What are we going to do today? Hopefully,

• 1. Give teachers a better understanding about how important their student recommendations are for student admission and scholarship consideration, and,

• 2. Assist faculty with ethical considerations with regard to writing these recommendations, and,

• 3. Help the staff understand how recommendations to some schools can be a “difference maker” for certain students.

$58,000+ X 4 =

almost$240,000!

(Cost of attendance at Sarah Lawrence)

The Art of Writing a Recommendation

Why Write Recommendations for Students?

• Admissions • Scholarships

• Summer Programs / Enrichment

Programs• Advanced Classes• (There may be

other reasons)

Central High School

• The College Board -

Designs / deals with AP Exams,

the SAT, the PSAT and the CSS Profile,

among other things

Is a member of three professional organizations:

1.The College Board

2. NACAC

3. SACAC

NACAC• – they develop

ethical standards of practice for educational institutions,

sponsor college fairs, and offer

professional development opportunities

NACAC- The National

Association of College

Admissions Counselors is a

professional organization made up of

many colleges, universities, and

some high schools (mostly

college prep)

SACAC

• SACAC – The Southern Association of College

Admissions Counselors, affiliated with NACAC, does

many of the same things but, in addition, offers many

localized, area, PD opportunities (such as

“Nuts & Bolts” for Counselors)

Admissions / Scholarship -The Common Application• https://www.commonapp.org/Commo

nApp/default.aspx• Teacher Recommendation

• NOT all schools use (nor accept) the Common Application

• Slightly more selective schools – member list on website

The Common Application

Colleges That Use It Are …• Generally more

selective schools;• Those that usually

require several recommendations;

• (Examples of such colleges are UTK, Vanderbilt, Rhodes, Sewanee, Emory, Duke, all the Ivies, etc.)

Schools That Don’t Are …• A bit less selective;• Many times state

schools such as the U of Memphis, SWTCC, UTK, TSU, Ole Miss do not use the CA

• (Please note: in certain circumstances, some of these MAY ask for a recommendation for admission).

NACAC and SACAC BOTH strongly suggest that

students “waive their rights” to review your

recommendation – if they refuse, you should not write the recommendation, and

inform the student; the Counselors will be happy to

intervene and discuss individual cases with a

student.

The Student waiver of Rights

• Students may opt to check:–“Yes, I waive my right to

access….recommendations”, OR–“No, I do not waive my

rights to access….” – (if they select this one, it’s time to tell them NO and send them to us)

Recommendations

• When students come to you and ask for a

recommendation, they really want a strong one written. If you feel you cannot do this, please

suggest to the student that they ask another person…

• BUT

Possible Legal Ramifications

• We have a college preparatory Optional School within the school at large, and

• There is some evidence that we are obligated (maybe moving toward a legal obligation) to provide a student, enrolled in a college prep program, with a college recommendation of some sort• (Please consult with the student’s

Counselor )

Some “Code” Words for Recommendations (college application

readers will know what you mean!)

• Strong Recommendations:

• I enthusiastically recommend…

• I most highly recommend…

• I heartily recommend…• I strongly recommend…• (AND REITERATE WHY! -

student is a leader; student is mature; student is organized….)

• Lukewarm Recommendations:

• I recommend with reservation…

• I recommend…..

• “Recommendations” for other students:

• With some assistance, I think this student can be successful….

• If this student seeks out the help that she / he might need, I think….

• This student was in my class…

Admissions and Reading a Student’s Application

• Colleges that require one or more written

recommendations generally use a

holistic approach to reviewing a

student’s total application; they

look at:

• 1. What the student says about her/him self.

• 2. What the recommenders have to say about the student

• GPA, tests scores, rank

• Strength of schedule *

• Activities• Writing ability

(essays, tests scores)

Two Weeks Notice!(or more)

• The Counselors will warn the students and parents about deadlines

• We recommend a minimum of two weeks notice, and you may tell students that you require MORE notice• Stick to your guns! Do not write

the “last minute” recommendations, or the

floodgates will be opened for all!

Ask to See:*Student Resume, and / or

*Senior Data Sheet (if applicable), or

*List of Accomplishments (and who can verify them)

Teacher Written Admissions Letters / Scholarship Letters

• 1. NEVER let a student review or handle the letter, unless it is in a sealed envelope; ditto for allowing parents to get their child’s letter – letters generally should be sent by you

• 2. Letters should be typed, using school letterhead, or completed online

• 3. Admissions letters / scholarship letters - usually the same

4. Content for letters• 5. Generic letters for college• 6. The Common Application (Teacher

Recommendation)

Content of Teacher Recommendations

School Report• This is the

Counselor Recommendation

• Mentions Rank

• Mentions GPA• Mentions

strength of schedule

Teacher Recommendations• Should NOT repeat

too much of the Secondary School Report

• Should explain how teacher knows the student

• Should relay how student performs in teacher’s class

• Should mention something remarkable or unique about the student

A Note About the Common Application

• The beauty of the use of the Common Application is that it only has to be completed one time by the student and recommenders

• The student submits her / his parts online

• The teacher writes (types) the recommendation and gives to the Counselor

• The Counselor collates the material, copies it, then sends to all schools selected

Important Note!

• NOTE: • It is a good idea for

teachers to let Counselors know

that you have written a

recommendation for a student; this

way, we KNOW that all materials have been sent to the

college(s) in a timely fashion

These Teacher

Recommendations are hugely important, so teachers should take

plenty of time writing

and reviewing

them

Please note:

• We have seen some very poor, hastily written student recommendations the last few years. This cannot happen if the we want our students to be considered for admission and scholarship to some of these highly selective colleges. PLEASE take your time with these – if you would like to do so, you may email the recommendations to us for constructive critique.

Online Option (for last second recommendations)

If you decide to write for a student who brings you her or his material at the very last second, the online option (as opposed to the typed – handed in to Counselor version) might be best for you to use

*Drawback – the Counselor may not be able to review it with you, nor

assist you, with this version

In Summary

• Tell the reader what YOU know about the student

• Tell the reader something unique about the student – some way the student contributed to YOUR class

• It is not necessary to repeat the student’s GPA and / or ACT scores

• Please expect from the student the Senior Data Sheet and / or a resume, AND at least two weeks’ notice to do a recommendation

• Please, if you tell a student you will do a recommendation, do so in a timely fashion

• If using the Common Application, please turn in the Teacher Recommendation to the Counselor for review, copying, and sending IF you choose not to do it online.

Hosted by: The Counseling Department

(Google “Memphis Central High School”; click on “Counseling” to the right)

Grades 10 – 12 Counselors:

• Mrs. Tanya Ayers• Mr. Lance

Allred• Mr. Andy

Prewitt

Grade 9 Counselors:

• Ms. Tranese Nelms• Ms. Kimberly

Gray

YOU ARE IMPORTANT!

• College admissions folks remind us each year how important what YOU say

about the student in your recommendation is for the student being considered

for admission and /or scholarship ; as always, THANKS for all you do!