For an EOP recommendation, you should secure one letter from an academic counselor or teacher and a second letter from an individual who can speak to your potential for success in college.
Choosing Your EOP Recommenders
Securing strong letters of recommendation is a crucial step in your EOP application process. You will need two distinct types of recommenders to provide a comprehensive view of your capabilities and potential.
The Academic Recommender
Who to Ask: This recommendation must come from an academic counselor or a teacher.
Focus of the Recommendation: The primary purpose of this letter is to comment on your academic preparedness for university academic work. This individual should be able to speak to your scholastic abilities, study habits, intellectual curiosity, and performance in a classroom setting.
Examples of Suitable Academic Recommenders:
- High School Teacher: Someone who has taught you in a core subject (e.g., English, Math, Science, Social Studies) and can attest to your engagement, critical thinking skills, and academic growth.
- Academic Counselor: Your school counselor who has an overview of your academic transcript, course rigor, and overall readiness for the challenges of higher education.
Tips for Selecting Your Academic Recommender:
- Choose someone who knows you well beyond just your grades. They should be able to provide specific anecdotes or examples of your academic strengths.
- Select a teacher whose class you actively participated in and where you demonstrated significant effort or improvement.
The Character/Potential Recommender
Who to Ask: The second recommendation can come from an individual who can comment about your potential to succeed in college. This person does not need to be an academic professional.
Focus of the Recommendation: This letter should highlight your non-academic qualities, character, and potential to thrive in a college environment. They should be able to speak to your perseverance, leadership, maturity, responsibility, community involvement, and ability to overcome challenges.
Examples of Suitable Character/Potential Recommenders:
- Coach: If you participated in sports, a coach can speak to your discipline, teamwork, and resilience.
- Employer/Supervisor: Someone you have worked for who can describe your work ethic, reliability, and problem-solving skills.
- Mentor: An adult who has guided you through a project or personal development and can attest to your growth and commitment.
- Community Leader or Volunteer Coordinator: If you've been involved in community service, this person can describe your dedication, initiative, and impact.
- Extracurricular Advisor: An advisor for a club or organization where you've shown leadership, collaboration, or specific talents.
Tips for Selecting Your Character/Potential Recommender:
- Choose someone who has witnessed your personal development and can offer insights into how you handle responsibilities, interact with others, and pursue your goals.
- Select an individual who can provide specific examples of your determination, initiative, and unique contributions outside the classroom.
Practical Tips for Requesting Recommendations
To ensure your recommenders can write the strongest possible letters, follow these guidelines:
- Ask Early: Approach your chosen recommenders well in advance of the application deadline, ideally at least 2-4 weeks before. This gives them ample time to write a thoughtful and detailed letter.
- Provide a "Brag Sheet" or Resume: Furnish them with a document that includes:
- Your academic transcript (unofficial is fine).
- A list of your extracurricular activities, volunteer experiences, and work history.
- Any specific achievements, awards, or challenges you've overcome.
- Information about the EOP program and why you are applying for it.
- Details about your college aspirations, intended major, and career goals.
- The specific deadline and submission instructions for the recommendation.
- Clearly State the Purpose: Explain that the recommendation is specifically for the EOP application and what aspects of your character or academic performance they should emphasize.
- Waive Your Right to View: It's generally recommended to waive your right to view the recommendation, as this assures admissions committees that the letter is a candid assessment.
- Follow Up Gracefully: Send a polite reminder a week or so before the deadline if you haven't received confirmation that the letter has been submitted.
- Express Gratitude: Always send a thank-you note or email to your recommenders after they have submitted their letters.
Summary Table of EOP Recommender Types
| Recommender Type | Who It Can Be | Focus of Recommendation | Key Qualities to Highlight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Academic Recommender | Academic Counselor, Teacher | Your academic preparedness for university work | Study habits, intellectual curiosity, performance in challenging courses, analytical skills, written/verbal communication, classroom engagement |
| Potential Recommender | Coach, Employer, Mentor, Community Leader, Volunteer Coordinator | Your potential to succeed in college | Perseverance, leadership, maturity, problem-solving, initiative, time management, commitment, resilience, interpersonal skills |
