Many parents and students underestimate just how powerful letters of recommendation can be in the college admissions process. If your child hopes to have great letters she needs to know who to ask, understand the difference between counselor and teacher recs, and figure out whether additional letters might strengthen her candidacy.
Knowing Who to Ask
Colleges typically require at least 1 or 2 teacher letters of recommendation and 1 counselor letter for admission. So when it comes to teachers, it all comes down to who you should ask and knowing which teachers will write letters that will help you stand out.
When I worked as an admissions officer for Caltech and Scripps College, these letters were invaluable. In many cases, I would discover compelling new information about the applicant, such as how they think in the classroom and their level of participation or leadership, all of which I could take into consideration. Keep in mind that these letters can be as important, if not more so, than your essays!
The best letters start with a strong statement like “In all my years of teaching, I have never come across such a hard-working, intellectually-minded student as I have in Jesse…or Kennedy,” and offer specific examples of Jesse or Kennedy in the classroom (or beyond the classroom), giving readers a picture of the student’s unique strengths, passions and personality. The strongest letters resonate with admissions readers and ask them to pay closer attention. 🙂
So how do you know who to ask?
The best way to ask teachers is to say something like, “I’ve really grown in your class this past year and have appreciated learning about X. Do you think you might be able to write a strong letter of recommendation on my behalf?” And wait to see how they respond. Did they hesitate? Or did they respond with a resounding “Yes! I’d be happy to!”? You can tell a lot by their initial response. If there is any hesitation in their voice (or email), you may want to ask a different teacher.
How Counselor Letters are Different from Teacher Letters
Counselor letters play an important role and can shed light on your personal qualities, family background, or important personal circumstances that can help colleges understand you better. If there are any assignments you need to submit, like a resume or “Brag Sheet” to help your counselor prepare their letter, be sure to invest time and take it seriously. Also, if there are any significant points you would like your counselor to share with colleges, such as the reason why you might not have a 4th year of science or foreign language, you might ask your counselor to include this.
Additional Letters of Recommendation
In many circumstances, it can be helpful to have additional letters of recommendation submitted on your behalf if the writer can add something compelling about who you are that hasn’t been covered by teachers or your counselor. These letters might come from a mentor, coach, troop leader, a pastor, summer program instructor, or volunteer coordinator who can speak to different aspect of your strengths.
Did you know you can submit these additional letters through the Common Application portal? We help all our students with this important piece of the admissions puzzle by advising them to think strategically about who they should ask for letters.
Check the recommendation requirements to be sure all of your letters are indeed welcome. Some colleges do not want any additional letters of recommendation and will not consider them if submitted.
Consider the Timing
Typically, the best time to ask for teacher letters is in the spring of junior year – and it’s best to ask junior year teachers, not sophomore teachers. It’s also fine to ask for letters early in the fall of senior year. Be sure not to wait too long!
At Colledge, we help our students manage their school deadlines for letters and make sure they are familiar with specific requirements for letters of recommendation.
For more information on how your child can get great letters of recommendation for college or to discuss how we work with students on admission planning, click HERE to schedule a free phone consultation.
