Recommendations
NOT ALL COLLEGES REQUIRE RECOMMENDATIONS!
ONLY request recommendations when needed.
**Please watch THIS VIDEO and/or review THIS DOCUMENT on proper letter of recommendation request etiquette before making any requests!**
To determine if you need recommendations:
Check each college’s admission requirements carefully to determine if they require letters of recommendation.
Some colleges accept a letter from a teacher OR counselor. Decide who will know you the best.
If a college requires a recommendation from a teacher, they typically only need one.
Optional truly means optional!
DO NOT ASK FOR MORE THAN ONE LETTER OF REC IF IT IS NOT NEEDED OR EVEN ACCEPTED!
Teacher Letters of Recommendation
If a TEACHER Letter of Recommendation is Required:
At least one month before your deadline:
Ask your teacher if he or she would be willing to write a letter on your behalf. Generally it is best to ask a junior year teacher from a core subject (English, world language, math, social studies or science) or a teacher from your major field.
Review the Student Responsibilities for requesting Teacher Letters of Recommendation:
Confirm that you actually need a letter of recommendation before asking a teacher for one, as well as how many are required/accepted. Please do not make extra work for a teacher if a letter is not actually required!
Make sure to waive your right to view any letter in the application. This is standard practice.
Ask your teacher a month before the letter is needed if they are willing and able to write you a letter by the required deadline(s). Some "popular" teachers may have a limit or need even more time. Common deadlines are:
If your teacher agrees to write you a letter, ask if they need anything from you (such as the Teacher Letter of Rec request form below.) REMEMBER – documents need time to travel/process. So if an application deadline is November 1st, you need to ask by October 1st!
Follow up with your teacher 3-5 days before the deadline to make sure the letter will be completed as expected if it has not been already. (Don’t hound them, just a friendly reminder!)
Optional (but highly recommended) is to follow up with a thank you letter afterward!
If your teacher asks for it, print out/make a copy of the Teacher Letter of Recommendation Request Form, fill it out, and give it/email it to your teacher. Hard copies are available in the College & Career Center.
INVITE your teacher to submit the letter of recommendation through the college’s application by entering your teacher’s email address. See detailed Inviting Recommenders instructions.
Assign your teacher to each college where you want their recommendation sent (if using the Common App).
PLEASE NOTE: Due to a high volume of requests, late requests, or various other reasons, a teacher may decline the request to write you a letter. Have some backup options in mind in case this situation happens to you.
Counselor Letter of Recommendation
At least 1 month before your first application deadline:
First, determine if you need (and only if you need) a letter from your counselor in order to complete your application.
Then, click on your Counselor's name below to link to their Counselor Letter of Rec Request Form:
NOTE: If you are signed into your D214 Google account your answers will save on the form if you are not able to finish all at once. Take your time and provide as much info as possible, even if you need to come back later!
Finally, email your counselor for next steps in order to confirm a letter will be written for you!
Don't forget to INVITE your counselor to submit the letter of recommendation through the college’s application by entering your counselor’s email address (see Application Fast Facts). See detailed Inviting Recommenders instructions.
If something changes, then please notify your counselor ASAP.
Other Recommenders
If an OPTIONAL Letter of Recommendation is Allowed:
Optional recommendations are occasionally accepted from your coach, employer, pastor, club sponsor, etc.
At least 1 month before your deadline:
Ask your optional recommender if he or she would be willing to write a letter on your behalf.
INVITE your optional recommender to submit the letter of recommendation through the college’s application by entering your recommender’s email address.