Letters of recommendation

Many colleges require a letter of recommendation from a teacher and some also require a letter of recommendation from a counselor.  Please see the admissions requirements for each of the colleges you are applying to in order to determine what you need before you proceed.  

Juniors, it is usually recommended to ask a core teacher (English, math, science, social studies, or foreign language) from your junior year. You should ask your teacher in person if they will write your letter for you. Find out what the teacher you are requesting a letter from will require.  In addition to the biography for letters of recommendation, some also require a resume.  Some prefer to write letters over the summer.  Others wait until the fall, but are done writing by November 1st.  Letter writing policies are at the discretion of each teacher.  Be informed!

1.)  Complete the biography under surveys for letters of recommendation in Scoir then go to application documents and add the teacher who's writing your letter from the drop down box.  The effort you put into answering these questions on the survey, complete with examples and stories, will be reflected in the quality of the letter of recommendation that is written on your behalf. In addition, we refer to this document when asked to nominate students for various awards and scholarships. 

2.)  Do NOT request more than you need; see the second sentence from the top of this page.  AHS teachers and counselors spend hours writing recommendations, so please honor their time and only ask for what is required by your school.  If you request two letters of recommendation and you only need one for the schools you are applying to, only one will be sent. 

3.)   Ask your teacher and counselor first and then make the request in Scoir.  The request MUST be made or we cannot track the deadlines or submission of your letters.  

•  Ensure that your colleges are entered in Scoir under the my colleges page, or else no deadline dates appear and teachers/counselors will not prioritize your letter.  

• Make sure you mark the correct application type you are using.  Regular decision is the default, but remember, this is the LAST date to apply. 

• If even you are applying to a school using the Common Application, you MUST do this on Scoir in addition to so we can submit your transcripts and letters of recommendation. 

4.)  Follow up with a handwritten note of thanks and let your writer know of your acceptance decisions.   They will appreciate it!!