How Should a Teacher Upload Recommendation Letter on Calition
The first part of this post gives you details most how and why colleges inquire for letters of recommendation as function of your higher application process.
How many letters of recommendation should I have?
Non all colleges require letters of recommendation. Colleges also vary in the numbe r and type of recommendation. In full general, the more selective colleges enquire for letters of recommendation, which help them see you equally a human existence and contributing member of the classroom and the broader community. You should cheque to see how many recommendation letters each higher on your list requires. Well-nigh colleges will inquire for one-two teacher recommendations, but many colleges will read more if you submit them. Nearly schools as well ask for a recommendation from your school advisor. Occasionally, some colleges may ask for a letter from a teacher in a specific subject.
Which Teachers Should I Ask For a Letter of Recommendation?
Ideally, you'll ask a teacher who knows yous fairly well and can speak positively almost you, and ideally, you should ask teachers you had in 11th class. You may ask a senior year teacher. Colleges prefer to hear from teachers who know your recent work, so tenth grade teachers are not the best, because it's been a full academic year plus since they've had you in their class.
Focus first on your bookish bailiwick teachers – math, English language, science, history/social science, and foreign linguistic communication. However, if y'all're planning to report or major in a discipline similar fine art or music, you should inquire a instructor who knows your piece of work in one of these areas.
If you're involved on your high schoolhouse campus, you might try to ask a teacher who you had for a class AND who was your advisor for a club – this way, they can speak about your character and your intellect, both inside and outside the classroom.
Some people say you lot should enquire teachers you had for differing academic content areas – one in math/science and one in English/humanities to get a feel for you from different academic perspectives. However, if you recall the two teachers who would write the absolute best messages for y'all come from like courses, that'southward who y'all should ask! If you only need i letter, and y'all are interested in the STEM fields, yous should inquire a science or math instructor.
Oftentimes students call back they should ask their favorite teacher or the teacher who gave them an A in their class. This may non always be the instance. A instructor'due south feel with a student who struggled to earn a B – or with one who worked hard to raise a C to a B – provides insight into their strength of character and intellectual perseverance.
COVID-CAVEAT
Colleges typically prefer letters from teachers students had during their junior yr. Students mature and develop significantly between sophomore and inferior year and colleges want to know about who the pupil is "now." Some students may not have had the gamble to get to know their junior twelvemonth teachers in a remote learning environment. In this example, nosotros recommend asking the instructor(s) who volition write the best letter of the alphabet.
My family knows someone famous/on the Board of a higher/well-connected. Should nosotros ask them to write one of my letters of recommendation?
A letter of recommendation from a person of status, such every bit a celebrity or elected official, will simply benefit you if they know you well. Letters from alumni mostly only carry weight if that person is well-known to the college, and even then, they need to actually know y'all across existence the girl of my business organisation partner'south brother .
When because whom to ask – ask yourself, "Does this person add new information to my awarding, giving access readers additional insight about my accomplishments as a learner, community member, teammate, employee, musician, volunteer?"
When should I ask for messages of recommendation?
Arroyo your teachers at the stop of your junior year. This gives you time to assemble any specific materials (e.g., a writing sample, resume, etc.) your teacher(south) would like to take, and learn how they would prefer to motility forrard. Many high schools have forms students must complete to formally request your messages of recommendation. Check your school's college and career website or ask your school advisor for this information.
Y'all can wait until the fall to ask, but you should ever give your teachers and counselors at least iv weeks' notice before your letters need to exist submitted.
How should I inquire for letters of recommendation?
Normally, we advise students to inquire in person. If that's not possible, sign upward for an role hours call. An email request would be the final pick, as it'due south the least personal.
When yous enquire for a recommendation letter, you should ask if the teacher would be willing to write y'all a "positive" letter of recommendation. Requite them the opportunity to decline; there could exist many reasons they would say no. If this happens, don't have it personally! Teachers accept a lot on their plates and some are inundated with requests; some simply may not accept the fourth dimension. Some may only feel they don't know you lot well enough. Simply thank the teacher for their time and move on to asking another instructor.
If the teacher accepts, you should brand the process equally easy every bit possible and
provide the following:
- the deadlines the letters are needed past (the college awarding deadline)
- a list of the colleges yous are applying to
- submission guidelines or materials (see below)
- a educatee summary (how to build a glowing brag sheet here; brag canvas template here)
If you're requesting your messages of recommendation in the leap, and your college list isn't finalized even so, you can provide the earliest probable borderline, a tentative list and indicate that you lot'll follow up in the fall or via email over the summertime.
How do teachers and counselors really submit their letters of recommendation?
The majority of letters of recommendation are submitted online via the Common Application or Coalition application. If your high school uses the college planning plan Naviance, teacher and advisor letters are uploaded to that platform, which connects to the Common App.
For colleges who do not use the Common Application, students should check each college's website for instructions on how to send messages of recommendation. If you demand actual paper copies mailed(this is rare!), you lot should provide pre-addressed and stamped envelopes.
In this brusque video, we walk yous through how to waive your FERPA rights (what'southward that?), what you'll need to do to connect your Naviance to your Common App, and how to invite Other Recommenders in the Common App.
Will I get to read my instructor and/or counselor letters of recommendation?
Nope! You'll exist waiving your right to read your letters of recommendation. Information technology's important for your recommenders to know that you won't exist able to review their letters, then they know they can exist 100% honest in their evaluation of you. This is why it'south important to ask teachers you KNOW will write potent and supportive letters on your behalf!
Following Up
Once recommenders take agreed to write your letter, you should provide the teacher/counselor with the necessary materials as before long equally possible and thank them.
Two weeks earlier the recommendation due appointment, achieve out and thank the teacher in advance for completing the letter, which is due on ( remind them of the date ). Ask if they need any additional information.
You should be able to check the submission status either in your Naviance account, or the Mutual App, or the college'southward awarding portal. If you lot notice that your teacher hasn't submitted the letter yet, you tin send a friendly reminder note — "I wanted to let you know that I submitted my application to XXXX University. Thanks over again for writing my letter of recommendation."
Within a calendar week of the teacher submitting the letter of recommendation, yous should send them a give thanks you note (handwritten is always nice) or email.
Recommendation letters are just one part of your college application, but they provide critical context and requite admission readers insight into why you lot would be a good fit and addition to the college community.
Seattle college counselor Michelle Silbernagel contributed to this postal service.
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Source: https://magellancounseling.com/letters-of-recommendation-part-2-frequently-asked-questions/