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Obtaining Teacher Recommendations
One or two teacher recommendations are required by most colleges. You may want to submit a supplemental recommendation from a coach, teacher in a "non-solid" subject, or from an employer, if you feel that he/she knows you from a different angle and can shed additional light on you. Don't feel obligated to submit supplemental letters and if you do, one is usually plenty. More than one would be considered "file padding." The following is a list of steps to follow when requesting recommendations from teachers.
- Ask the teacher for a recommendation in person. Do not simply leave a note in the teacher's mailbox.
- You are best off asking for recommendations from teachers who have taught you recently (11th or 12th grades) and for more than one semester.
- Ask the same teachers to recommend you to all of the colleges to which you are applying. Most teachers write one recommendation and make copies of it for each college.
- Give the teacher as much advance notice as possible. One month before the recommendation is due should be the minimum. Make sure you let the teacher know the due date.
- Complete the top of the recommendation form before you give it to the teacher.
- Supply a stamped, addressed envelope with each recommendation. The return address should be that of the school, not of your home.
- You may want to discuss extracurricular, and community service activities with the teacher before he/she writes the recommendation, though colleges are primarily looking to hear from teachers about you as a student.
- About a week or so before the deadline remind the teacher that the due-date is upcoming.
- If you receive notification from the college that a teacher recommendation is missing please notify the teacher and your college counselor immediately.
- Please be sure to personally thank the teacher, either orally or in writing.
