To Whom It May Concern: Writing College Recommendation Letters

Other than the Disney movie Up, Toy Story 3 is the saddest Disney movie.  I sobbed when Andy went to college and left all his toys behind.  It didn’t help that my son’s name is Andy.  As parents, we want our kids to go to college, we do.  But, it is just one of those places in life where a chapter definitely ends so a new one can begin.  Parents want this college thing to happen, but so do teachers. 

For the past week, I have been writing Letters of Recommendation (or LORs) for many of the Juniors who I taught last year.  I have actually written 20 so far, and expect to write at least 10 more.  And while it has added to my workload greatly this week, I am happy to do it.  This is it.  This is what these kids have been preparing for and getting ready for the past 4, even 12, years of their lives.  This is what their parents have been doing everything they possibly could do to see come to fruition.
 

Now, I do think that no one is really reading the letters that I write.  But, what if someone is?  What is my glowing letter of recommendation does play a role in getting my student into his dream school?  So, I do put some thought into what I write for each student, hoping it does help.   

As I write these letters though, I do hope my students let me know when they do get into these colleges.  I also hope they thank me for writing these letters.  I hope they thank their guidance counselors.  I hope they thank all their other teachers who have gotten them to this point in their lives.  I hope they thank their parents.

And I hope they have a fabulous time in college!