Academic Letter of Recommendation


The term academic recommendation refers to a letter written by a teacher, guidance counselor, or school administrator on behalf of a student.  Academic letters of recommendation are often required as part of a college's or university's admissions process.


An academic letter of recommendation is a one or two page document usually written by a former teacher, advisor, guidance counselor, or school administrator.  The letter should highlight academic achievements, career aspirations, and provide insights into the student's character.

Students applying to college may be required to provide one or two academic letters of recommendation as part of the admissions process.  While the student's transcript and standardized test scores can provide information on their academic knowledge, the letter of recommendation is used by the admissions department to help validate their data-based perspective on a student.

Ideally, the letter should be written by a person that is familiar with the student's strengths.  If possible, the letter should talk about specific assignments or outstanding results the student achieved while in school.

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