College Letters Of Recommendation - A Must
The importance of developing strong relationships with high school teachers and counselors as early as possible cannot be overemphasized. An extremely well written, all-telling letter of recommendation (LOR) can absolutely make the difference of being accepted or rejected to any college.
Students at the top of one or more of their classes should first ask those teachers to write a great LOR and choose teachers who have expressed a genuine interest in their future. However, if a teacher balks, is the least bit hesitant or shows no enthusiasm, approach another teacher instead. A less than exemplary LOR is virtually worthless.
Most colleges require LOR's from guidance counselors, and some ask for one from an English, Science and/or Math teacher. Additional LOR's other than those requested in the school's application are also essential. Send no more than two, unless a third is absolutely extraordinary. Students with less than superior numbers stand a far better chance of being accepted with outstanding LOR's.
Unless the student is an athlete, any teacher is preferable to a coach unless they teach a core subject, such as English, Chemistry, History, or Math. In some cases, the writer actually asks the student for an outline of what they should write. Show them your resume; you do have one, don't you? The following are excellent choices for additional LOR's:
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• College professor
• High ranking military officer
• Member of the clergy
• Chairman or officer of a major corporation
• Member of a volunteer organization where the student worked
• Parent of a handicapped student from volunteer work, i.e. Special Olympics
• Parent whose child the student tutored
Here's a thought; obtain one from a relative with a different last name if they meet the above criteria.
LOR's not in English, should have the translation attached and with a preface stating, "For your convenience, the following is the English translation of the attached letter."
Guidance counselors submit all LOR's originating from high school. Students must be cautioned not to submit any sealed or unsealed LOR's they obtain on their own or outside of school. An LOR from someone other than a teacher or guidance counselor should be sent by the person who wrote it, not the student, and should be addressed as follows:
Date:
[Name of College]
[Director of Admissions]
[Attn: Director's name - personalize it]
[Street or P.O. Box]
[City, State, Zip, Zip+4 if available]
RE: Student's Name
Dear Director ---:
Follow these instructions, and your student will surely gain an edge - even if they're a valedictorian! Remember, even the best students need an edge because they're competing against the best.
Reecy Aresty, a financial advisor since 1977, is the author of Getting Into College And Paying For It, an indispensable parent/student manual, the only book of its kind available in Spanish. For the past 25 years he's helped thousands of families send their kids to the college of their choice for less than they ever dreamed possible. His book is guaranteed to give students that all-important edge in admissions, and for parents there are numerous legal strategies to drastically cut the cost of college. Go to www.paylessforcollege.com for a free report, The College Funding Timeline, and learn what parents, students, and the media are saying about Reecy and his book for all seasons.
