Letters of Recommendation

First, planning will allow you to make your request early and avoid the rush of last minute requests made weeks before the deadline. When teachers and counselors have time to think, write, and revise, they produce higher quality letters. Next, planning allows you to secure your first choice teachers. I’ve known plenty of teachers who have to turn students away because that teacher is overwhelmed with requests and wouldn’t be able to write another quality letter in time. Finally, with some strategic planning you will not only choose the right people, you will be able to tell them why their letter is important to your overall application and what you hoped they could discuss.

Can you do me a favor? And can you drop everything and do it now? This question implies you are working with a deadline and are already behind, something I advise all my students to avoid. Yes, you can speed up the process and obtain great results if you initiate the process early. If a teacher or counselor has already written a quality letter for you (maybe for a scholarship junior year), you may be able to get an updated letter in a matter of days. Make your request early to avoid the application deadline rush. Keep in mind you are asking your teachers and counselor for a favor. Most will be happy to oblige, but ask politely and respect the deadlines and timeline they give.

High school teachers are asked to write many recommendations every school year. Most requests come from seniors in the fall, when the school year and admissions season are already in full swing. Teachers are busy teaching classes, they've got papers to grade as well as piles of recommendation letters to write. This is not a good scenario for the creation of a stellar recommendation letter. If you want to get a great letter, ask your teachers in the spring of junior year if they'd be willing to write a letter supporting your application. If they agree, provide them with a resume, brag sheet, and a few "memory joggers" describing projects you've done or papers you've written in their classes. If you have actual hard copies of class work you can copy and give them, so much the better. Let them know which schools you'll be applying to, and why each is on your list. Let them know that you'll be contacting them over the summer with more specific instructions about submitting their letters (typically, you'll send them a link from the Common Application that enables them to upload their recommendation). Be sure to get the email addresses where you can reach them over the summer. Be thankful and appreciative. Be available to answer any questions they might have while writing. When they've sent in your letters, always follow up with a thank you note. The really do mean a lot to teachers.

Students shouldn't rush the recommendation letter process. By giving your teachers or counselors a limited amount of time to complete their recommendations, you're also giving them less time to write a thoughtful, comprehensive, and strong recommendation for you...not a great thing when it's a main part of your application.

By asking for the recommendation well in advance and providing a written summary of the request you are showing respect for their time. Most teachers do not receive additional compensation for writing letters of recommendation which can be quite time consuming and so make it easy for them by giving them adequate time to write you a great letter of recommendation.

Putting together a package for teachers that includes your resume and a letter that indicates what your goals are, challenges have been, and how you have pursued them and persevered through adversity will help teachers understand what you want and how they can best help you. Giving teachers this package at the end of junior year will give teacher the most time to write a great letter without pressure. Also, the college application in not the first time a teacher should be writing for you. Apply for something earlier that requires a letter. If the teacher is proud of the letter and has written glowingly, they will often want to share their letter with you. A little early reconnaissance can be very informative and helpful.

Only if you are very nice or lucky, but I wouldn't try it.

You read my mind! Here's one of my favorite caveats: Plan your work, work your plan. No one plans to fail, but too many people fail to plan. Best time to get LOR's is after Jan. in the 10th, 11th, or even the 9th grade. At that time of year, teachers are no longer bombarded w/requests from desperate students. They'll have plenty of time to write a great LOR. Be sure to give them the name & address of the director of admissions at specific colleges you're applying to. Otherwise, they may address it, To whom it may concern; that's the same as, Dear Occupant, & we all know where that mail winds up! I've had situations where the teacher asked the student to write something & they signed it, but that was only after I enhanced it and it went back to the teacher for their final approval & signature.

Yes! You read my mind! Here's one of my favorite caveats: Plan your work, work your plan. No one plans to fail, but too many fail to plan. Best time to get LOR's is after Jan. in the 10th, 11th, or even the 9th grade. At that time of year, teachers are no longer bombarded w/requests from desperate students. They'll have plenty of time to write a great LOR. Be sure to give them the name & address of the director of admissions at specific colleges you're applying to. Otherwise, if they address it To whom it may concern; that's the same as Dear Occupant, & we all know where that mail winds up! I've had situations where the teacher asked the student to write something & they signed it, but that was only after I enhanced it and it went back to the teacher for their final approval & signature.

A student that plans ahead and requests a recommendation early will not need to 'speed up' the writing process for teachers. Teachers have many obligations and like to be given advance warning of at least two weeks to write a strong letter. It is when teachers are rushed by students who have neglected to give them enough time that recommendations are not as strong as they could be. Therefore, as early as your junior spring, students can consider what teachers to ask and request a letter before the summer break.

The best way to plan ahead with regards to letters of recommendation is to be an active and engaged student in class. Pay attention, ask thoughtful questions, and be a considerate student and classmate to your teacher and peers. If you are particularly interested in a specific topic -- ask your teacher for further resources. You don't need to "kiss up" to the teacher or pretend to have an intellectual interest. However, if you are genuinely interested in something -- try to pursue it -- regardless of any "extra credit" involved. Being an active participant in your learning process (rather than being a whiny grade grubber) is a great way to show your maturity and character in the classroom. By doing this, you will not only learn for enjoyment -- but you might also receive a great teacher evaluation!

With lives of teachers and students becoming increasingly busy, it is critical to plan. Failure to plan could jeopardize a needed letter of recommendation. To avoid any surprises, create a calendar noting when your letters of recommendation are due, typically two to three weeks before the application deadlines. Teachers have busy lives and the fall semester often brings extra responsibilities, therefore ask teachers early and include your deadline in your requests. If the teachers are not using an electronic format, providing an envelope addressed to the admission office will assist in expediting the process.

In the arena of sport, speed is often a desired trait. In the arena of college applications and selective college admission, thoughtful approaches are desired. Focusing on strategies and outcomes will be beneficial. Although speed is never suggested, you can streamline the process by identifying the teachers that will write the most effective and positive letters of recommendations. When teachers agree to write your letters, be prepared and have copies of your transcripts and activities sheet for their reference. Creating a calendar with deadlines will also keep the process moving in a timely direction. This process may not be fast, yet it will be effective and assist in realizing your admission goals.

It's always the same teachers who get asked for recs. Do your teacher a favor and give them plenty of lead time. I love my clients to request recs before summer vacation of senior year. This gives the teacher plenty of time and avoids the typical crunch time in the fall. Offer to sit down with the teacher and talk about your future, interests outside their classroom, etc. Or, create a brief resume since often the teacher only knows you from that class viewpoint. You are flattering a teacher by letting them know you valued the education you received from them. Teachers teach because they enjoy watching their students learn and mature. They are on your team, don't be shy about approaching them.