• Check each college’s admission requirements carefully to determine if they require letters of recommendation and if so, how many and from who (Teacher(s)? Counselor? Both?)

• If a college requires a recommendation from a teacher, it should be a staff member that actually taught you in the classroom. (Otherwise, this would be an "Other" Recommender.)

• It is standard practice that recommenders DO NOT share their letters directly with the student. They are typically submitted directly to the college or scholarship organization.

• Optional truly means optional!

• DO NOT ASK FOR MORE LETTERS THAN ARE ACCEPTED! READ THE DIRECTIONS!

Complete the following steps at least one month before your deadline (see chart above):

STEP 1: REVIEW the following Student Responsibilities for requesting Teacher Letters of Recommendation:

1. • 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 or even accepted!

   • WAIVE your right to view any letter in the application. This is standard practice and done in both SchooLinks and Common App.

STEP 2: ASK your teacher if he or she is willing and able to write you a letter by the required deadline(s). (Ideally, do this in person!)

1. • Some "popular" teachers may have a limit or need even more time. Have a backup in mind!

   • 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.

STEP 3: PROVIDE the teacher with any necessary information in a timely manner.

1. • If your teacher agrees to write you a letter, ask if they need anything from you, such as the Teacher Letter of Recommendation Request Form.

   •  REMEMBER: Letters are written often during a teacher's personal time, so the more time you can give them the better (min. 1 month)!

STEP 4: ADD the college to "College Applications" in SchoolLinks (either manually or via link to Common App) and REQUEST TEACHER EVALUATION through the college's application page in SchooLinks to invite your teacher to submit the letter of recommendation. This is the only way to get your teacher's letter to the college! 

1. • For current teachers in District 214, search for their name in the dropdown menu.

   • If looking to invite a teacher you had previously but does not work in District 214, click on, "Can't find the teacher you're looking for? Add one manually" below and add their info there to submit the request.

   • You must do this for EVERY college you want that letter to go to!

   • WATCH Adding a Teacher Recommender in SchooLinks (for any app used!)

STEP 5: FOLLOW UP

1. • Follow up with your teacher 3-5 school days before the deadline, if you don't see the letter has been submitted yet in SchooLinks, to make sure the letter will be completed and uploaded by the application deadline. (Don’t hound them, just a friendly reminder!)

   • Optional (but highly recommended) is to follow up with a thank you note/email afterward!

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. 

Optional "Other" recommenders are people such as your coach, employer, pastor, club sponsor, etc. Make sure this person is an "Other" recommender and not your Teacher or Counselor recommender. Even if your coach/sponsor happens to be a teacher at school, if they were not YOUR teacher for a class, they should not be your Teacher recommender!

If an "Other" Letter of Recommendation is Allowed:

At least 1 month before your deadline:

• Ask your "Other" recommender if he or she would be willing to write a letter on your behalf. 

• INVITE your "Other" recommender to submit the letter of recommendation through the college’s application by entering your recommender’s email address. You WILL invite the "Other" recommenders directly through Common App and NOT SchooLinks.