Find Funding for College 19: Letters of Recommendation

This continues our series on preparing reusable materials to get money for college

Most financial aid application packets will require you to attach letters of recommendation to your application. Some people wait to obtain letters of recommendation until they complete the application. They fail to request reusable letters they can attach to multiple applications. They hesitate to ask permission to change the address and salutation lines of the letter. Forethought can enhance the quality and power of your letters of recommendation. You need 5-8 letters.

Sources of Letters of Recommendation

You may ask a variety of people to write you letters of recommendation. You may begin collecting letters before you begin applying for financial aid. Several people can provide you with excellent letters of recommendation:

• School leaders: teachers, coaches, counselors, principals, and club advisors
• Community leaders: directors of organizations you lead, serve, or join
• Work leaders: your supervisor, manager, business owner, client, or supplier
• Church leaders: your pastor, youth pastor, teachers, and others
• Influential people you know: family, friends, and corporate executives

The former dean of admissions for the Harvard Medical School advised “Most students ask someone that knows Harvard to provide a letter of recommendation. You need to ask someone that Harvard knows. That’s impressive.”

Tips for Great Letters of Recommendation

Your letters of recommendation attest to your character, personal traits, themes, and reasons you deserve the financial aid. The following tips can help you obtain great letters of recommendation:

• Offer to draft the letter for them to edit or change in any way they wish
• Ask an English teacher to review and edit the draft of the letter you prepare
• Provide letter writers with home run statements that apply to your work with them
• Ask for letters from advisors and service project recipients at the time of service
• Ask for an e-copy of the letter on electronic letterhead for more impressive images
• Scan hardcopy letters so that you have an electronic copy with letterhead
• Keep letters to one page with three parts: introduction, body, conclusion

Wednesday we will discuss how to put reusable materials into an application process