<p>Howdy all. My sitter from a few years ago is now a senior and has called to ask for a letter of reference she can use for scholarship apps. I have written reference letters before, but they were always for specific things–like a particular job–so I’m not quite sure how to do this. Is this supposed to be just a glowing testament to this amazing young woman? I have known her for years and years, and she was a fabulous babysitter, but should I just keep it short and sweet? All suggestions welcome and much appreciated!</p>
<p>I wrote a similar letter for a young lady in our neighborhood a few months ago. She had helped me as a volunteer for a fund raiser. I basically described how my interactions with her impressed me and how her behavior spoke to her seriousness of purpose. It was VERY brief and specific.</p>
<p>Thanks! I was just thinking that if I try to make it the length of a proper letter, I’m going to have to use a lot of filler. I’ll just keep it short.</p>
<p>I’ve written letters like these before also. </p>
<p>I start out with an explanation of how long I’ve known the person and in what capacities (sometimes, I know them in multiple capacities). </p>
<p>I talk with the person beforehand and see what her ECs have been, what experiences (leadership, especially) she’s had in them, what she wants to do with her life, etc.</p>
<p>I talk about the qualities of this person that impressed me the most. And most importantly, I tell of an experience or a story that shows off these qualities. </p>
<p>Remember that the most effective letters of recommendation give examples that SHOW the reader something about the person. A letter consisting of a long string of adjectives is boring and not particularly effective.</p>
<p>My letters are usually a page in length.</p>
<p>Be sure to proofread carefully! You can undermine the positive message you mean to convey if it has spelling or grammatical errors in it. When I write these types of letters, I try to focus on the qualities that would make this person successful in any endeavor (personal qualities, and skills) (eg, responsible, hardworking, takes initiative, positive attitude, organized, etc.), and try to give an example or two that illustrates it if possible.</p>
<p>Thanks Ellemenope!</p>
<p>She did send me her resume so I’d have a list of her EC’s. It’s a good suggestion to talk to her about what she wants to do with her life, however, as high school students do, she put this off until the last minute and needs the letter by Friday. She e-mailed me last night around 9:30.</p>
<p>Ask her if there is anything specific she would like you to say or a specific point she would like you to make. Is there an aspect to her profile that she would like to burnish that you could appropriately and legitimately benefit? For example, did she exhibit creativity in designing activities for your children when she babysat? Did she exceed your expectations in any way? What aspects of her personality or behavior would be an asset to the campus?</p>