Letters of recommendation hold substantial weight in college admissions’ decisions. In addition to transcripts and test scores, colleges want to build a complete sketch of a student’s character and his/her ability to be a successful and contributing member of their institution. Teacher recommendations help to give colleges a portrait of how a student is likely to perform academically in the future and provide contexts for students’ past achievements. A strong teacher recommendation brings the applicant to life for the admissions officers and provides them with a more holistic view of the candidate. Letters of recommendation may even be a determining factor in helping students who have less competitive grades or test scores. A well-written and thoughtful letter can provide invaluable information and make impressions on college admissions officers that cannot be derived from the rest of application alone. [Read More]

Colleges ranking systems and lists have been around since the first colleges were established. The demand for rankings is as pervasive as ever in the US. Each year, private companies publish college rankings. However, much like rankings for the “best jobs,” the “best movies of all time,” or the “greatest songs of all time,” they are highly subjective and they do not often reflect the interests, needs, or preferences for every student or applicant. Simply because a job is listed on Money Magazine’s list of “America’s Best Jobs” does not mean that we should all pursue a career in dentistry. The ranking of colleges are designed in much the same way. [Read More]