
Hillsdale College K-12 Classical Education Podcast Writing Letters of Recommendation and Advising Resume Creation
Nov 3, 2025
Jenny Pridgeon, the Director of Field Recruitment at Hillsdale College, shares her insights on crafting impactful letters of recommendation and high school resumes. She emphasizes the importance of showcasing character and work ethic over mere academic metrics. Jenny highlights how vivid anecdotes can make recommendations stand out and discusses which activities students should include on their resumes. She also explains the significance of tailoring letters for specific colleges and the value of a third letter from nonacademic sources.
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Lead With A Short Anecdote
- Open with a vivid, short anecdote to show the student's character and hook the reader.
- Use lively, descriptive details to make the recommendation memorable.
Customize Only For Top Choices
- Tailor one letter for a top-choice college if the student is an especially good fit.
- Don't feel obliged to craft separate versions for every application.
Decline If You Can’t Recommend Positively
- Ask students to request only if they want a positive letter, and decline if you cannot genuinely recommend them.
- Be honest and explain you want what's best if you doubt the college fit.
