Recommendations are becoming more important than ever - from whom should students request reccs, how should they ask, and how might they guide their recommenders to land the superlative, detailed recommendation that colleges will value.©
By: David A. Browne, En*trance Admissions Advisory
With testing again optional at almost all schools for this next cycle’s applicants, recommendations from their counselor (the brag sheet-driven “school or counselor” recommendation), teachers (“academic” recc.- the focus of this segment), and an additional, typically optional, credible third party (“supplemental”) recc., are more important than ever.
Admissions committees generally review recommendations toward the end of the reading process - largely seeking validation and “sound bites” of color commentary, elaborating upon and adding texture to the grades, scores, and essays candidates have delivered elsewhere in their application.
Following the roadmap below with precision and rigor will help your student get their BEST possible recommendations:
Academic Reccs. (usually a maximum of two, from “core” academic subjects). Core might include a statistics or advanced science or language class, but would NOT include an elective like ceramics or phys. ed..
Choose most recent teachers, who know you best (e.g., due to a superior relationship, via multiple classes, extra-curricular supervision or observation - as well as classroom). They should also be teachers of subjects that exemplify your learning and contributions at your best, and / or that align with your expressed interest in future studies (major / minor or career direction you are sharing on the Common App or your essays). Specifically think about what each teacher might uniquely validate about you as a candidate - i.e., which of the categories below are points you would love them to emphasize.
The Roadmap:
- Start by asking your teacher if they might “be kind enough and have the time” to write a letter of recommendation for your college applications (it’s just one letter, submitted usually via Naviance and sometimes the Common App, depending on your high school). After asking, add a line about what you’ve singularly / especially appreciated about the class or your teacher). It’s best to do this live, online via live video, or in office hours. Best NOT to do by email.
- 2. Once you have a yes, ask if they would welcome a quick note or bullet point summary of what you’ve been up to in high school that might help them write the recc.
Here are the categories of information you should provide in this note / list. For many students it may make sense to attach their resume - those of you who do should also provide a short bullet point list, in addition.
Reinforce in your note that you hope these examples might help your teacher be “as specific as possible” in recounting examples of your performance or their observations:
- Impact via Contributions in the classroom, esp. to class discussions - How do you bring out the best in the classroom by: a) ratcheting up the level of class energy or by b) supporting others in your style, or even guidance with other students
- Intellectual curiosity - - do you bring valuable examples from your own self-exploration or study
- Growth arc - how have your efforts, performance and impact PROGRESSED over the course of the year
- Resiliency - how have you responded to challenges or setbacks, academic disappointments or personal challenges, perhaps with strength and grit and even joy(?!)
- Community (esp. school community) citizenship - buzz around the school about your impact areas
- How the teacher relates and reacts to your efforts as a student - what have you done to make your teacher want to bring their “A game” to the classroom each day
- How you “rate / rank” relative to other students that year or across the history of their teaching at your schools.
Finally, after drafting this note, it helps to ask a parent, or an advisor (if working with one), for their thoughts/ suggestions BEFORE submitting to teacher / recommender. They can objectively and professionally validate your choices, categories of greatest impact, and final edits for nuanced tone and manner of the note.
About David Browne:
David Browne is the dad of five (three at top colleges and one severely disabled with autism) and a retired strategic change partner at Accenture, beginning his career in marketing communications at Ogilvy. David’s professional college advisory and educational consulting practice helps guide the most ambitious candidates across the US to top 30 colleges, and private boarding schools, as well as those with learning differences, mental health or other challenges to find the very best programs where they might grow and thrive. To learn more about optimizing the “school / counselor,” “academic,” and “supplementary” recommendations, or for other admissions related services, David can be reached at david@entranceadvisory.com 917-941-8383.
For additional insights, read:
Top 5 Books on College Admissions for those just getting started…
Virtual Internships for High School Students
When Should Students Consider Applying Early Action/Early Decision?
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