How to get a great letter of recommendation
Your letters of recommendation are a crucial component of your college application. If you are applying to selective colleges, strong letters of recommendation will help you stand out amongst a crowded applicant pool. In this post, we'll discuss what a good recommendation letter looks like, who to ask, how to ask, and when to ask.
What does a good letter of recommendation look like?
A good recommendation letter should provide insight into your character, abilities, and potential as a student. Ideally, it should be written by a teacher or counselor who knows you well and can speak to your academic performance, work ethic, and personal qualities. A strong letter should also be specific and include concrete examples of your achievements and strengths. At the end of the day, you want the admissions officer reading your letter of recommendation to feel confident that you are a good academic, social, and cultural fit for their school.
Who should you ask for a letter of recommendation?
When deciding who to ask for a recommendation letter, you should consider which teachers or counselors know you the best and can speak to your strengths. A teacher that knows you personally will be able to provide specific examples of your academic ability, character, leadership, and/or growth. Additionally, some teachers are known to write very strong recommendation letters, so make sure to factor that into your decision as well!
Generally speaking, you should aim to ask teachers who have taught you core academic subjects, especially if they teach a subject related to your intended major. Junior year teachers tend to write better letters of recommendation because they have been teaching you for the past year, as opposed to freshman and sophomore teachers who may not be able to be as specific when speaking about your strengths. However, if there is a teacher that you had freshman and/or sophomore year that you believe would write you a very strong recommendation letter, they could be a viable option as well. You may also consider asking a teacher who can speak to your strengths outside of the classroom.
How should you ask for a letter of recommendation?
When asking for a recommendation letter, it's important to be respectful and professional. When you ask, either do so in person or via email, though face-to-face can leave a better impression. Provide your recommender with context about your college aspirations and explain why you think they are uniquely positioned to write the recommendation. Be sure to ask politely and thank them for their time and effort.
As a part of your request, you can your recommender what you would like them to include in the letter. You can ask them to talk about your academics, personal qualities, anecdotes, growth, etc. If there are particular instances where you showed your teacher your strengths (academics, leadership, character, creativity, etc.), definitely encourage your teacher to mention them. Providing your recommenders with guidance on what to write about can make their job much easier and result in a stronger recommendation letter for you - so don’t by shy!
When should you ask for a letter of recommendation?
We at Cohort recommend asking for letters from teachers before junior summer. This gives your recommenders plenty of time to write a thoughtful letter about you and your strengths. You should also provide them with any materials that will help them write a strong letter, such as a resume, transcript, or personal statement.
Conclusion
In conclusion, be deliberate in who and how you ask for letters of recommendation. By choosing the right people to write your letters and giving them appropriate direction, you can increase your chances of getting strong recommendation letters that will help you stand out in the college admissions process.
