A Cover Letter for a College
HOW TO WRITE, WHAT TO PAY ATTENTION TO AND WHAT TO AVOID BY DR. SVIATLANA KROITAR
1. A cover letter – what is its purpose?
2. What are the signs of a strong cover letter?
3. How to create a cover letter? A quick step-by-step guide.
4. Some recommendations for effective cover letter writing.
A cover letter – what is its purpose?
Along with a resume, a cover letter is an important element of a college application. A cover letter expands and fleshes out your resume. Here you explain how the skills and experience described in your resume will be useful at the college of your choice and why this particular institution and field of study interests and inspires you.
Although a resume has rather formal content, crafting a cover letter gives you much more freedom and a chance to tap into your creativity. Here you can allow yourself a moderately emotional presentation style, and enliven the text with vivid metaphors and examples of your personal experience. Use this opportunity to create a unique story and make your cover letter stand out from dozens of others. Competition is intense, and being noticed in the avalanche of admissions applications is critically essential.
What are the signs of a strong cover letter?
Admissions officers will be looking for answers to several questions in your cover letter, so keep them in mind while working on the text. Persuasiveness and argumentation are the keys.
1. Why are you a perfect fit for the chosen college and educational program? Why are you better than other candidates? What unique combination of competencies and experiences sets you apart from your competitors?
Tell about your academic and life experiences. Build on the facts mentioned in your resume, but don’t repeat them. Instead, focus on the skills and expertise that a particular stage of education or experience has given you.
Example:
… My volunteer experience at […] improved my self-discipline and developed my communication, leadership, and time management skills.
2. How can you contribute to the college and its community? What will they gain by accepting you?
Demonstrate that your personal goals are consistent with the chosen training program and the expectations and ethos of the college. Before you start writing a cover letter, carefully study the activities of the target institution. This will provide compelling references to particular programs, events, projects, or initiatives that align with your educational and career objectives, while also making you look more credible and professional.
You may also want to include personal information, for example, mention that you grew up in a large family and looked after 6 siblings, climbed Everest without oxygen, or have been dancing professionally for many years. But be sure to explain what valuable skills you learned through these activities and how they will help you achieve your professional goals.
3. How will you apply the knowledge you gained in college in your future career?
Explain how attending college will impact your development as a highly skilled professional. Clarify what competencies you expect to acquire during the program and how you plan to use them in your work. Emphasize that your choice of college and department is not accidental – you carefully and consciously picked this place as the most appropriate and logical stage in your career trajectory.
How to create a cover letter? A quick step-by-step guide
To make the process easier and less stressful, you can break it down into several steps.
First of all, find out who the recipient of your cover letter is.
Next, decide on the structure and content of the document.
After this, start writing your cover letter. When the preliminary version is ready, put it aside.
Sometime later, re-read the document. Make the necessary changes and take some time away from it again.
Repeat the previous step several times – until you are sure your story is personal, engaging, and compelling enough.
Thoroughly check spelling, punctuation, and style.
Saveyour cover letter in the required format, and check that the file is within the allowed size.
And finally, send your cover letter to the admissions office or uploadit to the application platform.
Some recommendations for effective cover letter writing
While there are different ways to write a cover letter, there are some general guidelines to keep in mind.
Firstly, classically structured cover letters are usually better received by reviewers. It is more convenient for people to read what is laid out in a common format. Therefore, it makes sense to include the following standard elements in your document, while experimenting with the style, delivery, and emotional intensity of your story to give it freshness and originality:
– your name, contact information, and the date;
Example:
JOHN SMITH
13/01/2023
Chicago, Illinois
+1 (203) 501-5401
– the appeal to the selection committee and your introduction– in this part introduce yourself and express your interest in the college, department, and preferred training program;
Example:
Dear Selection Committee Members,
My name is John Smith, and I am writing to express my enthusiasm for the Journalism Program at Stanford University. Becoming a reputed sports journalist has been my biggest dream and ambition since early childhood.
– the main part – justify why our candidacy is the best match for the college and the target program;
Example:
I believe that my creative writing and reporting skills, acquired while serving as a sports contributor for the school newspaper, The Daily Prophet, will enable me to make an outstanding impact on your educational program.
– the conclusion, and your signature– thank the application officers for considering your application and express hope for future cooperation.
Example:
I am confident that the knowledge I will gain from one of the most prestigious and strong journalism schools in the country will make me a first-class sports journalist. I believe it will play a critical role in my mission to take sports journalism to the next level in the context of the growth of digital media and the diversity and continuity of information content.
Thank you for considering my application. I look forward to joining the Journalism Program in the fall semester. I am eager to share my unique perspective and dedication and thereby become a promising student and an active participant in college life.
Sincerely,
John Smith
Secondly, try not to be too verbose but be specific and convincing. Although there are generally no length requirements for cover letters, try to keep it to 500-800 words. Your brevity will demonstrate your ability to express ideas concisely and clearly and show respect for the time and effort of those involved in evaluating your paper.
Thirdly, ensure that your text is easily readable by doing the following:
– divide it into sections and paragraphs;
– add formatting (italics, bold, subheadings) to visually highlight important parts;
– use a common font (Times New Roman, Calibri, or Arial);
– keep the font size at least 12.
Fourthly, keep your cover letter and resume in the same format so that your application package feels complete and consistent.
And finally, a few tips on what not to do when tailoring your cover letter.
Avoid “clichés” and general, faceless phrases. Try to “sound” sincerely and naturally so that your “voice” is heard, and the person with his/her unique experience, enthusiasm, and aspirations is visible behind the text.
Do not use the same template for all cover letters. Adapt each of them to a particular application taking into account a specific college and chosen educational program and correlating them with your skills and objectives.
Don’t be too emotional. You can express emotions to spice up the text and give it a personal touch but not overdo it. After all, a cover letter is an official document in which emotions are appropriate if they support facts and arguments.
Avoid mistakes and typos. The way your letter is written reflects your attention to detail, attitude, and respect for readers. Show your professionalism and high work culture.
Avoid exaggerated statements, but do not underestimate your achievements.Be honest.
And, one more thing. To get inspired and see how to write a cover letter through the lens of a personal story, watch the film «Spanglish».
Good luck!
