If you’re unsure how to write a letter of recommendation, start by telling the admissions committee something about the applicant that they’re unlikely to glean from a résumé or transcript.

“During my 25+ years in college admissions, I've read letters of recommendation from alumni, celebrities, CEOs, mayors, senators, governors, kings, queens, and George (Bush Jr & Sr and Lucas).

When writing a recommendation, a recommender should do more than confirm that a student has talent. For an admission office, talent is pretty easy to identify, and something that every student ...

Even for the highest-achieving first-generation students, counselors were less likely to include details about things like ...

Each year, the National Association for College Admission Counseling does a survey of colleges on their admissions practices, and the data show that letters matter. According to the most recent survey ...

One of the most important elements of a college application is a letter of recommendation from an educator. Because college admissions offices take this part of the application seriously, it’s ...

Re “Ruling limits affirmative action” (June 30): Kudos to the Supremes for their ruling on affirmative action. Hopefully, race will not be a factor in college admissions. May I suggest that … ...