Has anyone written one and/or have any advice?
I agreed to write one for my student & have now been looking up what it involves & am starting to regret it. I don't even really know this student that well - she's been in my class since September and is often off sick. Can anyone point me in the direction of a sample reference that I can use & just amend a few bits to fit my student?
Thanks....I hope
For the majority of university courses the reference won't have a major role to play in the decision. If there is moderate demand for places, it's likely an offer will go out and it's all about whether they get something like the right grades. There are though plenty of exceptions - elite institutions, high demand courses, courses where attitudes and aptitudes are important etc. So, yes, you still have to take it seriously. *
You can say things about the course/modules the student is doing, what it would prepare them for, along with the kind of skills that are developed. Beyond that, it's pretty much common sense stuff - whether they contribute to discussions and group activities, whether they have improved over the year, expected grades, learning styles, whether she takes feedback seriously etc. Also, if you know, whether they have any wider role in the school/college, volunteering and the like. The other thing is, if you don't know her that well, you could ask other staff who see her for other bits of the course. Finally, I suppose there's an unwritten rule that you should be fairly positive unless there's something bad that they really need to know.
Edit: should have said the reference is particularly important if the student is doing a qualification that is 'non-standard' to use the jargon and isn't on the approved list that admissions use. It's also important if they miss the points tally in the offer they are given.
