<p>Does it mean that it's written well? Or says good things about you? Or what?</p>
<p>Specific, anecdotal examples of your awesomeness. Not just “he was a great student. He was good at taking tests.”</p>
<p>Specific letter that points the STRONG traits of your character and your weaknesses too</p>
<p>Modulation has it spot on. A great rec needs *specific examples *to back up all the blah blah blah.</p>
<p>Consider these two examples:</p>
<p>(1) He’s the smartest student in my AP calculus class, very bright, really really smart.</p>
<p>(2) He is NOT the smartest student in my AP calculus class, not by any stretch. But he asked more questions than any other student in the class, and every question was based on solid knowledge of the fundamentals of calculus. As a result of him being there, the class was better off.</p>
<p>I would *so rather *get a rec from #2 than #1. What about you?</p>
<p>Then my fencing coach’s rec. won’t help me as much as I thought it would.</p>
<p>lol i want to know too.what does it mean by a good/amazing/awesome/great rec.?</p>
<p>knows you well and says things that seperate you from the crowd</p>
<p>i would rather have #1</p>
<p>Yeah, am I wrong for saying #1? As a student, #1 sounds better. It may not be specific, but at leas it’s not denouncing my intelligence… sheesh. As an adcom, obviously I’d prefer #2. But from the student’s perspective, consider the following recs from an English teacher. IMO this is what the above posters mean about being specific. Perhaps this will illustrate the point for the OP.</p>
<p>1) “Very bright student. Contributes positively.”</p>
<p>2) “______ is bright, but not in the conventional sense. Her hand is not always raised, but when she is called on, what she contributes is out of the realm of the classroom discussion. She is not only thoughtful, but beyond that: she is a pioneer. She is always the first to make an intertextual connection between novels - the first to delve beyond the surface. Often, ______ is the one to lead the classroom discussion.”</p>
<p>One that highlights your unique abilities. Words such as “bright” and “smart” are definitely desirable, but you would want your teacher to “show”- how? By providing specific anecdotes that show the recommendation letter as being a a genuine one written out of high regard for the student as opposed to incessant solicitation.</p>