Strong letters of recommendation are crucial for college, scholarship, internship, and job applications. Thoughtful reference letters validate qualifications, speak to character, and make applicants stand out. However, asking educators, employers, or mentors to write compelling recommendations requires strategy and care. Follow these steps for letters that truly showcase your best self.
Choose Recommenders Thoughtfully
Put time into selecting your recommenders. The best letters come from those who truly know you and will portray you in a nuanced, positive light. Avoid vague references from professors you rarely interacted with or distant employers.
College counselor Katherine Cohen advises, “Look for recommenders who respect your accomplishments, relate to you personally, and can detail strong examples of your talents.” Make sure they are good communicators too.
Prioritize recommenders invested in you over impressive names and titles. Ask trusted teachers, coaches, supervisors, or mentors who interact with you substantively. Letters from those directly involved in your growth come across most powerfully.
Make the Ask Personally
Don’t just email potential recommenders. Have an in-depth conversation to assess if they feel comfortable writing persuasively on your behalf. This shows respect for their time and gives space to politely decline. Plus, it allows you to explain why this particular opportunity excites you and how their letter would help.
College counselor Brennan Barnard notes, “A thoughtful personal ask conversation builds rapport and context that leads to better recommendations.” Discuss your background, goals, and what you hope they highlight. Framing your aspirations gets them thinking. Send follow-up materials promptly after the dialogue.
Provide Detailed Information
To write meaningful, vivid letters, recommenders need rich details about you. Refresh their memory about classes you took, papers you collaborated on, projects you led, key accomplishments, growth demonstrated, challenges overcome, passions pursued.
Also share background on the college, scholarship, job or award and why it fits your aims. According to recommendation expert Carol Barash, “Vivid specifics help recommenders tell precise stories and anecdotes illustrating your strengths.” Provide a robust information packet, not just a bulleted list.
Include Application Materials
Send recommenders copies of your personal statement, resume, portfolio samples or other application materials you want them to incorporate or echo. Seeing the full picture of how you are presenting yourself allows them to bolster that narrative consistently.
Make sure they know deadlines and procedures for submitting letters. Follow any instructions from colleges and employers about recommender roles. Guiding recommenders to align positively with your self-presentation results in synergistic applications.
Suggest Meaningful Topics
It helps to suggest specific topics, skills, or accomplishments you would appreciate if recommenders addressed in letters. This gives shape to their thinking. Of course, leave room for their personalized message.
For a college letter, you might suggest speaking to your growth in a challenging class, an influential research project, or how you overcame obstacles as a first-generation student. For a job, mention skills demonstrated in key assignments or an award that reflects capabilities. Draw their attention to fruits you hope they pick.
Express Gratitude
Remember letters take time and mental energy. Sincerely thank recommenders for agreeing to support you and write on your behalf. Follow up afterwards to express how much you appreciate their thoughtful words and let them know the outcome.
Gift a small token of gratitude like a coffee shop gift card. Handwritten thank-you notes remain powerful for showing you value their efforts. Sustaining these relationships conveys lasting respect.
Avoid Putting Recommenders in a Bind
Only ask those who you are confident will write supportively. It poses an unfair bind to request letters from vague acquaintances or those you suspect may not fully praise you. Lukewarm, generic references can damage otherwise strong applications.
If recommenders seem hesitant or uncommitted, do not press the issue. College admission officer Dean Zarari warns, “Students sometimes push for big-name recommenders who barely know them, but this backfires badly when letters feel strained or impersonal.” Protect recommenders from predicaments producing less than glowing reviews.
Keep Perspective
The most eloquent recommendation cannot compensate for substantive weaknesses elsewhere in an application. Stellar letters complement strong profiles; they do not transform borderline ones. So focus first on your grades, experience, skills, and personal statement before stressing over recommendations.
Education expert Brennan Barnard reminds students, “Great letters can give promising applications an extra edge, but they serve as the cherry on top of an already delicious sundae.” Keep expectations realistic.
Read Between the Lines
Carefully read recommendation letters you receive. Look beyond the praise to see what specific qualities or anecdotes recommenders emphasized about you. This reveals how others perceive your strengths. It also uncovers unique assets you can translate to essays and interviews.
Make note of standout observations recommenders make so you can adopt similar vocabulary about your capabilities. As admissions consultant Arun Ponnusamy puts it, “Their words provide clues about your core assets.” Let their fresh insights become part of how you self-advocate.
Conclusion
Getting outstanding letters of recommendation requires forethought and effort. Choose recommenders who know your abilities and will portray you richly. Guide them to topics and themes relevant to the application. Convey sincere appreciation for their time and care advocating for you. With preparation and relationship-building, meaningful recommendations can personalize you positively in any selection process.
