Best practices to ask for something that takes people time and effort to compose for you include:

• Ask for a letter of recommendation in-person from an individual who knows you well.

  • Colleges are often looking for an academic letter from a recent classroom core teacher, but carefully read the recommendation requirements for your options.

  • If you must ask via email, ensure that your email inquiry is professional.

• Share with the potential recommender the reason you are asking them and not someone else (e.g., I'm proud of the work I did in your class with XXX; I really enjoyed your class and feel you saw me develop as a writer; I intend to major in a STEM field and it would be helpful to have a writer who can describe my problem-solving abilities)

• If they agree to write you a letter, ask the recommender what you can do to help them.

  • At minimum, provide your writer with any deadlines and information about what the recommendation is for, and provide information about yourself that would help them write (e.g., resume, list of activities, accomplishments from their class, etc.).

  • Some recommenders will ask that you complete a Google Form (or something similar) with your personal information so they can write a letter that is as comprehensive as possible. Follow the requests that your recommender makes very closely.

• Always follow up with a "thank you" email or note - writing letters is quite time consuming!

Additionally- always ask at least two weeks prior to your deadline. Letters cannot be guaranteed if the request for a letter is made less than two weeks before your deadline. 

You might! But you also might not. 

Below is the spreadsheet, directly from Common App, that indicates exactly what additional documents you will need to accompany your application to a particular school. If you have a letter from a teacher in the Common App, but you do not want to send it to all of your colleges, you can specify that on your application. 

You can click the diagonal arrow in the upper right-hand corner of the document below to open it in a new tab. 

As always, if you have questions, please see your school counselor: 

Devine: A-F, Premo: G-Le, Lemke: Li-Ri, Fink: Ro-Z. 

See this document for all schools and whether they require specific letters

It is recommended that students who need one or more letters of recommendation for a four-year college get at least one from a core teacher. Admission committees want to hear from those who have worked with you in English, Math, Science, or Social Studies to get an idea of how you could potentially perform as a student at their university (as you will be taking these core, general education courses your freshman year). 

Other sample ideas: 

• An Engineering student may want one letter from a math or science teacher. 

• A pre-law student may want a letter from an English teacher or social studies teacher.

• Selecting a teacher who saw you struggle in their class and still find success can write a compelling letter.

• A teacher who also had you in an extracurricular is a great choice for providing a full picture. 

• Some colleges also require a letter from a school counselor. Please check the list on above to see if your school requires one.

  • Do not assume your counselor will write you a letter unless you discuss it with them. You will need to complete your school counselor's Google Form - it is linked in the last drop down menu on this page (: 

Ask in the spring! Many teachers will prefer that students ask about letters of recommendation in the spring so that they have ample time to write a letter that adequately illustrates all of your unique skills, talents, and abilities as they relate to your future collegiate experience! Also, do not be shy about following up with someone who agreed to write you a letter of recommendation. Oftentimes, teachers prefer that students follow up about their letter when the school year begins. This can serve as a good reminder to either finish up your letter or to get started on it - teachers are quite busy during the summer and school year (just like you!), so reminders are appreciated. 

Additionally- always ask at least two weeks prior to your deadline. Letters cannot be guaranteed if the request for a letter is made less than two weeks before your deadline. 

If you are NOT applying via Common App, you need to look at the organization's directions on how recommenders should submit their letter and provide that information to your letter writer.

If you are applying via Common App, this step-by-step guide details how to add recommenders: 

1. From My colleges, select a college and then go to Recommenders and FERPA.

2. If you have not already done so, you will need to complete the FERPA Release Authorization.

3. Invite recommenders using the invite button from each section. You may also use the Invite Recommenders button at the top.

4. Select the type of invitation you would like to send. For each invitation, you will need information like their name and email address.

5. After you add a recommender, you can view their info using the Manage Recommenders button.

6. Note that teachers, parents, and other recommenders will not receive an email invitation until you assign them to a college. To assign these recommenders, go to their section within this screen. Select their name from the dropdown and use the assign button."

For our visual learners, here is a guide with screenshots to guide you through the process. After students add their recommenders to the Common App (always check the spelling of the email address you enter!), the recommender(s) will receive an email with a link to upload their documents directly to the Common App. 

Updating your resume is a great summer project. For the purposes of a letter of recommendation request, sample information that should included would be:

• Academic Record (GPA, challenging coursework, LAUNCH, etc.)

• Honors and Distinctions (awards, recognitions, etc. from high school)

• School Activities and Leadership

• Community Service

• Employment

• Other Responsibilities / Involvements

Consider using a Google Doc resume template to get started.

**Please see specific requirements on your counselor’s attached Google Form**

Mrs Devine A-F: Letter of Rec Request Google Form

Mrs. Premo G-Le:  Letter of Rec Request Google Form

Ms. Lemke Li-Ri:  Letter of Rec Request Google Form

Ms. Fink Ro-Z:  Letter of Rec Request Google Form