Letters of recommendation

Think of letters of recommendation as a personal endorsement from someone who knows you well, like a teacher or counselor. They add an important piece to your college application that grades and test scores can't show.

These letters help colleges understand:

• What you're really like: Do you work hard? Are you kind? Do you lead others?

• How you interact: How do you get along with classmates and teachers?

• Your unique strengths: What makes you special compared to other applicants?

A strong letter can really make you stand out and sometimes even be the reason you get accepted, especially for popular programs. It's like having someone vouch for you, telling the college why you'd be a great fit.

• You don't send the letter yourself: The recommender sends it directly to the colleges.

  • If your recommender is registered with GreenLight, you are able to send a verifiable letter to colleges & universities partnered with Greenlight (See GreenLight section below.)

• Initiate the request early: Ask your teachers/counselors for letters well in advance (at least 3-4 weeks, ideally more) of your earliest application deadlines.

• Provide information: Give your recommenders everything they need: a resume, "brag sheet," list of colleges and deadlines, and any specific accomplishments you want them to highlight. Use your risd.org email address when asked.

• Waive your FERPA rights: This signals to colleges that the recommendation is confidential and unbiased. Waiving this right is highly recommended as it assures colleges the letter is an honest and unfiltered assessment, which admissions officers generally prefer. 

• Track submission: Most application portals allow you to see when a recommender has submitted their letter. Follow up politely if a deadline is approaching and it hasn't been sent.

• Thank your recommenders: Always send a sincere thank-you note or email after they've submitted your letters.

• Not every school requires letters of recommendation. Research the school you are applying to before you request one. 

• If a recommendation letter is needed, make sure to find out how many letters of recommendation are needed.

• You will need to apply to your college or university BEFORE you request a letter of recommendation. 

• If you know you need a letter of recommendation and you've completed your application, you should speak with or email your counselor and/or teacher at least a month ahead of time. 

• Students will need to complete a Senior Packet or a Brag Sheet which ensures the counselor has all of the information needed to write an in-depth, articulate recommendation. Your school may call it something else so be sure to ask your College & Career Advisor or School Counselor about your specific campus' procedure.

• You'll send an invitation to your desired recommender through the application platform (such as Common App), an institution specific platform, or via GreenLight.

Common App

1. You'll typically invite your recommenders (teachers, counselors, "other" recommenders) through the "Recommenders and FERPA" section of your application on the Common App platform. You'll enter their name and email address.

2. The platform will then send an email to your recommender with a secure link. They will log in, complete any required evaluation forms, and upload their letter of recommendation directly to the platform.

GreenLight

RISD students can use GreenLight to send official recommendation letters to colleges or universities they are applying to who are partnered with GreenLight. You must set up your GreenLight Locker first. 

• Request a recommendation letter from the counselor or teacher (or anyone) via the Recommendation Letters tab in your GreenLight Locker.

• Click on the Request Recommendation letter button.

• Complete the required fields which include the recommender's name, email address, date the LOR is needed, etc. Once all fields are completed click Send Request.

• This will generate an email to the counselor/teacher to accept the request. If they accept the request, they will get a second email with a link to be able to provide the letter.

• Once the counselor/teacher uploads the letter, this action will add the letter to the Recommendation Letters tab in the student locker. 

• The student can view, download and share the letter, with institutions partnered with GreenLight, and it will be considered verifiable (student cannot tamper with it).

If the college or university you are applying to does not partner with GreenLight, please look on that institution's website on how they receive transcripts.

Directly to the College 

This method is less common for primary letters. Some colleges, especially those not on Common App, might have their own application portals.

• You might be able to invite recommenders directly through their specific application portal by entering their contact information. 

• The college's portal will then send a link to the recommender to upload their letter.

• Mailing (rarely preferred): In very rare cases, or for supplemental recommendations that don't fit into an online system, a recommender might mail a physical letter.  If this is the case, they should seal the envelope, sign across the seal, and you might provide them with a pre-addressed, stamped envelope.  However, colleges overwhelmingly prefer electronic submissions.