Writing RECO - Subject Teachers and Counselor

Reco for Undergraduate application is mandatory. Most often the teachers ask the students to draft their own Reco and then the teachers themselves make necessary corrections. This has been the norm in all schools. Without exception, every school in Dhaka follows this process. However, there are some fact-details.

1. Common App allows only 2 subject teacher Reco and 1 Principal / Counselor Reco. 
2. Common App wants these recos to be uploaded by the teachers themselves. The request for these upload goes from YOUR OWN CA portal.
3. You have to request your Principal / Counselor by sending an email. The Principal / Counselor then uploads the Counselor Reco. 
4. In many cases, the students also make the 1st Draft of Counselor Reco and the school corrects and edits and submits. 
5. Only MIT and Dartmouth wants a 3rd Reco (any Humanities subject) as part of application.  

How to Draft your Own Reco:

1. This is a tricky question. 
2. First understand that in US application process Reco is HIGHLY regarded. 
3. Writing your own reco does NOT mean you GLORIFY yourself the whole page. 
4. There is a standard structure for Reco writing: 
• First Para = Introduce the student and say how you know her and for how long. 
• First Para = Include the student's academic history.
• Second Para = Write about the student's unique qualities regarding the subject. You can also mention the courses and the areas the subject covered. 
• Third Para = Write about the student's personal Qualities and also (if possible), identify her weaknesses. 
• Fourth Para = Make some concluding remarks. 
5. You must notice that the RECO has a standard structure, and in spite of that you have to make sure that the RECO speaks the language of the teacher and "reveals" the student's qualities. 

Final thoughts:

• Write your own reco immediately. 
• DO NOT look at samples. 
• Write the RECO as your teacher would write.

Counselor Reco:

• This RECO is written by the counselor and it is supposed to be a TOTAL / OVERALL evaluation of the student's Academic + Extra Curricular + Personal Qualities + What other teachers and school stuff say about the student.