sample reference letter

Can someone point me to some sample reference letter for Oxbridge applications?

Thanks!

Reply 1

vira

OP

Just want to get an idea about the length of the reference letter... my reference is totally lost abt it (just like me!)

Reply 2

SqueakyJaffa

I think you'll find most people dont get to see their references or if they do just to see if any errors have been made. From what I gather they are generally two thirds of a page to a page (including mailing address, date and all that stuff at the top). Although i wouldnt be surprised if there are some which are much longer.

Reply 3

mom1

http://www.cam.ac.uk/admissions/undergraduate/publications/teacherguide.pdf

There is some info in here about the reference.

Good Luck

Reply 4

SqueakyJaffa

I think you'll find most people dont get to see their references or if they do just to see if any errors have been made. From what I gather they are generally two thirds of a page to a page (including mailing address, date and all that stuff at the top). Although i wouldnt be surprised if there are some which are much longer.

aren't we supposed to send a copy of the reference from UCAS? If so...how can some be "much longer"? There are only 4000 characters allowed on UCAS.

Reply 5

SqueakyJaffa

Hmm i wasn't aware there was a character limit for the teacher's reference. If there is you are right - they couldn't be much longer.

Reply 6

Do references need paragraphs and so? My referee is a bit lost as he isn't accustomed to writing references

Reply 7

D-503

Yeah, just about a page, five paragraphs or so, mentioning your achievements (barring those listed already in the PS, though I guess it would look more stylish if someone else said how great you are as opposed to doing it yourself), your personality, your enthusiasm and your academic record. Some are insanely dramatic and others are fairly sober, it depends on the institution and the person writing it. Typical comments would be 'So and so has demonstrated great improvement/enthusiasm...', 'a joy to teach', 'highly motivated', 'x out of y pupils', 'top 5 in UK at...'. I've heard schools with a reputation for honesty have theirs taken more seriously than others which profess to be a genius factory, but it wouldn't usually be the most important aspect of the application. Few people will be able to tell you much though, as most schools don't let you see it.

Reply 8

vira

OP

Thanks for all the info!

Reply 9

and does he need to include my predited grades IN the reference or just in the box for predicted grades? thanks

Reply 10

paneity

valeryblack

and does he need to include my predited grades IN the reference or just in the box for predicted grades? thanks

both wouldn't hurt.

My ref mentioned info about the school (size, type, results) and then some fluff about me being really great :wink:

, also gave a bit of info about my UMS marks, 'got above x/300 in all y subjects' or something like that, as my AS weren't cashed in so the uni didn't know my grades (that shouldn't matter this year as I think the uni's are given the module grades). They also said I was the most talented student to ever attend sixth form at the school, which sounds impressive but really isn't, and I'm sure anyone who read it took it with a pinch of salt.

As for how much it matters, very little. Nobody who applies is given a bad reference, and there isn't much you can distinguish between applicants. The most important thing IS THE INTERVIEW.

One point where the ref might actually help is if you go to a poor school, if your school gets really bad results and you are like the only person to achieve anything from that school, then there is probably a tendency for them to say 'Do we want the straight A guy who's done it all themselves through adversity, or do we want the straight A guy who was born with a silver spoon in his mouth'

It's tough but that's the reality.

Reply 11