Dear Admissions Committee,

It is my pleasure to recommend Andrey, who I taught in my 11th grade math class. Andrey demonstrated tremendous effort and growth throughout the year and brought a great energy to class. He has that combination of a positive attitude and the belief that he can always improve that’s rare in a high school student, but so essential to the learning process. I am confident that he will continue to display the same commitment and diligence in everything he does. I highly recommend Andrey for admission to your school.

Andrey would not describe himself as a math person. He’s told me on several occasions that all the numbers and variables make his mind go fuzzy. Andrey did, in fact, struggle to comprehend the material at the beginning of the year, but his response to this is what really struck me. Where so many others have given up, Andrey took on this class as a welcome challenge. He stayed after school for extra help, got extra tutoring at the nearby college, and asked questions in and out of class. Due to all his hard work, Andrey not only raised his grades, but he also inspired some of his classmates to stay after for extra help, as well. Andrey truly demonstrated a growth mindset, and he inspired his peers to adopt that valuable perspective, too. Andrey helped contribute to our classroom environment as one where all students can feel supported and able to ask questions.

Andrey’s strong belief in his ability to acquire new skills and improve through practice was likely shaped by his years as a baseball player. He’s played all through high school and is one of the team’s most valuable players. In his final for our class, Andrey designed an impressive project calculating and analyzing batting averages. While he initially described himself as not a math person, Andrey reaped the benefits of his tremendous effort and found a way to make the subject come alive for him in a way that he was personally invested in. As a teacher, it is incredibly fulfilling to witness a student make this kind of academic and personal progress.
 
Andrey is a trustworthy, reliable, good-humored student and friend who supports others in and out of the classroom. He was a pleasure to have in class, and his positive attitude and belief in himself, even in the face of difficulty, is an immensely admirable asset. I’m confident that he will continue to demonstrate the same diligence, perseverance, and optimism that he showed myself and his peers. I highly recommend Andrey for admission to your undergraduate program. Please feel free to contact me with any further questions at XXXXX@gmail.com.

Sincerely, Mr. XXXX
Math Teacher
XXXX High School