Letters of recommendation serve multiple purposes in the college admissions process. They give a new perspective to a student’s application—recommendations are someone else talking about the student and are a great way for colleges to learn more about an applicant’s character and personal qualities. Teacher recommendations, the subject of today’s blog post, shine a light on a student’s work ethic in the classroom. They also let school representatives provide context about a student’s academic journey that may not come across by looking at a transcript.
Recommendations are just one part of the college application—but they’re important to colleges who use them as part of the holistic admissions process. They’re also one piece of the application that students have little control over. Students can pick their recommenders but won’t have input over what goes into those letters of recommendation. Students won’t even get to read them! Letters of recommendation are kept confidential during and after the application process.
And so because students are putting an important piece of their application in someone else’s hands, students should have a plan in place. Here is our step-by-step guide that walks students through teacher recommendations.
ASK EARLY
We recommend that students choose two teachers to ask for a recommendation and to go ahead and ask before the end of junior year. It may seem early to ask before applications are open—or before you’ve finished your college list—but we have a few reasons for wanting to give your teachers plenty of notice ahead of time.
First, some teachers prefer to write recommendations over the summer when they have more free time. Writing recommendations is not part of your teacher’s job (let’s acknowledge that they are doing something very nice for you!), so they may not have time to write multiple letters during the school year.
Second, some teachers may limit the number of recommendations that they write each year. Maybe they’re “known” for writing “good” recommendations (English teachers often get this reputation just because they’re the English teacher…), or maybe it’s a teacher most students like. If you wait until the fall to ask, the teacher you really want to write your recommendation may have filled up.
CHOOSE WISELY
Okay, you’re going to ask your two teachers before the end of junior year. But who are you going to ask? Your first instinct may be to ask the teachers in whose classes you have the highest grades. That’s not quite the approach we recommend. Let’s break down the advice we give our students:
Ideally, choose teachers from junior year. Colleges prefer recommendations from teachers who’ve taught you in junior year because they’re getting a look at your most recent self. You may have had a great relationship with a teacher from 9th or 10th grade, but you’ve probably grown as a student and a person since then. Junior year classes are also more difficult, so colleges learn more about how you handled tougher coursework. Few students are “college-ready” academically or personally in 9th grade!
Choose at least 1 core subject teacher. Your favorite classes might be your electives, but try to think of at least one teacher who teaches a core subject (math, English, social studies, science, foreign language) with whom you have a good relationship. Sometimes, colleges will request that at least one teacher recommendation come from a core subject. You may not know this until the fall, but this keeps you on the safe side.
Your recommenders’ subjects don’t have to relate to your intended major. They can, but they don’t have to. So if you want to major in engineering and have a great relationship with your history teacher, don’t feel like you have to ask your math and physics teachers. A letter from that history teacher could provide a great new perspective that would be otherwise missing from your application! It can sometimes be helpful to have one recommender from a class that demonstrates some interest in your intended major (and again, some colleges or majors might ask for it specifically—some selective engineering programs, for example, want a math or science teacher’s recommendation), but for that second letter, consider the next two tips.
Think about who knows you the best. So if you’re not deciding solely based on your highest grade or subject area, how do you decide? Think about the strength of the relationship you have with your teacher. Remember, recommendations are someone else writing about you. You want to choose teachers who have something to say! Think about the classes where you are most yourself. Where you participate and get involved. Where you ask or answer questions. Where your teacher knows a little bit about who you are when you aren’t in their classroom.
Pro Tip: Are you a younger student reading this? Make an effort to build genuine relationships with your teachers. Don’t forget that your teachers are people too! They generally enjoy connecting with students who are engaged in their classes!
If deciding between multiple teachers, consider who will add new insight to your application. College applications are read very quickly, and you have just minutes to make an impression. Something we’re always telling students is not to repeat information—whether it’s in an essay, the Activity List, or a recommendation. You always want to try and provide new information. So even though you don’t get to read your recommendations, imagine what your teachers might say about you based on your relationships with them and your performance in their classrooms. If you’re can’t decide between teachers, choose two who you think will say different things about you to add new information to your application. Maybe in one class, you always ask questions, talk to the teacher after class, and do test corrections and every extra credit assignment. That teacher might talk about your work ethic and determination to earn your grade. Maybe another class is more discussion-based, and you always participate and tend to take the lead in group projects. That teacher would have something completely different to say!
ASK IN PERSON
Don’t hide behind an email! Tell your teacher that you’re starting to think about college applications, that you’ve really enjoyed their class, and ask them in person if they would be willing to write a strong letter of recommendation for you in the fall. You can follow up with an email to get confirmation in writing, but make that initial ask face-to-face.
THOUGHTFULLY FOLLOW UP WITH ANY REQUESTS
After agreeing to write a letter of recommendation, teachers will often ask for some information from the student to make their task a little easier. They may ask for a resume or something called a “brag sheet.” A brag sheet highlights your accomplishments, experiences, and activities in and out of school and gives your teacher more insight into who you are.
Take your time and thoughtfully fill out anything that’s requested of you. Don’t rush through it! Your teacher is going to use whatever you give them when they’re writing your letter of recommendation, so while you don’t get to control what goes into your recommendation, this is your chance to have some influence. For example, are there certain authentic character traits or classroom experiences that you hope your teacher will highlight? Then write about those if you’re asked about your strengths or what you liked best about that teacher’s class.
KEEP YOUR TEACHERS INFORMED IN THE FALL
Touch base with your teachers once senior year starts in the fall. We recommend reaching back out in August to confirm that they are still writing your recommendation. Do this early so you have plenty of time to ask another teacher just in case you need to make any changes.
Once you have confirmation, you can let your teacher know to expect their recommendation invitation (whether through the Common App or your school’s preferred system like SCOIR). Go ahead and set up your recommenders to give your teachers time and to get that initial task off of your plate.
Then, as soon as your college list is finalized and you know your deadlines, let your recommender know your earliest deadline and any other information they may have asked for. Make sure you give them enough notice before that earliest deadline!
THANK YOUR TEACHER
Your teachers have contributed to your college application in a meaningful way. Make sure you thank them for doing this for you! A handwritten thank you note is always appreciated.