Building A College Portfolio: Tips for High-Quality Letters of Recommendation
So far, in our Building A College Portfolio series, we’ve shared some of our favorite tips and ideas for you to share with your clients about how to get your students started on building a college portfolio, how to create a top college résumé, the best ways to display creative works, and (last week’s post), how to create a compelling college essay to WOW college admissions.
To round out our Building A College Portfolio series, we’ll end on the topic of letters of recommendation. We’ll go over advice for students on what types of letters of recommendation they should be looking for and the ideal number to submit in their college portfolios.
For tutors, we’ll talk about best practices to follow when writing letters of recommendation as well as tips on how you can write more effective letters of recommendation for your clients.
Why are Letters of Recommendation Important in a College Portfolio?
Letters of recommendation are clutch; they provide a more comprehensive view of the applicant from a reputable adult’s perspective. Teachers, coaches, tutors, mentors, and employers all have a different, unique point of view and relationship with the applicant and can attest to the strengths and skills that they feel the student has shown in a variety of environments and situations.
What Makes a Good Letter of Recommendation?
The most impactful letters showcase the students’s potential for excellence and offer insights into their character and personality.
It’s important for the person writing the letter to be someone who knows the applicant well and can provide a detailed account of how the student has progressed and excelled while in their charge. Without an established relationship between the student and the writer, the letter will most likely come off as generic and detached., so students should be seeking letters from someone with whom the student has a strong rapport with who can provide a personalized recommendation that speaks of the student’s ethos.
What are the Best Types of Letters of Recommendation for a College Portfolio?
High school students are advised to submit 2 to 3 letters of recommendation with their college applications.
Here are the top 3 types of letters of recommendation they should have in their college portfolio:
1. Academic
Academic letters of recommendation are typically written by teachers or tutors who have taught the students in an academic setting. This type of letter should cast a bright light on the student’s educational journey: academic achievements, intellectual interests, and diligence when faced with an academic obstacle.
The best academic letters of recommendation are from teachers and tutors whom the student has built a relationship with. A teacher who has taught the student for more than just one class or a tutor who has worked with the student for a year or more are people who can speak of the student’s academic integrity and educational growth with ease.
2. Extracurricular
These letters are written by coaches, club advisors, or teachers who have worked with the student outside of the classroom. Extracurricular letters of recommendation should attest to the student’s ability to be a team player (and not just in sports!), leadership skills, and dedication to the sport/club/activity. While extracurricular letters of recommendation should speak to the student’s personal contributions and individual skills, they should also illustrate the student’s teamwork and communication skills.
If the student is involved in a multitude of extracurriculars—lacrosse, chess club, environmental club, chorus, national art honor society, orchestra—they need to select the extracurriculars they’ve played a key part in and also illustrate a unique aspect of the student’s skill set and achievements. If the student is trying to get into a school for music education, a letter from the chess club advisor probably won’t mean as much as a letter from the orchestra teacher.
3. Personal
Personal letters of recommendation are written by people who know the student well outside of school and extracurriculars. A mentor, employer, or community leader—an adult who has a strong rapport with the student and can attest to the student’s character and unique abilities. A student who takes private music or art lessons may get a letter of recommendation that speaks of their creativity and skills; a student who helps with community projects may get a letter that demonstrates the student’s leadership skills or initiative; and a student who has been employed at the same establishment for a decent length of time may get a letter that illustrates their ambitions or reliability.
Any of these types of letters of recommendation would highlight a student’s strong character and allow an admissions committee to get a better sense of who that student really is both inside and outside of school.
It’s important to note that the quality of the letters of recommendation is more important than the quantity. It’s better to have fewer, high-quality letters of recommendation than many mediocre ones.
Best Practices for Tutors Writing Letters of Recommendations for Clients
Whether you’ve written many letters of recommendation for your clients or not, it’s important to keep in mind the following best practices:
Know the student well: It should go without saying, but if your brand new client walks through the door and asks you to write a letter of recommendation, tell them to hit the brakes. Write a letter of recommendation only if you know the student well and can provide specific examples of their work, attest to their work ethic and academic progress, and can speak of their character. In that regard, be selective about the clients you write letters for.
Be honest: Be honest in your assessment of the student’s abilities and potential. Don’t exaggerate or embellish their achievements. If a client who misses more tutor sessions than they attend asks for a letter of recommendation, only write what you know to be true.
Be positive: Emphasize the student’s strengths and potential. Avoid negative or critical comments. This may be hard to do for a client who has not made many improvements or has only displayed mediocre work and very little care, but if you’re willing to write the letter, try your best to find and highlight their strong suits.
Be specific: Provide specific examples of the student’s accomplishments and character traits. This will help the admissions committee get a better sense of who the student is. If you can show the student’s progress with data, even better!
Be professional: Use a professional tone and format when writing the letter. Address it to the appropriate person and include your contact information.
Proofread: Proofread the letter carefully for grammar and spelling errors.
Submit the letter on time: Make sure to submit the letter by the deadline specified by the college or university.
Extra Tips for Making Your Letters of Recommendation Compelling and Effective
A letter of recommendation is an opportunity to showcase your client’s strengths and academic potential. By following the best practices we’ve mentioned, you can help the student put their best foot forward in the college application process.
Additionally, taking the time to really highlight your student’s unique qualities and skills will not only provide a deeper look into the student’s educational journey but also provide more context for the college admissions panel when considering the applicant.
Highlight the student’s unique qualities: What makes that student special? Have you noticed that your client always helps other students during group sessions when they finish early? Do they show an intellectual curiosity and are eager to challenge themselves? Have you noticed that they put forth their best effort in every session even when they hit a snag in their progress? Highlight any exemplary qualities that you’ve seen and explain what sets them apart from other applicants. Doing so will help the admissions committee get a better idea of who the student is and see them as a valuable addition to their college community.
Provide context: We all keep anecdotes and track our students’ academic development with data. Providing these extra details can give further context to the student’s academic progress and accomplishments. Explain why these data points and notable observations are impressive, what they show of the student’s academic growth, and how they relate to the student’s future goals and aspirations.
Letters of recommendation provide a unique perspective on the applicant and can attest to their strengths and skills in a variety of environments. The most impactful letters showcase the student’s potential for excellence and offer insights into their character and personality. It’s important for the person writing the letter to know the applicant well and provide a detailed account of how the student has progressed and excelled while in their charge. Let’s help our clients put their best foot forward in their college application process.
We hope that you’ve enjoyed our Building A College Portfolio series and that our tips and ideas for your students will help them create stellar college portfolios to submit to their dream schools!
Building a College Portfolio Series:
Traditional and Nontraditional College Essays That Get Applicants Noticed
High-Quality Letters of Recommendation Give College Portfolios a Boost
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