{"id":774,"date":"2021-07-23T01:07:08","date_gmt":"2021-07-23T01:07:08","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/uniquest.xyz\/?page_id=774"},"modified":"2025-05-27T13:00:44","modified_gmt":"2025-05-27T13:00:44","slug":"letters-of-recommendation","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/uniquest.xyz\/index.php\/for-counselors\/letters-of-recommendation\/","title":{"rendered":"Letters of Recommendation"},"content":{"rendered":"<header class=\"entry-header\">\n<h1 class=\"entry-title\">Letters of recommendation<\/h1>\n<\/header>\n<div class=\"entry-content\">\n<p><strong>What makes a compelling letter of recommendation? Learn more about the differences between high school counselors secondary school reports and letters of recommendations from teachers.\u00a0Here is some advice from various colleges:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/web.archive.org\/web\/20180818014205\/http:\/\/www.mitadmissions.org\/topics\/schools\/writing_evaluations\/index.shtml\">MIT<\/a>&#8212;<a href=\"https:\/\/mitadmissions.org\/apply\/parents-educators\/writingrecs\/\">tips<\/a><\/li>\n<li><strong>Trevor Rusert, Chris Reeves, Michelle Rasich, and John McLaughlin explore a different approach to writing letters in\u00a0<a class=\"sExtlink-processed\">RECS THAT CHANGE LIVES: USING THE ORGANIZED NARRATIVE<\/a>\u00a0View and download <a class=\"sExtlink-processed\" href=\"https:\/\/drive.google.com\/file\/d\/0BxUrWQzLfkxXV0VqVkl1SnJvYTQ\/view?usp=sharing\">two sample letters<\/a>.<\/strong><\/li>\n<li>More on the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.commonapp.org\/blog\/win-win-win-approach-college-recommendations\">Structured Narrative<\/a><\/li>\n<li><strong>Harvey Mudd<\/strong> has an excellent <a class=\"sExtlink-processed\" href=\"https:\/\/drive.google.com\/file\/d\/0BzR_KHZNACM_dm1ib3dVNUVKa1U\/edit?fbclid=IwAR2Tp1MADcZQqcCXas0GHlmfwRG9IvLC5jZy9Gyg3A2bxuIa4iEHBrSWIRc\">slide deck<\/a> highlighting key aspects of both counselor and teacher recommendations.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.wellesley.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/assets\/departments\/admission\/pdf\/writing_effective_recommendations.pdf\">Tips for Effective Recommendations<\/a> from Wellesley<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.hamilton.edu\/admission\/counselors\/hamilton-tips-for-writing-college-letters-of-recommendation\">Words matter<\/a> from Hamilton<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<div>The advice may be specific to those colleges, but much of the information is generalizable to selective colleges with\u00a0holistic\u00a0admission process.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>Educator Recommendations: Insight from College Admissions Officers<\/div>\n<div style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"YouTube video player\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/JJ920dTTcXM\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/div>\n<div class=\"entry-content\">\n<p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/web.archive.org\/web\/20180818014205\/http:\/\/admissions.vanderbilt.edu\/apply\/recommendation-letters.php\">Vanderbilt<\/a>\u00a0offers sage advice from teachers and counselors<\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"YouTube video player\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/DpZI8GQVOlo\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p><strong>\u00a0For Teachers<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Ethan Sawyer, the CollegeEssay Guy, put together <a href=\"https:\/\/www.collegeessayguy.com\/blog\/how-to-write-a-recommendation-letter\">a great resource<\/a> for helping teachers write great recommendations &#8212; it includes samples.<\/li>\n<li>The Collegeboard provides a very <a href=\"https:\/\/counselors.collegeboard.org\/college-application\/writing-recommendations-teachers\">useful set of resources<\/a> on letters for teachers.\u00a0\u00a0There are some sample letters of recommendation for teachers available\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/web.archive.org\/web\/20180818014205\/http:\/\/www.eduers.com\/reference\/teacher.htm\">here<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/web.archive.org\/web\/20180818014205\/http:\/\/www.boxfreeconcepts.com\/reco\/sample.html#Sample%20college%20recommendation%20(undergraduate)\">here<\/a>.<\/li>\n<li>Carelton College <a href=\"https:\/\/www.carleton.edu\/admissions\/apply\/steps\/materials\/recs\/\">advice and insight on letters of recommendation<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/tuadmissionjeff.blogspot.com\/2019\/08\/eight-tips-for-great-teacher-letter-of.html\">Eight Tips for a Great Teacher Letter of Recommendation<\/a> from Jeff Shiffman (Tulane University)<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nacacnet.org\/news--publications\/journal-of-college-admission\/how-to-minimize-gender-and-racial-bias-in-letters-of-recommendation\/\">HOW TO MINIMIZE GENDER AND RACIAL BIAS IN LETTERS OF RECOMMENDATION<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><strong>For the USA<\/strong><\/h2>\n<h3 class=\"title style-scope ytd-video-primary-info-renderer\">College Admission Teacher Recommendations Writing Compelling Letters<\/h3>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"YouTube video player\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/9y28BW0F5wc\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<div>Elements of a strong recommendation<\/div>\n<div><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"YouTube video player\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/Zcpwdcvz3KE\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/div>\n<h3>For the UK<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<p><strong>For Counselors:\u00a0Secondary School Report\u2013the counselors recommendation<\/strong><\/p>\n<div class=\"entry-content\">\n<ul>\n<li>If you doubted the value of your report, you need not worry\u2013they are read, often twice. Collegeboard offers\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/web.archive.org\/web\/20180818014205\/http:\/\/professionals.collegeboard.com\/guidance\/applications\/counselor-tips\">great insight<\/a>. They even have an outline. (current version <a href=\"https:\/\/counselors.collegeboard.org\/college-application\/writing-recommendations-counselors\">here<\/a>)<\/li>\n<li>Ethan Sawyer, the CollegeEssay Guy, also created <a href=\"https:\/\/www.collegeessayguy.com\/blog\/how-to-write-a-letter-of-recommendation\">a fantastic resource<\/a>\u00a0for school counselors&#8211;it includes samples.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3 class=\"title style-scope ytd-video-primary-info-renderer\">Compelling Counselor Letters: Recommendation Basics During the Pandemic and Beyond<\/h3>\n<div id=\"info\" class=\"style-scope ytd-video-primary-info-renderer\" style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"YouTube video player\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/litnhLDJSxQ\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/div>\n<p><strong>Advice you should share with your students<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Collegeboard has a\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/web.archive.org\/web\/20180818014205\/http:\/\/www.collegeboard.com\/student\/apply\/the-application\/119.html\">good article<\/a>\u00a0to share with your your students on getting powerful letters of recommendation.<\/li>\n<li>Ethan Sawyer offers up <a href=\"https:\/\/www.collegeessayguy.com\/blog\/how-to-ask-for-a-letter-of-recommendation\">this great guide<\/a> to asking for a letter of recommendation<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Other great sources:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/web.archive.org\/web\/20081031233448\/http:\/\/www.nacacnet.org\/MemberPortal\/News\/StepsNewsletter\/Recommendations.htm\">Getting great recs<\/a>\u00a0from NACAC Step\u2019s to college<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/web.archive.org\/web\/20080907061048\/http:\/\/www.nacacnet.org.\/MemberPortal\/News\/StepsNewsletter\/Get+to+Know+Your+Counselor.htm\">Getting to know your counselor<\/a>\u00a0from NACAC Step\u2019s to college<\/li>\n<li>Princeton Review on\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/web.archive.org\/web\/20180818014205\/http:\/\/www.princetonreview.com\/college\/letter-of-recommendation.aspx?uidbadge=%07\">letters of recommendation<\/a>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"YouTube video player\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/tDGVAyx-_xQ\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Letters of recommendation What makes a compelling letter of recommendation? Learn more about the differences&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":765,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-774","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/uniquest.xyz\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/774","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/uniquest.xyz\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/uniquest.xyz\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/uniquest.xyz\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/uniquest.xyz\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=774"}],"version-history":[{"count":11,"href":"https:\/\/uniquest.xyz\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/774\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1334,"href":"https:\/\/uniquest.xyz\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/774\/revisions\/1334"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/uniquest.xyz\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/765"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/uniquest.xyz\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=774"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}