John Danchisko is a National Board Certified Teacher in Secondary English/Language Arts with eighteen years of experience in public schools east of Pittsburgh, PA.
In the spring of my first year of teaching high school, a student sheepishly requested a letter of recommendation for college. I agreed and approached a seasoned teacher to ask how she formatted her letters. Her answer was simple, vague, and largely unhelpful: I just use the same template that I’ve used for years. She forwarded a sample of a formulaic and impersonal letter. A good letter of recommendation is informative. What I’ve come to embrace is that a great letter of recommendation is informative and personal.
First, though, it is important to remember that a letter of recommendation is a courtesy. Instructors are not required to write a letter. If a student (or colleague) requests a letter, it is perfectly acceptable to professionally decline. A student who plagiarized multiple assignments asked me for a letter. I politely declined and advised him to ask another adult who could vouch for his integrity. Another thing to consider before accepting the request is the time required. I generally tell students that I need about one week to write the letter; if they need it sooner, they should seek someone else. Here’s why: writing a good letter does take time. I may not have that time today or tomorrow, but I will make time within the week. Your own turnaround time might be shorter or longer, but remember: composing the letter is a courtesy, and courtesy should run between the instructor and the student.
Your student requested a letter. You’ve expressed your delight to write it. Now what? I’ve reviewed letters that I’ve written over the past sixteen years, and here’s what I learned about the qualities that the strongest share.
1. Request a resume.
It is perfectly acceptable to ask the student to provide a resume or fill out a form to tell you more about themselves (explore my Google Form here). I ask students to describe themselves, to provide academic accomplishments, to describe their “best” submission in my class and their future goals. I can use this information to help formulate a narrative about their performance. I can also show how a student’s presentation about the ethics of genetic testing is linked to their passion for biology and a future in studying medicine.
2. Know your audience.
Before you begin writing, remember that your audience is going to be reading hundreds (or more) of these letters. Keep it brief. I never write more than one single-spaced page with a professional header, salutation, and closing.
3. State your connection to the applicant.
You’re ready to put the proverbial pen to paper. Start with your relationship to the student. Keep it simple: William was a student in my Honors English 10 class at Washington High School for the 2023—2024 academic year. Take the guesswork out of your relationship. Then, state exactly what you are recommending the applicant for: I strongly recommend William for your scholarship.
4. Describe your candidate.
End your first paragraph with a statement about the candidate: Sarah is an excellent candidate for your university due to her diligence, character, and devotion to learning. Remember: you will need to address these terms in your letter. Want to make this stronger? Look at the recipient’s mission statement and see if your candidate matches their needs. You can mirror your description to fit their core values: I strongly recommend Alicia for your scholarship, as they exude excellence, flexibility, and a desire to connect with others. Of course, you’re not tailoring your letter without support. If your candidate does not fit like a glove, don’t force it.
5. Use a personal anecdote.
What do you recall about this candidate? Did James visit during office hours? Remember that conversation that you had about time management? His interest in AI integration? Briefly describe it. Did you see Khalil tutoring a student in the library? Quan helping a lady with disabilities cross the street? If you have a connection to the student outside of the classroom, share it. Introduce your admissions officer to the person, not just their resume.
6. List their academic accomplishments.
Show the admissions officer that your candidate is capable of succeeding in higher education or in their chosen program. Think of one project, essay, discussion, etc., in which your student excelled. Use a sentence to describe it. Then explain why this shows promise for the future: I distinctly remember Kelly’s expository essay that described the issue of dress codes in contemporary high schools. Kelly used primary and secondary sources in her essay, which demonstrated a mastery of MLA format. Kelly’s essay provided academically appropriate evidence from structured polls as well as databases to support her points. This section can illustrate the skills Kelly demonstrated, not simply the content. The skills are what will transfer to the postsecondary classroom, not the topic.
7. Include their leadership roles/philanthropic activities.
Your student probably has a thousand extracurricular activities. They will have provided this list on their resume. You may want to highlight the most impressive endeavor: Ishmael was a leader in group work exercises. His leadership skills in the classroom also appear on the baseball field in his role as captain of the baseball team. This parallel between the classroom and the baseball field gives another dimension to Ishmael. Or: Karyn’s empathy as a volunteer at the local food pantry shows her concern for others and has influenced her decision to enter the field of social work. Making connections between our students and their future goals illustrates why our students are motivated.
8. Close it out.
Keep it brief. Remember those words that you used to describe the student? Repeat them. Sarah’s selfless nature, academic achievement, and time management make her a spectacular candidate for your university. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any questions about Sarah Smith.
Writing a strong letter of recommendation does not need to be intimidating or incredibly-time consuming. Your letters will become stronger and faster with experience. Just remember, you’re introducing the candidate, not their resume.
Time will pass, and a student wearing a fresh college T-shirt and the largest smile you’ve ever seen will tell you they received an acceptance letter. I can’t think of anything more rewarding than knowing that a student trusted you to write a simple letter to kick-start their professional journey.
MEET THE AUTHOR
John Danchisko is a National Board Certified Teacher in Secondary English/Language Arts with eighteen years of experience in public schools east of Pittsburgh, PA. His favorite unit to teach is “The Roaring 20s and Harlem Renaissance.” Aside from teaching, John is a proud “Girl Dad” who enjoys attending concerts with Amy, his wife. He also barbecues and nurtures an ever-growing collection of carnivorous plants.