View in EDS

Necessary, but Insufficient: School Counselors' Informal Learning Experiences with Writing Letters of Recommendations

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Title: Necessary, but Insufficient: School Counselors' Informal Learning Experiences with Writing Letters of Recommendations
Language: English
Authors: Mandy Savitz-Romer, Tara Nicola, Julius Dilorenzo, Jen Ha, Amy Desiderio, Sebastian Munoz Galvez, Matthew O'Brien
Source: Journal of College Access. 2026 11(1):29-54.
Availability: Journal of College Access. 1903 W. Michigan Avenue, Kalamazoo, MI 49008. Web site: http://scholarworks.wmich.edu/jca/
Peer Reviewed: Y
Page Count: 28
Publication Date: 2026
Document Type: Journal Articles
Reports - Research
Tests/Questionnaires
Education Level: High Schools
Secondary Education
Higher Education
Postsecondary Education
Descriptors: School Counselors, Letters (Correspondence), High Schools, College Admission, Informal Education, Writing (Composition), Workplace Learning, On the Job Training, Counselor Training
ISSN: 2333-715X
Abstract: Submission of recommendation letters from high school counselors is a requirement for undergraduate admission at many selective colleges. However, there has been limited research to-date examining these critical application components and the front-line professionals who generate them. This study examines how high school counselors, who are key actors in holistic admission practices, learn how to craft recommendation letters. Given previous research has found that counselors have limited training in college admission counseling, understanding the learning processes that shape their letter writing is a critical first step for improving the quality of letters and their utility for student success in the admission process. We draw on qualitative data from 45 semi-structured interviews with high school counselors across the country and found that counselors predominantly learn about this critical facet of their role through informal, on-the-job learning processes rather than via formal pre- or in-service learning opportunities. We argue that informal learning is necessary but insufficient in providing equitable, reliable access to understanding this facet of the college admission process and can exacerbate disparities in the quality and content of counselor recommendation letters.
Abstractor: As Provided
Entry Date: 2026
Accession Number: EJ1493223
Database: ERIC
FullText Text:
  Availability: 0
CustomLinks:
  – Url: https://eric.ed.gov/contentdelivery/servlet/ERICServlet?accno=EJ1493223
    Name: ERIC Full Text
    Category: fullText
    Text: Full Text from ERIC
Header DbId: eric
DbLabel: ERIC
An: EJ1493223
AccessLevel: 3
PubType: Academic Journal
PubTypeId: academicJournal
PreciseRelevancyScore: 0
IllustrationInfo
Items – Name: Title
  Label: Title
  Group: Ti
  Data: Necessary, but Insufficient: School Counselors' Informal Learning Experiences with Writing Letters of Recommendations
– Name: Language
  Label: Language
  Group: Lang
  Data: English
– Name: Author
  Label: Authors
  Group: Au
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Mandy+Savitz-Romer%22">Mandy Savitz-Romer</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Tara+Nicola%22">Tara Nicola</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Julius+Dilorenzo%22">Julius Dilorenzo</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Jen+Ha%22">Jen Ha</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Amy+Desiderio%22">Amy Desiderio</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Sebastian+Munoz+Galvez%22">Sebastian Munoz Galvez</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Matthew+O'Brien%22">Matthew O'Brien</searchLink>
– Name: TitleSource
  Label: Source
  Group: Src
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="SO" term="%22Journal+of+College+Access%22"><i>Journal of College Access</i></searchLink>. 2026 11(1):29-54.
– Name: Avail
  Label: Availability
  Group: Avail
  Data: Journal of College Access. 1903 W. Michigan Avenue, Kalamazoo, MI 49008. Web site: http://scholarworks.wmich.edu/jca/
– Name: PeerReviewed
  Label: Peer Reviewed
  Group: SrcInfo
  Data: Y
– Name: Pages
  Label: Page Count
  Group: Src
  Data: 28
– Name: DatePubCY
  Label: Publication Date
  Group: Date
  Data: 2026
– Name: TypeDocument
  Label: Document Type
  Group: TypDoc
  Data: Journal Articles<br />Reports - Research<br />Tests/Questionnaires
– Name: Audience
  Label: Education Level
  Group: Audnce
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22High+Schools%22">High Schools</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22Secondary+Education%22">Secondary Education</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22Higher+Education%22">Higher Education</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22Postsecondary+Education%22">Postsecondary Education</searchLink>
– Name: Subject
  Label: Descriptors
  Group: Su
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22School+Counselors%22">School Counselors</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Letters+%28Correspondence%29%22">Letters (Correspondence)</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22High+Schools%22">High Schools</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22College+Admission%22">College Admission</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Informal+Education%22">Informal Education</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Writing+%28Composition%29%22">Writing (Composition)</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Workplace+Learning%22">Workplace Learning</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22On+the+Job+Training%22">On the Job Training</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Counselor+Training%22">Counselor Training</searchLink>
– Name: ISSN
  Label: ISSN
  Group: ISSN
  Data: 2333-715X
– Name: Abstract
  Label: Abstract
  Group: Ab
  Data: Submission of recommendation letters from high school counselors is a requirement for undergraduate admission at many selective colleges. However, there has been limited research to-date examining these critical application components and the front-line professionals who generate them. This study examines how high school counselors, who are key actors in holistic admission practices, learn how to craft recommendation letters. Given previous research has found that counselors have limited training in college admission counseling, understanding the learning processes that shape their letter writing is a critical first step for improving the quality of letters and their utility for student success in the admission process. We draw on qualitative data from 45 semi-structured interviews with high school counselors across the country and found that counselors predominantly learn about this critical facet of their role through informal, on-the-job learning processes rather than via formal pre- or in-service learning opportunities. We argue that informal learning is necessary but insufficient in providing equitable, reliable access to understanding this facet of the college admission process and can exacerbate disparities in the quality and content of counselor recommendation letters.
– Name: AbstractInfo
  Label: Abstractor
  Group: Ab
  Data: As Provided
– Name: DateEntry
  Label: Entry Date
  Group: Date
  Data: 2026
– Name: AN
  Label: Accession Number
  Group: ID
  Data: EJ1493223
PLink https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=eric&AN=EJ1493223
RecordInfo BibRecord:
  BibEntity:
    Languages:
      – Text: English
    PhysicalDescription:
      Pagination:
        PageCount: 28
        StartPage: 29
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: School Counselors
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Letters (Correspondence)
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: High Schools
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: College Admission
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Informal Education
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Writing (Composition)
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Workplace Learning
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: On the Job Training
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Counselor Training
        Type: general
    Titles:
      – TitleFull: Necessary, but Insufficient: School Counselors' Informal Learning Experiences with Writing Letters of Recommendations
        Type: main
  BibRelationships:
    HasContributorRelationships:
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Mandy Savitz-Romer
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Tara Nicola
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Julius Dilorenzo
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Jen Ha
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Amy Desiderio
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Sebastian Munoz Galvez
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Matthew O'Brien
    IsPartOfRelationships:
      – BibEntity:
          Dates:
            – D: 01
              M: 01
              Type: published
              Y: 2026
          Identifiers:
            – Type: issn-electronic
              Value: 2333-715X
          Numbering:
            – Type: volume
              Value: 11
            – Type: issue
              Value: 1
          Titles:
            – TitleFull: Journal of College Access
              Type: main
ResultId 1