Aditya Birla World Academy at University Guidance Conference-2016

3. Recommendation Writing Workshop
Dr. Sonia Soni -
July 2016

4. DR. SONIA SONI
HEAD -Career Guidance Counsellor,
Psychology Faculty - International Curriculums.
Aditya Birla World Academy
Vastu Shilp Annexe, Gamadia colony, JD Road,
Tardeo, Mumbai 400 007
 Doctorate in clinical psychology
Practicing counselling for the past 11
years.
 Certificate in College Counselling
UCLA
 Teaching IB psychology for the past 8
years
 4 years’ experience as an IB examiner,
doing extended essay in Psychology
and World Studies. (IA moderation)
 Script marking. (paper 1, paper 2 and
paper 3)
 Certificate Program in college
admissions & career planning
(University of California LA)

5. • How are letters of recommendations used
by the admissions officers?
• Who really reads the recommendations?
• What qualities make a letter of
recommendation effective?
ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS

6. ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS
• What is the purpose of a letter of
recommendation?
• Which colleges require letters of
recommendation?
• Do I have to write a letter of recommendation
for a student?
• How much credence do colleges place in
teacher recommendations?

8. RIGHT SUBJECTS +
RIGHT CURRICULUM=
THE BEST FIT COLLEGE

9. YOUR STUDENT AND HIS
COLLEGE CHOICE?
WHAT’S IMPORTANT
A COLLEGE OR
A COURSE?
WHO DECIDES?

10. Your performance at every level of education
will play a large part in determining your
CAREER CHOICES.

11. we’ll help you do it
It’s easy when you have the
right people around you

12. WRITING
LETTERS OF
RECOMMENDATION
MANTRA:
SHOW, DON’T TELL

13. Letters of Recommendation are Important
•Statement of support for a candidate.
•Providing sufficient evidence and
information to help a selection committee
in making its decision.
•Allows the reader to get a clear idea of
what the person is “really” like

14. How schools look at
1.Indian schools ; 1-d view of who you are
2.In UK; 2-d view,
3.In USA; 3-d view
Dr. Sonia Soni HEAD - Career Guidance Counselor,
Psychology Faculty - International Curriculums

15. Indian schools like IIT would like to see only a
one dimensional view of candidate, that is
entrance exam score.
Universities in UK need Grades and SOP.
US Universities want to know every thing, all
about the candidate, from 9th grade onwards.
A 3-dimensional view
That is where programs like Honors, MOS and
SEP come in.

16. Reflects Strength of the Student
Intellectual ability/curiosity
Originality
Critical thinker
Technical skills
Ability to incorporate new
ideas
Leadership ability
Initiative
Work ethic/ hard working
Maturity
 Communication skills (verbal
& written)
 Academic performance
 Honors and awards
 Integrity/ reliability
 Willingness to follow lab
policy
 Ability to work with others
 Ability to work independently

17. General Tips for Your Letters
1. 1 OR 2 PAGES
2. Font 12 point
3. Bold or italicize important information
4. Add personal remarks/ stories
5. DON’T FORGET TO PROOF READ!!!!
6. Include your contact information
7. Keep copies for your records

18. What helps
• Provide specific information about the applicant
• Mention how the writer knows the applicant
• Give examples of what the applicant has done.
• Why the applicant would be a strong candidate for the
specific University.
• Place the student in a larger context.
• Mention specific strengths.

19.  QUALIFY YOUR ADJECTIVES
 PROVIDE SPECIFICS
 MAKE THE LETTER EVALUATIVE
 RELAY CLASS INVOLVEMENT
 BE HONEST, MAINTAIN CREDIBILITY
 WRITE A PAGE AT LEAST
DO’S

20. What’s Not Helpful!
•Short, uninspired or non-specific letters
•Generic letters
•Summary letters of scores, class rank, etc.
•Faint or undocumented praise
•Letters telling about yourself
•Letters implying criticism.

21.  WRITE THREE PAGES
 MENTION PHYSICAL APPEARANCE
 WRITING ABOUT YOUR CREDENTIALS
 MERELY PROVIDE A LIST OF ADJECTIVES
 REPORT APPLICANTS ACTIVITIES AND GRADES
 AGREE TO WRITE A LETTER WITH ONE DAY’S
NOTICE
DON’TS

22. WORDS
MATTER…
gifted
trustworthy
diligent
garrulous
determined
scholarly
inventive
zealous magnanimous
sophisticated
unassuming

23. • Don’t fake it with faint praise
• Admissions officers can “read between the
lines”
• Advocate for your student using whatever
examples you might have
• Don’t write just to be “nice”
NOT A BUBBLER?

24. RECOMMENDATION WRITING
RESEARCH
• Interview the student
• Highlight examples of personal/ academic
strengths
• Discuss papers/projects of which student is most
proud
• Discuss student’s passions
• Give examples of risks taken

25. • Introduction
• Academic Achievement/Performance
• Character/Attitude
• Future
• Conclusion
STRUCTURING LETTERS OF
RECOMMENDATION

26. Teacher vs. Counselor
What’s the difference?
• Teachers speak to
first- hand knowledge
and observations
• Counselors present
the “big picture”
“I really expect a teacher to address what type of student
we are dealing with in an academic context while the
counselor might address issues that deal with life outside of
the classroom.”
Admissions Representative – Northwestern University

27. QUALITIES AND ADMISSIONS OFFICER LOOKS FOR
ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT
ENGAGEMENT
MOTIVATION
IMPACT
CREATIVITY

28. Student approach to the subject?
Contributions of the student to the class?
Student responded to challenges & opportunities?
What would this student bring to the University?
 How would this student gain from the University?
QUESTIONS ASKED

29. • Student voice within the essay
• Teacher letter of recommendation
• Counselor letter of recommendation
Each voice takes on a different tone.
Three Voices Need to be Heard