Let’s cut right to the chase; applying for colleges or jobs require ample hard work and dedication. Organizations demand a well-rounded application that highlights grades, experiences, personal statements, etc. However, there is one aspect in these applications that is often downplayed and underrated, letters of recommendation. That’s right, these letters often are the differentiators that organizations are looking for. So the million dollar question is, when do you get these letters and who should you ask to write one? You know the drill, grab a snack and keep reading to find out.
Letters Are Not Handed on A Silver Plate
If you can understand what this header expresses, then great! You are already halfway done with this process. One of the major ways to get a letter of recommendation, is understanding the significance of what this will mean to the readers of your application. Yes, the grades and experiences are certainly laudable, but most programs don’t want just another person who excels academically or someone who can do multiple activities. Rather, they are yearning for people who have unique personalities and express themselves in ways like no other. Well developed letters of rec can punch your ticket into any program you wish. Ironically, you are not really in control of how these letters are developed. It is the person you ask that matters most, which leads into the question; who should you ask?
You should simply ask one or two teachers that know you very well. Now, this doesn’t mean just knowing you as a student, but also as a person. They should be aware of your interests and your true character values. They must know of your resilience and willingness to overcome obstacles. This may sound complex, but essentially think of it like you are asking a friend for a letter of rec. Obviously, if that person is a true friend they will really know you and be able to write a letter that positively articulates you in a nutshell. This complements the rest of your application sublimely and convinces the employers or administrators to strongly consider you.
Avoid asking teachers who are unfamiliar. This defeats the purpose of the whole process and won’t help your application in any way. One may ask then, how do you identify if a teacher knows you really well? You may not be able to control how the letter is developed, but you're certainly in control of the connections and relationships you make with your teachers. In high school and college, it is immensely vital to make meaningful connections with your teachers or professors. It may seem a bit awkward at first but trust me, it is all worth it in the end. It is much easier getting to know them in subjects you are very interested in. If you are a STEM person for example, you should definitely consider spending more time with teachers in those classes and attempt to join their research team or clubs if possible. These are all ways to help widen your connections and ensure that you have more people to speak highly of you.
Final Verdict
After reading this, I hope you got a gist of how instrumental these letters can be for your application. Remember, that when getting letters of rec you want to aim for the teachers that really know you well and not just the ones that gave you good grades. At the end of the day, all that matters is who you are and how you make your teachers aware of your abilities and potential. In this highly competitive world, it is no longer solely on grades that takes you places. It is who you know and what you do with these experiences that matters most.
- By Akash Sureshkumar
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