Letter of Recommendation - What Should it Contain?

Hey everyone! I'm sort of stressing over my letters of recommendation. What exactly should they cover? Is it more about my grades or do personal qualities and extracurriculars come into play? Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

Hello! An excellent question. Letters of recommendation, typically written by teachers, guidance counselors, coaches, employers, etc., provide insights about you from someone else's perspective. They should ideally complement your personal statements and other parts of the application in reinforcing the image you want to present to colleges.

Typically, the most effective letters of recommendation will touch on several aspects. Firstly, they will discuss your academic performance, but not just by recounting grades - they need to shed light on your intellectual curiosity, problem-solving abilities, creativity, ability to understand complex materials, etc. These elements illustrate your academic prowess beyond what a transcript can reveal.

Secondly, your letters should also detail your personal qualities. They can illustrate your character, maturity, reliability, leadership, or other qualities that set you apart and make you an asset to a college community.

Thirdly, information about extracurricular activities or significant achievements can further showcase your initiative, creativity, dedication, and other attributes that would be of value to the collegiate environment.

Remember, your recommenders should provide specific examples to back up their statements about you, which will offer a richer, more robust image of you as a candidate. The exact focus of the letter can vary according to who's writing it. A coach or club adviser might stress leadership or dedication, while a teacher might highlight intellectual curiosity or collaboration.

Hope this helps to clarify what ought to be covered in letters of recommendation.