<p>One of my D's college applications asks for a "parent letter". Does anyone have an example of what such a letter would contain? Her high school guidance office has also asked for a letter from parents. How can I place her in the best light without it seeming like bragging? Such pressure!</p>
<p>If I were forced to write a parent's letter, I would probably write something about one part of my daughter's personality that would not emerge from the rest of the application.</p>
<p>Emmysmom,
As part of Smith's application process, parents are asked to write a "letter" on behalf of their daughter. The premise behind this is that parents know their children best and could possibly offer another perspective or insightful info about the candidate that the application itself may not have covered. We were impressed...and it is a great way to acknowledge the "value" of parents.</p>
<p>One school my son applied to requested a letter from parents, and another made it optional. I wrote it, and used examples from our life with son to illustrate what I think makes him "him". I have to say it was an unexpectedly nice exercise. I let my son read the letter and I think it suprised him to find personal examples from his life (that no teachers or coaches would know about) had amounted to something really quite wonderful. These were not cancer-cure stories, but everyday examples that showed kindness, humor, perserverence. I was glad that I had been asked to do this by one college, since it wouldn't have occurred to me to just write it. I think the last thing you should do for this "assignment" is to look at others' examples. Just think of it as writing a letter to someone explaining what you love about your child.</p>
<p>I've seen that some of the apps ask for these letters, though I haven't written one yet. The parents at my S's school are asked to write one for the college guidance counselor in response to several thought-provoking questions. We were asked to cite specific examples whenever possible. I was sure to include things that the school wouldn't have known about my him. I agree with the others in that this is the time to demonstrate insight that doesn't come through on the app.</p>
<p>If the parents can pull off writing a letter that is highly objective, the adcom just might be swayed into thinking that such objectivity runs in the family. ;)</p>
<p>Keep parent's letters anecdotal and keep a tight reign on the adjectives. We home schooled our daughters and, as parents, had to write the equivalent of the "School Report" to each college. Tough. ("That's hard work!")</p>
<p>I had to write a number of these letters for son's applications to boarding schools. I wrote some good letters, if I do say so myself! One approach is to discuss how your S or D's numbers, while excellent, don't really capture who he or she is and where he or she is headed. This can be especially helpful if there has been a glitch along the way and the kid is on the upswing. I think honesty and even a little humor work well. It is a tough time to be a kid these days and an even tougher time to be raising one. I certainly didn't attempt to portray a perfect kid in my letters, but a kid who has incredible drive and some good experience learned in some tough ways.
Karen</p>
<p>Ugh. Parent letters. It's just a way for us to suffer along with our children, who of course have to write a whole lot more. My daughter offered to write the letter for me! But instead we sent in the app without anything from me. She was accepted anyway, so apparently having a slacker mom didn't hurt.</p>
<p>Emmysmom - did I meet you at your visit to rice over fall break? or was that a different mother of a girl named Emmy?</p>
<p>Different Emmy! :)</p>
<p>I'm just staring at a blank screen. How does one even start? My D is doooooomed!</p>
<p>One thing that occurs to me is this is a place where you can mention personal factors that may have influenced in the kid life. Parent suffering from mental illness, not knowing one parent, parent killed in car crash, serious financial hardships anything in that realm that the child might not have mentioned.</p>
<p>I'd start by listing your kid's good qualities that you like in them as a person and as a student. Once you find the qualities, try to think of an example that illustrates. Do the same with child's interests. Try to think why they like that and explain.</p>
<p>Oh, and if you want, we can critique your essay. :) Lol, that would be a twist.</p>