If you are applying to college this fall, you’ll need to ask a few people in your life for letters of recommendation as a part of your applications. A good letter of recommendation speaks to your personality, your academic abilities, and offers a reflection of what you are capable of as a student and beyond. However, even the most perfect students can make the mistake of asking the wrong adult for a letter of recommendation. Students never see the letters, and so asking someone to write one for you is taking a leap of faith. It is important that this decision is carefully considered.
First Things First
Most schools require at least two letters of recommendation. One of these letters is going to come from your school counselor. The other most likely must come from an academic source: a teacher that you have taken classes with during your time in high school. Some schools require more than this, and as mentioned above, the letters may be required to come from teachers of certain subjects.
Before creating your short list of favorite teachers, it is important to read the requirements of each school to which you are applying. You may need to ask different people for letters for different schools. This can also be highly program-dependent; for example, if you are applying to an engineering school, you may be required to submit a letter of recommendation from a math or science teacher specifically.
Who to Ask
Make sure you are reaching out to teachers who know you well and have taught you recently. It is even better if you have a personal relationship with that teacher outside of school. For example, if your math teacher is also the faculty member responsible for Math Olympiads, for which you are the captain, then it is a no-brainer to ask them to write a letter for you.
You also want to be sure that the teacher(s) you are reaching out to is someone who is organized and likely to meet the deadline. We’ve all had those teachers who seem to constantly lose papers, or come into class frazzled and forgetful. They may not be the best choice.
How to Ask
Once you decide who you’d like to reach out to, be sure you are polite. Remember – writing letters of recommendation for you is not a requirement of any one teacher. While it is something that is expected of them, teachers do have the ability to say no. They can also put a limit on how many letters they write in a year, so be sure to get your request in early.
Remember to be respectful in your emails, address them as they wish to be addressed (e.g. Mr., Mrs.), and let them know how much you appreciate them taking the time out of their busy schedule to help you out. No one gets a great letter of recommendation from an entitled, demanding email request.
Definitely Don’t Do This
When looking up each school’s requirements on letters of recommendation, be sure to look at what the school doesn’t want. Some schools, like Yale, discourage additional letters of recommendation from personal sources, such as a work supervisor or athletic coach. Some schools do not want letters of recommendation to come from electives teachers, such as art or music. Again, this is highly program-dependent, so be sure to look at what the school and the department to which you are applying want.
Everyone is human, and sometimes teachers have things going on in their personal lives that may take precedence. Be mindful of this. For example, it is not a great idea to email your AP English teacher from last year who just went on maternity leave.
Last but not least, don’t wait until the last minute. A good letter of recommendation takes time. If your teacher is overwhelmed with grading midterms, extracurricular obligations, and a flood of other requests, yours could easily get lost in the mix. That’s the opposite of what you want. A good letter of recommendation helps you stand out from the crowd and highlights character traits that are unique to you – not a canned template, which might be what you end up with if you ask too late.
The Circle 