Here is a compilation of various website resources I scraped that you might find useful. Good luck in your studies!
Best,
Phronesis
Lewis and Clark High School
BIOGRAPHY GUIDE FOR RECOMMENDATION LETTERS
If you are applying to a school that requires recommendation letters, contact your sources a MINIMUM of two weeks in advance of any deadline, PREFERABLY three or four weeks.
The purpose of a letter of recommendation is to provide the colleges to which you are applying a more comprehensive view of who you are, beyond your grades and test scores.<br>
These letters should highlight your strengths and help the admission officers determine if you would be a good addition to their college community.
Counselors recommendation letters require your completed biography and resume.
You will need to discuss with individual teachers what is required from them for a letter of recommendation.
Your biography should be:
1-2 pages type written with your name at the top.
Please address the following questions/statements:
<ol>
<li> Personal qualities.</li>
<li> What is your passion?</li>
<li> What is your favorite subject in school? Why?</li>
<li> Why is going on to college important to you? How will it make a difference in your life?</li>
<li> Describe the assets/characteristics that will set you apart from other college applicants.</li>
<li> Describe an activity or experience outside of school that has touched or inspired you.</li>
<li> Describe a classroom or academic experience or accomplishment that has given you great satisfaction in the last two years.</li>
<li> Tell about your family, brothers, sisters, parents, guardians. How have they influenced you?</li>
<li> If you have encountered major difficulties in your life, how have you dealt with them and what have you learned?</li>
<li>What are your personal and professional goals for the future?<br></li>
</ol>
Remember, the depth of the information, results in a higher quality recommendation.
Make sure your recommenders have everything they need to write your letter and submit it on time. That includes:
Deadline information.
Your full name, address, email and phone number.
Two copies of any forms they need to fill out (for a rough draft and a final draft).
The name and address of the college or university and a copy of your completed essay and application. Provide a stamped addressed envelope for their convenience.
Information about the school (a brochure or viewbook).
A copy of your resume or a list of activities and achievements.
Remember, your recommenders are doing you a favor. Show your appreciation by sending a thank-you note.
By being prepared and organized, you’ll make it easy for your recommenders to write an outstanding letter of recommendation!
Recommendations: A Sample
March 17, 2000
University Program
School of Medicine
Office of Student Support Services
123 Elysian Lane
Los Angeles, CA 90095
To Whom It May Concern:
I am very pleased to have the opportunity to recommend John Smith for the University Summer Program. I had the pleasure of meeting John two months ago as part of a Stanford University course for which I am a Teaching Assistant. From his contributions in class, I feel he has the intelligence, maturity, personal skills, and positive attitude to both contribute significantly to the program and gain a great deal of insight and experience.
John has been a member of my section since the beginning of this academic quarter for the course Human Biology 3B: The Life Cycle. This course is a broad-based introduction to developmental psychology and some sociology, emphasizing the interaction between human biology and the environment. John approached this material with great enthusiasm for the web of complex concepts that were presented, whether the topic is the human capacity for language or the way an infant acquires depth perception. He consistently asks perceptive questions that demonstrate his solid preparation for section.
In class, students tend to discuss psychological concepts in abstract terms, but what strikes me about John is his keen ability to relate these concepts to real life. For instance, during one class discussion on language acquisition, the topic of bilingual education arose. Students argued that most bilingual education programs fail because youth are placed in such programs at an age past the critical period for language development. John added an insightful dimension to this debate. Drawing on personal experience, he suggested that biological constraint is an insufficient explanation for the difficulty in acquiring English. He proposed that psychological factors, such as a reluctance to speak English poorly in front of peers, may be more of an obstacle to minority youth. Such instances demonstrate Johns thoughtful sensitivity to those who, like him, have come from a disadvantaged background. Moreover, Johns competence in Human Biology is not limited to his section participation. His solid performance on examinations throughout the academic year is a testament to both his natural intelligence and intellectual curiosity.
Johns personal qualities are exceptional and would allow him to make a meaningful contribution to the University Program. The son of immigrants, he is the first child in his family to pursue an education at the university level. He truly appreciates the sacrifices his parents have made for him, and he is pursuing medicine in the hope of giving back to the community. His commitment to public service is illustrated in his extensive involvement in religious service groups as well as his choice of concentration within the Human Biology major: Ethics in Human Biology. He is drawn to medicine because of the physician’s role in alleviating suffering, but he also realizes the moral challenges that accompany such a position.
I believe that the University Program would provide a critical element to Johns education. As an undergraduate, he is trying to study broader ethical issues, exploring the innate value of a human life, but this summer program would attach empirical, clinical correlates to what he learns in the abstract. He is an extremely motivated, hard-working student with great potential. From my interactions with him, I know he has a deep interest in the medical profession, and I am confident he possesses the intellectual curiosity, work ethic and personal skills that would make him a wonderful addition to this program.
Sincerely,
X.Y. Zee
Teaching assistant, Human Biology
Stanford University
Recommendations: General Components
Summary of your impression of the person and her suitability for the program for which she is applying.<br>
How you know the applicant (the context).<br>
Brief, general description of Human Biology and its unique qualities.<br>
Comments on the academic performance/grades of the student.<br>
Section participation: your evaluation of the applicant. Anecdotes are key.<br>
Personal qualities of the applicant. Again, anecdotes are very useful.<br>
Extra-curricular involvement of the student.<br>
Finally, what will the applicant add to the program for which she is applying?
00\V TO ASK FOR A LETTER OF
RE(;OMMENDATION
GENERAl-A THOIJGDTS FROM BSSA t;OtJNSELORS
IF YOU KNOW YOUR PROFESSOR WELL this will be easy. If you do not, GET TO KNOW HIM OR HER.
o They will put in as much effort as you will. You put in the time to get to know them; they will put in the time to write you an excellent letter.
o If you cannot approach them, either make it so you can, or choose someone else.
HOW TO GET TO KNOW YOUR PROFESSORS
o Sit on the front row, and in the same area for all lectures o Actively participate in class
o Introduce yourself to your professor at the first class o Go to office hours frequently/on a regular basis
Go prepared to discuss the course, your research, their research, ask
questions, even if you know the answers, anything interesting. Professor
office hours are for students. Take advantage of their availability.
o Answer or Challenge questions
HOWTOASK
o Start with an email or phone message and request for a meeting to formally ask for a letter of recommendation
Identify yourself, how you know the professor, and what you want from them.
If they do not respond immediately to your email, don’t panic, they are very busy individuals. Allow a week or two and follow up again by email or mperson.
Choose carefully whom to email, since if the professor doesn’t know you,
it is easy to just respond back no.
o BE DIRECT AND HONEST-
Don’t beat around the bush, they know why you are there.
They are direct; ask them directly “Do you feel you can write me a
STRONG letter of recommendation?” Not just any letter but a STRONG
letter.
o Once a meeting is set :
Be prepared and go in as if it were an interview. Dress
appropriately/professional
o If the professor has already said yes and asked you to bring the paperwork do so at this time.
o What you should provide them
UCI waiver form and if applicable other letter of recommendation forms
from otherapplication services (such as PharmCAS, OptomCAS, CASPA
forms).
If the other forms are not available to you at the time, inform the professor
you will be providing the forms to them ASAP on … date.
(TIP: HSAC can only accept letters and approved centralized application
letter forms. Check HSAC Policies and FAQ link to see what these forms
are, which forms can be accepted by our office and which forms need to
be mailed directly from professor to admissions).
Other then letters of recommendation forms you should not need to provide additional materials, however some professors may require more
paperwork, ie transcripts or a personal statement.
Provide it if asked, but be careful with the personal statement*
recommenders are to write about their OWN knowledge of you, not the history that you have already written in your personal statement.
Some students have taken cover letters, academic resumes or a CV.
You can offer to provide postage and an address label with HSAC address already on it. Letters coming from UCI staff/faculty do not need postage because it can be sent through inner campus mail. However if your recommender is off campus be sure to offer postage. (TIP: use a larger
address label so the label isn’t lost after you give it to your professor)
Remind the professors that the letters need to be TYPED, on their own
letterhead, and sent in their own letterhead envelopes. (Additional instructions are also on the UCI waiver form).
o GIVE THEM A DEADLINE AND ALWAYS FOLLOW UP
A reasonable deadline to write the letter is 30 days. Give a specific date so
that you know when you can follow up. Even with deadlines be prepared for delays.
for delays.
Use proper etiquette or manners when following up. Be polite and
patient.
patient.
Have a backup plan. Sometimes things don’t go as you plan. If your
recommender has not written your letter after several follow up attempts and your deadline is fast approaching. You may find yourself needing to
look for another recommender or completing your packet without the letter. (Check with a LOR advisor for recommendations.
Once the letter has arrived be sure to thank your recommender. A simple
thank you card is sufficient.
WHAT IF I REALLY DON’T KNOW ANY OF MY PROFESSORS???
Remember that you are competing with other applicants that will make the effort to get to know their professor.
To be a strong applicant you will need to be active and make the initiative.
Combat your fears and make the effort. The best time to start is at the
beginning of a new class.
beginning of a new class.
If you pressure a professor to write you a letter even if they have shown
hesitation or told you that they don’t really know you, you are unlikely to receive a quality letter. A letter that only states how strong of an applicant
you are based solely on grades will show admissions you failed to get to know your recommender.
Remember, your letters are painting a picture for
admissions to get to know you better.
- Leadership Ability
o Consider your student’s leadership qualities and expand on them in the letter of recommendation. Take into account how the student works in groups and the role that he plays within those groups. Does the student speak up when there are problems? Does the student point out flaws in a constructive way? Consider how the student handles herself in class discussions and think about what unique qualities are brought to the table via his contributions.
Initiative
o Although initiative and leadership are often linked, it is important to also cover self-motivation and drive in a letter of recommendation. Consider the student’s extra-curricular activities. Has she started a club or is she pursuing an extra-curricular activity that is unconventional. Students who pursue activities, such as competitive cycling or private piano lessons, often do so outside of traditional school confines, but it is important to note such activities, which show initiative, determination and passion.
o<br>
Critical Thinking
o While good grades and test scores reflect sound critical thinking skills, a well-thought-out letter of recommendation can highlight the exact critical thinking skills a particular student possesses. Is the student adept at breaking down a task into smaller parts and approaching it in a methodical way? Also consider how the student deals with class discussions and if he is able to properly approach complex issues from a pragmatic perspective; such an ability not only shows sound reasoning skills but also a level of maturity that can lead to college success.
Potential
o Consider all of the student’s accolades, achievements and personal qualities and evaluate her chance at success in college and in the real world. This is a great way to illuminate any personal obstacles that the student may have faced and overcome. It can also be a way of showing that sometimes the whole can be more than the sum of its parts. This also can be a means of explaining a student’s mediocrity in some areas and how that is not reflective of his true skills, which may currently be unrealized.