<p>What are the best teacher recs an applicant can get (i.e. recs that would boost the likelihood of acceptance the most)? I've always thought that the best recs were the most positive recs, the ones that exalted everything positive about a applicant and neglect to mention any shortcomings. After analyzing the scea results thread, I've come to doubt my theory a little. I noticed that many of the applicants with 'best student in my career' recs were deferred/rejected, whereas a lot of the accepted reported that they had more mixed/critical recs. I'm wondering, will the recs that don't completely worship the applicant and instead give a more balanced and critical description actually be better for the applicant? Any yalies with experience about this willing to comment?</p>
<p>Ask your teachers to use more verbs than adjectives. Ask them to provide examples for every point they make. That will make it 
Yale doesn’t need “the best student I’ve ever had!!” because they know that next year the same teacher will use the same words for somebody else. Yale needs the student who did that and that, “impressed me when…”, etc. You will probably agree that information conveyed this way seems much more trustworthy. </p>
<p>Best of luck!</p>
<p>there’s no hard and fast rule. Your linking of “best of my career” type LORs leaves out many other factors that you aren’t privy to. </p>
<p>The best recs share anecdotes.</p>
<p>But the fact is also many recs share about a student and upon reading, the information shows that the student isn’t that viable. You can’t become something you aren’t and neither can a rec depict you as something you aren’t.</p>
<p>I think if it just says you’re the best, it doesn’t mean much. Also, re-listing things on your resume doesn’t help either. I think heart felt passion for the student with concrete examples of why are actually the best. It should tie nicely to the rest of your package. i.e. passion for “your passion”. It should help the reader really get a feel for you.</p>
<p>^Unfortunately, many teachers are out of touch with what adcoms want. They often just relist students’ credentials and reiterate the students’ accomplishments.</p>
<p>I’ve seen one of my recs (long story) and I thought it was amazing. It did start out with a sort of best in career thing, but it wasn’t “the best” it was “special.” And my teacher explained, in a very detailed manner, why. She talked about how I performed in the classroom, both as it pertained to her course, and as my actions there demonstrated my nature. (I really liked a sentence about my lack of “greedy intensity.”) I think a good rec doesn’t just show how you’re a great student, it states, in supportive detail, that every aspect of you available to the writer including your actions in class and general comport shows that you’re a great person.</p>
<p>The teacher I asked is an amazing writer though. The vocabulary she used to use in class, my goodness. We regularly heard “amanuensis.”</p>
<p>One of my favorite recs came from a history teacher I absolutely LOVED. Hers had been the best class for me for two whole years, even though my Junior year, it was the hardest class (it has a reputation for huuuge workloads, harsh grading…etc.) But she’s a fabulous teacher, and we’ve always had a really good relationship. Her letter was specific, to-the-point, and mentioned little things here and there that showed my character. At the end of the day, you can’t go wrong with honesty… if you’re really the person you are, an honest rec will depict it; if not, well, you probably don’t deserve an outstanding rec anyway</p>
<p>Some tips on letters of recommendation.</p>
<ol>
<li><p>Think of teachers who knew you well and who can also write well. This can be challenging when you are asking a math teacher because you might not know how well he or she writes. Ask you school counselor in advance if the teachers are good choices. School counselors usually know which teachers write good letters and respond quickly. </p></li>
<li><p>Ask the teacher IN ADVANCE. You may think this is obvious, but having worked as a consultant in schools, I can’t tell you how often I heard about a kid who was asking for a recommendation a day or two before it was due. Ask if they would mind, would they feel comfortable, etc. DD asked her teachers at the end of junior year if they would mind writing a letter for her. Both teachers wrote their letters during the summer when they had more time. </p></li>
<li><p>Follow up with a letter that tells the teacher some of your hopes and dreams, what you want to get out of college, etc. Make it easy for them to want to write a good letter. </p></li>
<li><p>Thank the teacher in writing.</p></li>
</ol>
<p>Show this to your teachers: [MIT</a> Admissions | Info For Schools & Counselors: Writing Evaluations](<a href=“http://www.mitadmissions.org/topics/schools/writing_evaluations/index.shtml]MIT”>http://www.mitadmissions.org/topics/schools/writing_evaluations/index.shtml)</p>
<p>I showed it to both of mine, and to my guidance counselor, and they both found the site extremely helpful. I’m Canadian, and there are very few colleges here who require teacher recommendations, so my teachers aren’t as skilled as most US ones are.</p>