Recommendation or References

Most universities and colleges ask for teacher/lecturer recommendations. The reason they ask for their opinions is because teachers/lecturers get to know you personally and academically. For the most part their comments are fairly positive. So I'm going to take a leap here and say that you won't have a difficult time finding someone to say something positive about you. In fact, most admission officers will tell you that positive recommendations are about the only kind they read. That's the good news; the bad news is that it doesn't help you stand out very much. So what type of recommendation does help you stand out?

A good recommendation:

• Talks about the depth of your commitment and doesn't simply provide a list.
• Provides examples and mentions your work ethic.
• Gives the reader a good sense of the type of person you are and what others think of you.
• Discusses your contributions to the classroom environment.
• Usually tells the college to accept you-strange as that may seem. (It doesn't mean they will, by the way but the thought is nice.)

Now I am not suggesting that you tell the person who recommends you what to say, but following the advice above does narrow down the list of whom you might ask. Why? Because some teachers know you better than others. Some can talk about your contributions better than others. And the ones who know you best might not be the ones who give you the best grade.