter sample # 4

College recommendation letter sample # 5

FAQs

Want more free tips? Subscribe to our channels for more free and useful content!

Like our blog? Write for us ! >>

Get Started Now

FREE Training Webinar:

How to Write a College Recommendation Letter

Tips for writing a great college recommendation letter

Involve the potential student

The Introduction

Achieve Perfect Writing with High-Quality Proofreading

Related Posts

How to Write a Candidate Rejection Letter

How to Write a Letter of Recommendation

What are your chances of acceptance?

Your chancing factors

Peer Letter of Recommendation: Everything You Need to Know

What is a Peer Letter of Recommendation?

Pros and Cons of Submitting a Peer Rec Letter

Who Should You Ask for Peer Recommendation?

Discover your chances at hundreds of schools

How to Write a Rec Letter for a Friend

Generate an Idea

Create an Outline and Write a Draft