Letters of recommendation from teachers, school counselors and other sources can help college admissions officers get a more complete picture of applicants. They give admissions offices a “third dimension" as to who students are as individuals. Letters of recommendation tell what a student is like and how they perform in their classroom and overall community it also tell how a student would interact with their peers.

While Letters of recommendation just one part of the college application process, it's an important one. Recommendation letters play a bigger role than many students might think it really paints the bigger picture. When admissions looks at files, everyone’s going to have a transcript. Everyone is going to have extracurriculars. But those only speak so far. We think those personal stories and those stories of perseverance or their true passion that come out in the letters are what set (some applicants) apart."