Letters of Recommendation
Recommendation Requests
Students are able to request recommendation letters from teachers and counselors using the process below.
Depending on the school you are applying to letters of recommendation may be required, may be optional or may not be accepted.
When letters are required sometimes universities require letters from certain people like your counselor or a teacher in a curriculum area connected to your future major in college.
When letters are optional, it is especially important to consider the adults in your life who can offer the most “new and compelling” information about you that will really add to your application. Maybe this is a supervisor where you work, or the sponsor of an organization where you are in a leadership role. Remember that with your transcript and test scores, schools often have some insight into your academic successes, but the letter of recommendation offers them an opportunity to learn more about your personal characteristics.
Requesting a COUNSELOR Letter of Recommendation
How to request a COUNSELOR Letter of Recommendation:
Referring to the university's website, confirm a counselor letter of recommendation is required for admission.
Talk with your counselor and ask if they are able to write a letter of recommendation for you. This step is critical - submission of the brag sheet alone will not result in a letter of recommendation.
Your request must be submitted at least FOUR WEEKS before your earliest application deadline.
Open the VHS Brag Sheet - Class of 2024 and create a copy. Add your full name to the title of the new document: format - Last Name, First Name - VHS Brag Sheet
Share the named copy with your parent/guardian who will be completing that section.
After the student section, parent/guardian section, and rec letter tracking grid are complete, submit the brag sheet to the appropriate staff member by uploading it into the Senior Pathways Form (link editable until noon September 15 // after September 15, students can submit additional Senior Pathways Forms as needed with updates).
Not sure how to submit the rec letter to your college? Check out this Quick Guide to Submitting Rec Letters
Requesting a TEACHER Letter of Recommendation
How to request a TEACHER/ADVISOR Letter of Recommendation:
Ask your teacher if they are willing to write you a letter of recommendation.
Submit a completed Request for a Teacher/Advisor Letter of Recommendation Request Form to your recommender.
Add your recommender's information to the applications/portals to generate emails allowing your recommender to submit the letter electronically. (ex: Common Application or directly to institution - reference the Quick Guide below for further details)
Not sure how to submit the rec letter to your college? Check out this Quick Guide to Submitting Rec Letters
Teacher Resources for Letters of Recommendation
Teacher Letter of Recommendation Request Form
VHS Guide to Letters of Recommendation, including VHS letterhead
Not sure how to submit the rec letter? Check out this Quick Guide to Submitting Rec Letters
Guide to writing recommendations (with examples and critiques!)