What to include in an effective college rec letter?

Hi everyone! I'm currently a high school junior and thinking ahead to my college applications. I want to give my teachers some guidance on what to include in their recommendation letters. What do colleges look for in those letters? Any tips or examples would be great!

Hi there! It's great that you're planning ahead for your college applications. In a strong recommendation letter, colleges typically look for the following aspects:

1. Personal anecdotes and examples: A good recommendation letter should include specific stories or examples that illustrate your character, academic abilities, or growth. Encourage your teacher to provide concrete examples of incidents from your time in their class or interactions that showcase your strengths and personality.

2. Emotional and intellectual qualities: Effective recommendation letters highlight a student's emotional intelligence, curiosity, resilience, empathy, and commitment to learning, which are important qualities for success in college.

3. Academic performance and work ethic: Have your teachers discuss your academic skills in detail, such as your ability to problem-solve, your analytical skills, or your exceptional writing talents. This could also include mentioning your strong work ethic, determination, and how you've grown academically during your time in their class.

4. Involvement and impact: Ask your teachers to discuss your involvement in class activities, group projects, or any other extracurricular or school club that they have observed your participation in. This can give colleges a better understanding of your commitment to your interests and leadership within these activities.

5. Relationship with the teacher: A strong recommendation letter would showcase the positive relationship you share with your teacher. This could include how you've engaged in class discussions, sought help during office hours or after class, or positively impacted the teacher's classroom experience.

Here's a sample recommendation letter snippet for reference:

"[Student Name] consistently demonstrated a strong work ethic and a dedication to success. Their ability to remain focused and persevere in the face of challenges is truly impressive. For example, during a particularly challenging group project, [Student Name] took the initiative to rally their group members and find innovative solutions to the problems at hand. They not only displayed exceptional collaboration and leadership skills but also provided constructive feedback to their peers, motivating them to work together for a successful outcome."

To help your teachers write an effective recommendation letter, provide them with a brief summary of your achievements, extracurricular activities, and any other relevant information they might not know. This will give them more context and make it easier for them to craft a well-rounded and thorough letter.

Good luck with your college applications!