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S A T / A C T P r e p O n l i n e G u i d e s a n d
4 Amazing Recommendation Letter

Students
Posted by Rebecca Safier | Oct 20, 2017 4:00:00 PM
LETTERS OF RECOMMENDATION
How important are recommendation letters in a college application? According to William Fitzsimmons, dean of admissions and financial aid at Harvard,
converted by Web2PDFConvert.com
they are "extremely important."
If you're a student, examples of great letters of recommendation can help you understand how to get strong letters yourself from your teachers. If you're
a teacher, the examples in this guide will inspire you to support your students strongly as they apply to college. Keep reading for four excellent letters
from teachers that will get anyone into college, along with expert analysis on why they're so strong.
Important Note: Are you looking for job recommendation letters? If so, check out my great post here!
First, let's understand the role of recommendation letters in your application.
Why are Recommendation Letters Important?

The majority of admissions officers at four-year colleges, especially private schools, emphasize that their process is holistic. They seek to gain a sense of the
student as a "whole person," rather than focusing on pieces of who she is based solely on grades and test scores. Since they rarely meet the student in
person, the recommendation letters, along with the student's own personal essay, play a huge role in illuminating her intellectual and personal
qualities.
That's why recommendation letters from teachers, especially those who know their students well, carry a great deal of weight in applications. A letter that
expresses a strong vote of support, as well as highlights a student's impressive academic and personal strengths, can have a powerful effect on that
student's chances of admission.
Let's look at some samples of strong recommendation letters, one from an English teacher, another from a physics teacher, the third from a history
teacher, and the final one from a math teacher. Then we'll break down exactly why these letters of recommendation are effective.
The first example recommends Sara, a senior who loves to write and read poetry.
Sample Letter #1: Sara the Poet

Dear Admissions Committee,
I had the pleasure of teaching Sara in her 11th grade honors English class at Mark Twain High School. From the first day of class, Sara
impressed me with her ability to be articulate about difficult concepts and texts, her sensitivity to the nuances within literature, and her
passion for reading, writing, and creative expression- both in and out of the classroom. Sara is a talented literary critic and poet, and she has
my highest recommendation as a student and writer.
Sara is talented at considering the subleties within literature and the purpose behind authors' works. She produced an extraordinary year-
long thesis paper on creative identity development, in which she compared works from three different time periods and synthesized cultural
and historical perspectives to inform her analysis. When called upon to give her thesis defense in front of her peers, Sara spoke clearly and
eloquently about her conclusions and responded to questions in a thoughtful way. Outside of the classroom, Sara is dedicated to her literary
pursuits, especially to poetry. She publishes her poetry in our school's literary magazine, as well as in online magazines. She is an insightful,
sensitive, and deeply self-aware individual driven to explore art, writing, and a deeper understanding of the human condition.
Throughout the year Sara was an active participant in our discussions, and she always supported her peers. Her caring nature and
personality allow her to work well with others in a team setting, as she always respects others' opinions even when they differ from her own.
When we held a class debate about gun laws, Sara opted to speak for the side opposite her own views. She explained her choice as motivated
by a desire to put herself in other people's shoes, view the issues from a new perspective, and gain a clearer sense of the issue from all angles.
Throughout the year, Sara demonstrated this openness to and empathy for the opinions, feelings, and perspectives of others, along with
shrewd powers of observation, all qualities that makes her outstanding as a student of literature and burgeoning writer.
I am certain that Sara is going to continue to do great and creative things in her future. I highly recommend her for admission to your
undergraduate program. She is talented, caring, intuitive, dedicated, and focused in her pursuits. Sara consistently seeks out constructive
feedback so she can improve her writing skills, which is a rare and impressive quality in a high school student. Sara is truly a stand-out
individual who will impress everyone she meets. Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions at callmeclemens@gmail.com.
Sincerely,
Ms. Scribe
English Teacher
Mark Twain High School
This is a thorough, glowing recommendation for a student that Ms. Scribe clearly knows well. What other features make it stand out as a strong letter of
rec?
The Breakdown
Ms. Scribe has a high opinion of Sara and her skills at writing and literary analysis. One way that she expresses this is by using powerful and specific
language. She doesn't merely say Sara is a good writer. She says she's articulate about difficult concepts and sensitive to the nuances within literature.
She calls her insightful and self-aware with shrewd powers of observation.
These descriptors don't happen by accident. Ms. Scribe took the time to choose her words carefully, and that effort paid off with a strong letter that
captures Sara's special qualities.
Ms. Scribe also supports her characterization of Sara with examples. She describes her thesis paper and how she responded to questions thoughtfully
under the pressured situation of her thesis defense. She gives the example of the debate on gun laws to illustrate Sara's openness to many different
points of view.
In addition to illuminating her intellectual and personal strengths and supporting them with specific examples, Ms. Scribe speaks to Sara's goals for the
future. She points out that she is talented at writing, poetry specifically, and that she is committed to continuing to improve as a writer in her future.
This letter, by virtue of its wording, length, and specificity, shows that Ms. Scribe took the time and effort to recommend Sara thoughtfully and with
conviction. The fact that she knows Sara well and is committed to helping her application succeed with a thoughtful letter further adds weight to her
assessment.
This letter would be a boon to Sara's application, especially if she's applying to study writing or English. She clearly impressed her English teacher and, in
return, got a memorable, complimentary letter of recommendation for her college application.
This next example is similarly enthusiastic and detailed. It's for a student applying to an engineering program.
Sample Letter #2: Stacy the Engineer

It is a great pleasure to recommend Stacy for admission to your engineering program. She is one of the most exceptional students I have
encountered in my 15 years of teaching. I taught Stacy in my 11th grade honors physics class and advised her in Robotics Club. I am not
surprised to find out she is now ranked at the top of an extraordinarily capable class of seniors. She has a keen interest in and talent for
physics, math, and scientific inquiry. Her advanced skills and passion for the subject make her an ideal fit for your rigorous engineering
program.
Stacy is a perceptive, sharp, quick individual with a high aptitude for math and science. She is driven to understand how things work,
whether they be the old computer hard drives in the school library or the forces that hold our universe together. Her final project in class was
especially impressive, an investigation of frequency-dependent sound absorption, an idea that she said was sparked by not wanting to
bother her parents with her hours of guitar practice at home. She's been a strong leader in Robotics Club, eager to share her knowledge with
others and learn new skills. I have the students in the club prepare lessons and take turns leading our after-school meetings. When it was
Stacy's turn, she showed up prepared with a fascinating lecture on lunar nautics and fun activities that got everyone moving and talking.
She was our only student teacher to be met with much deserved applause at the end of her lesson.
Stacy's personal strengths are as impressive as her intellectual accomplishments. She's an active, outgoing presence in class with a great
sense of humor. Stacy's the perfect person to get a group project rolling, but she also knows how to sit back and let others take the lead. Her
cheerful nature and openness to feedback means she's always learning and growing as a learner, an impressive strength that will continue
to serve her well in college and beyond. Stacy is just the kind of driven, engaging, and curious student that helped make our classroom a
lively environment and safe place to take intellectual risks.
Stacy has my highest recommendation for admission to your engineering program. She has demonstrated excellence in all that she puts her
mind to, whether it's designing an experiment, collaborating with others, or teaching herself to play classical and electrical guitar. Stacy's
endless curiosity, combined with her willingness to take risks, leads me to believe there will be no limit to her growth and achievements in
college and beyond. Please don't hesitate to contact me at milevamaricfanclub@gmail.com if you have any questions.
Sincerely,
Ms. Randall
Physics Teacher
Marie Curie High School
Ms. Randall is clearly as much of a fan of Stacy as she is of Mileva Marić. How does she communicate her recommendation?
The Breakdown
Ms. Randall plugs for Stacy right off the bat with a statement of outstanding ranking: Stacy is one of the most exceptional students she's had in 15 years
of teaching. A statement like this is pretty extraordinary and will make an impact in the mind of its readers. Stacy sounds like a special student, and she
chose her recommender well.
Like in the last example, this letter uses strong, specific language, calling Stacy a perceptive and sharp person who has the confidence and good humor
to take intellectual risks. Through its accurate and expressive language, this letter helps Stacy come to life in the mind of the reader.
Beyond the evaluation, Ms. Randall gives specific examples of Stacy's academic and personal strengths. She talks about her successful teaching in
Robotics Club, her leadership in group projects, and her dedicated practice to teaching herself to play the guitar.
Rather than spreading the letter too thin, Ms. Randall highlights a few core themes. She connects Stacy's love of music with her passion for physics by
talking about the frequency-dependent sound absorption project. All the threads tie together in a nice, memorable bow.
This letter is a strong vote of support for Stacy's application to an engineering program. Her physics teacher admires Stacy's skills and goals, and she made
it clear that Stacy had her highest recommendation in this letter.
This next example also comes from a teacher who's extremely impressed with his student. It focuses on the student's performance in class and his
volunteer work outside the classroom.
Sample Letter #3: William the History Buff and Social Organizer
It is hard to overstate the meaningful contributions that William has made to our school and surrounding community. As both his 10th and
11th grade History teacher, I've had the pleasure of seeing William make profound contributions both in and out of the classroom. His
school and community service is motivated by a strong sense of social justice, which he informs through a nuanced and sophisticated
understanding of historical trends and events. I can say with confidence that William is one of the most caring and driven students I've ever
taught in my fifteen years at the school.
As a child of immigrant parents, William is especially drawn to understand the immigrant experience. He produced an extraordinary
semester-long research paper on the treatment of Japanese-Americans in the U.S. during WWII, in which he went beyond all expectations to
conduct Skype interviews with relatives of his featured subjects to incorporate into his paper. William has a great capacity to draw
connections between past and present and to ground his understanding of current issues in the context of historical events. He never
retreats to a simple answer or explanation, but is comfortable dealing with ambiguity. William's fascination with U.S. and World History and
skill for deep analysis have him an exemplary scholar, as a well as a motivated activist driven to promote civil rights and work towards social
equity.
In sophomore year, William noticed that the college planning seminars students attended included little information for first generation or
immigrant students. Always thinking about how institutions can better serve people, William spoke with counselors and ESL teachers about
his ideas to better support all students. He helped collect resources and design a college planning curriculum for immigrant and
undocumented students to enhance their college access. He further helped organize a group that connected ESL students with native
English speakers, stating his mission to be helping ELLs improve their English and increasing multicultural awareness and social cohesion at
the school as a whole. William identified a need and worked with students and faculty alike to meet it in an extremely effective and beneficial
way. Ever the history scholar, he did plenty of research to back up his ideas.
William believes passionately in social progress and working for the common good. His own personal experiences, along with his profound
grasp on social history, drive his advocacy work. He is a talented, intelligent student with the charisma, confidence, strong values, and
respect for others to make a huge difference in the world around him. I'm looking forward to seeing all the good that William continues to do
for his fellow humanity in college and beyond, as well as the excellent work that he will produce at the college level. William has my highest
recommendation. If you have any questions, please contact me at thethingstheycarried@gmail.com.
Sincerely,
Mr. Jackson
History Teacher
Martin Luther King, Jr. High School
Mr. Jackson's letter makes William sound like a pretty amazing student and person. How does he go about expressing his admiration for William in this rec
letter?
The Breakdown
Like Ms. Randall did in her letter, Mr. Jackson provides a statement of outstanding ranking for William, calling him one of the most caring and driven
students he's ever taught. Considering his long teaching career of 15 years, this says a lot about William as a student and a person.
Also like in the last example, Mr. Jackson focuses on a few core aspects of William's character. He talks about his love of history and how it informs his
social activism. He comments on his exceptional historical scholarship, as well as his personal qualities of caring for those around him and working for the
social good.
Mr. Jackson also gives insight into William's personal life, explaining how he has a personal connection to his projects and volunteer work as the child of
immigrant parents. This letter reveals that William is a thoughtful, motivated individual who connects his own experiences with his learning and desire to
contribute to his community.
The letter also showcases William's exceptional accomplishments by giving specific examples of William's research paper and his work supporting the
academic and personal needs of ELL students. Mr. Jackson expresses his enthusiastic recommendation while illuminating William's love of learning and
strength of character. This letter would be both impressive and memorable to admissions officers considering William for admission to their school.
This next example comes from a math teacher. Let's see what Mr. Wiles has to say about Joe.
Sample Letter #4: Joe the Hard Worker

It is my pleasure to recommend Joe, who I taught in my 11th grade math class. Joe demonstrated tremendous effort and growth throughout
the year and brought a great energy to class. He has that combination of a positive attitude and the belief that he can always improve that's
rare in a high school student, but so essential to the learning process. I am confident that he will continue to display the same commitment
and diligence in everything he does. I highly recommend Joe for admission to your school.
Joe would not describe himself as a math person. He's told me on several occasions that all the numbers and variables make his mind go
fuzzy. Joe did, in fact, struggle to comprehend the material at the beginning of the year, but his response to this is what really struck me.
Where so many others have given up, Joe took on this class as a welcome challenge. He stayed after school for extra help, got extra tutoring at
the nearby college, and asked questions in and out of class. Due to all his hard work, Joe not only raised his grades, but he also inspired
some of his classmates to stay after for extra help, as well. Joe truly demonstrated a growth mindset, and he inspired his peers to adopt that
valuable perspective, too. Joe helped contribute to our classroom environment as one where all students can feel supported and able to ask
questions.
Joe's strong belief in his ability to acquire new skills and improve through practice was likely shaped by his years as a baseball player. He's
played all through high school and is one of the team's most valuable players. In his final for our class, Joe designed an impressive project
calculating and analyzing batting averages. While he initially described himself as not a math person, Joe reaped the benefits of his
tremendous effort and found a way to make the subject come alive for him in a way that he was personally invested in. As a teacher, it is
incredibly fulfilling to witness a student make this kind of academic and personal progress.
Joe is a trustworthy, reliable, good-humored student and friend who supports others in and out of the classroom. He was a pleasure to have
in class, and his positive attitude and belief in himself, even in the face of difficulty, is an immensely admirable asset. I'm confident that he
will continue to demonstrate the same diligence, perseverance, and optimism that he showed myself and his peers. I highly recommend Joe
for admission to your undergraduate program. Please feel free to contact me with any further questions at fortheloveofalgebra@gmail.com.
Sincerely,
Mr. Wiles
Math Teacher
Euclid High School
While the students featured in the first three examples were top of their class or demonstrated leadership in the school, Joe isn't a top achiever in the
traditional sense. However, this recommendation is still a strong one, even if it says he struggled in the teacher's class. What does Mr. Wiles focus on to
recommend Joe?
The Breakdown
Mr. Wiles writes a strong letter for Joe, with the same kind of enthusiasm and specific examples as the other three letters. Even though Joe may not
have gotten the strongest grades in his math class, he found an enthusiastic recommender in his math teacher. Mr. Wiles was extremely impressed with
Joe's attitude, effort, and growth mindset, which he demonstrated throughout the year and inspired in his fellow classmates.
Mr. Wiles focuses on Joe's substantial personal strengths, ones that would likely be impressive to his future educators. Even in a subject that may not
come naturally to him, Joe is diligent and committed. He's not self-conscious about asking questions or seeking extra help, and he retains a strong belief in
himself that he can continuously learn, improve, and acquire new skills.
This letter, like the others, is effective because it is focused, supportive, and backed up with examples. As you can tell from these examples,
recommendations can communicate a great deal about a student. Because of this, they can have a powerful impact on a student's chances of admission.
So what can teachers and students do to make sure they are sending a strong recommendation letter that will help their chances?
Enthusiasm is key.
How to Get a Strong Recommendation Letter

While these letters are about different students with different interests, they share certain fundamental features. One, they sound excited and
enthusiastic. The teachers clearly communicate that they are impressed by these students and eager to help them get into college.
At the same time, the letters don't go overboard because they have examples to back up their assessments. Specific examples and stories are key for
backing up the assessment. Plus, they make a letter more interesting and memorable. Rather than just another engineering applicant, Stacy is the student
who researched sound-absorption to spare her parents from hours of guitar scales.
Finally, the teachers all discuss their students' personal strengths, along with their academic strengths. They present the holistic view that admissions
officers are looking for, along with their strong vote of confidence in the students' future success.
Teachers should incorporate all these features into their letters, and students should help provide them with the raw material to write about. While
students should choose a teacher who knows them well and has stories and observations to share, they should also give their teachers a detailed "brag
sheet" and let them know what would go into their ideal letter. That way it can be even more personalized and complement the story the student is
telling in the rest of her application.
While recommenders may or may not share their letters with students, there should still be open, two-way communication when the student makes
her request. That way students and teachers can work together to produce an insightful, enthusiastic, and specific letter of recommendation to send to
colleges.
What's Next?
Are you a teacher writing recommendations for your students? Read all about how to write an outstanding recommendation letter for your
students, along with what not to include.
Are you or a student you work with applying to a selective school, like Harvard? Learn about what kind of letter she should get for the Ivy League.
Now that you've read these examples of strong teacher recommendation letters, check out these examples of bad ones. Warning: rec letters may appear
better than they actually are.
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Zawar Shah Sunday, December 13, 2015 02:11:25

Thankyou so much Ma'am. All your articles helped me alot and are of great value. keep up the good work. Stay Blessed.
Reply to Zawar Shah

Rebecca Safier Sunday, December 13, 2015 22:46:41
You're very welcome! I'm so glad you find them helpful!
Reply to Rebecca Safier
Barzi Babak Friday, December 18, 2015 02:32:57

salam
I don't know how can I write a letter for apply for PHD course in USA. Could you possibly tell me how can I write it.
thanks' a lot for your guidance.
Babak.
from Iran
Reply to Barzi Babak

Rebecca Safier Sunday, December 20, 2015 02:15:32
Hi Babak, are you writing a letter of recommendation for a student who's applying or applying yourself? Either way, PhD applications should be very
specific and speak to a student's research goals and relevant academic and professional experience. Compared to undergrad applications, they tend
to be a little less personal and a little more academic/professional. Hope that helps, and let me know if you have more questions.

Younis alshaibah Monday, February 29, 2016 00:17:28
Hi , first of all ,i would like to thank you for writing useful information , second , i want to study at medicine college in turkey country , can you give
me sample of an amazing recommendation from biology teacher ??
Reply to Younis alshaibah

Rebecca Safier Monday, February 29, 2016 04:50:20
Hi Younis, so glad you found it helpful! While I don't have a sample specifically from a biology teacher, I suggest you read this article on what
goes into a good letter of recommendation: http://blog.prepscholar.com/good-letter-of-recommendation.
You can make sure your letter has these qualities, like talking about both your personal and academic qualities and sharing specific
anecdotes about your contributions and accomplishments. Your teacher may also find these articles about writing rec letters helpful!
http://blog.prepscholar.com/writing-a-letter-of-recommendation-how-to-for-student
http://blog.prepscholar.com/a-great-college-recommendation-letter-template
Fahimeh Soltani Friday, December 25, 2015 08:48:17

Hi ´ I need a recommendation letter of a teacher for a student in university . I am studing in chemistry and I want to continue in master thank you
Reply to Fahimeh Soltani

Rebecca Safier Thursday, December 31, 2015 00:42:16
Hi Fahimeh, I suggest you ask a teacher with whom you have worked closely. If you're applying to study chemistry, then at least one rec letter from a
chemistry professor would be best. This article on who to ask for rec letters might help you, but keep in mind that it's for students applying to
Bachelor's, rather than Master's programs. - http://blog.prepscholar.com/who-should-i-ask-to-write-my-college-recommendation-letter

Mohamed I. hassan Thursday, February 25, 2016 05:25:17
Hi, I am in need of a letter to recommend me apply to a training workshop/ course out of my country
Reply to Mohamed I. hassan

Hi Mohamed, this guide should help you figure out who can best write you a recommendation letter! http://blog.prepscholar.com/who-should-i-
ask-to-write-my-college-recommendation-letter
helen vivo Wednesday, December 30, 2015 11:47:49

Rebecca, you saved my life Thank you very much. Even though I didn't get a good mark on the SAT, the recommendations advice helped me a lot.
Reply to helen vivo

Rebecca Safier Thursday, December 31, 2015 00:11:09
Hi Helen, I'm so glad! If you're considering retaking the SAT, this guide might be of use to you - http://blog.prepscholar.com/should-you-retake-the-
sat-or-act-3-step-process. We also have a bunch of articles with strategies for improving math, reading, writing, and essay scores. Best of luck with
your applications!
Jasmine Friday, January 01, 2016 22:33:58

Hi Rebecca, thanks so much for the amazing article! I was just wondering for undergraduate admissions, can high school teachers just write one letter of
recommendation for all the universities that I am applying to? Also, how do universities get the recommendation letters (Common App, online, mail, etc.)
Thanks so much!
Reply to Jasmine
Rebecca Safier Sunday, January 03, 2016 02:00:17
Hi Jasmine, generally speaking, teachers just write one letter that will go to all your prospective colleges. However, if they can strengthen their letter
by writing about your fit with a specific college or program (maybe they attended themselves or know something about it), then it could make the
letter even stronger to be customized. This can be helpful for especially selective schools, like those in the Ivy League. For the most part though, they
just write one.
As for submitting, you'll assign recommenders via the Common Application and any other school-specific online applications (for any schools that
don't use the Common App). If your high school uses the e-docs system, Naviance, then you'll assign recommenders through that. Your teachers will
get an email prompting them to upload their letter. Then the college will get the recs (online) once you submit your whole application. Hope that
helps!
Check out these guides if you want to learn more about what makes a rec letter stand out, what admissions officers are looking for, and who to ask!
http://blog.prepscholar.com/good-letter-of-recommendation
http://blog.prepscholar.com/how-college-admissions-officers-read-recommendation-letters
http://blog.prepscholar.com/who-should-i-ask-to-write-my-college-recommendation-letter
Ibrahim Wednesday, January 13, 2016 15:32:22

I will be writing SAT for the first time in December.will three months of practice be enough? I really need to know.
Reply to Ibrahim
Rebecca Safier Thursday, January 21, 2016 09:14:49
Hi Ibrahim, yes, you could do a lot of SAT prep in 3 months. This guide should help you figure out how much time you should devote to studying to
reach your target scores! http://blog.prepscholar.com/how-long-should-i-study-for-the-sat-6-step-guide
You may also find this guide helpful, the Ultimate Study Guide for the SAT: http://blog.prepscholar.com/the-ultimate-sat-study-guide-for-sat-prep
Bhavani prasad Thursday, January 21, 2016 00:57:23

Hi Rebecca , first of all ,i would like to thank you for writing useful information . Can you please suggest me some tips for writing LOR's and SOP's for my
graduate admission . What are the things that i should mention while writing LOR's and SOP's for ms in cs .Waiting for your response .Thank you in
advance .
Reply to Bhavani prasad

Rebecca Safier Thursday, January 21, 2016 01:19:52
Hi Bhavani, are you writing letters of rec for a student or applying to graduate school yourself? If you're applying, I'd recommend asking for letters of
recommendation from professors who taught you in a subject related to the one you'd like to study at the Master's level. Master's programs are
much more specialized than undergrad programs, so both your letters and SOP should focus on your dedication to and experience in a certain field,
as well as your academic and professional reasons for going to graduate school. In a nutshell, my best advice is to be very specific about the past
educational and/or professional experiences that have led you to seek specialization in the field, as well as exactly what kind of project or career you'd
like to pursue during/after your Master's program. Hope that helps!
Bhavani prasad Monday, January 25, 2016 09:37:22

Hi Rebecca , I would like Thank you for responding to my previous query . Can you suggest me one simple and effective structure for writing a good SOP
and by including what points will make it more make attractive.
Reply to Bhavani prasad
Rebecca Safier Monday, January 25, 2016 20:23:38
Hi Bhavani, here are some useful resources with pointers and templates for writing an SOP for grad school -
https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/969/02/
http://www.uni.edu/~gotera/gradapp/stmtpurpose.htm
http://www.cgu.edu/PDFFiles/Writing%20Center/Writing%20Center%20Resources/Grad%20School%20Personal%20Statement.pdf

shivani raheja Thursday, July 07, 2016 10:17:39
Thank you rebecca , the link that you posted on the statement of purpose really helped.
A big relief.
Thanks
Reply to shivani raheja

Rebecca Safier Monday, July 18, 2016 09:51:35
You're very welcome!
Aayat Jariwala Wednesday, February 10, 2016 11:25:08

Hi! I'm looking to write a two recommendation letters for an architecture course in the UK. I have been a topper in my school at 95.6% and I will be writing
on behalf of my principal and my class teacher. It would be mean a lot if you recommend what qualities i can add in each.
Reply to Aayat Jariwala

Rebecca Safier Tuesday, March 01, 2016 10:57:41
Hi Aayat, are you writing recs or collecting them for a course? If you're asking your teacher and principal, I suggest checking out these guides -
http://blog.prepscholar.com/how-to-request-a-letter-of-recommendation
In terms of what should be included in their letters, your teacher and principal might find these guides helpful:
Hope these help!
Reverend Bonita Kitt Tuesday, February 16, 2016 21:11:17

Why is it I can't find the questions a high school can ask in preparing a letter of recommendation for a teacher? The students ONLY needs the questions?
Reply to Reverend Bonita Kitt

Hi, students can answer questions about themselves to give detailed insight into their experiences and goals, which recommenders can then
incorporate into their letters. If you're writing a recommendation, you might find these guides helpful:
Cally Friday, February 19, 2016 18:17:39

Hi,
I am a homeschooled student preparing to enter college next year in the fall.
Who can write my recommendation letter? I am not involved in any clubs and I do not know anyone who would be a good candidate for writing the
recommendation letter.
Thank you
Reply to Cally
Hi Cally, colleges usually want to see one or two rec letters from academic teachers. If you have trouble meeting this requirement, I highly
recommend speaking to the admissions offices of your colleges of interest. Colleges will often offer more flexible admissions processes for
homeschooled students, often accepting a letter from a parent or someone who knows you well outside the classroom. Your teacher(s) would be
probably be the best candidates for writing your letter(s). Hope that helps!

Cally Tuesday, March 01, 2016 08:34:12
Thank you very much!
Reply to Cally
You're very welcome! You may find this guide on applying to college helpful as you prepare for the application process:
http://blog.prepscholar.com/how-to-apply-for-college. Best of luck!
Brian Thursday, February 25, 2016 17:18:14

Hello Mrs. Safier,
I am a student who has prepared for the transfer admission. Several professors will write me the recommendation letters. I wonder how to send these
letters. Are they going to send the letters directly to schools that I am applying or are they sending them to advisor (counselor)? I will be waiting your
response. It was nice to read this blog article!
Sincerely,
BK
Reply to Brian
Hi Brian, typically you'd invite your recommenders to submit their letters online by providing their names and emails in the section provided in your
application. Your recommenders would receive an email and then submit their letters online. You should be able to see when they've been uploaded
to your app. Your colleges will receive the letters when you submit your entire application. Hope that makes sense!
Adam Alabtah Wednesday, March 02, 2016 05:03:31

hi Rebeccab ,
thanks a lot you did great job in helping us , i'm going to study master degree in USA and i was asked to prepare tow recommendation letters , so my
specialist will be in IT information technology , i asked my one of my prof in previous university , then asked me to write this letter and he will sign it
whatever i wrote , so do you have any advice what should wrote in this letter to be as good as they need it .
thanks a lot in advance
Adam
Reply to Adam Alabtah

Rebecca Safier Wednesday, March 02, 2016 12:49:28
Hi Adam, it's hard to say, because the expectation is that a professor will write the letter and speak to his impressions of you as a student. You and
your professor might find these guides on writing recommendation letters helpful:

Anastasiya Pylypenko Wednesday, March 23, 2016 18:40:07
Rebecca! What a wonderful job you're doing..I admire the way you write and explain stuff to people..really. :)
Good luck in your career and personal accomplishments.
Reply to Anastasiya Pylypenko

Rebecca Safier Monday, March 28, 2016 14:22:39
Hi Anastasiya, thanks so much for your feedback! I'm so glad you found my articles helpful and appreciate your kind comments!
Sintayehu Tarekegn Monday, March 21, 2016 08:31:24

I'd like to apply to an international NGO, how I apply? I tried many times, but no feedback. I doubt that my application or recommendation letter is
incorrect., please would help me with a written sample?
Thanks
Reply to Sintayehu Tarekegn

Hi Sintayehu, I'm sorry to hear you haven't had any responses from the NGOs that you're interested in. Sometimes organizations aren't able to
respond to all applicants and only reach out to a select few who are granted an interview. You might try to track down a specific person's email and
ask whether he/she received your materials. At this time, we only have recommendation letter resources geared toward high school students and
their parents. We might branch out to graduate school and employment-related letters in the future. Sorry I can't be of more help at present. Best of
luck in your application process!
Inva Millo Tuesday, March 22, 2016 08:17:51

I am a senior student for finance-accounting bachelor and i need a reference letter from a Ph.D .
Please can you help me with with an example.
Thank you for your time
Reply to Inva Millo

Hi Inva, we're primarily providing resources for high school students and their parents right now, but we may grow into graduate school-related
articles soon. Sorry I can't be more helpful at present, and best of luck with your PhD application!
Yorleny Pfeffer Thursday, March 24, 2016 19:30:02

Hi Rebecca,
I am writing a letter for my niece. She did not do well in high school. Went to college for one semester and now wants to start at another school. It's too
late for her to ask any of her HS teachers for letters, so she asked me if I could write one for her. What would you recommend? Obviously, not being her
teacher I can't comment on her academic strengths. What would you recommend?
Reply to Yorleny Pfeffer

Hi Yorleny, since you're not one of your niece's teachers, you could best help her by providing a character reference. In your letter, you should focus
most on her personal strengths and impressive qualities. However, most colleges want to see academic references to learn about the candidate's
performance as a student. Perhaps she could still ask a teacher or two as a last-minute favor! Below are a few guides that go over the principles of
writing rec letters in more detail. Hope they help, and best of luck!
http://blog.prepscholar.com/for-counselors-how-to-write-a-strong-recommendation-letter-for-your-student
smith Thapa Monday, March 28, 2016 20:30:40

Hi Rebecca,
I am from Nepal and teachers here do not know much about you.Frankly speaking only 2-3 teachers know my name! I have strong grades, Sat score,
personal letter but I do not think my recommendation letters will be good enough to go to Cornell. I am losing my hopes to learn in US...what should I do
apply to Australia ??
Reply to smith Thapa

Rebecca Safier Wednesday, April 06, 2016 08:00:38
Hi, I bet you could help your teachers get to know you by writing down and sharing information about yourself. You could tell them about your
favorite classes, personal accomplishments, and goals for the future. You could also set up a meeting with a teacher or two to talk about why you
want to attend college in the US and give them some information on how to write recommendation letters. You could share these guides, for
example -
http://blog.prepscholar.com/4-amazing-recommendation-letter-samples
As for preparing information for your teachers, this guide might help you - http://blog.prepscholar.com/how-to-request-a-letter-of-recommendation.
We're focused on applying to US colleges, but if you're interested in Australia, you might start with the official Australian government site for
international students - https://www.studyinaustralia.gov.au/. Hope that helps and that you can overcome this hurdle of recommendation letters to
still apply for the colleges you want!
divya sharma Monday, April 11, 2016 00:27:00

does the word on letter should be hard or simple so that it could be understood by the reader easily
Reply to divya sharma

Rebecca Safier Monday, April 11, 2016 17:27:21
Hi Divya, the letters should be accessible to the reader while still using succinct, carefully chosen words. The samples above should give you an idea of
the tone and style of a typical letter of recommendation. You can read even more about writing letters in this guide -
http://blog.prepscholar.com/writing-a-letter-of-recommendation-how-to-for-student. Hope that helps!
Ahsan Lodhi Sunday, May 08, 2016 15:33:15

I just want to than you for this post. Helped me a lot. Seriously Thanks A Lot.
Reply to Ahsan Lodhi

Rebecca Safier Monday, May 09, 2016 12:47:46
Hi Ahsan, you're very welcome! I'm so glad you found it helpful. Best of luck with your rec letters!
cheryl tarkanyi Friday, June 10, 2016 06:37:37
Do all recommendation letters for a college application have to come from a high school teacher? Can they come from a middle school principal?
Reply to cheryl tarkanyi

Rebecca Safier Friday, July 22, 2016 13:30:01
Hi Cheryl, typically you can ask for a letter from an administrator rather than just teachers, but I'm not sure I'd advise asking your middle school
principal, just because it's not recent enough. If you feel a letter from your middle school principal would really add a lot to your application, perhaps
you could send it as an extra, supplemental letter. For the core letters, though, I'd suggest going with teachers or administrators who you had more
recently.
Shelly Sunday, July 10, 2016 11:31:41

Hello,
The Practice tests for New Sat on Khan Academy is scores out of 1520 points (not 1600). My daughter has just taken the first practice test. How do we
convert the scaled score to percentile?
Thanks
Reply to Shelly
Rebecca Safier Monday, August 08, 2016 14:57:01
Hi Shelly, is it possible your daughter took the PSAT practice test? That one is scored out of 1520, while the new SAT tests should be scored out of
1600.
Shivs Friday, September 30, 2016 15:43:35

Great article on teacher recommendations!
I was just wondering how long teacher recs are (usually). What is too long/too short?
Reply to Shivs
Rebecca Safier Wednesday, October 05, 2016 11:32:36
Hi Shivs, teacher recommendation letters are typically about one full page. Half a page would be too short; three pages would probably be too long!
Hope that helps!
Hajj Monday, July 31, 2017 14:04:58

Hi Rebecca
Thanks a lot for this article!
You inspire me! "....passionate about helping students..."
Reply to Hajj
Prachi singh Thursday, November 09, 2017 08:57:55

I found this page so useful to me.
Reply to Prachi singh
Mana Nepali Friday, November 24, 2017 04:41:45
Thank you so much for such a useful article and letter samples!
Reply to Mana Nepali

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4 Amazing Recommendation Letter

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Why are Recommendation Letters Important?

Sample Letter #1: Sara the Poet

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Zawar Shah Sunday, December 13, 2015 02:11:25

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Ibrahim Wednesday, January 13, 2016 15:32:22

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Bhavani prasad Monday, January 25, 2016 09:37:22

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Aayat Jariwala Wednesday, February 10, 2016 11:25:08

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Hope these help!

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Reverend Bonita Kitt Tuesday, February 16, 2016 21:11:17

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Cally Friday, February 19, 2016 18:17:39

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Brian Thursday, February 25, 2016 17:18:14

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Adam Alabtah Wednesday, March 02, 2016 05:03:31

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Sintayehu Tarekegn Monday, March 21, 2016 08:31:24

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Inva Millo Tuesday, March 22, 2016 08:17:51

Thank you for your time

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Yorleny Pfeffer Thursday, March 24, 2016 19:30:02

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smith Thapa Monday, March 28, 2016 20:30:40