Teacher Recommendation Letter

• Not all colleges require teacher recommendation letters. Check the admissions requirements on each college website on your list.

• More selective schools typically require 1 or 2 teacher recommendations.

• If a teacher letter is not required:

• Ask your counselor if one is necessary to explain how your particular circumstances affected your academic record.

• If the college allows it, consider sending a letter anyway if you know of a teacher who will write a supportive recommendation. It can enhance your application and perhaps be a determining factor in scholarship awards.

• The recommendation letter is usually written by a junior year teacher in one of your core subjects (Language Arts, Math, Science, Social Studies or a World Language), unless you are applying to a course of study not included in one of these subjects.

• It is sometimes acceptable to send a letter from a freshman or sophomore year teacher, especially if it was an advanced course and/or you are enrolled in a senior year core course under the same instructor. This teacher would be able to speak to your growth over the course of two or more years.

• Ask a teacher who knows you well and who will highlight your strengths in that subject area in the most positive light.

• Applications may require two letters of recommendation. Some require letters from different areas of study to highlight strengths. If not, ask teachers who will write the strongest letters, irrespective of subject area.

• In some cases, the requirement for teacher letters vary by major of study. For example, many engineering departments require one or two letters from math or science teachers.

• If your application expresses a strong interest in a particular course of study, a strong recommendation letter from a teacher of that subject area will reinforce your claim.

• Consider talking to teachers of courses in which you have overcome obstacles to demonstrate significant improvement and perseverence, even if it was not your strongest subject.

• Ask your teacher in person (preferred) or in email.

• If you're unsure about asking a particular teacher, politely ask if he/she is comfortable writing a letter of recommendation for you. This will give you a sense of whether the teacher will write a strong or weak letter for you.

• Ask your teacher if he/she would prefer to receive your materials via email (as attachments) or in paper format.

All recommendation letters are sent directly from the teachers or counselors who write them, not from students. School policy prohibits the teacher or counselor from giving you the letter, even in a sealed envelope. The colleges and scholarship organizations want to ensure that the teacher/counselor's writing is a candid appraisal of your ability. Thus, the letter must be confidential. Letters are never given to students. 

Check Naviance

On the Naviance "My Colleges" tab, click on "Letters of Recommendation" to view the status of your teacher letters.

Check your college's Common App "FERPA and Recommendations" section

If you applied through the Common App, the "FERPA and Recommendations" section for each college will display the status of each teacher letter you have requested through Fairview procedures. Note that the Common App provides this feature only if the teacher letter was required or specifically allowed as optional by the college through the Common App.

Check with your teacher

Ask your teacher directly if your letter was sent to the colleges you listed in your Teacher Recommendation Letters Checklist (see Forms box above).

Check the application status website for your college

After you submit an application to a college, most will email you a link to a secure website with a login that allows you to check which required components of your application have been received or are still missing. You will not be able to use this system to check receipt of any letters that were not specifically required by the application. If you feel a need to verify receipt, call the college admissions office.

Or call the college admissions office

Some colleges start a file for you as soon as they receive any application components, even prior to application submission. Call the college admissions department for more information.