How to Get the Most Out of Teacher Recommendation Letters
The applications of five students with similar grades, test scores, and extracurriculars landed on my desk. “Emily, we can add two more Biology students,” the Dean of Admission shared. “Would you mind presenting these applications to the Admission Committee and helping decide which students are the right fit?”
During my time as an admissions officer, I faced the same dilemma: how would we make fine distinctions between students with similar academic qualifications? The students would have strong grades in rigorous curricula and test scores that fell into our published ranges. They all took advantage of the clubs, sports, and volunteer opportunities at their schools.
At LogicPrep, we help students understand that one of the most overlooked – yet powerful – elements of the application is the teacher recommendation letter.
These letters often carry more weight than students realize, especially at selective schools where every detail counts. Teachers, who spend the most time with students, can share insights on students’ engagement in class discussion and the quality of their work product. Through recommendation letters, teachers can also shed light on who the student will be in a college classroom, information that is most helpful to Admission Committees.
It is important for students to ask the right teachers. When faced with the task of narrowing down students for the Biology Department, the Admission Committee would lean on letters from math and science teachers. Similarly, if we were narrowing down potential Creative Writing majors, we would put great emphasis on an English teacher’s recommendation. For students who were undecided, letters from one STEM and one Humanities teacher would provide the Admission Committee with the right perspective.
At LogicPrep, we encourage students to be intentional about forming relationships with their teachers – not just for recommendation letters, but as part of their overall academic growth. Choosing teachers who know the student well often results in more authentic, enthusiastic recommendations. One way to build these relationships is by staying after class to continue conversations on topics of interest, giving teachers the chance to see students’ curiosity and depth beyond course content.
In order to narrow down our group of Biology applicants in the Admission Committee, we focused on students whose teacher recommendations pointed to students’ engagement and intellectual curiosity. From the letters, we wanted feedback on whether the students sought opportunities to extend their learning and how they compared to their classmates. The students who stood out in our admissions process weren’t just qualified; they were vividly brought to life through their teachers’ letters.
At LogicPrep, we help students shape these moments long before senior year, ensuring their applications reflect not only who they are, but who they’ll become on a college campus and beyond.