Recommendation Letters for Students

Recommendation letters for students are written by a teacher or counselor on behalf of a student. The purpose of writing recommendation letters is to help describe the student and state the reason that shows why he is a suitable and deserving candidate. If a student approaches you for writing a recommendation letter, then you need to keep the following tips in mind.

Tips for Writing Recommendation Letters

When you are approached for writing a letter of recommendation for students, you need to ask them for providing you with the application form. You need to understand the college or job the student wants to apply and draft your letter accordingly. The recommendation letter should be addressed in an appropriate way, especially when you need to write the letter on a separate sheet. If you cannot find the name of the contact person, you can use 'Dear College Admissions Representative' or 'Dear Sponsorship/Job Selection Committee'.

You need to introduce your creditability and relationship to the student. You need to state your position or designation and how you know the student. In case of an application form, you need to answer all the question honestly and thoroughly. You should state the students intellectual capacities, character or even leadership abilities. In the closing paragraph, mention your contact information. You can state that you are available to answer all the additional questions regarding the student.

After you finish writing recommendation letter for students, proofread the entire document. Make sure there are no punctuation, spelling or grammatical errors. The letter should be sealed officially with a school stamp or unofficially with your signature and date across the envelope flap. The letter should be either sent directly to the college or handed over to the student along with the other application forms. The following example will help you draft proper recommendation letters.

Example of Recommendation Letters

Sample Recommendation Letters for Students

[School/College/University Letter Head] Name of Sender Address of Sender Phone Number Fax Number E-mail Address Date Name of Recipient Address of Recipient Dear (Name of Recipient) or To Whom it May Concern, Paragraph One Here you need to introduce yourself and the student. You need to mention the project undertaken by the student that shows the academic progress of the student. Paragraph Two This paragraph goes into the details of the project and the analytical skills of the student. You need to explain how and when the student carried out the project study. You need to show the logical and relevant explanation and results the student came up within his/her project/study. This paragraph is a follow-up of paragraph two, where you show the written and oral communication skills of the student. You need to show that the student is a team player and give a valid proof to back your point. In this paragraph you write about the students personal nature. You should write the student is hardworking, well-disciplined, industrious student with a pleasant personality. You need to show the student is highly motivated individual who will not back away from taking a positive initiative. Paragraph Three This is where you speak about recommending the student for the program or college applied. You need to tell the reader that the student will get a chance to grow academically if given a chance by the prestigious institute. Closing Statement You can close the letter with a statement that says in case of any further assistance, or any further information needed, you can be contacted by the authorities. Yours Sincerely, [Signature] Your Name Designation

This sample letter of recommendation for students gives precise information regarding the students capabilities and highlights why the student should be admitted to the higher learning program. You should always make copies of the recommendation letter, just in case the student needs it again. A typical recommendation letter should not go beyond two pages. Do not mention the students weakness and mention the capabilities that have documented evidences. Also, do not include the students personal information like their Individual Education Program score or other similar test scores. Remember, your recommendation letters for students will help make the future of the student bright. I hope this article on recommendation letter has helped you polish your letter writing skills for a persuasive evaluation.