The Letter, Essay and Interview for Study Abroad

In the last two articles we have discussed the importance of a student's high school academic record and extra curriculum. This week, we'll highlight the importance of getting distinctive teacher recommendations, writing personal essays and interviews.

Letter of recommendation: You should approach teachers who know you personally. A good letter of recommendation validates the student's academic interests, learning preferences and achievements, but more importantly, it should also share stories that highlight your personality and character traits.

Recommendation letters should be professional, honest and well-balanced review of the student. Go prepared with a copy of your resume and list of colleges when you meet with teachers. Discuss things you liked in his or her class. List the topics that you enjoyed the most or found most challenging and remind them of any additional co-curricular work you have done related to that subject. A general statement from the teacher is not enough. The letter needs to be specific and reveal something substantive about the teacher's personal relationship with you.

Personal essays: Colleges require personal essays from students and very often the quality of these writing samples make or break the students' admissions. Students who spend time thoughtfully planning and writing their essays are usually rewarded in the process. The topic choices provided in the Common Application are varied because colleges do not want students to feel forced to write on one topic but give them the freedom to express themselves by choosing any topic of their choice. There are no rules that define a good personal essay. However, you must be wary of the common mistakes.