A student recommendation letter is vital when applying for a job, university, or seeking admission to a master’s. In other words, a letter of recommendation from a superior, mentor, or teacher is essential if a student wishes to apply for school admission or occupation.
A positive student recommendation letter can make a student outstanding and be above other applicants during the application process.
By definition,
A student recommendation letter is a document that shows a person’s behavioral traits and ethics towards work which helps the student to scale the application process.
The letter is essential if a student wishes to apply for school admission or occupation. The recommendation letter can be written by a person who has spent time with the student in a professional or academic setting.
Superiors or colleagues from the workplace can write such letters. In the academic arena, it can be written by supervisors and professors. There are some rare cases when a letter can be required from family members or friends.
Importance of Student Recommendation Letter
A student recommendation letter can make a student be outstanding and stand above other applicants during the application and hiring process. It gives student’s application an edge. As stated, the letters are needed for admission processes. It serves as a way of filtering potential students and helping to separate the best from the rest.
In the workplace, a recommendation letter can make a student be chosen or considered before others.
Who Should Write a Letter of Recommendation?
One of the most important steps in this process is determining who should do the letter writing. Although it’s a good idea to have a comprehensive list of a student’s accomplishments, both academic and extracurricular, it’s not quite enough. The most effective letters or written by teachers or instructors that know the student fairly well and have the ability to provide more personal insight into the student’s personality as well as his or her accomplishments. It’s a good idea to look at a letter of recommendation as a way of creating a three-dimensional impression of a student on paper or digitally. This can’t be done effectively unless you know a student fairly well.
Writing a Student Recommendation Letter
Follow these guidelines to write an excellent student recommendation letter;
Ask applicant’s academic information
The first step is to ask the student for his academic achievements, success, GPA, and extracurricular activities. More so, inquire about the university, program, or the job the student wants to apply for. Getting these details would help narrow the letter to the job or program he intends to use. The goal here is to be a student’s advocate while helping to highlight his achievements.
When a student wants to apply for works, review his resume to understand his academic or professional background clearly. The job description can also be requested to ascertain how the student can achieve or succeed in the position.
The recommender can equally speak with the student to know more about his reason for the application, his intending achievements, and opportunities. Some major things the recommender can ask the student include; the job description, his past work experience, why he applied for the job, and his short-term or even long-term career goals.
Address the letter
The address is one of the first things to focus on when writing a student recommended letter. Properly address the letter to ensure it gets to the right person and make the letter more personalized for the person or reader.
Inquire from the student to whom the letter would be addressed and the person’s role in the application process. For instance, Mr. Bennett might be the hiring manager’s name. Thus, the recommender will address the letter;
Dear Mr. Bennett,
The Hiring Manager,
Oxford Admission Boards.
The student recommendation letter can be addressed to a departmental head, hiring manager, program director, or admissions counsellor. At times, the letter can be addressed to a firm’s manager or institution head office.
Recommender’s introduction
This section is to introduce the recommender and his qualifications. This role as a recommender or specifically as the student’s teacher provides the employer or admission board with a valuable opinion about the student or candidate. Firstly, the recommender will say who he is and why he is qualified to write on behalf of the student. Next is to put his job title. For example, he can include the course he taught the student. Below is a good example;
Dear Bennett,
I taught Kelvin English and Literature in his 12th grade at John Hopkins High School. From his first day in the class, Kelvin surprised and impressed me with his capability to process complex terms, texts, and concepts. His passion and sensitivity to the ideas in literature and undying nerve for writing, reading, and creative expression inside and outside the classroom are commendable.
Recommender’s connection
When writing a student recommendation letter, the next thing is to input the recommender’s connection or relationship with the student. It can be a teacher’s student relationship or a working link.
The recommender can write how long and capacity he has known the student. The aim is to identify the recommender’s role in the student’s professional and academic career.
The recommender can equally describe his impressions of the student and the student’s progress.
Pair Achievements with personality and character
The content of the letter should begin with an entertaining or memorable story about the student that showcases his or her talents. Keep in mind that the person reading this letter will read many. This is why your letter should stand out as much as possible by highlighting the student’s strengths in a strong and/or entertaining manner. Refer to the student by his or her full name when you initially introduce the student. Throughout the rest of the letter, you can simply use the students first name. The illustrations you use to introduce the student should not only paint a picture of who the student is but also how they are perceived by others. You can close the first paragraph with impact by summing up who the student is in a single sentence that highlights the students strongest characteristics.
Focus on character driven content
The second and third paragraphs should be character driven. Any admissions counselor can find plenty of information regarding a student’s extracurricular activities and academic standing. A strong letter of recommendation puts the flesh on the bones and gives an admissions representative an idea of who the student is based on personality and character. An admissions counselor is looking for information that will provide insight into how a student will fit into their school’s environment. This can be done in a variety of different ways. You can discuss a students commitment to getting a job done or the fact that a student has overcome obstacles by not giving up. There are many different approaches that you can take to illustrate character and personality.
Close with impact
The concluding paragraph should close by directly recommending the student for the school or program in question. It should be sincere and direct and sum up why the student is a good fit. The last paragraph should also refer to the student by their full name. Keep in mind that a letter of recommendation is a strategic snapshot of a student that must be accomplished in a succinct manner. A letter of recommendation should be less than a full page of single-spaced text in Times New Roman 12-point. If the letter is submitted electronically, use the Arial 11-point font. A letter that’s too long may become boring or come across as insincere. Close your letter professionally and invite the representative to call if they have more questions.
Free Templates
Following are the student recommendation letter templates that can be downloaded for free and can be customized as per needs:
Sample Recommendation Letters
Here are a few sample letter for better understanding:
Sample Letter #1
Amanda Jones
600 Patterson St.
Anyplace, TX 56789
222-222-5555
Â
Admissions Representative
Any University
500 University St.
San Antonio, TX 78210Â
Â
December 2, 20XX
Â
To Whom it May Concern:Â
Â
Charles Parker was a student in both my second and first-year literature courses. His grades and commitment to understanding the material led me to employ him as my teaching assistant during his junior year. He helped other students understand a lot of the more complicated assignments that were part of my standard curriculum. He maintained a 3.8 GPA as well as his TA duties during his junior year which showed how responsible and committed he truly is.Â
Â
Charles has also been a longtime volunteer with the Big Brothers and Sisters organization. He has helped troubled youth make positive changes by setting a positive example and sticking with the BB&S program. He’s committed to his studies and his service to others has shown how responsible and capable he is.Â
Â
Charles would be an excellent choice for the business program at your university. He understands people and has a strong work ethic as well. He is not only a scholar but a person of integrity and strength.Â
Â
Don’t hesitate to contact me at [email protected] or 222-222-5555 if you have any questions I could answer for you.Â
Â
Sincerely,
Amanda Jones
Sample Letter #2
Ronald Parks
222 Anywhere St.
Anywhere, FL 12345
333-333-3333
Â
John Collier
Internship Coordinator
College Internships
777 College Rd.
Anywhere, FL 67895Â
Â
November 20, 2018Â
Â
Dear Mr. Collier,Â
Â
I had the pleasure of working with Timothy Henderson while he was a tutor at the college library. His patience and commitment to helping underclassmen understand complicated math concepts were admirable. Regardless of how long it took, he’d work with students until he finally saw a light go on and they understood the concept. He was responsible for and committed to sharing his knowledge with others. He maintained a 3.9 GPA in addition to working almost 25 hours a week at the tutoring lab.Â
Â
In addition to his commitment to work and his academics, he also volunteered at the local area food bank and often helped with food delivery. Timothy really cares about people and this characteristic shines through in everything he does for others. His attitude and patience are remarkable.Â
Timothy Henderson would be an excellent candidate for your internship because of all his stellar qualities. He’s a hard worker that always puts his best foot forward. As a result, I feel that your internship would be an excellent fit for a student with his qualities.Â
Â
If you have any other questions, please contact me at
[email protected] or 333-333-3333. I’d be happy to provide additional information if you need it.Â
Â
Sincerely,
Ronald Parks
Email Recommendation Letter Sample
Here is a sample of a student recommendation letter that can be helpful.
Below is a recommendation letter for a student applying to university.
Recommendation Letter
Dear Bennett,
I taught Kelvin English and Literature in his 12th grade at John Hopkins High School. From his first day in the class, Kelvin surprised and impressed me with his capability to process complex terms, texts, and concepts. His passion and sensitivity to the ideas in literature and undying nerve for writing, reading, and creative expression inside and outside the classroom are commendable.
Kelvin is talented, and he is a great literary poet and critic. He indeed has my biggest recommendation as a writer and student. He is gifted at considering literature subtleties and the aim behind writers’ works. He developed an outstanding project on innovative identity development where she compared arts from three various times and synthesized historical and traditional perspectives to influence her analysis. At his project defense, Kelvin spoke eloquently and clearly about her findings and replied to questions in an experienced and practical way.
Outside the classroom, Kelvin is dedicated to his literary pursuits, particularly to poetry. He publishes his poetry in the school’s magazine and other literary online magazines. He is sensitive, insightful, and highly driven to explore lifestyle, art, and writing. He has a great understanding of human interactions, conditions, and interpersonal skills.
Kelvin has been an active participant and student in class discussions and always supports his peers during group tasks. His caring personality and nature make him work effectively with others in a team. He always respects his peer’s opinions even when it differs from his own. He displayed an extraordinary character during the last class debate on “Race and Tribalism in America.” He shared his views from a fresh perspective and made a vivid sense from all angles. Over the year, Kelvin demonstrated empathy for other opinions, perspectives, and feelings, with strong observation prowess. He is an outstanding literature student and a great writer.
Kelvin will undoubtedly continue to exhibit creative and great things in his future. Thus, I recommend him for admission to the English and Literature department of this great institution. He is intuitive, intelligent, and focused in his academic pursuits. Interestingly, he always looks out for constructive feedback to enhance his writing skills.
Kelvin is an outstanding student with a great personality who will impress everyone and even exceeds expectations.
Kindly feel free to contact me in case of any further questions at [email protected]
Regards,
Mr. Wayne
English and Literature Teacher,
John Hopkins High School
Conclusion
When writing the student recommendation letter, ensure to explain where and how you know the applicant. Also, list some qualities that make the student a good fit for the admission or job. It will make more sense to input examples to show how the student has displayed those qualities.
The letter can be kept general when applying for several companies or universities, but ensure to highlight each of the student’s distinct attributes. As stated, make sure to include an example of the student’s success or achievement in the recommendation letter, especially when applying for foreign universities to scale the admission process.
Finally, it is advisable to write a recommendation letter for a student whose qualifications can be affirmed. Don’t forget to have the submission information, like the recipient’s email, name, and the submission date. Before writing the recommendation letter, ask for the student’s updated resume and the job details or school chances. Concentrate on the specific school or job the student is applying for.
