1. Recommendation Letters
KHS Counseling Center

2. What are Recommendation Letters?
Recommendation Letters are letters written by your counselor, teachers, coaches, and even outside sponsors.
Recommendation Letters are NOT written by family members.
Recommendation Letters talk about YOU and make you shine!
Recommendation Letters do NOT list our grades or activities, those items can be found on your transcript or your résumé.
Recommendation Letters DO discuss your academic scholarship, your leadership skills, and your moral character.
Recommendation Letters

3. When do I need Recommendation Letters?
You will need Recommendation Letters ONLY when colleges request them.
If you apply through CommonApp, Recommendation Letters will be required. SendEdu applications depend on the individual school, so they might require a letter.
Most highly selective schools will require Recommendation Letters.
If you are placed “Under Review” by the college admissions personnel, you will need to send in Recommendation Letters for further review.
When you apply for scholarships, you will need Recommendation Letters.
If you apply to an Honors College or a special program, you will most likely need a Recommendation Letter.
Specialized schools, programs, or scholarships (such as Fine Arts Programs or specific schools within the university – like a School of Engineering) will want Recommendation Letters from the sponsors/coaches/teachers in that area.
Recommendation Letters

4. When Do I Need Recommendation Letters?
Do NOT send Recommendation Letters if they do not request them. They will NOT read them and it will slow down the admissions process!
Recommendation Letters

5. What is included in Recommendation Letters?
Examples of Your Scholarship:
How are you a scholar? In what areas do you excel? How are you different academically from all of the other candidates applying?
An example of your scholarship will be needed…give lots of details! Give a specific situation.
Recommendation Letters

6. What is included in Recommendation Letters?
Examples of Your Leadership:
How are you a leader? In what areas are you a leader? How have you impacted the school/local community by being a leader?
An example of your leadership will be needed…give lots of details! Give a specific situation.
Recommendation Letters

7. What is included in Recommendation Letters?
Examples of Your Moral Character:
How do you act with character and moral conviction? In what areas do you display your moral character? How have you impacted the school/local community by demonstrating your moral character?
An example of your moral character will be needed…give lots of details! Give a specific situation.
Recommendation Letters

8. How Do I request a Recommendation Letters?
After checking that you need a recommendation letter, you need to:
Get a Student Profile from the Counseling Center or download it here from the KHS Website.
Fill it out completely. Give as many examples as possible.
Turn in the Student Profile to the Counseling Center no later than 2 weeks before the application deadline.
Recommendation Letters

9. What is on the student Profile?
List of Schools Requiring a Recommendation Letter, the application deadline for each school, and what method of delivery (CommonApp, SendEdu, or mail).
Your Intended Major
Teachers you will be requesting a Recommendation Letter from
Recommendation Letters

10. What is on the student Profile?
Questions about your Scholarship (including examples)
Adjectives that Describe you Academically
Questions about your Leadership (inside and outside of KHS, including examples)
Adjectives that Describe your Leadership
Questions about your Moral Character (including examples)
Adjectives that Describe your Moral Character
Have you overcome any significant obstacles?
Recommendation Letters

11. What is on the student Profile?
Questions for your parents:
What motivates your child? How would someone notice this?
Explain how your child reacted to any unusual circumstances or situations in the family. (Ex – the death of a loved one or a move)
What makes you proudest of your child? Give examples!
Will your child be a first generation college student?
Recommendation Letters

12. Recommendation Letter Information and Deadlines
Once a Recommendation Letter is written, your counselor will upload it to CommonApp, SendEdu, or will mail it.
Once a Recommendation Letter is written, we can print it and copy it/ it/upload it at any time!
Remember deadlines! They will not be extended for anyone.
Remember holidays – we are off too!
Recommendation Letters

13. Recommendation Letter Information and Deadlines
College Application Deadline
Student Profile to Counselor
November 1
October 16
January 15
December 15
November 15
February 1
December 1
February 15
January 31
November 30
March 1
January 1
March 15
Recommendation Letters

14. Recommendation Letters
KHS Counseling Center