College Brain Fart

• 2/19/2008 - Letters of Recommendation

Believe it or not, these are necessary for so, so many purposes. I originally thought that they were only for Honor's College applications and whatnot - imagine my surprise when almost every application process I found for my programs asked for letters of recommendation. I was so lucky to realize when I did that I would need them, considering that it left me with plenty of time to get them. So, naturally, I started researching what I would need them to say and, consequently, who I should ask for them.

I settled on English teachers, of all things. After all, I was always able to express myself best in English classes, so I felt those people were the ones who knew me and my abilities best. They agreed, and I received excellent letters. However, I think it was because I knew what to ask for and who to ask that they turned out well.

So, what should a Letter of Recommendation contain? Here's a bare-bones list:

An expression of who you are (i.e. summary of character)
Descriptions of your abilities (specifics are ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY)
How the writer knows you and can judge you well
If you would be a good addition/be able to contribute to _________ (insert institution)
Ways to get in contact with the writer

These are just the basics. Generally, a good letter isn't a list, either - here's an example of a bad letter:

"To Whom it may Concern-

STUDENT is a good student who has done all his work. He doesn't give up and is willing to go the extra mile to finish things. I taught him _____ in his sophomore year, and I think he would be a good university student.

Sincerely, TEACHER."

What does a good letter have, then? Personality. You should be able to hear the writer's personality or professionalism in every paragraph. It should be personal, too - not just something he could copy-paste your name into that could describe anyone. A letter littered with anecdotes works wonders. If the reader can see who you are as well as who the writer is, the letter is amazing. That is, if it highlights your good points. You don't precisely want your health teacher writing you a recommendation letter that includes that story of when you replaced the sex-ed video for porn, do you?

Exactly.

But having a letter written by the wrong person is almost as bad as reminders of your sophomore year's worst-thought-out practical joke. For example, unless you know the superintendent better than anyone, don't get one from him. Here's the bare-bones list of what traits you should look for in a letter-writer:

A connection to you - one that's tangiable and provable
Professionalism
Epistolary Skills (I.e. knows how to write letters)
A connection to your cause

And remember that you need to ask correctly for a letter. I first asked one of my high school teachers in person for letters and consequently sent him this e-mail about what I wanted in the letter:

Hello, Mr. Pseudonym. It's been a few weeks, and I seem to remember telling you I'd give you the information you needed to write me some letters of recommendation. I marked it on my to-do list, started college, and promptly lost all chances of being involved in a world that doesn't involve widespread campuses and professors recruiting me to teach ESL. Only today did I actually look at said list and realize just what I didn't do.

Hopefully, you don't plan on putting punctuality down as one of my strong points.

Anyway, I have the information, although the specific one has changed a little. I no longer need a letter of recommendation just for my study abroad application, but also a letter to go along with my application to PSU stating my academic potential. I realize that I wasn't always the best student, but I'm hoping you saw something decent in me, at least. Even if you didn't, I respect and trust your opinion, so I will be glad to accept whatever you may have to say about me.

The first one - the PSU letter - should be a standard letter of recommendation. As I mentioned earlier, it should cover my academic potential (or, if you so choose, lack thereof). There is no specific person it should go to, so I trust your judgment in addressing it. And again, anything you have to say is much appreciated.

The more generic one should simply cover my strengths and weaknesses as a person rather than as a student. Like the first one, this isn't going to any specific person; I'd just like to have it on record. Thank you so much.

I said that I needed them in mid-December last time we spoke, but circumstances have changed. I'll actually be needing the first one, at least, by November twentieth. I can come pick it up whenever it's ready, so keep me informed, please.

Thank you so much for doing this for me; it really means so much.

Remus Kittler
(Contact number)

So, did you get that? Either way, I wish you luck in your endeavors, readers!

-Rem