On this week's episode of The Drop In, Josh and Lisa unpack the one piece of the college application that students can't fully control: the letter of recommendation.

They break down why only about 11-12% of colleges say recommendations carry considerable weight in admissions decisions, why requirements vary wildly by school (UC schools discourage them, Florida's public universities don't use them at all, UT Austin actually encourages letters from outside the high school), and why "optional" rarely means skip it.

The conversation goes deep on what separates a forgettable recommendation letter from one that moves the needle: specific, real moments over vague compliments, a teacher who truly knows the student over one who just gave them an A, and a recommendation that adds a new dimension to the application instead of repeating the essay or activities list.

Josh and Lisa also cover the practical side parents and students ask about most: who to ask, why junior year is the sweet spot, how to give a teacher useful context without handing them a script, and why a simple thank-you matters more than families realize.

Want Josh and Lisa to help your kiddo build the kind of relationships that lead to strong recommendation letters, and make sure every part of their application tells one authentic story? Head to decisiondrop.com to connect.