<p>Does anyone know of any sample recs or know what makes a GREAT recommendation to the Ivies?</p>
<p>That's a good question. Perhaps some of the admissions officers who lurk on this board could give us an idea?</p>
<p>I hope so. I don't understand what is considered a copy/paste rec besides "good student, etc."</p>
<p>What would be specific examples? I certainly don't expect my teachers to remember the grades I got for my finals or anything. They have other students, too.</p>
<p>good question, but from what I have heard from admissions counselors, they want to know who you are as a student and what you bring to the classroom. They like stories and specific examples that make you stand out and sound interesting besides "Bob is a great student....he does very well...."
But, then again, you can't tell your teachers what to write and often they are so busy, that the reccs end up sounding very generic!</p>
<p>Yeah. I guess you have to pick a few teachers you know very well, and know you very well.</p>
<p>For me, though, everyone at my school applies to at least 5 colleges, typically more. Then, juniors are, also, furiously applying to summer programs.</p>
<p>So, teachers really don't have much time to write recs, and copy/paste from what they have told me and I have heard.</p>
<p>Many students don't care that much about what they are applying to, etc. How can you tell a teacher, without actually straight-out telling them (for it might be offensive) that you don't want a generic rec?</p>
<p>It doesn't seem that appropriate b/c it is kind of like you are telling them what to write, or rather what not to write...but what do you guys think?</p>
<p>Plus, when you are in classes with 36+ people, little stories don't pop up often</p>
<p>Also, is there a page-limit on recs? O_o by any chance...Because I know one of my teachers was cutting down a three letter rec for me last year for something</p>
<p>In answer to the OP's question--apparently, these are the sorts of things that "top 10" (or "top 5") colleges like to read in letters of recommendation: </p>
<p>"... one of the most gifted students that I have had the pleasure of teaching in my 29 years of experience in this field..."</p>
<p>"After she took the Advanced Placement test in Spanish she decided that she would also like to learn French. Therefore she borrowed a French 1 textbook from me and taught herself level one over the summer. She took the final from level one and entered French 2 in September after having scored higher on the final than any of my other students..."</p>
<p>"... wide interests and incredible energy..."</p>
<p>"She is the one who goes the extra mile on any project and will pursue her research until she truly understands it..."</p>
<p>"... so bright and so talented at helping others understand..."</p>
<p>"... has a big heart and a strong sense of what is ethical..." </p>
<p>I guess one trick is to request letters of rec from teachers who really appreciate you. </p>
<p>It seems to me that if you stand out enough as a student and as a person, then the teacher won't be able to not write an outstanding letter of recommendation for you. Unless the teacher is just a jerk, in which case you shouldn't ask them for a letter of rec. :p </p>
<p>If you are merely "a good student who does very well in class," then you've probably got no business applying for the Ivy League. And if the True You is really more than just "a good student," and your teacher doesn't recognize that, then try to express the True You more clearly in class--and outside of class. That's where differences are made. If you show passion and dedication to the subject by working on it over the summer, having sincere conversations about it with the teacher outside of class (without, of course, annoying the teacher and taking up all his/her personal time), and so forth, then not only will the teacher get to know you on a deeper, more personal level, but he/she will also come to appreciate the intellectual vitality that classwork doesn't always allow to shine through. </p>
<p>But maybe I'm just an optimist to believe that the truth will always come through... maybe I'm being harsh to say that if you're underappreciated, then you must be doing something wrong... </p>
<p>Well, I'm going to start getting introspective and philosophical soon, so I'd better just click the "Post" button.</p>
<p>Haha. Thank you so much. That really helped. :]</p>
<p>How about the rankings portion of the teacher recommendation on the Common Application? How much weight do admissions officers place on those, what are the best categories to be ranked highly in, and how high do the rankings have to be to justify a good recommendation?</p>
<p>I think the evaluation with specific anecdotes is more important than the checkmarks. Some teachers just put "one of the best" in for half the students.</p>
<p>Annishuka: only the second one is not generic. Some teachers can just put all the rest in a generic rec for every student and send it in with the name changed.</p>
<p>Ice:</p>
<p>Some weight is put on them. If a teacher checks off the "best ever" box (or whatever the top slot is), that counts for a fair amount, I've been told.</p>
<p>Those rankings only matter is they're really good or really bad.</p>
<p>
<p> [quote=ses] Those rankings only matter is they're really good or really bad.
What is considered a "really good" ranking?</p>
<p>Ice:</p>
<p>OK. Here's the scoop. Most rec letters are what is called "standard strong." Most of these letters go over a student's accomplishments one more time and say nice things about the student, but nothing that stands out. Going over accomplishments is not useful unless those accomplishments are not already to be found elsewhere on the app. </p>
<p>A really good rec has some key phrases, "one of the best of my career," "one of the best ever in the school," "the best ever," etc. It may say things like, </p>
<p>"Sarah's academic strengths speak for themselves, but what you won't learn by looking at her accomplishments is that she is among the most impressive leaders anyone in this school has ever seen. We, the faculty, hardly go a day without telling another amazing Sarah story. For instance, before Sarah came here, we were very concerned with how our student body was becoming fractured into cliques of varying degrees of prestige. Sarah simply refused to let this be a part of our school culture. She moved and moves easily across the cliques. Since Sarah has been at this school, we see Goths coming to football games to cheer the jocks, and jocks attending spring musicals to cheer on the theater kids."</p>
<p>Thanks for the explanation, Tarhunt. The example you used would certainly make for a really good recommendation, but I'm sure a recommendation like that is very rare. Most of the recommendations I've heard about on CC or at my school, though considered to be good by their rankings, have rather generic essays.</p>
<p>And you aren't "Sarah" by any chance, are you?</p>
<p>No. Not female. Not one of my kids, either. I made that one up.</p>
<p>Hypothetical ranking on the Common Application's teacher evaluation: top 5 percent for every category but "one of the top few in entire career" for maturity and integrity. How would a college admissions officer view a ranking like that?</p>
<p>Tarhunt - Wow. The student does come across as amazing. How many students manage to do something that amazing...well, I guess that's what the admissions officers are looking for.</p>
<p>I think another way that recommendations can help is when a guidance counselor writes about how a student has overcome adversity in some way that may not be otherwise reflected on the application. That sort of thing really helps the adcom "know" the student.</p>