Tips for Writing Letters of Recommendation

1. Tips for Writing Letters of Recommendation Ann Kjorstad, Academy of Holy Angelsakjorstad@academyofholyangels.org Ken Anselment, Lawrence University ken.anselment@lawrence.edu

2. You Make a Difference • Your letter can mean everything or nothing • At highly selective schools, the recommendation letters are many times the ONLY piece that distinguish students among highly qualified applicants • For marginal students, your recommendation may persuade a committee to take a chance on the student

3. The Basics • Do Your Homework--Collect Necessary Items • Transcript • Test Scores • Activity Resume • Biography form if appropriate • Letter of Recommendation Process • Confidentiality

4. Focus on Specifics • Make sure your letter is authentic and purposeful • It’s easy to get caught up in generalities • Examples and stories always prove useful; without specifics, no one cares. • Recycled letters are obvious • Include telling details—try to create a lasting impression and make the student come alive to admission officers • Tell a story about the student • Keep your recommendation to one page

5. Rec Letter Structure • Introduction • Body • Academics • Character • Involvement/Leadership • Extenuating Circumstances • Conclusion

6. The Hidden Message Call me!

7. Students & Their Skills • Aware • Exceptional • Unique • Dynamic • Versatile • Responsive • Perceptive • Sophisticated • Imaginative • Dependable • Creative • Pioneering • Exceptionally broad • Diverse • Astute • Open-minded • Disciplined • Methodical • Articulate • Analytical

8. Personal Qualities • Humble • Trustworthy • Confident • Courageous • Enthusiastic • Persistent • Gentle • Genuine • Original • Tactful • Dynamic • Honorable • Inspires others • Mature • Loyal • Modest • Generous • Relentless • Personable • Passionate

9. Mental Qualities • Educated • Astute • Gifted • Prudent • Subtle • Talented • Reasonable • Observant • Inventive • Scholarly • Intellectual • Rational • Clever • Learned • Precocious • Sensible • Ingenious • Wise • Capable

10. Be Creative/Have Fun • Just like a student’s essay, your letter needs to stand out • Give them a reason to read your letter • Reel them in right away The Sleep Test If you would fall asleep reading your letter of recommendation, then it may need some work.

11. Catch Their Attention • “I don’t take the easy way out of things in school and in life. I always strive to be the best I can be in all areas and I am not afraid to ask for help if I need it.” The above quote is how John answered the question, “What special characteristics do you possess?” I could not agree more with his answer. John understands how to reach the next level whether that is in athletics or in the classroom.

12. Catch Their Attention • Jane is an absolute superstar. There is nothing that this student can’t accomplish when she puts her mind to it. Whether she is singing charismatically in front of a crowd of hundreds, participating as an involved member of St. Paul’s Chamber of Commerce or speaking in front of the Minnesota House of Representatives, this young woman challenges herself at every opportunity and she can handle everything that is on her plate.

13. Catch Their Attention • Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious! This word according to the 1964 Walt Disney film “Mary Poppins” is defined as "what you say when you don't know what to say.” This is the word I think of when I think of Jane. It is impossible to come up with adjectives to describe her that will do her justice. While she is intelligent, conscientious, hard working and compassionate, she is so much more.

14. Catch Their Attention • “Like Rosa Parks, I choose to stay true to my beliefs and academic moral and responsibilities. I don’t give in or give up because it is the easy option.” The above quote is how Janeanswered the question, “Identify a person who has had a significant influence on your life.” Each day Jane lives true to her statement and doesn’t give in or give up. When she struggles she fights through it and comes through the situation that much stronger and smarter.

15. Catch Their Attention • “What does cross country do for the athlete? It builds toughness—both physically and mentally.” Quote by Steve Prefontaine Maybe it’s because I can’t even get myself to run a mile, but I think running cross country is the hardest sport offered at WHS. No matter the weather, the athletes on the WHS cross country team are ALWAYS running. It is this sport that has helped shape Nate into the man he is today.

16. Difficult Topics • Don’t be afraid to be honest and talk about the negatives. If a student doesn’t have great study habits or hasn’t performed well in high school the college rep will see that. • Try and state specifics about what may have affected their academic performance • Address their potential for growth and maturity

17. Extenuating Circumstances • At the beginning of Sara’s junior year she started to have very severe headaches. The family assumed that they were just migraines and worked to manage the pain. That became difficult as Sara had trouble sleeping and the headaches grew to be stronger and more frequent. Sara and her parents visited with a number of different doctors, each one having their own explanation for what she was experiencing. Sara missed a significant amount of school and her grades dropped dramatically during her junior year. Looking at each grade year by year, Sara earned a 3.19 GPA in 9th grade, 3.33 GPA in 10th grade, and a 2.66 GPA in 11th grade.

18. Extenuating Circumstances • During her junior year, Ashley experienced a traumatic event and was referred to me by one of her teachers. Many students that I talk with, and have been through a traumatic event like Ashley, tend to shut down and prefer to deal with their situation on their own. Ashley used her experience as a way to reach out to others; so during her junior year she started a club at WHS called SASV—Students Against Sexual Violence. I attended a couple of the meetings and Ashley did a great job supporting and encouraging the other students in the group. She was able to find a great outlet to help herself process what she had been through while helping others.

19. Extenuating Circumstances • Lauren started at Wayzata HS her junior year after moving to Minnesota from Utah. She struggled a little with the transition to WHS as the classes were harder than her previous school and the math program was completely different. Being that WHS is also such a large school, she didn’t feel she was totally prepared for, as she calls it, “the whole emotional mess that was my junior year.” However, she got involved in a variety of student clubs and began to find her groove.

20. Circumstances of Location • John wanted to take some Advanced Placement Courses at XXX High School as well as more rigorous courses such as calculus and physics which we could not offer him due to scheduling constraints in our smaller high school.

21. Extenuating Circumstances • What I find so inspiring about Shalina is her ability to rise above adversity and remain dedicated to academics at a time when she was struggling personally. Shalina has faced a battle with depression, and has remained committed to her friends, family and school work through this difficult time.

22. The Average Student • The one area David needs to work on is his study habits. He has shared with me that he tends to study the material he knows and doesn’t always spend enough time on the material of which he is not as familiar. However, when he struggles he is not afraid to ask for help and is a great self-advocate. • Sarah has shared with me that sometimes she is scared to ask questions in class. However, when she isn’t comfortable doing that, she will make a point to stay after school and get help from the teacher. Many times she has worked with other students in class to find the answer.

23. The Average Student • Mandy knows she won’t be the top student at whichever college she chooses to attend. However, she will be one of the hardest workers. • Although not all academic subjects have come easily to Zoe, she has readily taken on rigorous college-prep curriculum at Wayzata, and has succeeded admirably. • One area that John could improve on is his organizational skills. As John puts it, “I am disorganized because I am a guy, and because I have never really had a need for there to be much organization in my life.” However, now that he is a DECA officer and with the rigor of his senior schedule, he knows he needs to be much more organized. He is starting to use more binders and file folders, and just putting more of a general effort into being organized.

24. Closings • All of the above serves to illustrate John’s excellent abilities, strong work ethic, high level of responsibility, positive leadership and his easy to get along with personality. • Jane is a mature individual who knows what it will take to succeed in life. She will work hard to accomplish her goals, and benefit others along the way.

25. Closings • Jane is a great student, athlete, teammate, but most of all a great kid. I see Jane as a strong asset to a school community that values hard work, an uncompromising sense of what is right, and a jovial, friendly attitude when dealing with others. • Personally, John is a tremendous young man. He is patient, has a great ability to focus, and is incredible motivated. John is smart, well-prepared, modest and has a great sense of humor.

26. Closings • Personally, there are few like John. His energy and enthusiasm are contagious—people are just happier being around John. He is adventurous and courageous—he will try new things and will put himself on the line for what is right. • Jane is Exceptional. While she is serious, direct and unfailing in her beliefs and views, she has a quick wit, an inherent view of right and wrong and a terrific sense of humor. Her sense of responsibility, kind and considerate nature, and true sense of balance are elements of her personality I will always remember.

27. Closings • Chris is an intensely focused young man who has high aspirations for college. He wants to be challenged in college classes and surrounded by students who seek academic excellence and campus involvement. Please give him every consideration for admission to your school. He will enrich your classroom discussions with his insight and curiosity and add to your campus community in myriad ways. I look forward to following his success in the years to come and I hope your school will be an integral part of his future. Thank you for your consideration.

28. Closings • Please carefully consider Joe for admission to your school. I believe he is starting to come into his own as a student. He just needs to find the right environment for his interests and talents and he has decided your school could be a great fit for his future goals. I know college will be the right environment for Joe and will allow him to mature and find independence. He will contribute in many ways to the academic and social environment of your campus with his creativity and enthusiasm. Thank you for considering him for a place in your fall class.

29. Imagine your audience • Active or passive learner? • Class preparation • A “go-to” in and/or out of the classroom? • Open to criticism? • Confidence? • Respectful of teachers? Fellow students? New ideas? Opposing viewpoints or disagreements? • Meeting challenges or recovering from failure?

30. Do • Admit to how well you do (or don’t) know the student • Use evidence (show me, don’t tell me) • Embrace simplicity: the few > the laundry list • Avoid the resumessay • Add new information • Address a weakness when appropriate • Help us build bridges over gaping holes • Invoke “call me,” when appropriate

31. Be honest… but protect yourself

32. Superlatives & Ratings

33. The ideal letter length (Doesn’t exist)

34. You are an important character in the student’s story… …but you’re a supporting character

35. “Set it and forget it” doesn’t work • Students are responsible for stewardship of their applications. • Expect them to hustle a bit for their evaluation. • Particular points to address? • Evidence to support points?

36. Proofread. (Yup. You, too.) • NYT method (read it backwards) • Watch for name switches (don’t write about “Betty” if your subject is “Megan”) • Likewise for pronouns.

37. Discussion/Questions