What to Do for the Letters of Recommendation
- Mar 30
- 5 min read
Updated: 2 days ago
A student-friendly playbook to win powerful, distinctive letters that tell your story effectively.
Key takeaways
Plan roles, not just assign the rec letter writers. Decide and define what qualities each recommender can and will highlight so that no multiple rec letters overlap.
Present evidence, not just the adjectives. Provide each recommender with concise, concrete proof and short, memorable stories.
Co-design storylines. Suggest themes, key words, and outcomes that teachers can personalize through their own voices.
Explain to the teacher the evaluation format. Teachers complete both a ratings grid and a narrative (up to 1,000 words). Ensure that the narrative communicates your most important qualities.
Follow through with gratitude. Teachers are not obligated to write. Be organized, respectful, and thank each of them with sincerity.
1. Understand what recommendations actually do
Grades and test scores establish the baseline. Subjective factors — how you think, grow, collaborate, and influence your community — often determine outcomes at selective and most selective colleges. Recommendations translate those qualities into credible, detailed narratives written in your teachers’ voices. Treat the process as a coordinated campaign rather than a formality.
2. Choose the right recommenders and define their roles
Standard set
Optional (if permitted)
Outside recommender (coach, research mentor, principal investigator, or community leader): only if any of them can and will add truly unique evidence unavailable elsewhere.
Assignment : Draft a single-line description for each recommender that defines what distinct quality or storyline they will represent.
Example : “Physics teacher → analytical rigor and resilience under pressure.”
3. Prep the materials your recommenders actually need
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