College Letters of Recommendation

Glendora High School uses Naviance for the submission of Letters of Recommendation to colleges and universities. In the Fall of 12th grade, GHS counselors will share with Seniors detailed information via classroom presentations, Senior Newsletter, the "Ultimate College Planning Guide" and Counselor Remind groups regarding required steps on Naviance that students must complete as part of the Counselor letter of recommendation request process. These steps include:

  • Common App matching

  • Student Brag Sheet

  • Parent Brag Sheet

  • Building a Resume

NOTE: LETTERS OF RECOMMENDATION ARE NOT REQUIRED OR ACCEPTED FOR UC OR CSU APPLICATIONS.

Many private and out of state public universities require, or will accept, letters of recommendation as part of the college application process. These colleges may require teacher letters of recommendation and/or a counselor letter of recommendation.

Check individual college admission requirements, on the college’s website, to learn if letters of recommendation are part of their application process (a task you can begin in Spring of Junior Year)

*Depending on where you apply, you may not need any letters of recommendation*


Teachers will each have their own policies and procedures, but the following are general guidelines to follow throughout this process:

  • Limit your requests for teacher recommendations to one or two teachers. Colleges rarely ask for more than two teachers.

  • It is important to personally ask a teacher, and then follow up electronically.

  • The teacher you choose should know you well enough to give several specific examples describing your characteristics as a person and student, your written work, the degree and quality of class participation, and your interest in the subject. This is not necessarily the teacher who gave you an “A.”

  • Recommendations should come from junior or senior level teachers.

  • ALWAYS waive your right to see the recommendation, known as the FERPA waiver; otherwise teachers will not send the letters of recommendation.

  • Check out: https://collegeadmissionsstrategies.com/now-is-the-time-to-ask-for-letters-of-recommendation-2/ for additional tips and insight into the letter of recommendation requesting process

Which teachers should I ask to write me a letter of recommendation?

  • Here is a helpful article as you think about which teachers to ask to write your letter of recommendation: https://blog.collegevine.com/how-to-pick-which-teachers-to-ask-for-letters-of-recommendation/