Recommendation Letters and Georgetown Undergrad Application

I'm a high school junior applying to Georgetown and I'm pretty eager to get my application right. I know recommendations letters can make or break. What should I tell my recommenders to focus on?

While you don't want to dictate the contents of your recommendation letters (since they should genuinely reflect your recommenders' assessment of your abilities), you can certainly provide guidance. First, it's crucial to choose recommenders who know you well, not just those with impressive titles. This increases the likelihood that they can speak to your specific skills and experiences in a detailed and personalized manner.

For Georgetown specifically, which highly values a well-rounded education featuring service, critical thinking, and engagement, it would be beneficial if your recommenders could address your involvement and leadership in extracurriculars, commitment to service, or strong intellectual curiosity.

If your recommenders taught you in classes related to your intended major, it could also be useful for them to mention how your academic interests drive your passion and curiosity. Don't forget about the softer skills, like creativity, problem-solving abilities, or character traits like resilience and integrity.

Of course, these are suggestions. Each letter should honestly reflect your strengths and capabilities. It's also a good practice to provide your recommenders with your resume or a list of your accomplishments, so they're reminded of your skills and experiences when writing the letter.

One final note: Georgetown has its own letter of recommendation system and does not use the Common App. You'll be asked to provide the names and email addresses of your teachers, and they'll receive an email from Georgetown with instructions on how to submit the letters. This is slightly different than for schools who use the Common App, so it's worth mentioning to your recommenders.