# Expert Shares Tips About Best Letter Of Recommendation For College Applications **Creator:** Kidsstoppress **Platform:** youtube **Duration:** 4m **Source:** https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qdymkErtdqY ## Summary The discussion emphasizes the importance of letters of recommendation (LOR) in college admissions, particularly in the U.S., where they provide insights into a student's character and potential beyond academic performance. The challenge arises when students feel pressured to present themselves in a way that aligns with the expectations of more prestigious colleges, which may not reflect their true selves. - Every student has a college that fits them well, regardless of rankings. - A disconnect occurs when students apply to colleges that don't match their true selves, leading to pressure on LORs. - Letters of recommendation should authentically reflect the student’s character from a third-party perspective. - Recommendations can come from anyone who knows the student well, not just high-profile figures. - Admission officers value genuine insights over inflated claims in applications. - Counselors and teachers have established reputations with colleges, making their recommendations significant. - Mediocre academic performance can be offset by strong character and contributions to the school community. - Authenticity in LORs is crucial, as admission officers can discern between genuine and fabricated endorsements. ## Transcript [[0:00]](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qdymkErtdqY&t=0s) the fact that there is a college out there for everyone. >> The disconnect or the dissonance happens where you know you're a fit for a certain college but you want to go to another college which is say better rated more popular bigger brand and then that requires the letter of recommendation to describe you in a certain way which you are not which is why an L is such an important piece of document and information for a college admission office. The point of disconnect is >> the letter of recommendations. How does a student who is interested in his subject still crack the L without having been the best? [[0:32]](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qdymkErtdqY&t=32s) >> You know, again, this goes to the very idea of the fact that there is a college out there for everyone, >> right? And being able to find that college where you will thrive and you will do well is where we want to bring all of this to. And I think a lot of school counselors who are familiar with admissions understand this idea. The disconnect or the dissonance happens where below you know you're a fit for a certain college but you want to go to another college which is say better rated more popular bigger brand >> right and then that requires the letter of recommendation to describe you in a certain way which you are not. [[1:08]](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qdymkErtdqY&t=68s) So the the the the the problem the conflict is not you know you're not a good student and therefore uh your letter what should a letter of recommendation say the point of disconnect is you are not what you want the college to believe right so I think if you take that out of the way what a letter of recommendation should seek to do is describe you the way you are but from a third person's point of view which is why an L is such an important piece of document and information for a college admission officer. In India, we don't really care for references or recommendation. Most colleges don't have that. Most organizations don't care for it. But in the American society, I think it's a very important source of information about you because all the entire application is about you talking about yourself. [[1:53]](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qdymkErtdqY&t=113s) >> Now, we have an letter of recommendation from two different people who know you. >> Yeah. >> Or who you believe know you well. They are giving their perspective, right? Their side of the story. And what it has to do is be able to bring out who you really are. Of course, your your your self, your positives. U it doesn't have to come from a principle always. It doesn't have to come from specific individual. Say if you're doing an internship, it doesn't have to come from the CEO of the organization. It has to come from someone who knows you well enough. Someone who spent time with you, somebody you've connected with well, somebody who understands why you're doing what you're doing and what you know. So those are things that I think you need to bear in mind when you're looking at a letter of recommendation and in some way it corroborates the story that you're telling in the admissions office and that's where the disconnect is most stark and apparent cuz you can lie your way through a common app and your entire application but as a teacher you know with some eth ethics and morals attached to that profession they're not going to lie for you unless you know there are schools in India where the teacher will say write the letter of recommendation I'll come and sign it >> but Those never work. Admission officers know which letter is written by a child and which letter is actually written by by a counselor and counselors have also have a reputation. They've built relationship with colleges because they've you know written those letter of recommendation for decades. So they know >> schools have started colleges have started knowing counselors and what they say about certain kids. [[3:23]](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qdymkErtdqY&t=203s) when they haven't heard this counselor ever >> right so you can be mediocre academically but you are you know you're someone who the teacher feels has helped the school's school or the community of the school in some way that's a great information point they're seeking because the grades are already evident >> you're an you're an average student is already evident >> I'm trying to figure out beneath the surface >> parenting tips, celebrity interviews, recipes, conversations with experts, DIYs, and lots more.