Letters of Recommendation - A College Must!

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November 7, 2006 at 16:33:40

Letters of Recommendation - A College Must!

by Reecy Aresty Page 1 of 1 page(s)

http://www.opednews.com

An extremely well written, all-telling Letter of Recommendation (LOR) can absolutely make the difference of being accepted or rejected at any college. Submitting outstanding LOR's improves the chances of being accepted even for students with less than superior numbers. As most colleges require LOR's from a guidance counselor and one from an English, Science and/or a Math teacher, the importance of developing strong relationships with high school teachers and counselors as early as possible cannot be overemphasized.

Students at the top of one or more of their classes should ask those teachers who have expressed a genuine interest in their futures, to write a great LOR. A warning bell should go off however, if any teacher balks, is the least bit hesitant or shows no enthusiasm at the prospect of writing one. As a less than exemplary LOR is virtually worthless, only motivated, enthusiastic teachers should be approached. All others should be tactfully avoided.

Other than those requested by the school, additional LOR's are also recommended. Send no more than two, unless a third is absolutely extraordinary.

The following are excellent choices for additional LOR's:

(1) A college professor, (2) a high ranking military officer, (3) a member of the clergy, (4) the chairman or other officer of a major corporation, (5) a member of a volunteer organization where the student worked, (6) a parent of a handicapped student from volunteer work, i.e. Special Olympics, and, (7) a parent whose child the student tutored.

If the student is an athlete, any teacher is preferable to a coach unless they also teach a core subject such as English, Chemistry, History, or Math. The student should anticipate and be prepared for some teachers actually asking for an outline of what they should write. It is here that a resume would be most helpful. Give them one. (Your student has a resume, don't they?) And, if they meet the above criteria, I strongly suggest obtaining an LOR from a relative with a different last name.

LOR's written in languages other than English, should have the translation attached with a preface stating, "For your convenience, the following is the English translation of the attached letter."

Guidance counselors submit all LOR's originating from high school. Students must be cautioned not to submit any sealed or unsealed LOR's they obtain on their own or outside of school. An LOR from someone other than a teacher or guidance counselor should be sent by the person who wrote it – not the student, and should be addressed as follows:

Date:
[Name of College]
[Director of Admissions]
[Attn: Director's name – personalize it]
[Street or P.O. Box]
[City, State, Zip, Zip+4 if available]

RE: Student's Name
Dear Director:

Follow these instructions and your student will surely gain that all-important edge in the admissions game. And be sure not to make the fatal error of assuming that your valedictorian is guaranteed admission at their college of choice! You must never lose sight of the fact that in today's intensely competitive quest for an admission ticket, even the brightest students must put into play every card that strengthens their hand. In the admissions process, there is no such thing as shining too brightly!

www.paylessforcollege.com

Reecy Aresty has been a financial advisor since 1977. He has authored the critically acclaimed, "How To Pay For College Without Going Broke," an invaluable, parent/student admissions/financial aid manual. Arguably the most revealing book ever written on the subject, it is the only book of its kind also available in Spanish. In a career spanning more than three decades, Reecy has helped thousands of families send their kids to the school of their choice for less than they ever dreamed possible. Reecy has been interviewed by financial experts on radio and television, and by many of the nation's most respected publications including Money Magazine, US News & World Report, Bloomberg News, Scripps Howard, The Washington Post, Terry Savage (personal finance columnist for the Chicago Sun Times) and Consumers Digest. Recently, Reecy created The College Information Network™ including The High School Blog, The College Blog, Payless For College and The Way To College dot coms. A Google search for "Reecy Aresty" will result in thousands of links to sites all over the world that feature his articles, advice and methods. Reecy presents free seminars coast to coast, and his innovative appeal/negotiating techniques have turned unappealing award letters into millions of dollars of additional financial aid. Reecy's book is a warehouse of information that makes it possible for virtually any family to beat the colleges and the federal government at their own game. For further information contact Reecy Aresty at: 561.477.9639, or visit www.paylessforcollege.com, and never loose sight of the fact that, "The money to send a student to college IS available. Paying for college is the easy part. Getting admitted is the tough part. All the financial aid in the world is useless without an admission ticket."