Sample Request For Letter Of Recommendation For College

First things first. Find out which schools on your list require a teacher letter of recommendation for college (or two! or three!), and which deadlines you’re pursuing: Early Action, Early Decision, Regular—some will be earlier than others. You’ll eventually give this curated list to your recommenders. A note: They’ll typically only write one universal letter to be sent to all the schools on your list, not individually tailored letters for each school.

How to Ask for a Letter of Recommendation for College: Step-by-Step Guide for Students

Cue the Hallelujah chorus: the letter of recommendation is the one part of the application that students don’t have to write.

But wait! Before you crank up Pharrell Williams, know this: You still have to know how to ask for a letter of recommendation.

There’s actually a strategy to getting a creme-de-la-creme letter of recommendation for college—kind of like there’s a strategy to getting your parents to un-ground you, or your teacher to throw out that homework assignment over spring break.

In the spirit of this topic, we’ve gathered advice from a number of experts, including:

• Chris Reeves, school counselor and member of the NACAC board of directors
• Trevor Rusert, director of college counseling at Chadwick International in South Korea
• Michelle Rasich, director of college counseling at Rowland Hall
• Kati Sweaney, senior assistant dean of admission at Reed College
• Sara Urquidez, executive director of Academic Success Program, a nonprofit that promotes a college-going culture in Dallas/Fort Worth high schools
• Martin Walsh, school counselor and former assistant dean of admission at Stanford
• Michelle McAnaney, educational consultant and founder of The College Spy

And I’m Alexis, a high school English teacher-turned college counselor-turned journalist. Ethan (the College Essay Guy) and I serve as your synthesizers and storytellers in this guide, which we’ve chunked into a few steps:

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Getting Started: Preparing to Ask for a Letter of Recommendation for College

So, you’ve got to get another human’s stamp of approval.

Why bother? Because some colleges consider letters of rec pretty darn important — above class rank, extracurricular activities and, at least when it comes to the counselor recommendation, demonstrated interest (dun dun dun!). Check out the results of the 2017 NACAC “State of College Admission” survey:

Our buddy Chris Reeves, a member of NACAC’s board of directors, has another way to read this table:

“If you consider ‘considerable importance’ AND ‘moderate importance,’ the teacher letter is also more important than demonstrated interest. The counselor rec even ranks above the essay.”

Basically, if it comes down to you and another candidate—all else being equal—your letters of recommendation can get you in or keep you out.

And, according to a presentation co-led by our friend Sara Urquidez at a 2017 AP conference, rec letters can also help decide who gets scholarships and who gets into honors programs. All told, they’re a big deal.

In this student guide, we focus on how to approach your teachers for a rec letter. Your school counselor may also write you one—ask to find out.

Either way, a word to the wise: Make sure your counselor knows who you are.

According to Sara, your counselor is the person that admissions representatives will call if they have questions about your application. She writes, “It’s important to keep them up to date and in the know.” So pop in every now and again and say hi. Make a copy of this counselor questionnaire, fill it out and either email it to them or print it and hand-deliver it. They will love you for it.

Now, the teacher letter.

How do I get started?

First things first. Find out which schools on your list require a teacher letter of recommendation for college (or two! or three!), and which deadlines you’re pursuing: Early Action, Early Decision, Regular—some will be earlier than others. You’ll eventually give this curated list to your recommenders. A note: They’ll typically only write one universal letter to be sent to all the schools on your list, not individually tailored letters for each school.

Now you can start asking around.

How to Choose the Right Teachers for a Letter of Recommendation

In an ideal world, you’d ask someone who teaches a core subject (English, math, science, social studies), who taught you recently (junior year is prime) and who knows you well and actually likes you. If you can’t find one person who fits all of those things, this is what you should prioritize:

1. Someone who knows you well and actually likes you
2. Someone who taught you recently
3. Someone who teaches a core subject*

*Important note: Some colleges require or recommend that students submit recommendations from teachers in certain subject areas. Be sure you double check that.

Overall, think of it this way—it won’t help the college get to know you if your recommender doesn’t know you.

What if I need two (or three!) teachers?

Pick teachers who can highlight separate strengths. For example, your band teacher knows things about you that your English teacher doesn’t, and vice versa. Having said this, I wouldn’t recommend picking teachers who teach electives for your main letter of rec (with exceptions like your music teacher for music school and art teacher for art school) as colleges are most interested in how well you’re doing and will do in academic subjects.

What if I don’t know any of my teachers?

It’s better to cultivate a relationship with a teacher before you need something. But if you find yourself in a bind and haven’t gotten to know any of your teachers, it’s not too late to start. One of the best things you can do is pop in during your teacher’s office hours and, if they aren’t busy, ask questions. About class, work, life. Get to know them too.

Finally, to help your teachers get to know YOU better, click here. Make your own copy of the document, fill it out and either email it to them OR print it and deliver in person.

As you think about which teachers to ask, here’s an exercise, adapted from our colleague Stacey Picket Cunitz, that can help strengthen both their eventual recommendations and your understanding of what they’ll be doing.

Step 1: Grab paper and pencil, or open a new doc for notes…

Step 2: And then open this up.

That’s the Common App’s Teacher Recommendation Form.

Step 3: Take some time and imagine how your teacher/s might fill it out for you.

• With the “What are the first words that come to mind. ” identify and jot down both what you think comes to your teacher/s’ minds, and the words you want to come to mind (are there differences?).
• With the “ratings” section, what are your strengths? What could you improve on?
• What are concrete, actionable steps you could take to improve? And what are actions you could take, with integrity, to shift the words that come to their minds?

Note that this exercise is useful to work through regardless of how much time you have before your letters or rec are due, but if you want to be able to act on that final bullet point, you’ll probably want a few months to be able to shift your actions appropriately.

Recommendation Letter Tips

1. Actually ask. Don’t just add your teacher’s name to your Common App. When I was a senior in high school, a guy went around telling people we were going to prom together without asking me. Yeah, no. This is just as bad. I told students who did that “no” on principle.
2. Ask in advance. I mean way in advance—like, end-of-junior-year advance, if possible. Three weeks before the application deadline should be your minimum, and even that’s pushing it. Martin Walsh, former assistant dean of admission at Stanford, recommends a 90-day heads’ up. A rule of thumb: The more time you give your teachers, the more they will love you and the better your letter will turn out.
3. Ask in person. An email ask should be a last resort. Be bold, young grasshopper! If you or they have moved, and asking in person isn’t possible, opt for the phone call first, email second, text never.
4. Don’t group-ask the teacher. Make sure you ask one-on-one. Once I had two students ask me for a letter of rec at the same time, so I felt obligated to tell them both yes—how awkward would it have been if I’d told one yes and one no? (Pro tip: This is not how you want your teachers to feel as they’re writing your letter.)
5. Handle the print submissions. While this isn’t the norm, some schools still want you to snail mail your letters of rec. If that’s the case, it’s your responsibility to provide the teacher with a stamped envelope addressed to the admissions office of the relevant college.
6. Know your teachers (and school counselors on behalf of your teachers) may have their own process—and follow it. For example, they may have their own questionnaire for you to fill out (and they might tell you to fill it out immediately). Whatever it is, follow through and respect their timeline.
7. Prepare to return in kind. The more you ask of a teacher, the more you should plan to give them in return. These rec letters—especially the good ones—can take three hours to write. And the thing is, teachers don’t have to write these letters. They don’t get paid for them. They do them out of kindness and care on top of their other work. At the very least, plan to write thank-you notes.

Need to prepare for the college interview?

Click here for the ultimate guide

When to Ask for a Letter of Recommendation

As mentioned above, ideally you’d ask for letters of recommendation at the end of your junior year (and you would, after doing the exercise above, spend a few months before the end of your junior year establishing a stronger relationship with them).

To keep it simple, the sooner your application is due, the sooner you need to ask.

But be sure to ask at an appropriate time. You know how you wait until your parents are in a good mood before you ask them for something? Do that with this.

That means: Don’t ask your teachers during lunch. (They’re humans. They eat.)

Not right before class. (You’ll interrupt their class-prepping mojo.)

Not in the middle of class (just, no).

Two better options for when to ask for a letter of recommendation:

1. Schedule a brief meeting with your teacher in advance. Shoot them an email asking if they have five minutes to chat with you about college sometime in the next week, then set up a time and don’t be late. The thoughtfulness will add another jewel to your crown in Letter of Recommendation heaven.
2. Wait until all the students have left the classroom at the end of the day, and cautiously approach the teacher, as you would a wild animal. Here’s a sample dialogue that works:

You: “Ms. Smith, do you have five minutes to talk?” (This is key. You’re inviting her into the conversation, while also giving her a quick out if she needs one.)

Ms. Smith: “Sure, Johnny. What’s up?”

You: “Well, I’m in the throes of applying to college. I’ve got some deadlines in about three months, so I’m trying to be proactive and organized before all hell breaks loose. (She’ll love you for thinking ahead.) That’s why I’m here. Of all the teachers I’ve had, I think you know me the best, and I’m wondering: Would you be willing and able to write me a strong letter of recommendation?” (The word “strong” gives teachers a polite out if they feel like they don’t know you well enough or don’t have time to take on your letter.)

Ms. Smith: “Oh Johnny, I thought you’d never ask.” (She probably won’t say this, but you can dream.)

You: “Really? That would be wonderful/epic/lit. Tonight I’ll email you all the relevant information—my resume, my list of colleges and their deadlines, and some bullet points with stuff I’ve done in class. (See below for more info on this follow-up email.) Is there anything else you’d like from me?

Ms. Smith: “Wow, no, I think that about covers it. Thanks, Johnny.”

You: “Thank you, Ms. Smith!”

(Turns away, nearing the door. Stops as if remembering something, turns back toward Ms. Smith with a winning smile.)

You: “Oh, Ms. Smith! I almost forgot to ask … what’s your favorite coffee shop?”

Ms. Smith: “Oh heavens. Starbucks, I think. Why?”

You: “No reason! Have a great day!”

(Skips out the door and immediately jots “Starbucks—Ms. Smith” into notes app, because you’ll be getting her a Starbucks gift card and thank-you note when all this is over.)

And that’s how it’s done.

How to Get the Best Letters of Recommendation for College (Sample Included)

Whom, when, and how to ask for college recommendation letters that can help your child get into their dream school

Introduction

Your child has spent countless hours to achieve a high GPA and standardized test scores. They’ve also participated in impactful extracurricular activities throughout their high school years and are gearing up to write a stellar personal statement .

Why, then, does your child need letters of recommendation for college admission?

The truth is that, while the admissions committee learns a great deal about your child from the rest of their application materials, recommendation letters provide them with something they don’t yet have: an adult’s opinion of who your child is as a student and person.

In other words, LORs reveal character traits and unique aspects of your child’s personality that test scores and a resume cannot. They also demonstrate to admissions committees that your child has adult professionals willing to vouch for them.

Perhaps you’re thinking, “Okay, but does anyone even read these letters?” The answer is: yes.

How important are letters of recommendation for college?

Much like your child’s personal statement and supplemental college essays , recommendation letters can be the difference between acceptance and rejection. You probably know students or have heard of people with perfect stats and great extracurriculars who didn’t get into their dream school. Those cases often come down to submitting mediocre college essays and LORs.

Admissions committees want to be able to imagine what your child is like as a person and how they might interact with other students and teachers. If reviewers can’t picture your child adding value to their campus, they’ll be rejected.

Now that we’ve covered the importance of LORs, you may start to worry about how your child can obtain top-notch recommendation letters from their teachers. No need! By the time you finish reading this article you will know whom, how and when your child should ask for the LORs required by their dream schools.

Who to ask for a letter of recommendation

Follow the rules

Your child should always follow the instructions provided by the school.

If the university requests a letter from an academic teacher, your child should send a letter from an academic teacher. If the schools asks for two academic teachers and a third open option, your child should send recommendation letters from two academic teachers and a third from someone who closely supervised their extracurricular activities or an employer who observed their diligence, initiative, and impact.

Following the rules is a surefire way to get off on the right foot.

Choose someone because they know you, not because they are famous

Your child should request recommendation letters from people who know them well.

While it may seem like a good idea to ask a teacher who is an alum of their top-choice school, or a teacher who has celebrity status in your child’s community, your child will only benefit if the recommender can write a substantial and persuasive letter about them. If a teacher only knows your child’s face and final grade in the course, the letter will likely be underwhelming and generic.

It is best to choose letter writers who know your child as a student and person and who can elaborate on their unique character. Chosen well, your child’s LORs will include information about them that isn’t found elsewhere on their application.

Think outside the box

When given the open-ended option for letters and feeling uncertain about whom to choose, your child should get creative.

If your child has a coach, adviser or employer who has known them for some time and can speak articulately on their behalf, perhaps they are a good choice. In addition, instructors who know your child through an extracurricular activity (as opposed to an academic course) can often provide a unique perspective that may not come up inside the classroom.

Main point: unless specified by the school, don’t rule out adults just because they haven’t taught your child inside the classroom.

Stay current

It is best for your child to choose recommenders from their current school year or a year prior, unless they’ve maintained a great relationship with a teacher from an earlier grade level.

A teacher who knew your child freshman year and has not interacted with them since? Pass. On the other hand, a teacher who met your child freshman year and has mentored them since? Compelling choice.

When to ask for a letter of recommendation

Your child should request recommendation letters at least two months before their application deadlines and be clear about when their college application deadlines are.

If your child happens to know they would like to ask a particular teacher well in advance, they could let them know early on that they hope to get a LOR from them.

Remember, teachers are often inundated with LOR requests 2-3 months prior to application deadlines. Asking in advance means your child’s teacher won’t be rushed and will be more likely to submit a stronger letter.

How to ask for a letter of recommendation

Logistics

Ask in person, whenever possible. Even if your child initially sends an email to set up the meeting, an in-person request is always preferable to an email request. The latter may appear less invested and less mature.

Here is a sample email to request the letter in person:

Dear [Teacher’s Name],

I hope all is well with you. I’m applying to college this upcoming year and am hoping you would offer your perspective on the process as I’ve always valued your guidance. If so, please let me know some days/times that work well for you to meet, and I’ll make sure to accommodate. Thank you for your time and consideration!

[Your Name/Last Name]

If asking in person is not an option, here is a sample script for the recommendation letter request email:

Dear [Teacher’s Name],

I hope all is well with you. I’m applying to college this upcoming year and am wondering whether you’d feel comfortable writing a strong letter of recommendation. [Authentic sentence explaining why you would value a letter from them (ex. why you value their perspective, etc.)]. If you’re willing to provide a letter, I will provide the following materials: 1) a list of my grades 2) my CV, 3) a draft of my personal statement, and 4) the school’s guidelines for letters of recommendation. Thank you for your time and consideration!

[Your Name/Last Name]

Ensuring quality

If your child is unsure whether or not an adult will write a compelling recommendation, they should ask the recommender if they would feel comfortable providing a “strong letter of recommendation.” If a teacher seems hesitant, your child should simply thank them and move on to the next. Better to suffer that minor rejection than end up with a weak LOR and lower admissions odds.

If your child is pretty certain that an adult will not write a positive recommendation, don’t ask them. Remember, the admissions committee is evaluating your child, not the person writing the letter. Your child’s relationship with the recommender outweighs their background or perceived status.

Providing materials

Your child should offer to provide their recommenders with application materials or a short list of notable accomplishments (sometimes referred to as a “ brag sheet ”), should they wish to look them over. Many teachers with stacks of letters to write will decline; however, it is wise to offer. Materials to provide include:

• a finalized personal statement or advanced draft
• a list grades (a transcript copy will do)
• a CV or resume
• any specific instructions from the school requesting the LOR

Waive the right to view your letters of recommendation

By this point, you’re likely convinced about the importance of LORs, have a solid idea of whom your child should request them from, and how to do so politely. However, you may still be wondering, “Should my child waive the right to examine this letter of recommendation?” Anxiety about sending an unread LOR to your child’s top school is completely normal. After all, LORs are the only part of your child’s application that you cannot see prior to sending.

However, your child should waive their right to see LORs on their application when prompted. Otherwise, schools will not trust the letters, as they assume teachers are less honest with their commentary when they know their letter will be reviewed by the student.

How to follow up on letters of recommendation

Before the deadline

Say your child has requested LORs in advance, but a month has passed and they haven’t heard from their writer or the school regarding submission. Your child is probably anxious to reach out, but concerned about annoying someone who is doing them a favor.

The good news? It is completely acceptable to reach out to recommenders with a reminder. In fact, they are probably expecting it! Your child should follow up with their recommenders about two weeks to a month prior to their first application deadline to express gratitude and ensure their letters have been (or are about to be) sent. Here’s a sample letter of recommendation follow-up email:

Dear [Teacher’s Name],

I hope all is well with you. I plan to submit my college applications [on date or in # of days/weeks], so I’m sending a reminder regarding your recommendation letter. Please let me know if there is any additional information I can provide.

Thank you for all of your support!

[Your Name/Last Name]

After your child has heard back

Once your child has heard back from schools and has made a decision on where to attend, it’s important that they send a thank you note to recommenders updating them on their admissions results and decision on where they’ll be attending.

Your child’s letter writers will be grateful to hear their decision directly. A hand-written thank you note will add an extra mature touch.

Here’s a sample thank you letter for your child’s recommendation writers:

Dear [Teacher’s Name],

Thank you again for supporting my college applications by offering your perspectives on the process and submitting a recommendation letter. I wanted to let you know that I was accepted to [school name] and plan to attend in the Fall!

I feel very fortunate to have great mentors like you. Thank you, again, for all of your support.

[Your Name/Last Name]

What makes a good letter of recommendation

Specific examples/anecdotes

Specific examples and anecdotes are key components of a persuasive LOR, as they tell the admissions committee that the writer truly knows your child and can provide examples to back up the claims they are making.

• Generic:George is a brilliant student and has a clear passion for chemistry.
• Specific:George is a brilliant student who has a clear passion for chemistry. It came as no surprise that in addition to being the best student in my class, he also scored a 5 on the AP exam. I was continually impressed by George’s zest for chemistry and his involvement in not one, but two different science clubs on campus.

Clear/powerful language

Powerful language and the use of superlatives tell the admissions committee that your child’s writer feels strongly about just how wonderful they are. Rather than imply your child is as good a candidate as any other, this kind of language states that they are superior to other candidates and should be viewed as such.

• Vague/generic:Sally wrote good essays during her time in my AP English course and was always friendly with her peers.
• Clear/powerful:Sally’s essays during her time in my AP English course were some of the most compelling I’ve read in 16 years of teaching. In addition, she was an absolute pleasure to have in class and beloved by all of her peers.

Enthusiastic support

A recommendation and an enthusiastic recommendation read quite differently. You want your child’s writer to convince the admissions committee that they should accept them or they will be sorely missing out. Enthusiastic support tells the committee that your child doesn’t just deserve not to be rejected (pardon the double negative), but rather that they deserve to be accepted and valued.

• Unenthusiastic support:I recommend John be accepted to your undergraduate program. If you have questions, please contact me.
• Enthusiastic support:I give John my highest recommendation, as I know he will continue to excel in college and beyond. It was my pleasure to serve as his teacher and I am confident that he will add great value to your university. Please do not hesitate to contact me with any questions.

Insight into your child’s personality, not just their grades

You already know that your child’s dream school is looking for an outstanding GPA as well as ACT, SAT, and other test scores , but they also want to know more.

As discussed earlier, schools want to know who your child is as a person, not just as a student. A recommendation letter that fails to address this will leave them wondering: does the student have a negative (or no) personality? Does this teacher not really know them, just their name and final grade?

• Grades only:Sonia performed impressively in my course and was well known for her academic prowess on campus.
• Additional insight:Sonia performed impressively in my course and was well known for her academic prowess on campus as well as her kind spirit. For instance, I routinely observed Sonia outside the cafeteria helping sign up peers for volunteer work with several of the organizations she championed. Sonia’s work with Heal The Bay often came up in class discussion, making her passion for the environment undeniable.

Sample College Recommendation Letter

Dear Admissions Committee,

I had the pleasure of teaching Leah Watkins in her 11th grade AP English Literature class at Fitzgerald High School. From the beginning, Leah impressed me with her passion for literature and her ability to understand and articulate difficult concepts. Leah is incredibly insightful and skilled in picking up nuances and subtleties within the text. In addition to achieving an A+ in my notoriously difficult class and a 5 on the AP exam, I am not surprised to find out that Leah is now ranked at the top of perhaps the most capable senior class in our school’s 65-year history.

Leah is an active and engaging student, who participated frequently in class and routinely supported her peers. Throughout the year, she provided her peers with a safe space to share their opinions and receive helpful feedback. Even when others’ opinions differed from her own, Leah was open, compassionate and kind. During a class debate about abortion, Leah offered to speak for the side opposite her own views in order to practice putting herself in others’ shoes. Leah’s warmth and empathy as a person enhance her skills as a writer and make her a true joy to have in the classroom.

Outside of the classroom, Leah demonstrated a passion and talent for poetry as the president of the Fitzgerald Poetry Club during sophomore and junior year. As president, Leah seamlessly combined her skills as a poet with her natural leadership abilities. Leah’s kindness and openness to feedback made her a beloved president, and I imagine she will be greatly missed by her younger peers upon graduation.

Leah has my highest recommendation for admission to your undergraduate program. I have no doubt that she will continue to do great things in the future and will be a valuable member of your community. Please feel free to contact me with any questions.

Fitzgerald High School