How Do You Address College Recommendation Letters?

When writing a college recommendation letter, include at the top of the page the name of the college admissions manager or department chair, the college’s address and the date the letter was written. Below the address, include a salutation, such as “Dear Mr. Smith” or “To Whom It May Concern.”

A subject line can also be included that notes the name of the student for whom the letter is being written, such as “Subject: Letter of Recommendation for Jane Smith.” The body of the letter should include information about the student’s academic success, goals, involvement in community and extracurricular activities and reasons for which the writer is recommending the student.