Sample Recommendation Letters for College Applicants

Sample Recommendation Letters for College Applicants Many colleges, universities, and business schools request recommendation letters as part of the application process. Choosing the person to ask for your recommendation is often your first challenge because you want an honest letter that will improve your chances of being accepted. Also, if you are the person writing a letter of recommendation, it may be difficult to know where to begin.   No matter which side youre on, reading through a few good letters of recommendation will certainly help. With these samples, you can make better decisions about whom to ask, what should be included, and take note of the best format for writing one. Every college applicant has a different situation and your relationship with  a student and recommender is also unique. For that reason, were going to look at a few different scenarios that can be adapted to fit your needs. Choosing the Right Person for a Recommendation A good recommendation letter  from a high school teacher,  college professor, or another academic reference  can really help an applicants  chances of acceptance. Other sources of recommendations might include a club president, employer, community director, coach, or mentor. The goal is to find someone who has had time to get to know you well.  A person who has worked closely with you or known you for a significant period of time will have more to say and be able to offer specific examples to back up their opinions. On the other hand, someone who doesnt know you very well may struggle to come up with supporting details. The result might be a vague reference that doesnt do anything to make you stand out as a candidate.   Selecting a letter writer from an advanced course, extra-curricular group, or volunteer experience is also a good idea. This shows that you are motivated and confident in your academic performance or willing to put in extra effort outside the typical classroom. Although there are a lot of different things that are considered during the college application process, previous academic performance and work ethic are among the most important.   Recommendation Letter From an AP Professor The following letter of recommendation was written for a college student who is also an undergraduate program applicant. The  letter writer  is  the students AP English professor, whose class other students may struggle with, so there are some extra benefits here.   What makes this letter stand out? As you read this letter, note how the letter writer specifically mentions the  students outstanding work ethic and  academic performance. He also discusses her leadership capability, her ability to multi-task, and her creativity. He even offers an example of her record of achievement- a novel project that she worked on with the rest of the class. Specific examples like this are a great way for the recommender to reinforce the main points of the letter.   To Whom It May Concern:Cheri Jackson is an extraordinary young woman. As her AP English Professor, I have seen many examples of her talent and have long been impressed by her diligence and work ethic. I understand that Cheri is applying to the Recommendation Letter From a Debate Coach This letter was written by a high school teacher for an  undergraduate business school applicant. The letter writer is very familiar with the student since they were both members of the schools debate team, an extra-curricular that demonstrates a drive in academics.   What makes this letter stand out?  Getting a letter  from someone who is familiar with your classroom behavior and academic ability can show admissions committees that you are dedicated to your education. It also demonstrates that you have made good impressions on those in the educational community. The content of this letter could be very beneficial to the applicant. The letter does a good job of demonstrating the applicants motivation and self-discipline. It also cites specific examples to support the recommendation. As you are reading this sample letter, take note of the required  format for recommendations. The letter contains short paragraphs and multiple line breaks for easy readability. It also contains the name of the person who wrote it as well as contact information, which helps makes the letter look legit. To Whom It May Concern:Jenna Breck was a student in my debate class and has also been on myRecommendation Letter From Volunteer Experience Many undergraduate business programs ask applicants to supply a recommendation letter from an employer or someone who knows how the applicant works. Not everyone has professional work experience, though. If you have never worked a 9 to 5 job, you can get a recommendation from a community leader or non-profit administrator. Though it is traditionally unpaid,  volunteer experience  is still a work experience.What makes this letter stand out? This sample letter demonstrates what a  recommendation from a non-profit administrator might look like. The letter writer emphasizes the students leadership and organizational skills, work ethic, and moral fiber. Although the letter doesnt touch on academics, it does tell the admissions committee who this student is as a person. Demonstrating personality can sometimes be just as important as showing good grades on a transcript. To Whom It May Concern:As the Director of the Bay Area Community Center, I work closely with many of the community