Letters of Reccomendation

tgfalcon17

tgfalcon17

10-Year Member
5-Year Member
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Aug 27, 2009
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For the three letters of rec that must be submitted in addition to the ones from our teachers, what is the format for those? I can't seem to find a format anywhere.

I would like to make the letter of rec process as easy as possible for the people that I ask.
 
I don't think there is an exact format for rec letters. Many people have a template that they use whenever they are asked to write one. I guess it would depend on who you are asking to write them for you. It should definitely be business style, so maybe you could make up a template with everything that you want and email that to them. I think that the best way would be to ask the people who are doing it for you. One of mine had written me a letter for something else, so he just used that same letter and made some changes.

Later,

Brian
 
3 others weren't required last year... unless you are talking about Nomination letters of rec.

I think you CAN send in 1 or 2 extra if you want, but they won't take like 15, that would be dumb.
 
I was getting a little concerned there for a minute.
3 more letters?! What?! PAPERWORK...:thumb:
 
The USAFA application page says,

While not required, you are highly encouraged to send in three letters of recommendation. These should be from people who know you well and who can provide insight into your character, leadership, and preparation for USAFA. They should not be from the three teachers who are completing our required teacher evaluations. DO NOT send in more than three letters, we will only consider three.
Click to expand...

This is stated just above the list of forms still required.

I believe that you can find a few copies of letters of rec for USAFA just by searching, "Letters of recommendation for USAFA" with any search engine, but I think that most of the letters that you will find will be for recommending candidates with prior military service.
 
Sorry I didn't mean "must be submitted." I meant the LORs you can submit to the Academy.
 
I didn't submit any letters of rec last year, and received an LOA. They are by no means required and most letters send probably have no bearing an appointment. However, a candidate should pursue everything and anything that might improve your app, so I say go for it.
 
tgfalcon17

As Pdub points out, the letters of recommendation are not required, and obviously are not needed to attain an appointment. But, they are an opportunity not to be missed -- and many candidates miss the statement you reference.

I think you should not worry about a "format." Read the statement again: the pertinent information is that you are "highly encouraged" to submit "no more than three" letters that are to give the board "insight" into YOU and should not be from the same teachers who evaluate you (by email in the process). Focus not on the format, but on the people you ask to write about you. Use this as an opportunity to give additional information about you, to the board. Note that they aren't asking for more recommendations from teachers, but from "people who know you well."

Look at it this way: all the other aspects of your application are in a "format" to compare you to all the other applicants. Even the teacher's recommendations are structured. This is an opportunity for you to have something completely unique about YOU, without a "format" that gives the person writing it complete freedom to speak about how YOUR "character, leadership and preparation" make you a great candidate for the Class of 2014. Will the letters be read? Yes -- your Admissions Counselor will read them and will get a better idea of who you really are. Will they have a bearing on the appointment? Who knows. But, it is your Admissions Counselor who presents your package to the admissions board and the person who becomes your advocate. Best of luck to you! :thumb:
 
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