Asking for Teacher Recommendations
The college application process is full of gathering all of the right information to present yourself as a strong and capable student, who is prepared for the challenges of university life. Your test scores, GPA, essays and activities are important in showing colleges what type of student you are and have been throughout your high school years. Additionally, letters of recommendation are often used to highlight your strengths, abilities and personality. But why are they so important? How do you ask for them? How do you get a good letter of recommendation? I’ve outlined helpful tips for students to think about as they begin asking teachers for a letter of recommendation.
Why are they important?
Letters of recommendation are a critical part of the application process. Most colleges request at least one letter of recommendation from a teacher, coach or school counselor. This is a great opportunity for someone else to discuss your strengths as a student. We all have really nice things to say about ourselves, but when an outside source can confirm your strengths it makes you an even stronger candidate. It is helpful for college admissions officers to know what your teachers have to say about the type of student and person you are in the classroom. How do you perform in class? Are you engaged in the material and eager to learn? How do you respond to and treat your classmates? This type of insight can set you apart from other applicants and give admissions officers a better understanding of who you are.
Know HOW to ask
When: We advise students to ask teachers for a letter by the end of their Junior year. Be sure to give teachers plenty of time to prepare a letter. We would suggest two weeks to one month of lead time. Some teachers will only write a certain number of letters, and some prefer to work on the letters over the summer. So, asking early is always your best bet.
What: You will tell your teacher why you asked them. What did you enjoy about their class? Or what challenged you?. Tell them what you plan on studying and your academic interests. You can also provide transcripts and potentially a rough draft of your personal statement. The more specific information you give teachers, the more they can highlight your strengths in ways that fit your application. Some teachers may also ask for a form to be filled out to help them write the best letter possible.
How: Asking your teacher in person is best, as it allows them to see that you are eager to get your application process moving along. Writing an email also works, however teachers inboxes get full and sometimes requests can get lost. If you do need to use email, be sure to include all the pertinent information mentioned earlier. Even though some schools use Naviance or other software, it is still best to ask in person before following up electronically.
Know WHO to ask
Who you ask to write a letter of recommendation matters. It is always best to ask a teacher who knows you well, can speak about your strengths and has favorable things to say about you. It is not necessarily the class you did the best in, but the teacher who can speak about your character. Not sure you have a teacher like that you can ask? You can be intentional about establishing good relationships with your teachers throughout the school year. Be genuine in establishing good rapport, understanding that it makes for a better education experience all around. You may also consider asking teachers that have also served as your sponsor or coach so they can speak to some of your extracurricular activities.
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