Who Should Write Your College Recommendation Letters?

Recommendation letters are an important part of the application process, but not necessarily for the reasons you might think. The letters may not 'make' your application (your standardized test scores, grades, and other accomplishments will), but they can break your application. A poor recommendation letter really stands out since most recommendation letters are written from someone who strongly supports the applicant and writes a strongly positive letter. Therefore, it is important to get letter writers who you are confident will write you a strong letter.

A few pointers on recommendation letters (including the usual advice, in case you have not already read it):

• Get letter writers who know you personally. A personal anecdote detailing how you show leadership or how you are talented goes a lot further than someone simply regurgitating your resume in letter form.
  
  
• Find letter writers who can speak to different strengths of yours, especially if your application is heavily tilted towards one field. For example, if you are strong in the sciences, you should definitely get one letter from a biology or chemistry teacher. However, your other letter should be from an English teacher or history teacher or track coach, showing another dimension of your personality and talents.
  
  
• Ask EARLY. Popular letter writers often get swamped with requests, and may only be able to write a certain number of letters before the deadlines you have to meet.
  
  
• Help them help you. Provide them with a resume detailing all your accomplishments as well as any other material necessary to complete the letter (this includes stamped and addressed envelopes if necessary).
  
  
• In addition to providing background material, ask the letter writer if you could talk to them for a few minutes (or just do this when you hand them the materials). Tell them what you want said in the letter. Discuss what your plans and goals are. Trust me, it will help them write a more coherent narrative about who you are.
  
  
• Seek out advice from the class above you about who good letter writers are. Good letter writers are enthusiastic, punctual, and willing to discuss your letter with you.

Hope that helps! Good luck!