6 Tips for Asking Teachers for Letters of Recommendation

Students do a lot of self-advocating in their college applications, but colleges also value hearing what others have to say about an applicant. This is where teacher recommendation letters come into play.

Good letters of recommendation can give colleges insight into the applicant from the teachers’ point of view, revealing—and often vouching for!—personal or academic qualities the student has, providing nuance and additional context to reinforce what’s already in the application.

Here are some of our tips to help students as they prepare for recommendation letters:

1. DON’T WAIT UNTIL SENIOR YEAR.

   Sophomores and juniors should start planning for their teacher recommendation letters now—and for juniors, especially so, before the semester ends! Teachers often have a cap on how many students they can write for, so if juniors ask teachers about writing recommendation letters now, they'll make an impression and have a better chance of getting a letter.
   

2. HELP YOUR TEACHERS GET TO KNOW YOU. 

   A teacher who only knows you from your work in their class will not produce very impressive recommendation letters, no matter how high-achieving you are. Speak up and participate in class, ask teachers for help, attend office hours—this not only helps you stand out among your peers, but it helps the teacher get a better understanding of you as an individual in a one-on-one context.
   

3. HAVE AT LEAST ONE OF YOUR RECOMMENDERS BE SOMEONE WHO TEACHES A SUBJECT YOU’RE PLANNING TO PURSUE IN COLLEGE.

   This subject could be a possible major or extracurriculars. A recommender like this can provide insight into your relationship with your preferred subject. (Be careful not to double-up! Colleges aren't particularly interested in what two math teachers have to say about a student's performance in their calculus classes.)
   

4. KNOW YOUR GENERAL APPLICATION PLAN BEFORE YOU APPROACH YOUR POTENTIAL RECOMMENDERS.

   A general application plan can include the top schools on your college list, whether you'll be applying early, your potential major, etc. Knowing this ahead of time helps teachers decide whether or not they're comfortable writing a letter for you, and sometimes teachers ask for student information sheets to help them write recommendations.
   

5. CONSIDER TEACHERS WITH WHOM YOU ARE ENGAGED OUTSIDE OF THE CLASSROOM.

   This may include a supervisor for a club you're heavily involved in or the coach for your sports team. They may be privy to your more personal, non-academic qualities, such as your engagement with your passions, potential leadership skills, and ability to work with a team, to name just a few. 
   

6. MOST IMPORTANTLY, BE GENUINE.

   You want teachers to have an honest, real perception of you as a student and a human being! Don't force yourself to be someone you're not, and don't force a good relationship with a teacher you don't particularly like just because you think they would be a great addition to your recommendation pool. Forge a connection with a teacher you respect or with whom you share genuine interests. Let teachers you truly appreciate see your strengths, your personality, and your motivations, and colleges will get a more informed, valuable insight about you as a student because of it.
   

If you want to learn more about high school coaching, college admissions, and how we at ILUMIN can specifically help your student, feel free to set up a free consultation with us!