Have you been approached to write a letter of recommendation? It’s yet another item on a teacher’s extensive to-do list. I don’t know about you, but over the years I’ve been teaching, the requests have grown from writing letters for the faithful art stars who were going on to study art in college to students going into architecture, advertising, or other art-related fields. Often, requests are coming in for students I may have only had in one class. The requests also came from students who wanted to showcase a special talent who was going into a non-art program. Sometimes, these requests weren’t just for college admissions; students also needed recommendations for summer programs, scholarships, private high school admissions, jobs, and even internships.

It can be daunting to write a letter of recommendation because such letters carry significant weight in the decision-making process. The letters are meant to round out a student’s application package and help colleges better understand students beyond their grades and test scores. Meanwhile, an increasing number of schools are making the SAT optional for admission.

Think Positive
First, become familiar with your school’s policies and procedures regarding recommendations. The Common App and Naviance Systems have become the primary systems colleges and universities use. Many guidance offices will provide some level of assistance in navigating the Common App.

Before committing to the task, ask yourself one critical question. Can you give this student a positive recommendation? If the answer is no, you should say so promptly. This could sound like, “Listen, I’m not the right person,” or “I’m not the right fit for this, but good luck.” Of course, this could lead to some difficult conversations, but it’s important to thank the student for asking and to be both kind and honest in explaining your reasons.

On the other hand, you will have some students you agree to write a letter for, enthusiastically; some you will turn down; others you will enthusiastically say yes to, but there will be students who are in the murky middle. It’s those in the middle ground that will present the challenge. When writing, share the positive things you have to say, but adjust your language accordingly. “I write to recommend…” versus “I write to recommend wholeheartedly…”. Colleges know the difference. For these middle students, be honest, but look for the positive things you can say. It is OK to acknowledge a student’s challenges as long as your overall tone is positive. I had an excellent student who was very, very quiet, and I acknowledged this aspect of her personality while also highlighting her deep intellect and strong art skills. For the students in the first group, you can be unrestrained in your praise.

What to Include and What to Leave Out
It’s not your job to write about the student and all their broad and varied accomplishments.   Your goal is to be specific about your experience with the student in context to your subject area. The big-picture recommendation is for their guidance counselor to provide, don’t be repetitive. Your letter should round out a student’s application package and help colleges better understand students beyond their grades and test scores. Do share anecdotes from your art classes and demonstrate that you know the student well and can provide detailed, personal examples of their character, work ethic, maturity, ability to collaborate, handling of challenges, and growth as an artist.

What information can the student provide?
Some teachers ask for a brag list or resume. Naviance has something to that effect built in that some schools utilize. Some art teachers craft their own paper or digital forms for a student to fill out. Google Forms is a great, free tool you can use to have students provide information that will help you craft your letter.

General Questions to Ask:
• What classes have I taught you in?
• Do you have a favorite memory from an art class you can share?
• Why are you applying to the specific colleges on your list? By when do you need the recommendation?

Questions About Their Passion & Motivation:
• When did you first become serious about art? What sparked that interest?
• What role does art play in your life? When you’re not making art for school, what are you creating, thinking about, or observing?
• Who are your biggest artistic influences (e.g., specific artists, movements, writers, musicians, or even family members)?
• What themes or big questions do you find yourself returning to in your work?
• Why is it important for you to continue studying art in college?

Questions About Their Process & Growth:
• Describe your creative process. Where do your ideas come from? (e.g., sketchbook, research, experimentation, personal experience?)
• Think of a specific project (in my class or outside of it) that was a significant struggle. What was the challenge, and how did you work through it? What did you learn?
• In what ways do you feel you have grown the most as an artist since you started high school? (e.g., technical skill, idea development, risk-taking, ability to take critique?)
• How do you use feedback and critique? Can you give an example of a time you revised a piece based on a critique?
• What do you consider your greatest strength as an artist or creative thinker?

Future & College Goals:
•  What about the colleges and their art programs that you are applying to interests you?
• What do you hope to learn or achieve as an art student in college?
• Outside of art, what are you passionate about? (Sometimes a connection, like “their passion for environmental science clearly informs their landscape work,” is very powerful.)

The Format
A general format includes:

Opening: Use To Whom It May Concern or Dear Admissions Representative.
Paragraph 1: Set the scene by introducing who you are and how you know the student.
Paragraphs 2 and 3: I like to give specific examples of how the student achieved—did they overcome obstacles or tackle any challenges to reach their goals?  Best to show instead of telling. Rather than listing adjectives, provide stories that support your claims about the student’s character and abilities. I include observations of the student’s skills, work ethic, involvement in the arts and creative extracurricular activities, and leadership skills demonstrated in the arts. I also include significant achievements, such as Scholastic Awards or membership in our school’s National Art Society. It can also be helpful to explain why the student is a good match for the specific program they are applying to.
Conclusion: Conclude with a sincere statement of recommendation for the student.
Closing: Use Sincerely or Best Regards.

Stick the Deadline and Wrap Up
Keep deadlines in mind. Your letter means nothing if it doesn’t arrive on time. Plug it into your calendar with reminders set. Once you’ve written a few, you’ll have the format down, and you’ll get better and faster. The positive letters will write themselves. The second-tier letters take a little more time, but they can be shorter.

Use your school’s stationery and letterhead if hard copies are required. Adjust your word editor so your letter is formatted correctly on the paper, save it that way, and remember how to feed the letterhead into the printer. *Pro tip: Photocopy the school’s letterhead and print a test copy first. If your school is stingy with letterhead, use photocopied letterhead. Be sure your writing is checked for spelling and grammar, and is between a half page and one page in length.

Remember all the times you did some art favor for an English teacher? Now is your time to get payback in the form of free proofreading.  If you use another student’s letter as your starting point, hit Control+F or Command+F on a Mac to search for the previous student’s name, because there is nothing worse than calling the student by the wrong name in a letter of recommendation. Be sure to save it because the student may come back looking for more, especially at scholarship time.

I think it’s best to provide the student with a copy of the letter in advance of their deadline and ask them to review it and share any questions or suggestions they have. Generally, unless students have specifically waived their rights to see letters of recommendation, it’s part of their records, and they have a right to see it. 

Below are samples of letters from my files. All names and details have been altered for anonymity.

Example 1:

September 6, 2025

To Whom It May Concern;

I am writing this letter in support of (student’s name), a senior at (school’s name).  Jane Art has been a dedicated art student at Central High School. She was my student during her sophomore year in Studio Art, junior year in my Advanced Placement 2-D class, and now, in her senior year, she is taking AP Drawing. The fact that Jane has made time for art three out of her four years at Central High School is a testament to her commitment to art. Central High School is a strong academic school, and students often struggle to fit art classes into their other academic requirements.

Jane is a visual person, and this was readily apparent sophomore year. She has strong observational skills, which have continued to grow. The studio art classes Jane has taken at Central High School expose students to a wide variety of media, and I have always been impressed by how quickly Jane adapts to new media. At heart, I believe Janel loves media she can touch and feel, but I was impressed last year with her ability to transfer her skills to design work with Adobe Illustrator. Jane created a series of works last year exploring issues of identity and culture. Her work was thoughtful, sensitive, well-crafted, and imaginative. This series was instrumental in earning the highest grade possible on her AP 2D Portfolio.

One impressive thing about Jane is her commitment to art and creativity. This summer, she took a class at a local art center focused on portraiture, and her final piece—a large-scale charcoal self-portrait—was very impressive. She has been very involved in the school’s art, National Art Honor Society, and literary magazine. Jane took a leadership role and designed the cover for the literary magazine this year. She also had her work highlighted in our school’s biannual magazine; her work was displayed on the inside back cover this summer. She also designed the school’s Spirit Day t-shirt. It is very like Jane to look for ways she can contribute to the school community with her talents.

Jane has both the talent and commitment to be a stand-out in any college art program. I wholeheartedly recommend her for your art program. Please feel free to contact me (contact information below) if I can be of further assistance.

Sincerely,

Susan Brown

Chairperson for the Visual and Performing Arts

100 Main Street

Riverside, MA, 00001

(xxx) xxx-xxxx

 

Example 2:

March 6, 2020

To Whom It May Concern:

It gives me pleasure to recommend Ann Smith for admission to your institution. I have known Ann Smith in my capacity as an art teacher and Department Chairperson for the Visual and Performing Arts Program at Central High School. Ann was a student in my Advanced Placement 2D Design class. She was also an active member and officer for the art club I advised. In addition, Ann took Photography and Drawing classes with other art teachers here at Central High School. Ann shows a sincere interest in art and continues to learn and improve her skills.

I first met Ann at an art show at the school. She was clearly drawn to art and interested in the assignments in my AP 2D class. In my Advanced Placement 2D Design, she put in significant time outside class to develop her work. She was always enthusiastic about art and supportive of her classmates. When Ann enjoyed a project, she would pour herself into it. An example of her deep involvement in her art was an assignment requiring her to create a logo for a business of her choice. Ann enjoyed the assignment, developing a logo for a retro music store. From picking the name to developing the logo, her interest was unwavering. She did not always love Illustrator, but she mastered the skills needed to produce the work she envisioned.

I encourage you to consider Ann for admission to your institution and wish her the best in all future endeavors. If I can be of further assistance, please do not hesitate to contact me (contact info below).

Sincerely,

Susan Brown

Chairperson for the Visual and Performing Arts

100 Main Street

Riverside, MA, 00001

(xxx) xxx-xxxx

Pro Tip: If you get flooded with requests, ask your juniors at the end of June who might be considering asking you for a Letter of Recommendation and start the process then, so you can work on them over the summer and fine-tune in the fall.