4:5 Letters of Recommendation

Asking for a letter of recommendation can be intimidating! 

That's why we've put together some great resources from Shmoop, College Greenlight, and College Board. 

Different colleges require a different number of evaluations from teachers or other folks who know you. Here are a few different ways we've seen it before:

• One Teacher Evaluation and one Secondary School Report (i.e., a recommendation from your school counselor)
• Two Teacher Evaluations and one Secondary School Report
• Two Teacher Evaluations from teachers of core academic subjects(math, science, English, social studies) who taught you during, 10th, 11th, or12 grade, one Secondary School Report, and one optional additional evaluation from another teacher, coach, activity leader, or boss

As you can see, some schools are really particular about exactly what type of letter of recommendations they want. Others are more flexible. Make sure to read up on the schools you're applying to so you can make sure to hit their requirements.

Once you know what sorts of teachers you can pick from, it's time to get a little bit strategic. Should you choose that one teacher who gave you a C — or even an A — in basket weaving back in the 9th grade? Probably not.

Who to Ask

It’s your job to find people to write letters of recommendation for you. Follow these steps to start the process:

• Read each of your college applications carefully. Schools often ask for letters of recommendation from an academic teacher — sometimes in a specific subject — or a school counselor or both.
• Ask a counselor, teachers and your family who they think would make good references.
• Choose one of your teachers from junior year or a current teacher who has known you for a while. Colleges want a current perspective on you, so a teacher from several years ago isn't the best choice.
• Consider asking a teacher who also knows you outside the classroom. For example, a teacher who directed you in a play or advised your debate club can make a great reference.
• Consider other adults — such as an employer, a coach or an adviser from an activity outside of school — who have a good understanding of you and your strengths.
• Perhaps most important, pick someone who will be enthusiastic about writing the letter for you.
• If you’re unsure about asking someone in particular, politely ask if he or she feels comfortable recommending you. That’s a good way to avoid weak letters.

When to Ask

When not to ask a teacher for a letter of rec:

• When he or she is passing back your pop quizzes (for which you received a 65).
• The last day of school.
• The first time you meet him or her.

Teachers want their students to succeed. As you probably know from writing essays throughout high school, it takes time to write heartbreaking works of staggering beauty. If you want your teachers to write a good (and heartbreaking) recommendation for you, make sure to give them that ample time to write. You could even ask them during the second half of junior year! This would give you time to exchange information with them and also would give them more time to polish their letters. Your teachers will do a better job on your letter if they don't have to rush.

How to Get the Best Recommendations

Some teachers write many recommendation letters each year. Even if they know you well, it’s a good idea to take some time to speak with them. Make it easy for them to give positive, detailed information about your achievements and your potential by refreshing their memory. Here’s how:

• Talk to them about your class participation.
• Remind them of specific work or projects you’re proud of.
• Tell them what you learned in class.
• Mention any challenges you overcame.
• Give them the information they need to provide specific examples of your work.
• If you need a recommendation letter from a counselor or other school official, follow these guidelines:
• Make an appointment ahead of time.
• Talk about your accomplishments, hobbies and plans for college and the future.
• If you need to discuss part of your transcript — low grades during your sophomore year, for example — do so. Explain why you had difficulty and discuss how you've changed and improved since then.

Whether approaching teachers, a counselor or another reference, you may want to provide them with a resume that briefly outlines your activities, both in and outside the classroom, and your goals.

Final Tips
The following advice is easy to follow and can really pay off:

• Waive your right to view recommendation letters on your application forms. Admission officers will trust them more if you haven’t seen them.
• Give your references addressed and stamped envelopes for each college that requested a recommendation.
• Make sure your references know the deadlines for each college.
• Follow up with your references a week or so before recommendations are due to make sure your letters have been sent.
• Once you’ve decided which college to attend, write thank-you notes. Tell your references where you’re going and let them know how much you appreciate their support.
• Check out the College Greenlight worksheet below for an interactive view on asking for letters of rec!