How To Request A Letter of Recommendation
Some of the most daunting misbeliefs parents tell their children include “being admitted into college solely relies on grades,” “your nose will grow infinitely larger if you lie,” and the classic “there’s a special dye in pools if you urinate.” While you should never lie or urinate in a public setting, parents put a heavy importance on grades and academics regarding their children’s education.
While getting good grades are crucial, colleges want to learn if you:
- can fit in with the dynamic of their school
- have good character
- have good work ethic
- have values similar their specific student body.
This is where letters of recommendations come into play.
What is Required for the College Application?
There are three main types of recommendation letters that college may require you to send: academic, employment, and character recommendations. The academic letter would give the college a brief summary of how you worked during high school and your accomplishments. An employment letter would give the college a brief summary of your work ethic and commitments outside of school. Lastly, the character letter would give the college a brief summary of how you carry and present yourself to your surroundings.
While some colleges don’t generally require recommendation letters (Penn State University, University of Washington, University of Minnesota), most colleges want some type of letter of recommendation sent to them. Some universities only require counselors to write the letter of recommendation (College of William and Mary, Georgia Institute of Technology, University of Richmond) while most require 1–2 teachers’ recommendations in addition to the counselor’s. Some schools require letters from teachers of different subjects, like one letter from a math or science teacher and a letter from a foreign language, social science, or English teacher. Some schools even allow supplemental letters such as a peer recommendation (Dartmouth College, Davidson College) or an employer letter. If your school allows it, you want to make sure an extra letter adds something unique to your application. In sum, the number of letters you need to send is solely based on where you are applying to.
Now, asking a teacher to write a letter of recommendation (LOR) can be as unnerving as asking your first crush out on a date. However, it can be one of the most prominent and important parts of your application. To ensure that you can CREATE a good letter of recommendation, you must follow the acronym: CREATE.
Credentials
When requesting a LOR, it is key to give the teacher a sense of how you are doing in school. Let the teacher know that you try your best and that you are hard worker by giving them concrete details about your academic performance from the past three years. Whether it be your high school transcript, resume, or even just a Microsoft Word document about awards you’ve achieved, offering extra background information about your interests and passions are never a bad idea! Showing a glimpse of your complex life can be extremely rewarding because the teacher can fully understand who you are as a person. A mistake most high schoolers make throughout their high school career is only attempting to get a good grade in each class, but never participating in extracurricular activities. By showing your specific teacher what you do as a hobby is more productive and beneficial than just showing your high school transcript. Thus, even as a sophomore or a freshman, you can start thinking about where your interests lie and start getting involved in your community and school.
Reveal aspects of your personality
Whether it be that you’re extremely loud and can make the class laugh in seconds, or you answer every question the teacher asks, revealing aspects of your personality can make the teacher understand and evaluate your morals, ethics and character. Participate in class, get to know your teachers, and be open about your future goals. Additionally, always try to be on your best behavior and have a pleasant attitude to all your teachers. When you show teachers that you are passionate about learning and you want to study through different class assignments, they can understand that you have a good work ethic. Assuming you desire to give the responsibility to a teacher you had in the previous year or have currently, you should certainly try to showcase how you’re unique because there’s only one you!
Earlier the Better!
The best technique to making sure you are not struggling to find a teacher to write a LOR is to plan ahead of time. When’s the best time? Summer of junior year. After 11th grade, you are always going to be thinking about your post-secondary school. While you’re thinking about which colleges you would like to apply to, map out which teachers you think will send the most accurate representation of who you are as a student. While summer is for vacationing and relaxing, it’s an invaluable time for you to structure how you want to apply for college in your upcoming senior year. Moreover, always have alternate teachers who you could use as a backup if the teacher you had in mind is unable to write the letter. Make deadlines so you can stick to a structured schedule because thinking ahead is always beneficial. Remember, the earlier the better!
Ask Teachers Who Know You the Best
Before you request an administrator, be smart in making your final decision. Understand that this letter can either give you that extra push for your application or it can ruin your chance for getting into that university. Find a teacher who knows you personally and who you connect with. Obviously, don’t ask a teacher who wasn’t very fond of you during a class or an administrator who you have disagreements with. Ask a teacher who knows you the best and a person who sees you as you see yourself. Even if you’re a sophomore or a freshman reading this article, you can start on giving good impressions to all your teachers. Try to discover bonds with your counselors and teachers because they have a prominent role in your college process.
Thank Them
After the college visits, applications and the mayhem are over, take time to appreciate the teachers who spent time writing you letters. Understand that they are simultaneously working and were willing to help you get into college. A small gift or a thank you card would be a nice surprise for them and can show your gratitude for their presence in your life.
Educate
The college journey can be complex at times, so make sure you give good instructions to your teachers. They probably have several letters to write, so try to ease them with showing them what you need them to do and how. The worst thing you want to happen is a teacher who really wants to write your letter, but does not how to even start. This can spiral to confusion and chaos because these letters are due on specific dates on the Common App or college portal. Make sure you provide your teachers with information on deadlines and how to send the recommendation.
As college admissions are getting more and more competitive each year, understanding how to present yourself in the best way possible is the ultimate way to send a lasting impression to the admissions board. There’s only so much a college can obtain from a high school transcript and grades.
