How to Create Letters of Recommendation

Letters of Recommendation are part of many schools' Application processes. Many schools require letters of recommendation to be sent in by one of more previous teachers. Our new widget allows admins to build into the application process the ability for a parent to add who they are requesting references from, an email is sent out to all the references with instructions pre-added by your schools' admins, and then when they are returned will get stored with the Leads record. This process is sure to streamline letters of recommendation for your school!

Click here for the Letters of Recommendation Video

(step #3 is missing from the video - it MUST be completed, be sure to check it out after you watch the video)

1. You will first need to add the widget to your application. To do so go to Admissions/Leads > Online Applications > View and edit Application Forms. You might have multiple applications there, please double click to edit the one you want to add the widget to. From there select/create a new page that you want your widget to go into. Now you are ready to add the widget click New. 
   
   
   • Use the drop-down within the Page Item (Widget) to select Release Form.
   • Enter a Title that easily relates to the Widget, such as Letters of Recommendation.
   • Check the Is Required box to force this page to be included within the Application.
     PRO TIP! 
     The page item order sequence can be changed within the Order box at any time.
     
     
2.  Additional fields must be completed before saving the page item. These are numbered in the example with legend to follow:
   (Right-click to "Open image in new tab" to enlarge)
   
   • Message to User: Complete this section with a message that you need the Applicants parent to read.
   • Additional Questions for Applicant: If there are additional questions the application must answer, please use this section to create a custom form with the questions that need to be answered. 
   • Request References: This box should be checked.
   • Instructions for Recommender: If you have pre-built instructions select from the drop-down list, if you need to edit your instructions the click the blue edit combo box.
     If this is your first time setting up instructions, please click the green plus combo box. This will take you to the area where you will be able to create your instructions, additional questions, etc, for the recommender. A link is provided at the end of this article to further explore the topic.
   • Number of References to Display (Max 8): quantify the number of references displayed in total. 
   • Number of References Required (Max 8): set to the number of references required for your school application to be completed. 
   • Deadline for References to Submit Letters: provide a deadline for these references. 
   • Finally, check the Send Email automatically to References when the application is completed box if you would like to have an email sent to the Reference upon the completion of the application.
     
     
3. If you check the Send Email automatically to References when the application is completed box, a few more options will appear.
   
   • You MUST have the {{LinkToReferenceForm}} marker in the email template you select. If you do not, your reference will not receive the link to their Letter of Recommendation form.
4. Finished? Click  to save your work
   
   
5. For those who have not set up Letters of Recommendation in the past, you might need to set up the instructions from scratch. Here is our Instructions for Recommender (Template) article that will give you instructions.