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Help Writing a College Recommendation Letter
An important part of the application process
Many college and scholarship applications require recommendation letters. Some specify the recommenders—teachers, employers, or personal acquaintances; others simply indicate the number of recommendations required. Selection committees want to know as much as possible about you. They have objective information—grades, classes, and test scores. They have your application form, résumé, and essay(s). They also want to know how others see you.
Select recommenders who know you well and who can write competently. Well-meaning friends may write glowing comments, but poor grammar and unprofessional appearances make negative impressions. Choose recommenders who will write specific statements about you—not remarks that could apply to any student. Generic comments reflect little about you and do not help you stand out among the applicants.
Solicit college recommendation letters politely and appreciatively. Allow your recommender plenty of time; requesting a recommendation at the last minute is inconsiderate. People who write the best recommendations are usually very busy. You don't want one written by someone who feels hurried or is irritated with you.
Provide relevant information so the letter of recommendation will be specifically about you and your qualifications. Indicate the purpose of the recommendation letter. If it is to accompany your college application, provide the college's name and background information so the recommender can discuss how you are an appropriate candidate. If it is for a scholarship, provide a copy of the application or a description of the scholarship and the sponsoring organization's mission. Supply a copy of your résumé listing your GPA, activities, leadership roles, awards, community service, employment experience, and special skills.
Indicate the person to whom a recommendation letter should be addressed. If you don't know the name, the letter may begin “Dear Selection Committee.” Offer an addressed, stamped envelope with each request. If the recommendation must be mailed in an official envelope from the recommender's institution, supply a postage stamp. A letter that is to be submitted with the application should be returned to you in a sealed envelope.
Many applications allow you to waive the right to see recommendations. Despite your legal right to see referrals, committees are impressed by those written with no concerns about the applicant's reaction. Select your recommender(s) carefully, and you'll have no reason to worry; most will say if they aren't comfortable writing a college recommendation letter or don't believe they can write positive statements about you.
Have your recommenders save their letters if you're applying to several colleges or for several scholarships. Although each college recommendation letter should be tailored to the application at hand, the original passage contains basically what the recommender wants to share about you. Revising an original recommendation is more convenient than writing a new one.
Thank your recommender—preferably in writing! Surprisingly, few students express their appreciation for recommendations. Expressing your gratitude is appropriate and advisable. If you weren't appreciative the first time, the recommender may be reluctant to help you when you ask for another college recommendation letter. If you receive the acceptance or the award, thank the recommender again, for contributing to your success.
Sally Wood is a freelance writer and editor from Marionville, Missouri. She worked as a high school counselor in the Aurora R-VIII School District in Aurora, Missouri, from 1980–2000.
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