Gaining acceptance to the college of your choice is hard work, but well worth your efforts in the end. One of the tasks at hand is obtaining a couple of solid letters of recommendation (LOR) from your teachers. Here's how you should go about it:
1. Start at the guidance counselor's office. While high schools vary in how the process is done, you will definitely need to be aware of the protocol. Will the letters accompany your transcripts or does it fall to each individual teacher to submit? The point is to provide the teacher with everything needed so as to make it easier for him or her.
2. Decide which of your teachers knows you the best. (If you can't think of any, start building a relationship now!) Every LOR should tell a detailed story about the candidate, so it makes sense that you need to go to the teacher who can highlight your positive traits that serve you well in their class. One of your letters should come from one of your core (English, math, foreign language, science or social studies) teachers, so consider which class you have contributed the most to. A letter from your coach or music instructor might be a good extra, but remember that colleges are mainly for academia.
3. Timing is everything. Remember that your teachers have lives outside of the classroom, so be courteous about holidays and time off. In other words, don't request a LOR from them just before a school break. Also, take note of the timing of finals and projects and be sensitive when they will be busy with grading duties. Start with your college deadlines and then back your request up by a couple months.
4. Make your request in person. When you are ready to ask your teacher for the recommendation, try not to be nervous. This is a part of their job and they expect to be asked. Try to make it easier on them by doing so during their free period or after school. Don't rely on email or voice mail; show the initiative befitting a young college student by asking face-to-face. Practice your wording so that you are comfortable with it. Brown-nosing is not the way to go, rather, compliment the relationship that you have built with the teacher and credit it for helping to bring out the best in you. Here's an example, "Mrs. Smith, I think that you know me better than any of the other teachers. The work we've done in your class has brought out the best in me and you've played a big part in that. Would you be willing to write a letter of recommendation for me?"
5. After you pose your request and the teacher has accepted, hand over a folder with everything needed to complete the task. It should include your school resume, your contact information, the appropriate recommendation form for each college that you will apply to, self-addressed/stamped envelopes (or a plain envelope for your high school guidance office if that's the method from your school) and a thank-you note for their time spend. Also, you should include your personal statement and statement of purpose (directions for which can be found on the internet.)
You'll need at least two solid LORs. Be sure to drop by with good news after you get accepted and stay in touch through the years to share your successes to reward your teachers' efforts.
1. Start at the guidance counselor's office. While high schools vary in how the process is done, you will definitely need to be aware of the protocol. Will the letters accompany your transcripts or does it fall to each individual teacher to submit? The point is to provide the teacher with everything needed so as to make it easier for him or her.
2. Decide which of your teachers knows you the best. (If you can't think of any, start building a relationship now!) Every LOR should tell a detailed story about the candidate, so it makes sense that you need to go to the teacher who can highlight your positive traits that serve you well in their class. One of your letters should come from one of your core (English, math, foreign language, science or social studies) teachers, so consider which class you have contributed the most to. A letter from your coach or music instructor might be a good extra, but remember that colleges are mainly for academia.
3. Timing is everything. Remember that your teachers have lives outside of the classroom, so be courteous about holidays and time off. In other words, don't request a LOR from them just before a school break. Also, take note of the timing of finals and projects and be sensitive when they will be busy with grading duties. Start with your college deadlines and then back your request up by a couple months.
4. Make your request in person. When you are ready to ask your teacher for the recommendation, try not to be nervous. This is a part of their job and they expect to be asked. Try to make it easier on them by doing so during their free period or after school. Don't rely on email or voice mail; show the initiative befitting a young college student by asking face-to-face. Practice your wording so that you are comfortable with it. Brown-nosing is not the way to go, rather, compliment the relationship that you have built with the teacher and credit it for helping to bring out the best in you. Here's an example, "Mrs. Smith, I think that you know me better than any of the other teachers. The work we've done in your class has brought out the best in me and you've played a big part in that. Would you be willing to write a letter of recommendation for me?"
5. After you pose your request and the teacher has accepted, hand over a folder with everything needed to complete the task. It should include your school resume, your contact information, the appropriate recommendation form for each college that you will apply to, self-addressed/stamped envelopes (or a plain envelope for your high school guidance office if that's the method from your school) and a thank-you note for their time spend. Also, you should include your personal statement and statement of purpose (directions for which can be found on the internet.)
You'll need at least two solid LORs. Be sure to drop by with good news after you get accepted and stay in touch through the years to share your successes to reward your teachers' efforts.
About the Author:
Ellen Spencer is an adult education teacher who advises her students on online degrees and online college programs for working adults.
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