The letter of recommendation makes up an important part of your university application, with many college admission officers placing it in higher importance than your class rank, extracurricular activities, and even your subject test scores. The best strategy to receiving a strong letter of recommendation is to develop relationships with your favorite teachers – become an active participate in their class, show interest, communicate with your teacher periodically through email, and most importantly, do well in their class. You need to be a student they remember and know well in order for them to write a creative, detail-packed letter of recommendation. 

Remember to first meet your teacher in-person and ask for permission about getting a letter of recommendation before sending the email. During your meeting, explain why you need the letter - for various university applications in the US and Canada. If you are applying to an Early Decision or Early Action program, it is also helpful to let your teacher know if there is any urgency. Most importantly, it is important to review the universities you are most interested in, because some of them require letter of recommendations from core subject classes. Diversify your letters as well, try to choose one class that emphasizes writing and research, and another that utilized your analytical skills.

After your teacher agrees to support your education abroad, it is important to send a follow-up email within a few days. Teachers are busy professionals – they may have to grade hundreds of student papers in addition to managing their classroom and helping other students with letters of recommendation. By following up through email, your teacher will have a friendly reminder to complete the letter and understand your commitment to pursuing a university education abroad.

Here is a sample email you can send: 

Dear Mr./Mrs./Ms. __________,

Thank you for offering to write me a letter of recommendation for my university pursuits abroad. The competitive undergraduate business programs I am applying to offer a valuable educational experience and align with my dreams of completing a Bachelor of Finance program. I will never forget our Economics course where you introduced me to Austrian Economics and allowed me to pursue my own research regarding the role of the Federal Reserve in the United States banking system. Your classes had a large influence on making the decision to pursue an economics degree, and I hope to professors that employ your creative teaching methods that continue to influence my approach to research and writing. 

Best regards,

[Your Name]

Attached is an example letter of recommendation that does a great job in promoting the student’s strengths in detail:

To Whom It May Concern:

It is my pleasure to recommend Ramesh Patel for admission into the University of Michigan as a candidate for the Bachelor of Arts in Urban Planning degree. I taught two courses that Ramesh was my student in: “International Urban Development and Planning History,” and “Urban Public Center Planning Design.” During both courses, Ramesh showed great enthusiasm for the subject and provided exceptional work. Students like Ramesh are one of the reasons I enjoy my job as a professor, as he is a very hard-working young lady with excellent ability. Ramesh not only produced great assignments, but also collaborated well with other students in the class. I certainly enjoyed Ramesh as a student, especially how he put extra effort during project assignments and went out of his way to help others.

In the Planning History course, the curriculum required a mixture of historical reading, elaborately decorated landscape maps, and plenty of research. On several of his assignments, I could see the effort Ramesh put into the quality of the writing and information contained within the reports. One of the projects he turned in focused on the spatial pattern during various periods of Florence, Italy, and Nanjing, China. The idea for such a project was extremely creative, and his results proved that he completely understood how space in these ancient cities evolved over time. Furthermore, his project proved the need for conversation and protecting historical sites. 

His final presentation in the Public Center Design course was very impressive, and a legitimate example of a student working beyond my expectations. Leading his team of 11, they put together an interactive environment to display a working model of an urban planning scene. As it provided a good argument to increase tourism, city services, and walkability, the overall project was a success. Ramesh showed his enthusiasm, work ethic, intellect, and made all his teammates happy. In both courses, I was satisfied with his work and proven his leadership ability. I witnessed how diligent he was during the projects and how creative he was to provide solutions. 

Without hesitation, I am proud to confirm my recommendation of Ramesh Patel once again for entrance into the Bachelor of Arts in Urban Planning program at the University of Michigan. Please contact me if more information is necessary.

Yours sincerely,

Mrs. K

Delhi International High School

New Delhi, India

Email: mrsk@delhi.edu

Cell: [phone number]