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Teacher or counsellor recommendation letters play a pivotal role in a student's college application. They provide valuable insights into the applicant's academic abilities, character, and potential for success in higher education. These letters offer a personal perspective that supplements the student's academic achievements and extracurricular activities listed in their application.
Admissions committees rely on these letters to gain a deeper understanding of the student beyond their test scores and grades. A strong recommendation letter can significantly enhance a student's application, highlighting their unique qualities and contributions to their school community. Therefore, these letters are essential in helping colleges make well-informed admission decisions. This post is here to give you tips on what to include when formatting your recommendation letters in order to provide strong support to your students' applications.
Common App Recommendation Letter Format
As with most essays and letters, the recommendation letter should be broken down into 3 sections - introduction, body, and conclusion. See below for what should be included in each section.
Introduction
Salutation: Begin with a formal greeting, addressing the letter to the specific recipient or committee. This sets a professional tone and shows respect for the reader.
Introduction of Yourself: Clearly state your name, position, and how you know the student (e.g., as their teacher). This establishes your credibility and relationship with the student
Duration of Relationship: Mention how long you have known the student and in what capacity (e.g., "I have had the pleasure of teaching [Student's name] for the past two years in my Chemistry class"). This provides context for your recommendation.
Context of Recommendation: Clearly state why you are writing a letter of recommendation for the student and why you think they would be a good fit for the respective institution.
Praise and Positive Opening: Start with a positive statement about the student, highlighting their strengths or character traits.
Purpose of the Letter: Briefly explain the purpose of the recommendation and why you believe the student is a strong candidate (e.g., "I am confident that [Student's name] would be a valuable addition to your university due to their strong academic performance and leadership qualities"). This gives the reader a clear understanding of why you are recommending the student.
Body
Classroom work: Describe the student's work habits, including timeliness, organization, creativity, thoroughness, and neatness, as well as their insights and ability to tackle unusual tasks.
Interactions with peers: Discuss how the student interacts with others, including whether they are liked, associate with positive influences, and demonstrate good interpersonal skills and trustworthiness.
Leadership: Evaluate the student's leadership qualities, providing a good example for others, good teamwork skills as well as independent work.
Memorable qualities: Share what you will remember about the student, focusing on their unique characteristics. Discuss what makes this student different from others you have encountered.
Dealing with challenges: Describe how the student reacts to challenges, and how they respond to feedback, including their ability to handle constructive criticism and learn from mistakes.
Extracurricular involvement: Discuss the student's extracurricular involvement in the school as well as in the wider community and how this shows the student's resilience and personal growth.
Conclusion
Reiterate recommendation: Restate your recommendation clearly and directly, affirming your belief in the student's abilities and potential for success.
Summarize key points: Recap the student's strengths, accomplishments, and qualities that you have highlighted throughout the letter, reinforcing why they are a strong candidate.
Express confidence: Convey your confidence in the student's ability to excel academically and in their future endeavours, showcasing your belief in their potential.
Offer assistance: Reiterate your willingness to provide additional information or support if needed, demonstrating your ongoing support for the student.
Thank the reader: Express gratitude for the opportunity to recommend the student and for considering your input in their application process, showing appreciation for the reader's time and consideration.
We hope this guide helps you with your Common App planning and recommendation letter writing. Good luck!
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