For some high school students asking for a letter of recommendation can be a daunting task. It means asking for help. It means going to a teacher and/or counselor and asking them to write about your talents and abilities for a college admissions board. 

As difficult as this process can be, it’s essential for anyone applying to college. To minimize headaches, here are some steps you can follow to make the process as smooth as possible:

Choose the Right Person

One of the first questions students ask us when looking at letters of recommendations is, “Who do I get to write my letter?” Is it better to ask a teacher who knows how hard I work even under difficult conditions or has only seen me excel? 

Both of these letter writers can have value. One quality to consider when selecting someone to write a letter about your achievements is their ability to communicate effectively.

Whether your letter writer is focusing on your academic achievements, your character, or your potential, you want to make sure they know who you are and will write positively about you. Ideally, letters should speak to different aspects of your character, both inside and outside the classroom.   

Your letters should be from a teacher or guidance counselor who has worked closely with you and can speak to your strengths.

Request the Letter in Advance

One of the worst things you can do is to request a letter at the last minute. By asking a teacher or counselor for a letter only one or two weeks before the deadline, they risk writing a letter in a rush. They might not be able to speak to your abilities at length or, worse, they might be too busy writing other letters to submit a letter at all.

To ensure that your letter writer has enough time and information to write your letter, give them at least one month’s notice or more. Some of the best letters are written months in advance,with many teachers completing them before the end of the student’s junior year.

Be Respectful and Polite

It’s important to remember that when you request a letter of recommendation, you are asking someone to help you. As such, it is essential to be as courteous as you might expect someone to be when asking for help or support from you.

When approaching someone about a letter, be sure to explain to them why you are asking for the letter. Thank them in advance for their time and effort. If they need reminders to complete the letter, be gentle but respectful.

Provide Information

While your subject should ideally know who you are and what your talents are already, it may be useful to give your letter writer additional details about you to include in your letter to further personalize it. 

Provide your writer with any information they request and, if possible, a copy of your academic resume. This will help remind them what you do inside and outside the classroom, how you contribute to your school and community, and provide useful biographical information that they can use in the letter. 

Follow Up

Lastly, it’s essential to keep following up with letter writers to ensure they complete it on time. Many teachers receive many requests from their students for letters. It can be easy for any single letter to fall between the cracks if not regularly pursued.

Don’t be afraid to follow up with a person once every few weeks especially in the final weeks before the deadline.  

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Remember, asking for a letter of recommendation is a normal part of the college application process, and most teachers and counselors are happy to help. Just be sure to approach the request with the right attitude and give the person plenty of notice and information. Reach out to us if you have any questions about this or other aspects of the college application process.