名校申請競爭越來越激烈，單從GPA、託福、SAT幾個硬體指標已經很難拉開差距，課外活動和文書又存在過度包裝的情況，招生官也迫切需要更多視角對申請者的評價來篩選學生，因此，推薦信在錄取中的作用也就越來越重了。但是什麼樣的推薦信才是有效的呢？近日，MIT招生官給大家分享了一篇推薦信寫作指南，分享給大家，希望能幫到正在準備申請的同學。
由於我們面臨高度競爭的申請者群體，推薦信在我們的錄取決策中佔有重要的權重。一封針對傑出申請者的精心撰寫的推薦信可以展示出超出其自我推介的令人印象深刻的特質。
麻省理工學院推薦信寫作指南
學校升學顧問和教師的推薦信在具體且有故事性的情況下最為有效。這些評價應提供招生官從申請的其他部分無法獲得的資訊和印象。請儘量全面地勾勒出學生及其成就的背景。儘可能用事實和軼事支援您的結論。
請嘗試在評價中回答以下問題：
1. 您與申請者的關係背景是什麼？如果您對申請者瞭解不深，只能寫簡要總結，請說明這一點。
2. 申請人是否表現出課堂學習外的求知探索欲？
3. 申請者是否具有任何特別的能力、才能或領導才能？
4. 申請人對什麼事物特別有熱情？
5. 申請者與教師和同齡人之間的互動如何？描述他們的個性和社交能力。
6. 您對這個人最深刻的印象是什麼？
7. 如果您瞭解MIT，您為什麼認為MIT與這個人非常契合？他們如何融入MIT社群並從MIT的經歷中成長？
8. 申請者是否曾經歷過失望或失敗？如果有，他們是如何反應的？
9. 是否有任何我們需要了解的特殊家庭或社群情況？
請特別注意推薦信的開頭和結尾。請記住，我們會閱讀超過30,000份申請，我們非常重視那些能讓我們在評估每位候選人時記住的強有力的陳述。在此基礎上，請用讓您感到舒適的方式書寫，不要害怕提供你誠實的印象。我們只在尋找有力的讚美，但前提是這些評價有例項支撐，並給出背景，闡明學生成就背後的原因。最重要的是，確保超越學生的成績和學業表現。我們可以從申請的其他部分獲取這些資訊。
在MIT的招生過程中，推薦信是保密的。
推薦信示例及點評
David的教師推薦信：
我非常高興能夠推薦David申請麻省理工學院。他是我20年教學生涯中遇到的最非凡的學生之一。去年我教授David的AP微積分，他作為10年級學生，在一群大多數為12年級的優秀學生中名列前茅。他對數學有很高的天賦，並且在學習中投入了很多精力，努力工作，常常超越常規的課堂作業。
然而，David持久的興趣是計算機科學。他開發了一系列“練習題”，用於提供計算機化的基本技能和技術的複習，最近又將這些應用到其他科目。David在這一領域的工作原創且重要，以至於他發表了一篇論文，並在全國其他地方向專業人士進行了多次講座。這對任何人來說都是一個了不起的成就，尤其是對一個來自阿肯色州鄉村的年輕人而言。同樣值得注意的是，去年和今年，David還在我一個10年級的班級中教授計算機程式設計，為期兩週。他完全接管了課程，認真準備講座、作業和測試。他的講座條理清晰、組織良好，顯然他付出了巨大的努力，使得這門課程取得了成功。
David的個人品質與他的智力成就同樣令人印象深刻。他非常友善、敏感和理智，過去幾年來他經歷了一段困難的家庭狀況。他在母親與癌症鬥爭期間為她提供情感支援，但並未因此影響自己的穩定和成就。他已在這個小社群中耗盡了我們能為他提供的一切，他所展現出的成熟讓我相信他能夠提前一年進入大學，正如他現在所計劃的那樣。我真誠地希望你們能為他提供麻省理工學院新生班的名額。
原文：It is a great pleasure for me to recommend David for admission to MIT. He is one of the most extraordinary students I have encountered in 20 years of teaching. I taught David A.P. Calculus last year as a tenth grader, and he was one of the very top students in an extremely able group of mostly seniors. He has a high aptitude for math and was very much involved in his work, applying himself with persistence and dedication and often going beyond the regular class assignments.
David’s abiding interest, however, is computer science. He has developed a series of “strands” for use in providing computerized drill and review in the basic skills and techniques of algebra and arithmetic and has recently adapted these to other subjects. David’s work in this area has been so original and significant that he has published a paper on it and delivered several lectures to professionals in other parts of the country. This is a phenomenal accomplishment for anyone, especially a young man in rural Arkansas. It is also worth noting that both last year and this year David taught computer programming to a tenth-grade class of mine for two weeks. He took over completely, preparing lectures, assignments, and tests with great care and thought. His lectures were clear and well organized, and it was obvious that he had expended a great deal of effort to make the course the success that it was.
David’s personal qualities are as impressive as his intellectual accomplishments. An extremely kind, sensitive and sensible boy, he has had a difficult family situation for a few years now. He provides emotional support to his mother through her battle with cancer without allowing the situation to undermine his own stability and accomplishments. He has exhausted all that we have to offer him in this small community, and the maturity that he has demonstrated leads me to believe him capable of entering college a year early, as he now plans to do. I sincerely hope that you will be able to offer him a place in MIT’s freshman class.
評析：優秀！這封推薦信充滿了來自明確瞭解這位學生的人的評論。我們不僅能清楚地感受到大衛的智力能力，還能感受到他的情感成熟。他對計算機程式設計的真正熱愛在這位老師的描述中顯而易見。我們也意識到他在社群中推動學術邊界，為自己創造機會，這一點對尋求提前一年入學的候選人尤為重要。
Jen的教師推薦信：
Jen是我一門以12年級學生為主的物理課的學生。她在高中的11年級學了物理，並且是一位優秀的學生。透過努力學習，她對課程內容有了良好的理解。
Jen也具備值得稱讚的個人品質。在我認識她的兩年中，我從未發現她不誠實或不可信。在一次考試中，我在她的試卷上犯了個對她有利的評分錯誤，儘管這導致她的測試成績降低，她仍然主動告訴了我。
總之，我認為Jen具備學術和個人素質，能夠為她選擇的大學增光添彩，因此我毫無保留地推薦她。
原文：Jen was a student in one of my predominately senior physics classes. She took physics her junior year in high school and was a good student. Through hard work, she was able to develop a good understanding of the subject material.
Jen also had personal qualities that are commendable. In the two years that I have known her I have never known her to be dishonest or untrustworthy. Once on an exam paper I had made a grading error in her favor. She brought this to my attention even though it resulted in a lower test grade.
In conclusion, I feel that Jen has both the academic and personal qualities to be a credit to the college of her choice, and I give her my recommendation without reservation.
點評：我們每年收到成千上萬這樣的推薦信。它雖然全是積極的，但並未對候選人提供實質性深度內容。在這種情況下，讀者可能會感覺作者在拼湊話語。誠實和可信賴無疑是值得讚揚的品質，但在全球頂尖大學申請者中並不罕見。我們在尋找令人信服的錄取理由，因此有關課程內容的資訊對候選人並沒有幫助。雖然Jen可能是個勤奮的學生，但我們大多數申請者也是如此。儘管評論是積極的，但很難抓住任何具體的事例來增強候選人的競爭力。這是否是故意輕描淡寫？在學校裡，Jen與其他（更傑出？）候選人相比比如何？
Mary的升學顧問推薦信：
Mary透過參與校報和年鑑的工作，給學校社群做出了多方面的貢獻。坦率地說，我對她的進取心、創造力、決心以及在全學業負擔下安排課外活動的能力深感佩服。我從未聽Mary抱怨她的工作量，也從未見她拒絕分配給她的任何任務。僅僅說她願意接受責任是不夠的，她主動尋求責任。哦，真希望有更多這樣的學生！
在過去兩年擔任校報的業務經理和年鑑的共同編輯期間，Mary做得非常出色。她個人使鎮上的商業界認識到，學校的報紙並非是一個慈善機構，而是一個廣告商能直接接觸到學生的渠道。她還主動設定了校報的廣告費率，產生了足夠的收入，將報道範圍從四頁擴大到八頁，甚至經常達到十二頁。她在兩份出版物中擔任攝影師的工作同樣出色。
她的動力不是被強迫的，也不是將其視為一種榮譽。她有著強大的自律能力。Mary是一名敬業、多才多藝且才華橫溢的學生，將成為貴校本科社群的一大資產。她贏得了我的尊重和最高的推薦。
原文：Mary has contributed to the school community in a variety of ways, most notably through her participation on the newspaper and yearbook staffs. Frankly, I am impressed with her aggressiveness, creativity, determination and ability to schedule extracurricular activities around a full academic workload. I have never heard Mary complain about her workload or refuse any assignment that she has been given. It is not adequate to say that she accepts responsibility readily. She seeks responsibility. Oh, for more such students!
As business manager for the paper and co-editor of the yearbook the past two years, Mary has done an outstanding job. She personally brought the town’s business community from the view that the school newspaper was a charitable organization to the realization that the paper is a direct pipeline through which advertisers can reach students. She also took the initiative to set up the advertising rate schedule for the paper that produced enough revenue to expand coverage from a four-page paper, so that it is an eight-page and often twelve-page paper. Her work as photographer for both publications has been equally outstanding.
Her motivation is not forced upon her, nor does she wear it like a badge. She has tremendous self-discipline. Mary is also a dedicated, versatile and talented student who will be an asset to your undergraduate community. She has my respect and my highest recommendation.
點評：不錯。這裡的具體細節給我們留下了非常清晰的印象，並幫助我們瞭解這種印象的由來。我們看到了她在校報工作中的直接證據，以及她的整體品格。
Jane的升學顧問推薦信：
Jane是一位傑出的年輕女性，她的學業記錄可能未能完全反映她的能力。她的父母在她11年級時離婚，此前的幾年，她的家庭情況一直動盪不安，父母之間爭吵不斷。她的父親有酗酒問題，Jane確實承受了巨大的情感壓力。考慮到這些情況，她能夠取得如此好的成就，這說明了她的堅韌。現在家庭環境已穩定，她的表現也有所改善。我相信她的12年級成績更能真實反映她的能力。
原文：Jane is an outstanding young woman whose academic record may not fully reflect her ability. Her parents were divorced during her junior year, and, for several years before that, her home situation had been in turmoil with a great deal of fighting between her parents. Her father has an alcohol problem, and Jane certainly endured a great deal of emotional distress. The fact that she has been able to do as well as she has done given the circumstances says a lot about her. Now that the home situation has stabilized, her performance has improved. I believe her senior year grades are a much better reflection of her ability.
點評：你可能會想，上述資訊是否適合在推薦信中提及。是的！我們欣賞任何能夠為我們提供洞察和背景的資訊，幫助我們理解學生的表現和環境。關於學生經歷的問題將幫助我們理解他們取得成就的背景。瞭解他們應對這些問題的程度也很有幫助。
Mike的升學顧問推薦信
我對Mike並不太瞭解。他曾向我諮詢一些常規事務，但通常沒有向我討論任何問題。在這所大學校裡，我並不總有時間去逐一瞭解每位學生。從Mike的老師們那裡獲得的反饋讓我覺得他是這所學校中最優秀的學生之一。
原文：I do not really know Mike very well. He has come to me for routine matters but generally has not had any problems that he has discussed with me. In this large school, I do not always have the time to personally get to know each of my advisees. From the comments I get from Mike’s teachers, I have the impression that he is one of the strongest students this school has seen.
點評：我們從這份報告中沒有了解到太多資訊，但我們明白了原因。這位升學顧問非常誠實，我們不必猜測為什麼沒有更多的資訊，會將注意力轉向申請的其他部分。
Brian的教師推薦信：
Brian在我班上一直名列前五。他確實很有學習動力。他的品格和個性令人欽佩。布萊恩是一名優秀的學生，勤奮努力，具有超出平均水平的推理能力。
原文：Brian was in the top five in my class consistently. He is certainly motivated to study. His character and personality are admirable. Brian is an excellent student, hard worker and has above average reasoning ability.
評析：這是一個評價的例子，在這種情況下，我們真的不知道作者想告訴我們什麼。提供的評論確實沒有給出太多實質性的資訊。我們不禁想知道是否對這個學生沒有太多可說的，或者教師是否根本不想在推薦信中投入太多努力。這種情況我們可能會根據所有推薦信的整體模式形成印象。如果所有推薦信都同樣沒有資訊量，我們將假設沒有太多可說的，但如果其他推薦信更好，我們將假設這位教師在推薦中沒有付出太多努力。
從這幾篇例文中可以看出，找一個對自己非常瞭解的老師寫推薦信是多麼重要，好的推薦信和差的推薦信一定程度上真的能決定錄取，因此大家一定要認真對待。
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