Tips and Tricks with Letters of Recommendation for College
Letters of recommendation are a way to showcase how you are a strong applicant, so be sure to ask the right person to write your letter!
Make sure to ask for a letter early!
Be polite and appreciative when asking someone.
Give your teachers some resources to help.
What is a letter of recommendation?
A letter of recommendation is a personal statement written on your behalf that gives college admission boards a deeper insight into your performance and work ethic.
The letter strives to explain who you are beyond what your GPA and test scores are able to account for and a way for you to make a strong case to why you are a great applicant.
Who should I ask to write my letter or recommendation?
When you are applying for college you will be asked to have 1 or more letters of recommendation. These can come from your academic teachers, advisors, or sports coaches. Usually, at least one should come from a teacher that you have had for an academic subject.
When considering which teacher to ask, be sure that you have performed well in their class. This does not mean getting a good grade; this is about how you represented yourself in the classroom and how hard you have worked on that specific subject.
You also want to choose a teacher who knows you a little bit better than their average student and can speak honestly and positively about your ability and growth as a student. This could mean that you went in for extra help or you visited them on your lunch break.
A good idea would be to choose a teacher from a subject that you are interested in. This would likely be a subject in which you are intending on declaring as your major but it does not have to be.
When is the right time to ask for a letter of recommendation?
It is never too early to ask for a letter, but it can certainly be too late!
Many teachers run on different schedules. Some like to plan well in advance and others like to wait till the last minute to write their letters. Remember, teachers get a lot of requests to write letters of recommendation, so you want to secure your first choice teacher and be able to meet the appropriate deadlines.
You should ask your teachers at least a month prior to your application due date, but the earlier you ask, the better. Writing a really good, thorough letter of recommendation for college is time-consuming. When teachers agree to write you a letter, they want to write elaborately and specifically about you, which takes a lot of thought and care!
How do I ask someone to write my letter?
Asking for a letter of recommendation can be an awkward experience, but it doesn’t have to be!
The absolute best way to ask a teacher for a letter of recommendation is in person. This makes sure that your teacher actually receives your request, and that you have the time to discuss the specifics of due dates, your college choices, etc.
Schedule an appointment to meet with them or catch up with them during a free period; just make sure you have enough time to discuss the request. Don’t just ask after class or in the hallway while you go to your next class!
You can also request a letter of recommendation via email. Be professional and respectful in your email, and make sure you discuss all the specifics (due dates, college choices, etc.).
If they say no, don’t take it personally! Often, teachers have a lot of requests to write, so they may be too busy to take on your request. You also might have chosen a teacher who doesn’t know you that well and feels like they can’t give you a detailed recommendation. Say thank you and move on.
If they say yes, make sure to follow up with them! Check in with them two weeks before your deadline to see if they have submitted or to remind them.
Always remember to say thank you to the teachers that have written on your behalf. This could be in person, in an email, or even a handwritten note. It’s important to let teachers know how much you appreciate them!
Is there anything else I can do for my letters or recommendation?
One way to make things easier is to fill out a brag sheet to give your teachers more insight into who you are and give them more amazing things to mention about you when writing your recommendation letter.
You can also download our free recommendation letter templates. They make the writing process easy and quick; your teachers will thank you!
Will I need letters of recommendation in the future?
Yes! Letters of recommendation will be needed again for job applications, graduate school applications, and more!
Therefore it is also important to build meaningful relationships with your college professors. This could be done by attending office hours or emailing with questions, but it is important that your college professors are able to set you apart from a crowd if you want them to write a letter of recommendation for you!
Asking for a letter of recommendation for college can be intimidating, but if you do it right, it can make a big impact on your future. Good luck!
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