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one of the most important components of your college application is your letter of recommendation from your teachers. in this post, we’ll tell you why a letter of recommendation is so important, how to ask for a letter of recommendation<\/a>, what should be included in your letter of recommendation for college, and answer other frequently asked questions about asking for a letter of recommendation.<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n a letter of recommendation is a personalized letter from one of your current or former teachers. it is given to the admissions boards of the colleges you\u2019re applying to<\/a>. a good letter of recommendation<\/a> makes a strong case for why you\u2019d be an excellent applicant. <\/p>\n your personalized letters go a long way in creating a vivid picture of you as a student, person, and overall candidate, and can be integral to your acceptance into the college of your dreams. unlike your gpa, transcript, or standardized test scores, your letter of recommendation provides a more in-depth, comprehensive picture of you and your character than any numbers can on their own. <\/p>\n if your grades<\/a> or test scores aren\u2019t as competitive as you\u2019d like them to be, letters of recommendation can also go a long way in building a case for you as an intellect and learner in the classroom, and can highlight ways that you\u2019ve grown and evolved. <\/p>\n before you start asking for recommendation letters from professors, remember that planning and professionalism are required if you want to get a high-quality letter that will make your application shine. <\/p>\n so let\u2019s take a look at the protocol for asking for a letter of recommendation in a way that is respectful to your teachers, and ultimately beneficial to you.<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n first and foremost, ask your teachers<\/a> for a letter of recommendation for college well in advance of your application deadlines<\/a>.<\/p>\n i suggest an absolute minimum of a month prior to your application due date, but the earlier you ask, the better. you can even ask your teachers at the end of your junior year<\/a> if they\u2019ll write one for you over the summer leading into your senior year<\/a>, so they have plenty of time to complete your request.<\/p>\n remember that teachers who teach seniors get a lot of requests for letters of recommendation. not to mention, a really good, thorough letter of recommendation for college is time consuming to write. when teachers agree to write you a letter, they want to write elaborately and specifically about you, which takes lots of thought and care! give them a fair heads up.<\/p>\n the absolute best way to ask a teacher for a letter of recommendation is face-to-face, in person. this ensures that your teacher actually receives your request, and that you have the time to discuss the specifics of due dates, your college choices, etc.<\/p>\n the best way to ask a teacher in person is to schedule an appointment with them or catch up with them during a free period so you have adequate time to discuss the request. do not simply ask a teacher after class or in the hallway in passing, if possible. <\/p>\n the next best way to request a letter of recommendation is in writing, via email. in fact, even if you ask your teacher in person, it\u2019s a good idea to also follow up with an email. <\/p>\n depending on your high school and their college application software, you may also be required to invite or send a letter of recommendation request to your teachers that way. if you are unsure about the protocol for this, ask your teachers or guidance counselor. <\/p>\n whether you ask for a recommendation letter from professors in person or in writing, the gist of you what say should be something like this:<\/p>\n your written request for a letter of recommendation for college should include all of the following important details:<\/strong><\/p>\n remember, professionalism is key, and even if you\u2019re comfortable with your teachers, you want to frame an email as if you\u2019re addressing a potential employer. <\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n here, let me give you some examples so that you can clearly see the difference between a weak and a strong request for a letter of recommendation.<\/p>\n a weak example of a letter of recommendation request may go something like this:<\/p>\n i am writing because i need a letter of recommendation for college. it needs to be done by january 1, so please submit it to me by then. thanks!<\/p>\n brian jones<\/em><\/ul>\n notice that many of the key details are left out and that the student sounds more as if he is demanding the letter than politely asking for one. <\/p>\n no matter what, avoid asking for a letter without explaining where you are applying or why you are asking this particular teacher. moreover, never approach a teacher as if you\u2019re already assuming they\u2019ll write a letter for you.<\/p>\n following is a strong<\/em><\/strong> example of an email request for a letter of recommendation:<\/p>\n this is brian jones, from your 6th period anatomy and physiology course. i am applying to university of chicago as a biochemistry major, and i would be honored if you would write me a letter of recommendation for my application. <\/p>\n i have enjoyed your class immensely and it has been formative to my development as a serious student of the sciences. since this is the second class i have taken with you, i feel like you are an excellent judge of my academic ability and personal character. <\/p>\n i would need the letter by december 31 as my application is due january 1; do you think this is possible? if so, i would be most appreciative. if you don\u2019t have time in your schedule at this point, i completely understand. <\/p>\n please let me know if this is something you\u2019d be willing to do, and if so, i will send you my completed student information sheet as soon as possible. thank you in advance. <\/p>\n highest regards,<\/p>\n brian jones<\/em><\/ul>\n ask for a letter with humility and appreciation, and your teacher will likely write you a stellar letter of recommendation. <\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n if your teacher accepted your request for a letter of recommendation for college, that’s great news! here’s what to do next.<\/p>\n even if you are requesting a letter from a teacher who currently has you in a class and who knows you well, you\u2019ll need to provide a bit more information about yourself and your goals so that they can discuss you as specifically as possible. <\/p>\n some schools or teachers provide students with a standard student information form that you can fill out to provide your teachers with more details. ask your teacher or guidance counselor if there is a form at your school that they prefer you use. if not, you can download and fill out this general student information form and submit it either in person or via email.<\/p>\n you should also provide your teacher with a copy of your resume, any firm deadlines, and very clear instructions for how you will need the letter submitted (for example, a hard copy versus an electronic submission). <\/p>\n there are a few points at which you should check in with any teacher who has agreed to write your letter of recommendation:<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n any academic teacher can write a letter for you, but i recommend getting a letter from a teacher who knows you well and can speak honestly and positively about your ability and growth as a student. a recent teacher is ideal, because you\u2019re fresh in their mind, but you can actually ask a teacher that you\u2019ve had at any point. <\/p>\n it\u2019s also helpful to have a teacher write for you who can speak to your ability to excel in a particular field. for example, if you\u2019re interested in becoming an english major, it\u2019s nice to have a letter of recommendation from your english teacher. <\/p>\n you don\u2019t have to have perfect grades in a class in order to get a great letter from the teacher, but as a general rule, avoid asking for letters from teachers whose classes you didn\u2019t put your best foot forward in. if you habitually turned in homework late, for example, the teacher may be less inclined to write you a glowing review. <\/p>\n it depends on the school, but most colleges require at least one, and often two letters of recommendation. sometimes conservatories, specialty schools, or highly competitive schools will ask for more, from several types of teachers. <\/p>\n for example, if you\u2019re applying to be a dance major, you may need two letters of recommendation: one from an academic teacher and one from a dance teacher. make sure you check each school\u2019s individual requirements so you can plan accordingly. <\/p>\n most of the time, especially if you ask correctly, a teacher will say yes to writing you a letter of recommendation. in some cases, however, a teacher may decline the request. this typically happens for one of two reasons:<\/p>\n in either case, respond kindly and move on to asking another teacher. thank your teacher for their time and energy, and don\u2019t take it overly personally. if they don\u2019t agree to write one, someone else will! <\/p>\n most letters of recommendation are submitted electronically through colleges\u2019 individual pages or through online application systems such as the common application<\/a>.<\/p>\ntable of contents<\/h2>\n
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what is a letter of recommendation? why do colleges require them?<\/h2>\n
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<\/a><\/p>\nhow to ask for a letter of recommendation<\/h2>\n
when should i be asking for a letter of recommendation?<\/h3>\n
how should i ask for a letter of recommendation?<\/h3>\n
what should i say (and not say) when asking for a letter of recommendation?<\/h3>\n
\u201cmr.\/ms.\/mrs. _______, i am applying to _________ college for _______ program and i would be honored and appreciative if you\u2019d write me a letter of recommendation for my college application. i\u2019m asking you because i really enjoyed and learned a lot in your class and i think you have an excellent sense of me as a student and person.\u201d<\/em><\/ul>\n
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<\/a><\/p>\nexamples of how to ask for a letter of recommendation<\/h2>\n
how to ask for a letter of recommendation: weak example<\/h3>\n
\nmrs. davis, <\/p>\n
how to ask for a letter of recommendation: strong example<\/h3>\n
\ngood afternoon, mrs. davis,<\/p>\n
<\/a><\/p>\nhow to ask for a letter of recommendation: next steps<\/h2>\n
what to provide your teachers<\/h3>\n
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<\/a><\/p>\nhow to follow up about your letter of recommendation<\/h3>\n
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<\/a><\/p>\nfaqs about asking for a letter of recommendation<\/h2>\n
which teacher or teachers should i ask?<\/h3>\n
how many letters of recommendation do i need?<\/h3>\n
what if a teacher says \u201cno\u201d when i ask for a letter of recommendation?<\/h3>\n
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how is a letter of recommendation submitted?<\/h3>\n