My guidance counselor is new. So, does not know how to write an Ivy League Caliber Rec Letter. What should they include? How many pages? Does anybody have any examples I can take to her? Thanks
It’s not really a letter; it’s filling out a form. [url=http://www.du.edu/apply/media/documents/2012CASSR.pdf]Here[/url] is an example.
Additionally, don’t be concerned that the GC is new and that the rec is not as personalized and glowing as you would like. Colleges are well aware that some schools, particularly large public HS’s have GC’s that have many hundreds of students or that other schools have counselors who are brand new… [url=http://mitadmissions.org/apply/prepare/writingrecs]Here[/url] (scroll down to GC rec for Mike) is what MIT has to say on the subject, but the answer will hold true for other colleges as well.
Ask to meet with the guidance counselor. Discuss where you are applying (not just Ivy schools but match and safety schools as well). Offer to give your resume or ask if there is any other information that could help him/her to write the rec letter. But don’t be so pushy about it that it is a turn-off. Then don’t worry about it. As noted above many GC rec letters are not so personal or wonderful due to the sheer volume of what they have to crank out. It is your application that has to be “Ivy caliber,” not the GC rec letter.
If your GC is game to learn - http://mitadmissions.org/apply/prepare/writingrecs
But give your counselor all you can - a resume is great, ours also asks the student AND parents to fill out detailed forms about strengths and weaknesses and special circumstances and the like…