Letters of recommendation are something that almost every college application requires or at least provides an option for. But there's a lot more thought and strategy that goes into these letters than you might think! These letters are one of the key factors that lend a hand to admissions decisions when choosing who to accept into their school. So this begs the question: what exactly should my plan be when letters of recommendation season arrives?
When Should I be Requesting Letters?
Letters of recommendation are typically asked around early to mid September. This gives those you ask ample time to prepare a letter without rushing, and can really consider your character in the time they've known you. Remember, often times those you ask get more than one student asking, so be courteous and request early!
Who Should I ask?
This leads into who should you ask? There's a lot of options to choose from, and who you ask is important, so let's break down what this person should look like.
Those you're considering asking should have had many direct interactions with you and have had multiple opportunities to observe your work ethic, skills, and character in person and can provide examples of this. This could be either a teacher, coach, mentor, employer, or anyone else. It should not be your family or friends, but rather someone who knows you in a more professional manner.
How do I ask?
Now that you've got down WHO you want to ask, the next question to tackle is the HOW. This is also an important part, because you want to do this professionally. Requesting a letter in-person is usually the best way to go about this. It shows respect while also opening the door for a more thorough discussion regarding what you would like specifically in the letter, who it's going to, and what might be good to include.
After this, it's never a bad idea to send a follow up email confirming and thanking this person for writing a letter on your behalf. If you're using the Common App, this is a good time to send them an invite to join your application so they can fill out the letter. In the email, it's perfectly normal to summarize what you talked about and reiterate what you'd like the letter to say or how it should be formatted.
What should I Include?
When discussing what you want in your letter, it can be easy to say "just make me look good" or using generic phrases like responsible, organized, on task, etc. These are all great characteristics, but they also don't make for a compelling letter of recommendation. Feel free to share your resume for any work you've done in the classroom that was well received, or a list of extracurriculars you've done. If you've written any essays you think might give them ideas, share these too! Any other points specific to their connection to you that you feel is necessary to highlight, let them know!
Clearly clarify the deadlines the letter needs to be finished by, including the earliest one. If it's on the Common App website, be sure to provide instructions on how to navigate to it. If you're planning on mailing your application, or just your letters, provide an envelope and stamps with the address prepared.
We hope this helps you on figuring out who to ask for your letters of recommendation, and how to go about doing so! Check out our Instagram to see more tips and tricks on navigating the college journey, and click below to set up a call with one of our consultants who can walk the application process road with you every step of the way!
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