Deciphering letters of recommendation

Hey everyone! I'm about to ask some of my teachers for letters of recommendation. Can anyone give me an idea of what a strong letter of recommendation looks like? What points should definitely be covered in it? Thanks for your help!

Absolutely, happy to help you understand this aspect of the application process. A strong letter of recommendation often includes detailed examples of your work, personality, and character. Ideally, it should offer insights into your academic capabilities, work ethic, and potential contribution to a college community.

Here are some key items that should be covered:

1. How well the teacher knows you: This includes the duration and depth of your relationship with the teacher, courses you’ve taken together, and any particular interactions they might remember.

2. Your academic performance: This includes your approach to learning, how you tackle difficult problems or challenging material, and how engaged you are in the classroom. For example, the teacher could talk about your impressive presentation skills in a project or your resilience through a difficult course.

3. Your qualities and characteristics: This might involve your problem-solving abilities, creativity, initiative, leadership, or collaboration skills in group work. Ideally, this should include concrete examples to illustrate these traits.

4. Your potential in your intended field of study: If you're applying for a specific major, any relevant strengths or experience the teacher can highlight would be beneficial.

5. Your impact on the class or school community: This will help colleges assess your potential contributions to their community.

6. Comparison with other students: A strong recommendation letter often includes comparisons that illustrate your aptitude, such as "top 1% of students I’ve taught in my career" or "among the most talented pupils in my class".

Remember, it's important to select teachers who know you well and can provide detailed examples rather than just general compliments. A personalized, detailed letter will be much stronger than a vague or generic one.

Remember to give your teachers plenty of notice (at least a month) to write the letter and provide them with any materials they might need like a list of your accomplishments or an academic resume. This will go a long way towards ensuring they write a thoughtful, detailed reference. Good luck with the process! It's a big step towards your future!