Letters of recommendation and essays

When you apply to a college or university, it’s common for the school to ask for one or more letters of recommendation. For some colleges it may be required, and others it may be an optional addition to the application.  

Your teachers and employers use these letters to describe their experiences with you. They can also help admissions officers understand who you are and how you may impact the campus. 

If applying to a specific academic program, letters of recommendation can be especially important. For example, they can make a difference in an admissions decision to a competitive nursing or engineering program. 

While some colleges have strict rules about who should write the letters, others are more open. If given a choice of recommenders, use the following as a guide: 

Teachers: Always ask someone who knows you well to write your recommendation. Ask a teacher from a subject in which you excelled or even from one in which you struggled but eventually did well. These choices will show the admission reader how hard you will work to overcome obstacles. 

Coaches/Organization sponsors:  These people saw you outside of the normal classroom setting and can share information about different skills. For instance, a coach can write about your ability to work as part of a team. A sponsor can share about your artistic ability, your organizational skills, or leadership ability. Getting this insight can be valuable to colleges that are looking for students with these qualities. 

Employers: Employers may write about your work ethic, dependability, and customer service abilities, which can help you if you are trying to get into a program such as business or nursing. 

Colleges generally look for letters of recommendation from these sources to share details of the skills they look for in their prospective students. 

• Avoid asking for a letter from well-known or influential people who don’t know you well. It’s important for the writer to be able to give specific examples to expand on your academic and extracurricular strengths. 
• Don’t ask to see the letter before it’s sent or ask what the person wrote after its submission.  
• If a school advises you not to submit additional letters of recommendation, then don’t. You don’t want to give the admissions officers extra materials that are not requested.  
• Give your writer(s) at least a two-week period to craft a strong letter and be sure to thank them for their time. 

If you are interested in selective colleges or universities, it is likely that they want you to send an essay or personal statement. This is an opportunity for you to make a difference at decision time.

Your essay reveals something important about you that your grades and test scores can't – your personality! It can give admissions officers a sense of who you are, as well as showcase your writing ability.  

Colleges require different essay prompts, so make sure to check their application or website for the correct writing assignments. If you're applying to colleges through ApplyTexas, then you'll see the following essay prompts: 

Essay A: Tell us your story. What unique opportunities or challenges have you experienced throughout your high school career that have shaped who you are today? 

Essay B: Most students have an identity, an interest, or a talent that defines them in an essential way. Tell us about yourself. 

Essay C: You’ve got a ticket in your hand. Where will you go? What will you do? What will happen when you get there? 

• Write about something that’s important to you. It could be an experience, a person, a book, or anything that has made an impact on your life. Make it personal to you and showcase who you are. Avoid writing too much about someone else and stay on topic 
• Open strong. A strong opening paragraph that captures the readers’ attention is important. Make the admissions staff reading your essay curious about what they'll read next
• Start early and write several drafts. Take time to ask yourself questions: Is the essay interesting? Does it reveal something new that isn’t already in my application? Do the ideas flow logically and address the prompt? 
• Proofread. Correct grammar, punctuation, and spelling are essential, so proofread several times after you’ve finished. Then ask a teacher, coworker, or even an admissions officer to give it a quick read, too

Read more: Writing tips and essay examples from College Essay Guy