Most Colleges Require Letters Of Recommendation

Home
>
College & University
>
Most Colleges Require Letters Of Recommendation

Most Colleges Require Letters Of Recommendation

I cannot overemphasize the importance of developing strong relationships with high school teachers and counselors as early as possible. An extremely well written, all-telling letter can absolutely make the difference of being accepted or rejected to any college.

Students at the top of one or more of their classes should first ask those teachers to write a letter of recommendation (LOR). However, if a teacher balks, is the least bit hesitant or shows no enthusiasm about the prospect of writing such a letter, another teacher, one who is likely to make the student shine, should be approached instead. A less than exemplary LOR is virtually worthless!

Chose wisely. I often review LOR's for content and grammar, and am constantly amazed at how careless and lax some teachers, counselors and other well-intentioned people can be with a letter of such great importance! Choose teachers who have expressed a genuine interest in the student's future.

Most schools require LOR's from guidance counselors, and some ask for one or more from the student's English, Science and/or Math teachers. Additional LOR's, letters other than those requested on the school's application, are also recommended. I suggest no more than two extras, unless a third is absolutely extraordinary.

Unless the student is an athlete, any teacher is preferable to a coach unless the coach actually teaches a core or standard subject such as English, Chemistry, History, Math, or Language. In some cases, the writer actually asks the student for an outline of what they should write! Each letter should be from someone who knows the student well, such as:

? A college professor (excellent)

? A high ranking military officer (also excellent)

? A member of the clergy

? Chairman or officer of a major corporation

? A member of a volunteer organization where the student worked

? The parent of a handicapped student from volunteer work, i.e. Special Olympics

? A parent whose child was tutored by the student

The LOR can also be from a relative with a different last name if the above criteria is met, but it should not indicate that it's from a relative to avoid appearing biased.

For LOR's not written in English, I recommend the English translation be attached and put on top with a preface stating, "For your convenience, the following is the English translation of the attached letter."

The guidance counselors submit all LOR's originating from the high school. Students should be cautioned not to submit any sealed or unsealed LOR's that they obtain on their own and outside of their school! Any LOR from someone other than a teacher or guidance counselor should be mailed by the person who wrote it, not the student.

All LOR's should be addressed as follows:

Date (Be sure to include student's SS# or School ID number.)

[Name of College] [Director's name if you know it] Director of Admissions [Street or P.O. Box] [City, State, Zip, Zip+4 if available]

RE: Student's Name

Dear Director: [Unless you know their name]

By following these instructions, students will surely increase their edge ? even if they're a valedictorian! The best students also need an edge because they are competing against other exceptional students! Students with less than exemplary numbers will stand a better chance of being accepted in the admissions process with outstanding LOR's.

Every student needs that all-important edge in every aspect of the admissions process. Without outstanding LOR's, the chances of acceptance become proportionally reduced.

This is one of a series of articles by college admissions and financial aid expert, Reecy Aresty, based on his book, "Getting Into College And Paying For It!" For further information or to contact him, please visit www.thecollegebook.com.

For almost three decades, financial advisor and lecturer Reecy Aresty, has helped thousands of families to protect their assets, increase their wealth, and reduce their taxes. During the 1980's, he turned his attentions to the complex world of college admissions and financial aid. By the end of the decade, he was already saving his clients thousands of dollars on a college education!

He has authored, "Getting Into College And Paying For It," also available in Spanish. Filled with trade secrets and insider information, it offers solutions for high school and college families guaranteed to give students the all-important edge in admissions, and parents countless legal ways to reduce college costs.

In 2004 alone, Reecy saved families hundreds of thousands of dollars! He has become a major factor in obtaining affordable, quality educations for America's students. In doing so, he has restored the faith people used to have in one another by proving that there are still people who care, people who can be trusted, and people who actually do what they promise ? and get results!

In The News:

Yahoo! News: Top Stories

Democrats: Obama needs hands-on economic approach (AP)

AP - Democrats are growing impatient with President-elect Barack Obama's refusal to inject himself in the major economic crises confronting the country. Obama has sidestepped some policy questions by saying there is only one president at a time. But the dodge is wearing thin. "He's going to have to be more assertive than he's been," House Financial Services Committee Chairman Barney Frank, D-Mass., told consumer advocates Thursday.

India names Pakistani masterminds, date plot to 07 (AP)

AP - A Pakistani militant group apparently used an Indian operative as far back as 2007 to scout targets for the elaborate plot against India's financial capital, authorities said Thursday, a blow to Indian officials who have blamed the deadly attacks entirely on Pakistani extremists.

Carmakers' bailout pleas hit Senate skepticism (AP)

AP - Desperate U.S. automakers ran into fresh obstacles from skeptical lawmakers Thursday as they appealed with rising urgency and a new dose of humility for a $34 billion bailout. Without help, said one senator, "we're looking at a death sentence."

US mulls unusual tactic as Blackwater charges loom (AP)

AP - Blackwater Worldwide guards involved in the deadly 2007 Baghdad shooting of Iraqi civilians could face mandatory 30-year prison sentences under an aggressive anti-drug law being considered as the Justice Department readies indictments, people close to the case said.

Hillary Clinton scrambles to reduce massive campaign debt (AP)

AP - With just weeks before President-elect Barack Obama is sworn in, his choice for secretary of state, Hillary Rodham Clinton, is scrambling to reduce massive campaign debt before federal ethics rules prohibit her from doing so.

Woman swept to sea during proposal on Oregon coast (AP)

AP - A romantic marriage proposal on the Oregon coast turned deadly for the bride-to-be when a wave swept her out to sea. Scott Napper had taken 22-year-old Leafil Alforque to Proposal Rock near Neskowin Beach to pop the question at a place that got its name from couples ready to marry. Napper and Alforque had been dating since they met on the Internet in 2005.

Study suggests good cheer may spread itself (AP)

AP - When you're smiling, the whole world really does smile with you. A paper being published Friday in a British medical journal concludes that happiness is contagious and that people pass on their good cheer even to total strangers. American researchers who tracked more than 4,700 people in Framingham, Mass., as part of a 20-year heart study also found the transferred happiness is good for up to a year.

Ex-'CHiPs' star Estrada to patrol with Ind. police (AP)

AP - Erik Estrada has returned to Muncie to take part in overnight police patrols in the city where he starred in the short-lived reality series "Armed & Famous." The former star of the 1970s motorcycle cop drama "CHiPs" is a reserve officer on the Muncie Police Department.

Man allegedly attacks speed camera with pickax (AP)

AP - A 26-year-old man faces criminal charges after being accused of using a pickax to attack a speed enforcement camera recently installed along a Phoenix-area freeway.

Pierce to talk to authorities Friday about Burress (AP)

AP - Antonio Pierce and the doctor who treated his New York Giants teammate Plaxico Burress after he accidentally shot himself at a Manhattan nightclub will talk to investigators Friday.

Senators grill auto CEOs, eye GM-Chrysler deal (Reuters)

Reuters - The chief executives of General Motors Corp and Chrysler LLC said they would consider restarting merger talks if needed to win their slice of up to $34 billion in emergency U.S. government aid.

AT&T cuts 12,000 jobs (Reuters)

Reuters - Top U.S. phone company AT&T Inc said it will eliminate 12,000 jobs, or about 4 percent of its workforce, in a fresh wave of cuts to cope with an economic downturn that has exacerbated a decline in traditional phone sales.

Europeans cut interest rates sharply to fight crisis (Reuters)

Reuters - Central banks in Europe slashed their benchmark interest rates by record amounts on Thursday to fight the global economic crisis, while U.S. automakers pleaded for a bailout to avoid collapse.

Pakistan vows to hunt Mumbai attack plotters (Reuters)

Reuters - U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said on Thursday Pakistan had given assurances of its commitment to root out terrorism and round up anyone connected to last week's attack in the Indian city of Mumbai.

Iraq Presidency Council approves U.S. troop pact (Reuters)

Reuters - Iraq's Presidency Council has approved a security pact with the United States that paves the way for a complete U.S. troop pullout by the end of 2011, a spokesman for the council said on Thursday.

Russia's Putin makes warm overtures to Obama (Reuters)

Reuters - The United States will quickly feel a change in attitude from Moscow if President-elect Barack Obama transforms Washington's policies toward Russia, Prime Minister Vladimir Putin said on Thursday.

Thai king ill, misses much-anticipated speech (Reuters)

Reuters - Thailand's revered and influential king missed his traditional birthday eve address due to illness on Thursday, a speech many Thais had hoped would provide short-term relief to the country's intractable political crisis.

Arab-American hate crimes down since 9/11 (Reuters)

Reuters - Hate crimes against Arab Americans have decreased steadily since the September 11 attacks but are still more common than they were before the hijackings, a civil rights group said on Thursday.

European central banks slash interest rates to tackle recession (AFP)

AFP - Leading European central banks took historic action Thursday to ward off spreading recessions, slashing their key lending rates to boost businesses and consumers.

Bombers hit Fallujah as Iraq-U.S. pact endorsed (AFP)

AFP - Car bombers killed at least 15 people in a former rebel bastion on Thursday as Iraq's security pact with Washington won final approval before its launch at the end of the month.

Most Colleges Require Letters Of Recommendation

College & University College & University