Recommendations

Your recommendations must be strong: it must set you apart from the rest of the candidates. It is important to respect your teachers in high school and excel in your classes. It is also important to build relationships with your teachers so they know you beyond your analysis of the Canterbury Tales.


When your senior year arrives, formulate a list of teachers and counselors. Choose teachers who taught you in your junior and senior year.


Meet with your teachers: Highlight moments in classes which demonstrate your academic intellect. Inform each teacher about the colleges you are applying to and why you want them to write you a recommendation. Choose teachers who know you well.

In addition, ask individuals who know you outside of the classroom to submit supplemental recommendations, such as an athletic coach, supervisor at a summer job, or religious leader.

Provide each teacher with the following information:
The recommendation form and any supplemental information.
Your personal statement: You want the recommender to refer to specific information explained in your personal statement. A teacher can elude to academic successes, personal attributes, and extracurricular activities also contained in your personal statement.
A resume
An addressed, stamped envelope.
A detailed list of deadlines for each college.

Give each teacher ample time to complete the recommendation: Would you be annoyed if a student asked for a recommendation which was due in 2 days? Show teachers respect and give them at least two months time to write the recommendation. Obviously, the earlier you can ask your teacher for a recommendation, the better.

Submit recommendations timely: If the recommendation must be mailed directly to the school from each teacher, make sure the teacher mails it at least two weeks in advance. If you must mail the recommendation with the application package, collect all recommendations two weeks in advance.


Write your recommenders thank you notes: Write your teachers thank you notes and make sure you tell them what school you will be attending.