To better understand the role of letters of recommendation in admissions, we talk with admissions officers and check the Common Data Set. The Common Data Set is a transparent window into colleges and universities; one area of data collected is an explanation of the criteria for first-year admissions. 

Some of the most popular schools for our students rank teacher letters of recommendation in the highest tier of importance in the application review. Miami University, Denison University, North Carolina State, Northwestern University, University of Chicago, University of Notre Dame, and most of the Ivies rank letter of recommendation as “Very Important.” 

Many schools value letters of recommendation in the second tier as “Important” to the application evaluation, including Case Western Reserve University, the Ohio State University, Purdue University, University of Michigan, and Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology. 

And still other colleges consider the letters of recommendation, especially when the letter benefits the student’s chances of acceptance. Students should know that even when the letter of recommendation is listed as an “optional” part of the application, schools still use the content of optional letters. In this competitive admissions climate, it is essential that students provide their teachers with the most thorough information. 

Letters from teachers or counselors that simply repeat the student’s resume or list of activities do not positively influence the admissions decision. However, letters that add new information or specific insights about the student as a learner can be incredibly helpful. For this reason, we recommend that students follow these steps. 

Steps to a strong letter of recommendation

First, check your colleges to know how many letters of recommendation are required or optional. You may only need one or two strong letters. You can find this information on the Common App and on the college’s admissions website. 

Then, ask your teacher in person.

If the teacher asks for a resume or “brag sheet,” you should provide this information, but more is needed.
Follow-up with an email to express your gratitude and give them this additional information to help them compose their letter.

1. Your list of schools and application deadlines.
2. A sentence that explains why you’ve asked this teacher (I’ve been in your classes twice… You inspired me to…)
3. A favorite memory from the class (could be a tradition or a fun memory)
4. A favorite academic lesson or something specific that you learned from this teacher (I love Robert Frost now; you finally made poetry make sense to me!)
5. Something you accomplished in their class that makes you proud (I am so proud of this test score or the paper I wrote about…)
6. Three specific words or phrases that describe you as a student 

At Class 101-Dayton, we help our students research the colleges where letters of recommendation will add value to their applications. Here are some of the colleges on our students’ application lists this year. 

Colleges that report Letters of Recommendation as “Most Important” (Level 1)

Denison University
Johns Hopkins University
Miami University
North Carolina State University
Northwestern University
University of Notre Dame
University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill 

Colleges that report Letters of Recommendation as “Important”  (Level 2)

Case Western Reserve University
Ohio State University
Purdue University 
Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology
University of Dayton
University of Michigan – Ann Arbor
University of Tampa 

Colleges that report Letters of Recommendation as “Considered” (Level 3)

Clemson University
Georgia Institute of Technology
Indiana University
Ohio University
South Carolina University
University of Cincinnati
University of Georgia
University of Kentucky
University of Pittsburgh
University of Tennessee