<p>So often I scroll through thread after thread of anxious students wanting to know what their chances are of getting into [INSERT ELITE UNIVERSITY HERE] or I'll read throuh results threads to weigh myself against students who have already gone through the process. In doing so I frequently notice students who will leave comments detailing "generic LORs" or "carbon copies of another student's" that believe kept them out of a school. On the other hand, I also see many students who are convinced that their letter(s) of recommendation are what got them into however many schools they applied to. My question is, what exactly constitutes a "good" or "great" letter of recommendation?</p>
<p>This afternoon one of my recommenders who I've had for five years let me read through a draft of the letter that she had been working on for me. She included a few anecdotes about me being her "right-hand man" as her teacher aide and inquisitive student in her Japanese classroom. She had a few lines detailing things like her "awe for my insatiable thirst for knowledge" and although I felt like it was well-written I'm not sure if my opinion would be moot in comparison to someone more knowledgeable in the college admissions process.</p>
<p>Thank you kindly for your time.</p>
<p>Forgive my apparent inability to correctly spell “recommend”… -.-</p>
<p>anecdotes, anecdotes, anecdotes, the more specific the better.</p>
<p>Just as marvin100 said, anecdotes are key to a good rec.
If the teacher can successfully describe your performance in the classroom as well as your process of thinking, you should be satisfied with your choices.</p>
<p>(it’s also beneficial if the teacher has some anecdotes that show you outside the classroom–stuff that speaks more about your character than just about your academic performance)</p>
<p>My feeling is that teachers who show letters to students are insecure about the letter, but how this comes across in the letter depends. Furthermore, letters shown to students tend to lack the critical evaluation (critical does not mean finding fault or dwelling on negatives) and comparisons.
What marvin100 said, character. This does necessarily mean you’d never cheat (although this is important). Its more of generic term for your personality and how deeply committed/interested you are in what you do. Dedication</p>
<p>Not to create anxiety, but…
“right-hand man” as her teacher aide (insert member of team, president of EC…) … inquisitive student … "awe for my insatiable thirst for knowledge.</p>
<p>These phrases, or those very similar, are very common in LOR and when I read them my eyes gloss over and I move on to the text sentence/paragraph. Now, it may be that your paraphrasing is not doing justice to the letter.</p>
<p>Can somebody give an example of a “good” anecdote? :)</p>
<p><a href=“http://mitadmissions.org/apply/prepare/writingrecs[/url]”>http://mitadmissions.org/apply/prepare/writingrecs</a></p>
<p>MIT has a really good admissions web site. A lit of the information they give there applies to most selective colleges and universities. Including this.</p>