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LETTERS OF RECOMMENDATION
If you need a letter recommendation from your counselor, you must make the request at least two weeks prior to your earliest deadline.
HOW TO ASK YOUR TEACHER FOR A LETTER OF RECOMMENDATION
Watch this video as Ms. Pacheco covers best practice for how to ask your teacher for a letter of recommendation.
CHOOSING THE RIGHT TEACHER
It's best to ask someone who teaches a core subject (English, math, science, social studies), who taught you recently (junior year is prime) and who knows you well and actually likes you. If you can’t find one person who fits all of those things, this is what you should prioritize:
Someone who knows you well and actually likes you
Someone who taught you recently
Someone who teaches a core subject*
*Important note: Some colleges require or recommend that students submit recommendations from teachers in certain subject areas. Be sure you double check that.
Overall, think of it this way—it won’t help the college get to know you if your recommender doesn’t know you.
What if I need more than one letter?
Pick teachers who can highlight separate strengths. For example, your band teacher knows things about you that your English teacher doesn’t, and vice versa. Having said this, I wouldn’t recommend picking teachers who teach electives for your main letter of rec (with exceptions like your music teacher for music school and art teacher for art school) as colleges are most interested in how well you’re doing and will do in academic subjects.
What if I don't know any of my teachers?
It’s better to cultivate a relationship with a teacher before you need something. But if you find yourself in a bind and haven’t gotten to know any of your teachers, it’s not too late to start. One of the best things you can do is pop in during your teacher’s office hours and, if they aren’t busy, ask questions. About class, work, life. Get to know them too.
Finally, to help your teachers get to know you better, provide them with a copy of your resume of brag sheet and either mail it to them or print it out and deliver it in person.
WHEN TO ASK FOR A LETTER
Ideally you’d ask for letters of recommendation at the beginning of your senior year. To keep it simple, the sooner your application is due, the sooner you need to ask. But be sure to ask at an appropriate time. That means:
Don’t ask your teachers during lunch. (they're humans; they eat).
Not right before class. (you’ll interrupt their class-prepping time).
Not in the middle of class (just, no).
Two better options for when to ask for a letter of recommendation:
Schedule a brief meeting with your teacher in advance.
Shoot them an email asking if they have five minutes to chat with you about college sometime in the next week, then set up a time and don’t be late.
OR
Wait until all the students have left the classroom at the end of the day, and cautiously approach the teacher.
WHAT TO SEND YOUR TEACHER
Once you’ve had the conversation with your teacher and they agreed to write you a letter, you need to do one more thing the very same day: Write your teacher a follow-up email. For this follow-up email, you’ll need these things:
A heart of gratitude. Seriously. Writing letters of recommendations take. a. lot. of. time.
Attach a copy of your resume or brag sheet.
A list of the colleges (and each college's deadline) that will need your teacher’s letter of recommendation. Let your teacher know how each colleges want to receive your teacher's letter
A brief paragraph about what you hope to study, and any relevant life dreams, etc.
Be thankful. Be appreciative. Be kind. Be Gracious.
Brag Sheets
Brag Sheets
Brag sheets are a way for you to help your counselor and teachers write letters of recommendation. These forms give them more insight into who you are outside of school and your interests. Different teachers might prefer something different but it doesn't hurt to include an additional brag sheet along with any required information the recommender is asking for. If you have a resume, you can also include that because it helps provide a chronological view of your accomplishments.
Amador Valley counselors already ask students to fill out the counselor evaluation form (see above) that gives counselor more insight already. Student are welcome to print out their responses from that form to share it with other teachers they are requesting letters from.
There are templates for brag sheets on the left column. Feel free to edit it and make it your own! Brag sheets are meant to highlight your interests and show teachers who you are. There are many different ways to go about it--just make sure it answers the question, "Does this brag sheet help the teacher/recommender understand me better?"
Each student’s brag sheet will be unique to them, but there are a few things that are helpful for everyone to include.
Your name and contact information
Your school information (name, expected graduation date)
Your GPA
Your standardized test scores (SAT, ACT, PSAT, etc.)
Activities you have participated in and when
Academic clubs
Sports teams
Extracurricular clubs
Out-of-school clubs (this is especially important if your recommender is connected with your school and may not see your community-based activities)
Leadership roles you have held
Work experience and when
Any awards you have won (academic, athletic, etc.)
Your goals for the future as it relates to your college applications
Additional notes or insights that may help them understand more about you
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