We came across a letter of recommendation that we figured we’d share with our readers. In this particular case, the letter of recommendation is for graduate school admission. Indeed, the same principles that make for great letters of recommendation apply to both college and graduate school admissions. This particular letter of recommendation that we’re referring to was written on behalf of the late Princeton professor John F. Nash. He was the inspiration for A Beautiful Mind, a genius mathematician whose pioneering work in game theory earned him a Nobel Prize but whose struggles with schizophrenia nearly ended his life.

Should Letters of Recommendation Be Short and Sweet?

You’ll note that the entire letter of recommendation goes like this: “This is to recommend Mr. John F. Nash, Jr. who has applied for entrance to the graduate college at Princeton. Mr. Nash is nineteen years old and is graduating from Carnegie Tech in June. He is a mathematical genius.” And that was it. But when a distinguished physicist from one of the world’s foremost institutions (Carnegie Tech would later become part of Carnegie Mellon) writes that someone is a mathematical genius, people take note.

Does this mean applicants to America’s highly selective schools should ask the most distinguished person they know for letters of recommendation, even if said person does not know them all too well?

Not a chance! Colleges and graduate schools will see right through your attempts to wow them with a big name if the person you choose to write your letter does not know you personally and cannot speak to who you actually are as a student. And yes, that even goes for distinguished physicists and experts in your field. Admissions officers would much rather hear from someone who actually taught you firsthand. In the case of college admissions, this most often looks like a junior year teacher from a core subject (math, science, social studies/history, foreign language, or English).

Letters of Recommendation Must Be Full of Specific Anecdotes

A lot has changed since the 1940s, when the above letter was penned. In most cases, recommenders nowadays will have to sing the praises of the recommendee through more specific anecdotes highlighting how the candidate has pursued their singular hook to the best of their ability. In the case of Ivy Coach’s students, we help them draft compelling letters to their recommenders that are chock full of anecdotes about their time in the classroom, demonstrating initiative, passion, and a deep knowledge of the specific subject, discipline, task, or cause they’ve taken up in the pursuit of their singular hook.

It’s only by providing these specific anecdotes that recommenders can write letters that are worthwhile and not full of fluff that could apply to any student. However, in this instance, the simplicity of Mr. Nash’s letter worked extremely effectively. And, of course, Princeton made the right decision. They admitted John Nash, and he would in time become one of, if not the, most distinguished members of the university’s faculty. But consider this success on Mr. Nash’s part a product of his time. 

How to Hit Your Letter of Recommendation Out of the Park

In 2026, elite college admissions is far more competitive than it was when our parents and grandparents were in college. A few throwaway lines about the candidate will not cut it anymore, even if these lines come from the Pope, Oprah, or the Dalai Lama. We regret to mention that sometimes even high school English teachers fall victim to writing ineffectual letters of recommendation that harm more than they help. You see, English teachers tend to write long, effusive letters that paint a warm and fuzzy picture of the applicant but don’t necessarily provide any specifics that admissions officers can actually work with. 

In Ivy Coach’s experience, it’s often the math and science teachers (who don’t know as much about writing and just want to get the assignment over with) who do their students a favor by copying and pasting the anecdotes we give them verbatim. And no, the letters of recommendation we commission are never less than 650 words.