The document provides guidance on writing strong letters of recommendation for students. It states that the best letters illuminate a student's intellectual and personal qualities, speak to their strengths and goals, and show how they have grown. Strong recommendations focus on a few key themes about a student, such as their contributions to their community, special talents, or unusual maturity. The document uses examples of recommendation letters to illustrate techniques for providing a strong statement of support.

1. What Makes for a Great Letter of Recommendation?
The best counselor recommendation letters illuminate a student's intellectual and
personal qualities. They speak to the student's strengths and goals for the future, as
well as show how she's grown over her years in high school. While teachers can
discuss a student's performance in the classroom, school counselors may focus more
on the student's personal strengths and how she's contributed to the school
community.
Strong recommendations are focused and highlight the key characteristics of a student.
These recommendation letter examples, therefore, focus on a few main themes. The
first highlights a student's contribution to her community, the second focuses on a
student's special talent, and the third talks about a student's unusual maturity. After
each letter, we'll take a closer look at exactly what techniques these letters use to
express a strong statement of support.