<p>My target universities want to see specific instances of my intellectual vitality in the recommendations, but I'm not sure if my teachers will write down specific examples of my creativity or leadership/other good stuff or even remember my specific discussions or projects. How have past top 10/top 20 admits dealt with recs? For top 20 admits, if you saw your recommendations, did your teachers indicate specific examples/specific points in class? If not, what else did they write that helped you get in to your top choices?</p>
<p>If not all teachers write specific/well-thought out recs, how can I subtly ask my teachers to write about specific events without sounding cocky or smart***?</p>
<p>Ask your teacher if it would be helpful to provide him or her with information about:</p>
<p>1) your academic and professional aspirations
2) accomplishments you are especially proud of and challenges overcome
3) what particular characteristics it would be helpful for them to emphasize, since different people see different aspects of your personality.
4) why you are applying to specific schools or programs if relevent</p>
<p>At worst he or she will say ‘no thanks, I’ve got what I need.’ At best, they will have enough information from you to write the kind of recommendation that makes a difference.</p>
<p>I know both of my recs were relatively unspecific, without illustrative anecdotes or whatever, but one of the admissions people who reviewed my application singled them out as a particularly strong point.</p>
<p>Like with the application essay, a recommendation’s usefulness is determined by the things it reveals about you as a person, not by its format or subject matter. Pick teachers who you know like and respect you. Their regard for you will most likely shine through regardless of the format of their recommendations.</p>