Aside from a good academic record and impressive extracurricular activities, a good letter of recommendation is an important part of a successful U.S. college application. International students need to have their accomplishments acknowledged by their teachers. When asking your instructors for a recommendation letter, it is crucial to do the following things.
1. Show your instructors an example of a recommendation by a U.S. high school teacher: An example should not be particularly hard to find. You just have to go online and look for an ideal letter, then show it to someone who is going to write yours.
[Read about four myths about U.S. college recommendations.]
The reason for this is very simple. Your teachers may not be aware of what a U.S. admissions counselor is looking for. In some countries, hardworking and well-behaved generally sum up the content of a recommendation letter. However, admissions counselors in the U.S. are looking for something much more specific than that.
They want to know that you have the willingness to push yourself, great leadership experience or a unique personality that sets you apart from other applicants. Therefore, to make sure your letter is appealing to admissions counselors, it is important that you ask your teacher to read a sample one before hand.
2. Make sure t he letter is clear and informative : This depends on the person who is going to write your letter. You should carefully ask them to avoid putting unnecessary details that can downplay the quality of the letter. The letter should be clear, straightforward and evidence-based.
For instance, if you are good at math, suggest your teacher mention that your mathematics GPA puts you in the top of your class or mention any mathematics awards you have won.
[Learn more about attending college in the U.S.]
3. Ask for two letters: Only asking for one is not going to hold you back too much in the application process. However, two letters written by two different people will provide a much more objective and less biased angle of who you are and what you have accomplished so far.
If there are more than two, admissions counselors may not have enough time to read them. Ideally, try to ask for one from a science teacher and one from a nonscience teacher.
4. Ask teachers to write your letters: Many students have a misunderstanding that having a more important teacher writing their letters is better. A letter from a principal who only knew you for three weeks has less value than the one from a teacher who has been teaching you for three years.
Moreover, the letter may not necessarily have to come from your teachers or professors. It can be from anyone — except your parents — whom you think would have insight into your personal qualities. My friend once asked her piano instructor to write her a letter of recommendation. It impressed the admissions counselors at her college so much that they asked for a video of her playing the piano and gave her a music scholarship.
[Here’s what to know about the U.S. college experience before you apply.]
5. If language is a barrier, ask your teacher to write in your native language and get it translated: This is the situation faced by many international students. Sometimes, either your teacher or the university you’re applying to will allow you to translate his or her letter yourself.
In other cases, you may need to ask someone else instead — or even get the letter officially translated. Give the translator advice on how the letter should look. Check if the translation has to be verified by the school.
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5 Tips for Students Seeking Stellar U.S. College Recommendation Letters originally appeared on usnews.com
