Jeff Tompkins is a writer and teacher of English as a Second Language living in New York City. He was born in Hartford, Connecticut, in 1967 and was educated at Brown University and University College London. His articles and reviews have appeared in.
Jeff Tompkins ContributorJeff Tompkins is a writer and teacher of English as a Second Language living in New York City. He was born in Hartford, Connecticut, in 1967 and was educated at Brown University and University College London. His articles and reviews have appeared in.
Written By Jeff Tompkins ContributorJeff Tompkins is a writer and teacher of English as a Second Language living in New York City. He was born in Hartford, Connecticut, in 1967 and was educated at Brown University and University College London. His articles and reviews have appeared in.
Jeff Tompkins ContributorJeff Tompkins is a writer and teacher of English as a Second Language living in New York City. He was born in Hartford, Connecticut, in 1967 and was educated at Brown University and University College London. His articles and reviews have appeared in.
Contributor Brenna Swanston Deputy EditorBrenna Swanston is an education-focused editor and writer with a particular interest in education equity and alternative educational paths. As a newswriter in her early career, Brenna's education reporting earned national awards and state-level accol.
Brenna Swanston Deputy EditorBrenna Swanston is an education-focused editor and writer with a particular interest in education equity and alternative educational paths. As a newswriter in her early career, Brenna's education reporting earned national awards and state-level accol.
Brenna Swanston Deputy EditorBrenna Swanston is an education-focused editor and writer with a particular interest in education equity and alternative educational paths. As a newswriter in her early career, Brenna's education reporting earned national awards and state-level accol.
Brenna Swanston Deputy EditorBrenna Swanston is an education-focused editor and writer with a particular interest in education equity and alternative educational paths. As a newswriter in her early career, Brenna's education reporting earned national awards and state-level accol.
Updated: Aug 3, 2023, 10:38am
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Letters of recommendation are crucial to the college application process at both the undergraduate and the graduate level. As a teacher, professor, employer or mentor, you can attest to an applicant’s qualifications and character by writing a letter of recommendation that highlights their academic performance and rounds out their college application.
As admission cycles begin, a student may ask you to write a letter of recommendation for their application. If you’re unsure how to write a letter of recommendation, start by telling the admissions committee something about the applicant that they’re unlikely to glean from a résumé or transcript.
Read on to learn more about how to write a letter of recommendation for college admissions.
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Schools count on letters of recommendation to present admissions officers with a more rounded picture of an applicant. These letters should cover the applicant’s skills and accomplishments and reveal something of the applicant’s character.
Letters offer a platform to highlight human qualities that even the most impressive GPA or list of extracurriculars can’t convey. Essentially, the recommendation letter helps an applicant stand out against the competition.
Being asked to write a letter of recommendation can feel honorable, but if asked last-minute or without materials, it might feel more like a burden.
Applicants should demonstrate a respect for your time by giving you advanced notice. Six to eight weeks is the standard for academic references.
Applicants should also provide basic reference material for your letter—at least an up-to-date and properly formatted résumé, work samples or a portfolio. A “brag sheet” listing an applicant’s noteworthy awards or achievements can help direct the letter.
Don’t hesitate to ask for these materials if the applicant hasn’t provided them, or pass on the letter if the request feels too last minute.
Ask yourself if you have enough time to write a good letter. Decide whether a late request merits the same consideration you’d give to an applicant who submitted a request on time.
Remember that your own credibility, not just the applicant’s, is at stake in a recommendation letter. A sincere recommendation describes your direct experience with the applicant.
Before agreeing to write the letter, recall times when you supervised or advised the student on projects or papers. Did their work display skills and strengths you can discuss?
If you conclude that you don’t have adequate experience with the applicant, you’re most likely not the best choice to write the letter of recommendation.
Any hesitation on your part may be a warning sign. If your gut is telling you that you can’t provide unqualified support, or write an adequate recommendation with the materials or timeline provided, it’s probably better for both parties if you decline the request.
Let the applicant know quickly and politely, so they have time to find an alternate recommender.
Begin with the traditional components of a business letter in the standard format. On separate lines, first include the date followed by the recipient’s name, title and address. If you’re submitting a print letter, make sure it’s printed on your institution’s official letterhead.
If possible, address the recipient by name, using “Mr.” or “Ms.” If you don’t have an actual name, use “To Whom It May Concern.” In both cases, follow the salutation with a colon instead of a comma.
Open by introducing yourself and describing your relationship to the applicant. Give a concise account of your professional experience and expertise.
Summarize your experience with the applicant, describe their strengths (including examples), and explain their relevance to the undergraduate or graduate school application at hand. Cite academic abilities and qualifications while highlighting characteristics like a talent for problem-solving or collaborating with others.
This is where you can make your letter personal. What was it like to teach or work with the applicant? Include firsthand observations and specific details from your time together.
Think about how you can humanize the student. Mention one or two personal traits relevant to an academic career (curiosity and persistence, for instance), and address any hurdles the applicant has overcome—both in and out of the classroom—that have contributed to their growth.
Finish with a statement summarizing your recommendation, then provide contact information and encourage the school to reach out to you for any follow-up questions. Use a straightforward and professional signoff, like “sincerely” or “best regards.” Follow your printed name with your full title and the name of your school or institution.
The human element counts for a lot in a recommendation letter. Your letter should help the reader better understand the person you are recommending. Provide specific examples related to the applicant’s class performance while highlighting intellectual attributes and personal qualities that distinguish the applicant.
Your recommendation should be a sincere show of support, so avoid criticism or commentary that allows for negative interpretation. Convey genuine enthusiasm through your choice of adjectives and verbs.
Additionally, avoid “faint praise” such as mentioning the student’s attendance record or ability to complete assigned readings—these are baseline requirements that every candidate is expected to fulfill.
If a superlative comparison between the applicant and other students is warranted, include it. (For example, “She is one of the most promising researchers I have ever encountered in my academic career.”)
Adhere to a formal, polite tone throughout your recommendation, much as you would in a standard business letter. Concision counts: Aim for a length of one to two pages unless the institution specifies a length. The admissions committee may regard anything longer as overkill.
Similar principles apply to formatting. Whether submitted in print or electronically, a recommendation letter should use a business-like font like Times New Roman or Arial (in other words, this is not the place for Comic Sans). Stick to an 11- or 12-point font size or email equivalent (“Normal” in Gmail, for instance).
The applicant should provide specifications on how to submit the letter, including content, length and deadline. Look for instructions regarding format and whether the institution expects to receive a hard copy, an email, or (less likely) submission via an online form. Above all, keep the due date in mind.
Carefully proofread the letter to catch any grammatical mistakes or typos. Print a hard copy and read it out loud; that way, you’re less likely to overlook errors. To be truly thorough, let someone else review a draft of your letter before you send it off.
A successful letter of recommendation adopts a formal, polite tone and demonstrates the writer’s personal experience with the applicant in one to two pages. The letter should round out the applicant’s college application alongside their transcript and résumé. It should highlight firsthand evidence of the applicant’s abilities and personal characteristics.
Begin by introducing yourself and describing your credentials. Tell the reader whom you recommend, how long you’ve known the student and in what contexts you’ve interacted with them. From your perspective as a teacher or mentor, describe the applicant’s strongest qualities and share a few details about what the applicant is like as a person.
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ContributorJeff Tompkins is a writer and teacher of English as a Second Language living in New York City. He was born in Hartford, Connecticut, in 1967 and was educated at Brown University and University College London. His articles and reviews have appeared in CHA Review of Books and Films, the Brooklyn Rail, the Chicago Review of Books, PopMatters, Words Without Borders, and other outlets.
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