Letters of
Recommendation – a College Must
By Reecy Aresty
College Admissions/Financial Aid Expert and Author
An extremely well written, all-telling
Letter of Recommendation (LOR) can absolutely make the difference of
being accepted or rejected at any college. Submitting outstanding LOR’s
improves the chances of being accepted even for students with less than
superior numbers. As most colleges require LOR’s from a guidance
counselor and one from an English, Science and/or a Math teacher, the
importance of developing strong relationships with high school teachers
and counselors as early as possible cannot be overemphasized.
Students at the top of
one or more of their classes should ask those teachers who have
expressed a genuine interest in their futures, to write a great LOR. A
warning bell should go off however, if any teacher balks, is the least
bit hesitant or shows no enthusiasm at the prospect of writing one. As a
less than exemplary LOR is virtually worthless, only motivated,
enthusiastic teachers should be approached. All others should be
tactfully avoided.
Other than those requested by the school,
additional LOR’s are also recommended. Send no more than two, unless a
third is absolutely extraordinary.
The following are excellent choices for
additional LOR’s:
-
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
handicapped student from volunteer work i.e. Special Olympics
-
Parent whose child
the student tutored
If the student is an
athlete, any teacher is preferable to a coach unless they also
teach a core subject such as English, Chemistry, History, or Math. The
student should anticipate and be prepared for some teachers actually
asking for an outline of what they should write. It is here that a
resume would be most helpful. Give them one. (Your student has a resume,
doesn't he?) And, if they meet the above criteria, I strongly suggest
obtaining an LOR from a relative with a different last name.
LOR’s
written in languages other than English
should have the translation attached 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 that all-important
edge in the admissions game. And be sure not to make the fatal
error of assuming that your valedictorian is guaranteed admission at
their college of choice! You must never lose sight of the fact that in
today’s intensely competitive quest for an admission ticket,
even the brightest students must put into play every card that
strengthens their hand. In the admissions process, there is no
such thing as shining too brightly!
About The Author:
Reecy Aresty has been a financial advisor since 1977, and
is founder and president of College Assistance, Inc., located in Boca
Raton, Florida. He is the author of the critically-acclaimed, How To Pay For College
Without Going Broke, an invaluable, parent/student
manual. Arguably the most revealing book ever
written on college admissions and financial aid, it is the only book of its
kind also available in Spanish.
Reecy has been
interviewed by financial experts on radio and television, and by many of
the nation's most respected publications including Money Magazine, US
News & World Report, Bloomberg News, Scripps Howard, The Washington Post,
financial icon Terry Savage for the Chicago Sun-Times,
Consumers Digest, The Education Times and AOL. An Internet search for
Reecy Aresty will result in thousands of links to sites all over
the world that feature his articles, advice and methods. Recently, he
created the College Information Network™,
which includes The High School Blog, The College Blog, PayLess For
College and The Way To College.
For almost three
decades, Reecy has helped thousands of families send their kids to the
college of their choice for less than they ever dreamed possible.
The critics agree. The way to college is Reecy Aresty's How To Pay For
College Without Going Broke. It reveals the trade secrets and insider
information our colleges, universities and the federal government don't want you to know. For
further information on the best college funding book on the market today,
please use the links provided. For more information on admissions and
financial aid - Ask Reecy!
