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A Few Words About Teacher Letters of Recommendation
A glimpse into a student's academic potential
In addition to transcripts, test scores and application essays, colleges commonly ask applicants to supply a recommendation from an academic subject teacher. A good teacher recommendation provides admission readers with an inside-the-classroom perspective about the student.
Colleges are interested to read about how a student engages with academic subject content. Is the student highly engaged with topics and conversation? How well does the student grasp concepts beyond what sits on the surface? Does the student actively work to support their classmates' understanding of material either through thoughtful conversation or clarifying explanations?
An insightful recommendation considers what a student offers their classroom community and, by extension, might offer their college classmates. The teacher perspective sheds light on how an applicant might add to the richness of the college's academic environment. Admission readers will be looking beyond the basic expectations (ex. works hard; hands in assignments on time), preferring to hear evidence about how the student distinguishes themselves among classroom peers.
For a solid recommendation, be memorable
The strongest recommendation may not necessarily come from the teacher who awards the highest grade on the transcript. A good recommendation provides insight about the student. That insight can develop when students seek extra help; show a commitment to learning, even through trial and error; or focus on improved performance and engagement with material. Earning the "A" grade always looks great, but doing so without demonstrating interest in classroom life and content may not give teachers much to draw from.
As students progress though high school, especially in the junior year, they should aim to be "positively memorable." Here, they are aware of how they "show up" in class, their successes and challenges, along with what they are offering their classmates. Students can ask themselves, "How do I positively stand out in the group?"
Who to ask -- and how many?
Recommendations are preferred from more recent teachers because it is more relevant to review a more current evaluation of a student than one from two or more years in the past. And it is preferable for recommendations to come from teachers in full-year courses rather than single-semester classes because longer-term teachers typically will have more observations to draw from.
Colleges vary in their application requirements and guidelines, so unsurprisingly there is also variety in preferences around recommendations. Some schools request two academic teacher recommendations, while others ask for a single optional rec. Still others (the University of California system, for one) do not want to receive recommendations at all. It's important to pinpoint what an applicant's specific colleges are looking for.
Confirming evidence
Simply, a teacher recommendation is confirming evidence of a student's academic strength shared through a narrative. A well-written recommendation serves to confirm grades achieved and lends further insight to a student's individual academic participation and impact.
Marla Platt, M.B.A. is an independent college consultant based in Sudbury, MA through AchieveCoach College Consulting, providing expert and personalized guidance to students and families throughout the college planning, search and admissions process. Marla is a professional member of the Independent Educational Consultants Association and can be reached via www.achievecoach.com
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