Which teachers to ask for letters of recommendation is one of the biggest questions facing any college applicant. But why is it so important? How do colleges use letters of recommendation? And how should a student decide whom to ask? In this post, we’ll shed light on those answers.
I’m someone who loves control. I’ll spend hours decorating a room exactly right; I’ll rewrite a sentence a million times until it flows perfectly; I organize the books on my bookshelf not just by subject but also by time period. As a Collegewise counselor who has assisted more than a hundred successful college applicants, I think that’s why I enjoy reviewing applications with my students; all the information is there, precisely organized, and presented in just the way we wanted it.
Except for the letters of recommendation.
You may not be familiar with the recommendation process. It certainly gets less press than other pieces of college applications, like transcripts, essays, or extracurriculars. But at many colleges, it’s an important element — and it’s one that doesn’t fit cleanly within that perfectly-organized application I love. Ready to learn about this strange creature? Let’s go!
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College applications are often thorough and well-built, but there is no form on earth that could possibly capture the unique circumstances, interests, and challenges of every student. So, many colleges (more than 350 US colleges, in fact) require teachers and school counselors to provide additional information beyond what’s available in the application.
Most often, recommendations include both a quantitative and a qualitative measure. For instance, a recommendation submitted through the Common App will have a space for recommenders to mark students on a scale that ranges on various points from “below average” to “one of the top few I have encountered in my career.” The qualitative portion will ask educators to submit a written recommendation where they can explain how, exactly, they believe their student stands out from their peers. There can be a lot of power in those explanations, and there are important reasons many colleges ask for them.
But here’s my favorite answer when my students ask why colleges care about these recommendations: the people reading your application just want to know that their professors are going to enjoy having you in their classes. Admission offices often work closely with faculty, to make sure that they’re attracting and accepting the types of students who will mesh with professors. Students who are kind, questioning, curious, and thoughtful make any classroom brighter; students who are passive, selfish, or grade grubbers usually don’t.
I usually bring up recommendations with my students early in the spring of their junior year. At that point, they’ve had their 11th-grade teachers for a few months, and they’ve figured out which classes they’ve thrived in and which teachers they’ve really clicked with. At that point, we can have an intelligent conversation about which two or three teachers would be most appropriate to ask to provide letters of recommendation. Their next assignment: to continue impressing those teachers for the rest of the semester with their kindness and their thoughtful participation in class.
Depending on their high school’s policies, my students will actually ask those teachers a couple of weeks before summer or just after school resumes in 12th grade. Ideally, I think, earlier is better — when I was teaching, I would have appreciated knowing in advance so I could use the summer to write. Some high schools have specific periods in which to request recommendations, and that’s just fine, too; it’s not a race! Just make sure you give your teachers enough time to write an effective recommendation (meaning several weeks, at minimum).
Those are some of the questions I ask my students when we’re discussing which teachers they might ask for a recommendation (I also send them this post by my colleague Cecilia). Invariably, there are two or three classes in which their teachers have seen them at their best, and those are usually the ones my students focus on.
Beyond that general advice, there are also some specific guidelines you should try to follow:
When you’re ready to request a letter of recommendation from a teacher, a personal touch goes a long way.
Start by finding a quiet time to chat one on one. The end of the day, after a teacher’s last class, is often a good time. Alternatively, use your teacher’s office hours or schedule a few minutes to talk. Try not to initiate this conversation over email.
In that face-to-face conversation, be straightforward and honest. I often ask my students to include three elements:
For more insight on how to ask for letters of recommendation, check out our YouTube video below!
Recommendations are a privilege to write. It’s an educator’s chance to advocate for their student and to reflect on their future growth. In some ways, it’s validation for a career in education.
But writing a good letter of recommendation is hard. In fact, it’s a giant pain. And, what’s more, it’s not your teacher’s actual job to write them. So make sure to do your part, too: if your counselor or your teachers want a brag sheet, a resume, or a questionnaire from you, don’t argue; do it. Ask them far in advance, and beyond sending them the supporting information they asked for materials they’d like (and a quick thank-you), don’t bother them for a while.
The reward for your patience will be an authentic, glowing letter that helps colleges understand your unique capabilities and potential for growth. It’s well worth the trade.
About Us: With more than twenty years of experience, Collegewise counselors and tutors are at the forefront of the ever-evolving admissions landscape. Our work has always centered on you: the student. And just like we’ve always done, we look for ways for you to be your best self - whether it’s in the classroom, in your applications or in the right-fit college environment. Our range of tools include counseling, test prep, academic tutoring, and essay management, all with the support of our proprietary platform, leading to a 4x higher than average admissions rates.