I’m really hoping to study Environmental Science at the University of Oregon. I’m feeling a bit overwhelmed, especially when it comes to recommendation letters. I want to make sure my recommenders have everything they need to write awesome letters for me.
I was wondering if any of you have come across a standard format or template for college recommendation letters? Anything that makes it easier for my teachers to sing my praises would be a huge help!
Any advice or tips would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance!
If you want a good letter, stay away from form or template letters. The message may be to the AO that your teacher didn’t know you well or didn’t care because form or templates are obvious. Plus, I’m sure any teacher you choose has one anyway. You want to use teachers that really know you. Think less about the format of the letter and more about who you want to write the letter. Your teachers know what they need to do.
Your teacher has probably written a rec letter before. They will not appreciate you asking for a rec letter and then giving them a template suggesting what the letter should say. That’s completely not the point of a rec letter. The point is for the college to get genuine and honest insight into your personality. You ask your teacher and they do the rest. You should, of course, let your GC at school know which teachers you have asked for letters of rec.
Echoing that your teachers know how to write a LoR, with that said, many do ask students for a brag sheet and/or resume to help them write LoRs. Be ready for them to ask for that, it’s not inappropriate to offer your resume after they agree to write you a LoR.
Agree with all of the above. The “brag sheet” should include specific actions and accomplishments, not just unsubstantiated adjectives, that are ideally connected to the teacher.
Don’t know your stats and it’s ok to do a recommendation letter, but it doesn’t appear Oregon necessarily uses them. So ask those teachers you have a good rapport with, give them the brag sheet, and you’ll be fine. btw - again, not knowing your stats, U of O accepts nearly 90% of applicants - so if you’ve done well in school, you’ll have a great chance of being admitted, letter or not. Even Honors doesn’t seek a LOR.
My point here is simply - I don’t think you need to be nervous - and that you can relax. The odds are strong for any student who has done well in school to be admitted, even without a letter.
Best of luck.
Recommendation letters are not required for any applicants, but are often received and sometimes have proven to be helpful in our decision. Your school counselor might help you with this process; however, if you wish to submit them separately, it is critical that they include your name and birthdate information. Recommendation letters will always be treated as confidential, and never released to you at any time unless the recommender gives explicit direction for us to do so.
I have written LoR for students and see it as part of the job teaching. As teachers, we do want our student to be successful because it’s a reflection back on us. So unless your teacher is just a bad human being (then in that case don’t ask that person) there is nothing to fear. It’s also exciting to be “invited” into your journey and many will be thrilled to share your success.
Have a detailed resume ready and list everything you have done and why you do them. They will make it easier to write a letter with personal elements. Letter is not just to say you are a good student but who you are as a human being. As much info as you can give will help.
Did you ask your teacher about LoR? If your teacher isn’t freshman - he definitely has some forms from previous years, as well there may be some forms that the school uses generally.
If you still think that you need a form or template - you may find one on a Lawrina website, it worked for me and it’s absolutely free.
Hope it helps.