This information should be helpful for all students,
especially seniors in the middle of the application process. Almost all
colleges will require at least one teacher recommendation, as a crucial part of
the application process. When deciding on which teacher to ask, remember these
important tips:
Stick
to a junior or senior year teacher…possibly a sophomore
year teacher. Students have changed from freshmen year and admissions
counselors want to see the type of person and student they will be receiving
and the more recent the evaluation the better!
Ask
a teacher who really know you. Don’t just ask the
teacher that you received an ‘A’ in, but the teacher that you were able to
connect to. It’s OK if this class wasn't the highest grade you received, but if
the teacher can talk about your learning style, participation, work ethic, ability
to work with others, leadership, and other important qualities in a way that
really brings you to life, will lead to the most effective recommendation. Take
time in deciding who to ask, and feel free to ask the teacher if they believe
they know you well enough to write a helpful recommendation.
If
you know your major, request a teacher recommendation from a class in that
subject area. For instance, if you are planning to
apply to the engineering department, it would be helpful for colleges to hear
from a high school math or physics teacher. This will help counselors determine
your ability to perform in that field.
Give
your teacher a heads-up! Teachers do not have to write
these recommendation letters, but do so to give their students the best chance
in the college application process. Students should never ask a teacher for a
recommendation right before the deadline. Give your teachers at least one month
before the college deadline. This will result in a happy teacher and a much more
positive recommendation!
Do
not over burden admissions offices with extra recommendations.
Admissions counselors read thousands of applications and recommendations each
year. If students start sending in extra recommendations, this will often annoy
and frustrate the counselors, which may not be good for the student hoping to
impress the counselor. Stick to the school’s requirements and you will be fine!
Joseph D. Korfmacher, MA