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Templates for Writing College Recommendation Letters

March 30th, 2012

Do you normally use a template for writing a college recommendation letter? Did you know that a winning college recommendation letter template has five main parts, which are the:

  1. Salutation
  2. First Paragraph
  3. Second Paragraph
  4. Third Paragraph, and
  5. Conclusion.

That’s it! It does not require a lengthy letter to get accepted to college. Highlight the most important points and make it short and sweet.

Sample Template for Writing College Recommendation Letters

This template shows the format of a college reference letter which can be used by online college students also. Use it as a guide to make sure that all the important information is included.

Salutation: When writing a recommendation letter always include a salutation such as; Dear Dr. Smith, Dear Ms. Stevens, and so on. However, if you are writing a general letter without addressing it to a specific individual, say “To Whom it May Concern” or omit the salutation altogether and start with the first paragraph of the letter.

The first paragraph: In the first paragraph of the letter of recommendation you should provide information about who you are. However, don’t ramble on about yourself because the letter is not about you. Next, describe the person that you are recommending and what you are recommending him for. Also briefly explain how you know the person you are recommending and why you are qualified to write a college recommendation letter for this person.

The second paragraph: In the second paragraph provide supporting details about the qualities, abilities and qualifications of the person that you are recommending. So gather enough information about the person and learn about their accomplishments, talents, credentials and career goals. Here you want to give specific information about the person you are writing about, such as why you are recommending this person, whey they are qualified, and what they can contribute to the school.

The third paragraph: In the third paragraph, conclude your recommendation letter with a brief summary of why you are recommending this individual.

Conclusion: The concluding paragraph of a recommendation letter should include your contact information such as your phone number, email address and other contact information that you think is necessary. This way if additional information is needed, the school will have no problem contacting you for the information.

So this was it! Do you have a template for writing college recommendation letters that you would like to share? Please do so in the comment section below.

Five Steps to Getting Great College Recommendation Letters

March 26th, 2012

College admission offices take college recommendation letters very seriously, so it is crucial that you do your best to get the best letters of recommendation. Here are six steps to getting great college recommendation letters. Use these steps as a guide to make sure that your letter is the best it can be.

Step #1

Make It Easy

Have a chat with your guidance counselor or someone in the guidance office to find out how the school handles college recommendations, or handpick someone that you think is qualified to write a recommendation letter for you. If you are getting a letter from a school, the guidance officer will forward the teacher’s recommendations along with your transcripts and the school report to the college directly. Learn about the procedures beforehand in order to make the writing process easy for your teacher. The nicer you are to your teacher, the easier it will be for her to write a letter of recommendation.

Step #2

Decide which teacher you want to write your Letter of Recommendation

A very important part of your college application is the recommendation letter from a teacher that knows you very well. A good letter of recommendation will no doubt tell a good story about you — a story that shows all your good qualities and strengths. This is why you need to choose a teacher who knows you well enough and can highlight all your good qualities and who you know for certain will write a winning letter of recommendation for you.

Step #3

Develop Good Relationship with your teachers

The first thing you want to do is to establish a good relationship with your teachers before you approach them. In order for a teacher to write a good letter of recommendation, he or she will have to know a little about you. Be the first one to lend a helping hand in class and participate in class activities and discussions. Then make your choice based on your relationship with the teacher.

Step #4

Ask your teacher in advance for the letter.

Teachers are always busy and have lots of students to attend to and papers to grade. Don’t wait until the very last minute to request a letter. Choose an appropriate time and day when he or she is not so busy. If it is possible, request the letter of recommendation at least a couple of months in advance and way before the deadline.

Step #5

Ask Questions that will Change your Life.

Set up an appointment to meet with your teacher to talk about a letter of recommendation for college. Do not request it by email or over the phone. Let your teacher know that you have applied to college and would like to know if he or she would be willing to write a winning college recommendation letter for you. If you were a good student and have built a good relationship with your teacher, your teacher will be more than happy to give you a letter of recommendation.

Friends, try using these five steps to getting great college recommendation letters to get results.

A – Z of Writing College Recommendation Letters

March 19th, 2012

Do you know how to write a recommendation letter for college? What are some of the things that should be included? Don’t make the mistake of writing the letter without preparing first. Take a look at the A-Z of writing college recommendation letters. This letter can also be used by online college student as well.

How to Write a College Recommendation Letter

Before you start writing a college recommendation letter, gather enough information about the student. Try to figure out unique qualities or other things that you can include in the letter that will make the candidate stand out. Learn about things that the person likes to do or have accomplished, such as internship, volunteer work, extracurricular activities, and honors or awards.

Are You Capable Of Writing a Winning Letter of Recommendation?

One you have enough information about the person you should be ready to write a winning letter of recommendation. However, the first thing to keep in mind when writing a college recommendation letter is to be totally honest. Do not exaggerate the person’s capabilities. If you cannot be 100 percent honest, then simply don’t write the letter. Let the student know your reasons, then inform him or her that perhaps someone else might be a better choice and would do a much better job at writing the letter.

Overview of College Recommendation Letter

  • A letter of recommendation should be addressed to a specific person by name. Find out if there is a specific person that you need to send the letter to. If there is no one in particular, then send it to an appropriate position or committee.
  • Start by providing a little background information about the person and include your relationship with the person for whom you are writing the college recommendation letter and about how well you know the person also. For example, you can start off with something like this.

Dear Dr. Smith:

It gives me great pleasure to recommend John Smith to you. Mr. Smith worked with me at Gator Company Inc. for ten years, six of them under my supervision. We were also in the same management training program at the University of Silverstone. He has a strong work ethic an excellent personality, and so on …

  • Next, talk about factual information that shows the person’s skills, abilities, accomplishments, talents and experience. When writing a letter of recommendation, you should also include supporting details. This is the main part of the letter and should only take a couple of paragraphs. Keep in mind that a letter of recommendation should not go over two pages.
  • In addition, your letter should also show how this person will positively contribute to the school. If you know about any special accomplishments, honors, awards, volunteer work, or other achievements, be sure to mention them.
  • Conclude your college letter of recommendation with a brief summary. Remember, to always mention the college or the recipient of the letter.

Last & certainly not the least good luck to all our friends writing their college recommendation letters!

Survival Guide for Prospective Distance Learning Students

March 12th, 2012

For all those people out there who are planning to enroll in a distance-learning program but are worried and skeptical of the online degree environment and are not sure of how they can survive, we have compiled a small “Guide for Prospective Distance Learning Students.” You may know a little about online degrees but to survive you need to know more.

Here are a few things that you need to do in order to choose the best possible program and online school that can help you succeed as a distance learning student.

Select the Right Online School

The first and most important step in surviving distance learning is finding the best program at an accredited online school. Finding a good school is similar to finding the right campus program. When it comes to choosing a major, choose a field of learning that you are interested in and one in which you have already developed skills. When it comes to online schools, select a reputable online school that is accredited, has renowned faculty and preferably has a well-established traditional campus based program.

Explore Distance Learning Programs

Selecting the correct institution is an important step in making sure your online degree program is worth the effort and time that you are putting in. You need to explore potential schools in order to determine which online school has what is just right for you. Places to look include:

  • The school’s website
  • Education forums
  • Blogs
  • Internet search engines

Find Out about Distance Learning Colleges and Universities

Once you have narrowed down an inventory of possible distance learning colleges and universities that do extremely well in the major you are interested in, it is time to learn all you can about them and find out the cost of attending each distance learning college.

Following this, you will need to evaluate the admission process and requirements for online degree programs. A couple of important things that are at times disregarded are the support that accreditation and technical distance learning institutions offer. These two things are very important.

Surviving as a Distance Learning Student

Students wanting to survive in a distance-learning environment need to realize that distance learning requires as much effort as any other endeavor in education. Avoid rushing through subjects and spending undue amount of time on small matters, and reserve time in your day to finish coursework and attend online lectures and meetings. Those who follow these guidelines stand a better chance at surviving.

Distance learning colleges and universities offer the easiest way to earn an online degree. If you do your homework and research properly, you should be able to find a good online school that offers the major that you are interested in.

How to Find your Ideal Job?

March 8th, 2012

An ideal job is singular for every individual, and it shifts depending on a variety of variables. While quite a few of us discern at a given moment exactly what we want to do from an early age, others tinker a bit in various jobs until they find what they want. So, here are a few things that can help you find out what your ideal job is.

Looking For Your Ideal Job While Employed

The era when workers had one long run with a single employer has long since finished. Staying at a single job for an extended period can even be seen as a dark spot on a resume in some career fields. Consequently, it is a standard these days for employees to ponder career moves and ideal jobs while they are already employed.

Dream Job

How Online Degrees can help you find your Ideal Job

Ideal jobs come in all forms and ranges and are frequently more within reach than most of us believe. First on the agenda in pursuing your dreams entails making your mind up about what exactly is it that you fancy enough that you want to make a career out of. Investigate vocational preferences and prospective companies to find out what it is you truly yearn for. Know the leading fields and occupations that are out there and be conscious of the alternatives that are accessible for certain education levels. Then tailor your online degree to what is required by employers in your ideal job. Online degrees are suitable for this because you do not have to quit your current job to pursue an online degree.

Intern to find out your Ideal Job

Think about temporary work or an internship as a tool to research and try out diverse career paths. Internships and temporary work does not require you to build a lasting obligation and you get the chance to assess the merits of different careers that you are interested in.

Discover Facts about Various Careers

Learn what kind of online degree is suitable for applicants and what are the skills needed to work in these finds. Many online degree programs have websites that have career areas that outline certain career fields; this is a great place to look for information of ideal jobs. Trade journals and publications on certain industries can also provide valuable information. You can read books about your dream career or check out sites offering career advice on certain industries. If you have acquaintances in various career fields, you can discover information about different industries to see if they fit your parameter for ideal jobs.

While there are many exciting fields to pursue out there with lucrative career opportunities, the best way to find your dream job is to know your strengths and interests and the field that allows you to utilize these strengths and skills to the greatest advantage and then mould your education accordingly.

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