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 Brazilian native Julia Mansur Cardoso was more than prepared when applying to U.S. universities. She made sure to reach out to contacts early for letters of recommendation and secured five separate letters, so she could use different ones for different college programs.

“I had my college list ready before asking for most letters of recommendation," says Cardoso, who ended up at the . "Most of the schools I applied to required three, so I thought five would be a good number considering that I was applying for somewhat different programs, all related to management and economics.”

While not all schools require them, letters of recommendation can help prospective international students stand out in an increasingly competitive applicant pool.

“Recommendations are very important to demonstrate that a candidate has the personal qualities that will enable them to succeed in college,” says Cathy Costa, founder of Costa Educational Consulting. “And some schools weigh recommendations more heavily than others.”

Many students looking to head to the U.S. for college are coming from high schools where staff members speak English and can write letters in the language. But experts say that universities also generally accept letters that have been translated.

Prospective international students unfamiliar with the U.S. college application process may have some misconceptions about the role of letters of recommendation. Here are a few things students should know.

Myth 1: Grades and Test Scores Matter More

All parts of a student’s application are reviewed by the admissions committee, and grades and test scores are just one factor – especially in a holistic, highly selective admissions process, say experts.

“It all matters,” says Amy Hoffman, associate director of admission for selection and academic initiatives at in Florida. “I just told a student today at a college fair, ‘You have worked way too hard these last three-plus years to come down to being defined by a number.’”

Many schools are now so letters can hold a lot of weight in the admissions decision process.

“Sure, the numbers matter,” says Hoffman. “Colleges want students who are going to be successful on their campuses, but looking beyond the numbers says more about the student than just scores.”