How to Get the Best Letter of Recommendation – Part 1

Letters of recommendation hold substantial weight in college admissions’ decisions. In addition to transcripts and test scores, colleges want to build a complete sketch of a student’s character and his/her ability to be a successful and contributing member of their institution. Teacher recommendations help to give colleges a portrait of how a student is likely to perform academically in the future and provide contexts for students’ past achievements. A strong teacher recommendation brings the applicant to life for the admissions officers and provides them with a more holistic view of the candidate. Letters of recommendation may even be a determining factor in helping students who have less competitive grades or test scores. A well-written and thoughtful letter can provide invaluable information and make impressions on college admissions officers that cannot be derived from the rest of application alone.

Colleges often ask for two or three recommendation letters. Letters should be written by teachers who know you well, have worked closely with you, and who can describe your skills, accomplishments, and personality.

For current 9^th and 10^th graders, now is the time to continue developing a positive rapport with your teachers. It is important to establish this connection so that you leave a positive impression on your teachers before the end of the school year. If you feel as though you have missed the opportunity this year to connect with your teachers, don’t worry. You have next year to work on establishing this relationship.

For current 11^th graders, now is the time to start thinking about which teachers you can approach to ask for a college recommendation letter.

For current 12^th graders, now is the time to make sure you thank your teachers for all of their support.

 

Before asking a teacher to write a college letter of recommendation, there are a few important questions to consider. Stay tuned for Part II of our blog post about how YOUR child can find the perfect recommender.