Letters of Recommendation
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Letters of Recommendation
Seniors who will be applying to private or out-of-state universities, or scholarships, may be asked to provide letter(s) of recommendation as a part of the college application requirements. UC and CSU schools do not require a letter of recommendation as a part of their application process*.
*UC Berkeley may request optional Letters of Recommendation from some students. Do not send letters unless requested.
Letter of Recommendation "Brag Sheet"
Use this form (brag sheet) to provide information to teachers, your counselor, and others who are writing a letter of recommendation for you! Available at https://tinyurl.com/cvhsbragsheet
Letter of Recommendation Steps
Make your request in person (during Distance Learning, ask via Email). Talk to your teacher(s) / counselor at least 3 weeks prior to earliest application deadline date! You can even ask at the end of junior year in preparation!
Follow-up your request with an email, thanking the person for agreeing to write your letter and letting them know the first deadline.
Add each recommender, with their contact information, in your application under the Recommender section. This will allow them to get a link to submit the letter.
Complete and share your request from ("brag sheet") with your teacher(s) and counselor at least 2 weeks prior to earliest application deadline date! Include as much information as you think will help your teacher(s) and counselor write a great letter of recommendation.
If you see in your online application that the teacher(s) have not yet submitted the letter, follow up with a polite reminder email a few days to 1 week before it is due.
Follow up with a written thank-you note (email is ok!) after the letter of recommendation is submitted.
Note: The recommendation letter is a confidential communication between the high school counselor/teacher and the college admissions office. Counselors/Teachers are not obligated to share the contents of a recommendation letter with either the student or their parents.
Additional resources
How to Get a Great Letter of Recommendation from bigfuture by The CollegeBoard
5 Tips for Securing Recommendation Letters from U.S.News
Letter of Recommendation: How to Ask for It from Peterson's
Guide to Letters of Recommendation from Advantage College Prep
FAQ's
Who should I ask for a letter of recommendation?
Your Counselor - Letter is required by some schools, options for others; your counselor can provide contextual information about your school program, course selections, background, etc.
Teacher(s) - Be sure to get the number of letters required by the schools you are applying to. Ask teachers who know you well and will write a positive letter. You can have a conversation with a teacher to ask what type of letter they would write for you. Ask teachers from different subjects (example: Math and English, History and Science, etc). If you are applying for a specific major, be sure to ask a teacher from a related subject (example: if you are applying for Engineering, ask a Math or Science teacher). You should include at least one teacher who can talk about your writing and/or critical thinking ability (English, APUSH, etc). You want to ask a teacher from 11th or 12th grade who can speak to your work in a higher level course.
Other - Some schools have the option to submit additional letters of recommendation. These can be from club advisors, coaches, religious leaders, mentors, etc. If you feel they will add to your application go ahead and ask.
When should I ask for a letter of recommendation?
You can ask at the end of junior year if you will be asking a junior year teacher. Let them know you will be applying to private colleges and/or scholarships in the Fall. This gives them an opportunity to work on the letter in the summer if they choose. Follow-up in the start of senior year with an updated brag sheet (listing schools/scholarships).
You can also ask at the start of senior year.
What should I include in my Letter of Recommendation Request Form (Brag Sheet)?
Include as much information as you think is necessary to help your counselor/teacher write a great letter. For teachers, be sure to give good examples in Question 6 of the Brag Sheet for your teachers. For example, reminding the teacher of the positive feedback they gave you for a presentation, the awesome project you did, how you helped your classmates understand a topic, etc.
Should I waive my rights to see the Letter of Recommendation?
It is recommended that you do. FERPA allows you to access your educational information at the institution you are attending. If you do not waive your rights, you will be able to ask to see the Letters of Recommendation only AFTER you are enrolled at the school. Generally, school admissions officers feel that letters are more honest when a student has waived their rights. In addition, it shows that you are trusting the writer of the letter. For more information check out https://blog.prepscholar.com/should-you-waive-right-to-review-letters-of-recommendation or https://www.road2college.com/what-is-ferpa-waiving-rights/.
What should I list as title for counselor?
School Counselor
Note: The recommendation letter is a confidential communication between the high school counselor/teacher and the college admissions office. Counselors/Teachers are not obligated to share the contents of a recommendation letter with either the student or their parents.