What Is a Letter of Recommendation, and Why Do Colleges Want Them?

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What are the letters of recommendation that college applications often require? The short answer is that these are letters from reputable individuals who vouch for your abilities. Anyone could write anything on their college application form, and schools don’t want to be duped. It’s a lot easier to trust someone when there are confident letters of recommendation from teachers, employers, and others.

But does the letter of recommendation really matter? The answer is a resounding yes. In fact, if you come highly recommended (especially from respected individuals), this may be one of the top factors in receiving an acceptance letter. It can be what makes you stand out from a stack of other students with similar qualifications.

Who should write your letter of recommendation? The college may have some requirements. If they leave it a little more open for you, just be sure that the person knows you well and is familiar with your record, work ethic, and character. With that in mind, a school may request several different types of letters of recommendation:

• Academic – This is usually a teacher or counselor.
• Professional – If you are already part of the workforce, this would be a supervisor or colleague.
• Personal – This could be a friend or family member. Remember, the goal here is to learn about your character and values.

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