<p>I know it'll be personalized, but I am wondering what an "outstanding" or "amazing" rec letter looks like. Any examples would be great</p>
<p>Yes, I'm interested in this as well.</p>
<p>If you don't want to write out the entire letter, quote an excerpt, paraphrase what they said, or tell how they ranked you.</p>
<p>I'd like to see what's out there.</p>
<p>My son's GC wrote him an amazing rec letter. I didn't see it (so maybe she's lying?? but I don't think so) but she read me portions:</p>
<p>She mentioned one of his major, unique hobbies, and talked about how its uniqueness is a metaphor for my son. She said she thinks he's the best kid in his class of 400. (I nearly plotzed when she told me that.) She said that while others may have higher GPAs, what my son does he does without effort; he's not a grade grubber but he's naturally intelligent. She said she thought any college would be lucky to get him.</p>
<p>I truly believe her letter is what tipped him into his first choice school.</p>
<p>
[QUOTE]
She said that while others may have higher GPAs, what my son does he does without effort; he's not a grade grubber but he's naturally intelligent.
[/QUOTE]
</p>
<p>Actually, things like that can work against a person; some college admissions officers assume, true or not (and I'm assuming not in your son's case) that that means he is not giving his best effort. Somebody else brought up the point of "He contributes to the class mostly through his writing", which can be interpreted as a lack of social life (doesn't speak much, etc.). I'm glad your son got in to his first choice school, though!</p>
<p>Still, if the kid doesn't have the highest GPA it's better to have the recs say he's naturally intelligent. That was exactly my situation.</p>
<p>His GPA was great -- 3.94 -- but he didn't have one of those 4.4 GPAs. And what he did, he did kind of casually. Anyway, it worked. And you can't control what your GC or your teacher write.</p>
<p>BTW -- at our school, the GC asks the parents for a "brag letter." The parents (and, if desired, the student) get to talk about their child for pages and pages, if they like. The GC can use info in there if he/she likes or needs to. I mentioned in my brag letter that he works hard, works seriously, but doesn't obscess; doesn't say up till 1:00 AM perfecting a paper. Just does what he does and he's done with it. Does anyone else have brag letters or something like that?</p>
<p>The GCs also get forms from all of the kid's teachers, which also provides lots of info. I think the GCs can write about the kids pretty well, even if they don't know them personally that well.</p>
<p>I have a question please,</p>
<p>WHY, do you really need rec. letter? I never thought about it. What is rec. letter used for? admissions? I never heard this even from my friends.</p>
<p>Edit: I hope this is for High school kids...</p>
<p>The "outstanding" letter will usually state that the student is one of the best students the recommending teacher has ever had in his/her long career in education and then specific examples of extraordinary work/abilities/achievement should be cited that support this statement. Admissions committees like to see anecdotal evidence that sets students apart from other applicants.</p>
<p>This is the end of the letter from my college philosophy professor.</p>
<p>"In conclusion, Ted _____ is one of the most gifted students I have come across in all my years of teaching - a natural intellectual, hugely curious, a thinker of 'big' ideas, and uncommonly mature. I give him my highest possible recommendation."</p>
<p>To Whom it May Concern:</p>
<p>I have known John Smith since he entered my AP Language Arts class as a high school junior, and continued with my AP Language Arts class as a senior. It is my distinct pleasure, indeed an honor, to recommend him to your school.</p>
<p>I have been teaching for twenty-five years, twenty-three of them in high schools that send high percentages of graduates to the most selective colleges in the country. John stands out among this very talented group of students. In fact, he’s easily the best I’ve ever taught.</p>
<p>You will already know that he is a National Merit Scholarship Finalist and a Junior Olympian. You will also know that his grades are nearly as good as it’s possible for them to be. What you won’t know is how he gets those grades.</p>
<p>I have had many parrots in my classes. They memorize and repeat back, and I give them “As” because they do nothing wrong. John is not a parrot. Last year, for instance, when we were studying “Anthony and Cleopatra,” John provided a detailed analysis of a minor scene, using Plutarch and three other Roman sources for historical context. When we studied Moliere, John did his own translation, pointing out shaky translations in the text we were using, and providing the entire class with insights into Moliere’s true meaning in the anachronistic French. John's gets "As" only because there is not a higher mark.</p>
<p>John doesn’t do these things because he has to. He does them for love. Ordinarily, I would worry that his energetic scholarship would create social problems for John, but he has a knack of always being right and causing his peers to love him for it. He is a natural leader. Practically every day, I pass John at least once in the hallway. He always has a smile and a wave for me and every other teacher, even though he is surrounded by his friends in a kind of moving entourage.</p>
<p>I’m sure you’ll notice John’s list of extracurricular activities. It seems like a rare week when John’s name isn’t in the newspaper for some new accomplishment. I won’t go into those here, except to say that he is not only good at anything he turns his hand to, he absolutely excels.</p>
<p>If I were you, I wouldn’t simply offer John admission to your school. I would actively recruit him. He’s that good, and he’s that impressive. Besides, you’ll like him. Everyone does.</p>
<p>Sincerely,</p>
<p>VeryHappy, students' parents here have to do brag sheets too. The questions were pretty probing and extensive, so you're right, even if a GC at my school didn't know a kid well, she could use stuff from the brag sheets. Although I think my parents' responses were rather repetitive, and they had me pick out three adjectives about myself. xP</p>
<p>Unkown726, teacher and counselor recs give adcoms an idea of who the person is like from someone else's POV. An applicant might be perfect on paper but be really arrogant in real life, and an outside rec might show adcoms that side of the applicant. On the other hand, an applicant might not have the best test scores or GPA, but a rec that mentions how mature and enthusiastic a student is will show that a student is genuinely interested in learning.</p>
<p>Without recs, applications can become very one-dimensional.</p>
<p>Tarhunt, if that's a real one, that's amazingly impressive. Wow.</p>
<p>thanks for the example Tarhunt</p>
<p>What's different in a mediocre, above average, and excellent teacher recommendation?</p>
<p>demeter:</p>
<p>thanks for the reply. </p>
<p>I'm a transfer student...anyways I asked my counsoler if I should gather a few rec. letters...he said YOU don't need to. The only time you will be needing a rec. letter is when they ask you for it. Like, scholarships and etc...</p>
<p>is that correct though?</p>
<p>At my HS, seniors have to fill out a questionaire (aprox. 8 pages) about our personality, ECs, interests, etc. so they have something to refer to if needed. We don't have parent "brag" letters.</p>
<p>By the way, I think tarhunt's letter is a great example...provides examples as to why he gets the grades he does and how he goes above and beyond in scholarship, in pursuit of knowledge, etc.</p>
<p>I'm sorry to say that I'm completely unfamiliar with transfer applications, so I don't know the answer to your question. Your best bet would be to check the application instructions for every school that you're applying to. Best of luck with your transfer applications.</p>
<p>demeter:</p>
<p>Your time was much appreciated.</p>
<p>I believe it applies mostly to freshman applicants. I might be fine because none of my fellow transfers brought it up before.</p>
<p>Tarhunt - was that an actual letter you received as part of an application?</p>
<p>fhimas:</p>
<p>I've seen a number of rec letters as part of admissions committees in two universities. I have never worked in an admissions department.</p>
<p>The letter is an amalgam of phrases I've heard, to be used as an example. Believe me, though, I've seen more impressive letters than that one. They're rare, but they exist.</p>
<p>wow - okay. Thanks. I'll cross my fingers that I got one of those rare ones...</p>