Sample Letters of Recommendation (LOR) from Our Counselors
School counselors and teachers play a huge role in helping Indian NRI Students get into college. The very important contribution of counselors in Indian NRI Students application journey is the Letter of Recommendation.
It goes without saying that the letter of recommendations should be effective, as they are key to students application. Here are some points and examples of letters for your reference:
The characteristics of a good letter are that it illuminates student’s intellectual and personal qualities. It gives out student’s strengths and goals and how has been approaching towards achieving them. Teachers talk about student’s performance in the classroom, school counselors may focus more on the student's personal strengths.
Counselors must focus on different themes to write the Recommendation Letters. Let’s look at some of the important themes:
1. Highlights a student's contribution to her community.
2. Focuses on a student's special talent
3. Student's unusual maturity.
Recommendation Letter Example #1: Highlighting Contribution to School Community
Dear Admissions Committee,
It is my pleasure to recommend Rajesh for admission to your undergraduate program. As his school counselor for the past six years, I have witnessed the contributions that Rajesh has made to our school community. Not only is he an excellent and hard-working student, but he has dedicated himself to enriching the lives of students and faculty around him. Rajesh is truly special for his compassion and commitment to helping others.
Rajesh has committed himself specifically to bringing mental health awareness to the school. After enduring the tragedy of losing a family member to suicide, Rajesh devoted himself to bringing greater education about mental health into the curriculum. He said that he wanted to break the stigma around these discussions. Rajesh found a branch of the Mental Health Foundation's Live Laugh Love Club at the school. Rajesh has helped bring in speakers to address the school as a whole, held events, and led campaigns about the devastating effects of bullying. While he started out high school on the reticent side, he has since grown to have a powerful voice in our school community, speaking up for what he believes in and proving himself to be an impassioned and inspiring leader.
Rajesh plans to study psychology in college and would like to work in the field of psychology, social work, or non-profits. His academic accomplishments are especially impressive in AP Psychology and the humanities. Rajesh's teachers describe him as an insightful, sensitive, perceptive, and diligent student. He has truly proven his resilience and strength through the challenging circumstances in his life. The hardship Rajesh has faced has motivated him to advocate for mental health awareness as a core aspect of our school's climate and curriculum. Rajesh's efforts around bullying prevention and social-emotional wellness will continue to nurture our students' well-being long after he's graduated.
Rajesh has my enthusiastic recommendation. He is a kind, compassionate, intelligent, and strong person who has a clear sense of direction and purpose. I am confident that he will bring the same warmth, support, insight, and hard work to his college classes and social community. Please do not hesitate to contact me for any further information.
Sincerely,
Ms. Srishti
School Counselor
The Break Down
Letter shows the enthusiasm Ms. Srishti has recommending Rajesh. She uses very positive language. She focuses on his people skills and how it has help the school community.
In the letter, Ms. Srishti also talks about Rajesh’s personal like and also lists down his personality attributes. We can clearly see how Ms. Srishti has used Rajesh's past achievements to provide a vision of his future contributions on campus. Such explanations help Students create an impact on the admission committee. This is the most common theme used by counselors to write Letter of Recommendation (LOR).
Let look at the second theme: Highlighting Special Talent or Skill. This letters will emphasize on topics like arts, specifically to acting and singing.
Recommendation Letter Example #2: Highlighting Special Talent or Skill
Dear Admissions Committee,
I am excited to provide this letter of recommendation for Brett, or should I say Hamlet, John Proctor, or Erik (of Phantom of the Opera lore)? Bhushan has established himself as a bit of a theater star in these parts, where he's made our fall dramas and spring musicals come to life in his moving and memorable starring roles. Outside of school, Bhushan is also involved in the local theater group. Bhushan is an incredible actor with contagious enthusiasm and a passion for storytelling. He has my highest recommendation for admission into your theater program.
For Brett, theater is as essential to his day to day life as breathing. He has been passionate about creating characters and singing his whole life and was involved in school plays throughout middle and high school. He is deeply committed to his craft, having taken acting classes and singing lessons and been involved in local theater groups for most of his life. Bhushan has an incredible stage presence and equally excels at comedic and dramatic roles. Not only does he give subtle, nuanced performances in which he disappears entirely into his character, he also has an incredible singing voice and is involved in the school chorus. While he is certainly a talented individual, Bhushan doesn't rest on his natural gifts. He has put in countless hours to improving his craft.
Bhushan especially excels in his English and history classes, which he says are his favorites for the stories and insights into human nature. He reads widely, which he told me helps him get a more complex sense of people's characters, feelings, and motivations. Outside of the classroom, Bhushan volunteers with drama matters after school at the Boys and Girls Club, working with children to help them express themselves through the arts. He has said that performing has helped him gain a greater understanding of himself and others and build his self-confidence. He loves having the opportunity to bring that experience to the kids he works with. Bhushan is enthusiastic, fun, sensitive, and driven. He's been a delightful presence both in and out of the classroom.
Everyone here at Lincoln High School, myself included, is excited to see Bhushan continue to commit himself to the study and performance of theater. While the arts can be a competitive field to make a name in, Bhushan has the singular commitment, drive, and passion to develop his talents to the utmost. He has my enthusiastic recommendation, and I can't wait to see what dynamic and challenging roles lie in Bhushan's future.
Sincerely,
Ms. Sankeertana
School Counselor
The Break Down
This theme focuses more on Bhushan’s talent and also describes how driven, committed, and passionate he is, who's made a big impression in the school community. Ms. Sankeertana emphasizes on how Bhushan didn’t rest on his natural talents, but rather he worked hard and committed to improving as a performer.
Letter also emphasizes on his passion for theater, along with his strong hold in English and history. Ms. Sankeertana also gives examples of acts which Bhushan participated in and describes his dynamic sense as an individual.
Ms. Sankeertana has written letter in such a way that it portrays Bhushan’s commitment to theater and his enthusiasm towards it. It spotlights Bhushan’s best skills with grace.
Recommendation Letter Example #3: Highlighting Maturity
Dear Admissions Committee,
It is with great pleasure that I write this letter of recommendation for the truly exceptional Laila. It is rare to meet a student with as much compassion and self-awareness as Laila. Her resilience, positivity, and humor are especially astounding given the challenges she has overcome in her life. As a refugee of war, Laila's strength of character has not only helped her adapt to a new home, culture, and language, but it also serves as an education and inspiration to others. Given the depth of her experiences and her sophisticated understanding of world events, Laila has an unusual maturity beyond her 17 years.
Laila experienced the violence and upheaval of war in her home country of Syria. Her family lost their business and home before moving to the U.S. with the help of the UN. Her extended family remains in her home country, often off the grid of communication. Throughout these unstable and uncertain times, Laila tirelessly committed herself to her education while balancing part-time jobs to help support her family. She spoke little English upon arriving here in 9th grade, and immediately dedicated herself to studying English and conversing with her peers. Now she is not only fluent, but also a gifted storyteller. She promotes dialogues as president of our school's Arabic Club, and she strongly believes in the power of education to create peace and reduce inequity.
I'm truly amazed with all that Laila has accomplished, and I feel that she is one of our most determined, caring, and balanced students. Her enthusiasm is contagious when you speak with her, as her face lights up when she speaks about her friends, family, education, and ambitions for the future. I've been especially impressed by her fearlessness in making friends and participating in class. Laila speaks with maturity and sophistication about world events and talks about her desire to promote multicultural understanding and peace among all. From the events, including hosting powerful speakers and movie nights, she's organized through Arabic Club to her active participation in her classes, Laila has already contributed a great deal to the school in pursuit of these goals.
The challenges that Laila has faced have truly made her a uniquely strong and courageous individual. Her resilience and optimism have served her well as she has moved between cities and countries, and they will continue to serve her well in college and her future life. Laila has my highest recommendation. I know that she will continually impress you with her involvement in the school community, her international perspective, her unshakeable resilience, and her focus on her academic and career success. I am excited to see how far her educational and professional journey will take her in the future. Please call me if you have any questions.
Sincerely,
Ms. Jessica
School Counselor
The Break Down
This theme puts more focus on student’s personal life and how has he made it to the point where he is. The main positives portrayed are resilience, adaptability, and sophisticated world view of the student. Ms. Jessica very articulately shares student’s personal story to give insight into how impressive student’s success has been.
Similar to Rajesh's letter, Ms. Jessica shared Laila’s personal story to give insight into who she is and experiences she has had. The letter is enthusiastic and talks very high about the student’s maturity level.
Discussing a student’s maturity when compared to their age is beneficial as it adds a dimension to the student's application that may or may not be present elsewhere. Letter helps present a complete version of the Laila and what she'll accomplish at college.
Above mentioned are the themes which counselors can use to write the Recommendation Letters for their Indian NRI Students. Or Indian NRI Students can write for themselves and then can get it approved by the counselors.
Leave your queries at [email protected] for further assistance. We'll respond you there.
Leave a Reply