When you’re writing a letter of recommendation for your students, there are a few key things you need to keep in mind.
The Importance of Format
Just because your friends and family wrote letters of recommendation for you doesn’t mean that you can just copy and paste them into your own letters. You have to format them correctly according to the guidelines of the admissions office you’re submitting to. This generally means putting the person’s full name and contact information at the top of the letter, followed by a short bio on the recommender. You should also write your email address on the letter in case the admissions officer wants to contact you about the application.
The Difference Between a Weak and Strong Letter
Letters of recommendation are usually one of two things:
- A weak letter, which doesn’t offer much in the way of insight into the applicant. These letters are common from teachers and principals, who aren’t necessarily able to articulate exactly what makes an applicant special. However, they do provide a glimpse into the applicant’s character and behavior.
- A strong letter, which provides a lot of information about the applicant’s skills and talents. These letters are usually from professionals who have personally met the applicant, such as doctors, lawyers, and engineers.
The difference between a weak letter and a strong letter is fairly straightforward. A strong letter offers the admissions officer with more details about the applicant, while a weak letter leaves much to be desired. Ideally, you’d like to write a strong letter for every applicant you recommend, but sometimes this isn’t possible.
How to Write a Letter of Recommendation For Your Students
To write a letter of recommendation for your students, begin by identifying a few key points about the applicant. Begin by expressing your excitement about the opportunity to recommend this particular individual. Mention briefly what drew you to the applicant in the first place. You should also try to include a little bit about the applicant’s academic achievements and demonstrate how they will contribute to his or her success at the university.
Next, you should write a short bio on the applicant. This should include information such as the applicant’s full name, date of birth, and high school grade point average. You’re aiming for a letter that’s no more than two or three pages long.
After you’ve written the applicant’s bio, you can move on to discuss his or her academic achievements. Begin by reviewing the applicant’s high school grades and any test scores. Next, identify the colleges and universities the applicant has applied to and list the courses he or she has taken so far. Be sure to include any scholarships or awards the applicant has won and the major/minor requirements for the courses he or she has taken. You should also mention any extracurricular activities the applicant is involved in, such as student government, art, or athletics.
The Conclusion
When writing your conclusion, return to the theme you started with in the first paragraph. In this case, it’s to express your excitement about recommending this particular individual for admission to the university. You may want to go a step further and encourage the reader to visit the university’s website or social media pages to learn more about the applicant. Finally, you should give a little bit of advice regarding what the applicant should do next. You may want to remind the reader that this is only a letter of recommendation and not a guarantee of admission. You should also state whether you’ve met the applicant or only know of his or her academic achievements.
As you can see, there’s a lot of depth to the process of writing a letter of recommendation. But don’t worry, it’s not as complicated as it seems. With a little bit of practice, you’ll get the hang of it and be able to write letters for your students that serve as both an informative and persuasive piece.