COLLEGE RECOMMENDATION?

Question

how many pages, words and paragraphs should a college rocommendation for high-school students, who want to get into a good college, be?
Thank you

Answer 1

A letter of recommendation shouldn't be more than a page long. It should be probably 4-5 paragraphs.

Answer 2

If the college application itself does not offer guidlines, then anything goes. I saw a couple of my letters of recommendation for college and they both were a little over a page long -- one was about a page and a half and the other ran onto the second page by a few lines. I thought they were great, and I ended up getting into all four schools I applied to.

Something like 500-750 words is probably typical. 4-7 paragraphs should be fine, but that's just a rule of thumb. If there is more ore less to be said about the student, then that's fine too.

Recommendations tend to be glowing for most people who stand a chance at getting into top schools, so as long as the admissions people are able to check off some box that says "teacher strongly recommends this student" rather than "teacher was lukewarm," the student will be fine (and judged on the remainder of the application) .

Answer 3

You have received three solid answers. Approximately one page should be sufficient, but it is quality and not quantity that counts. You want teachers and others who write letters to say they recommend you without reservation, and who can provide at least one example of something exceptional you have done.

Good luck

mg

Answer 4

I don't really think that length matters. If your teacher, or whoever is writing the recommendation, can summarize how perfect you would be for the school, then so be it (well, not literally - I don't think a sentence would be too impressive, but I think you get my drift).