While the entire UCAS application process can be very stressful, once you have finished your share and entered your grades and personal statement, everything rests on your recommendations. Even though the entire application is taken into consideration, a poor recommendation could mean the difference between getting into your dream university or not. Your reference is typically written by an academic advisor or a teacher of your choice, so I thought I’d share a few pointers to help you get the best reference possible.

1. Select a teacher who is optimistic in nature

While it may seem strange, it’s crucial to pick a teacher who is hopeful about the future and your potential. The teacher must have complete faith in your ability to succeed in university and in your future endeavours. It can be challenging to find a teacher who has confidence in you, but try to look for someone who has supported your education while you were in school or college. Even though they may not have taught you a particular subject, they may be someone you have always leaned on when times were tough or you needed a little extra encouragement. These are the teachers who will go above and beyond to write a glowing reference for you and who are willing to dedicate their time to do so.

2. Choose a teacher who is familiar with you

As obvious as it may seem, choose a teacher that knows you well. Avoid selecting a teacher just because they provided a strong recommendation for a classmate of yours or someone who attends the university of your choice. In order for the teacher to feel comfortable writing about you, they should be familiar with your abilities, interests and personality. Additionally, they should be able to give specific examples and anecdotes that highlight your abilities and strengths in order to impress the admissions team of the universities you are applying to. If you choose the wrong teacher, you might only receive a reference that is very generic, which would reduce your chances of being admitted to a prestigious university of your choice.

3. Provide ample time for your teacher to write the reference

Ask a teacher to write your reference about one or two months before you plan to submit your application, not at the last minute. In this manner, your references will all be done once you have finished writing your personal statement in all of its mock-ups. As they may have a lot of references to fill out, this will also give them time to consider what they want to write about, allowing them to be more meticulous and thoughtful when jotting down your reference. Furthermore, this will allow you to apply much earlier than other applicants, and hopefully, you’ll get some offers in time for Christmas!

4. Ensure the teacher has read your personal statement

It is crucial to make an effort to have the teacher who will be writing your reference, to read your personal statement so they can tailor the reference for the specific application. For instance, if you want to apply to Law school, they might focus on your natural propensity for developing persuasive arguments and your debating abilities.

Concluding remarks

The main lesson you should take away from this blog is that you shouldn’t leave your recommendation to chance. It is a significant choice that shouldn’t be made hastily. Choose a teacher who can speak for your skills, personality, and interests so that the reference can be as distinctive and authentic to you as possible. Decide which teacher knows you the best and politely ask if they would be willing to write a reference for you. You can improve your chances of getting accepted into your dream university by paying attention to these suggestions. Good luck to you, and I hope to see many of you at LSE soon!