How to Get Great College Letters of Recommendation

Letters of recommendation from your high school teachers and counselors are an essential part of your college application. They will help admission officers learn more about your character and how you interact with your learning community. Learn why the college letter of recommendation is important and how to get a great one.

Why Do You Need Letters of Recommendation?

There's no way around it: grades and test scores are likely to be the most important part of your college application. But admissions counselors know that statistics don't tell the whole story. You'll write an essay or personal statement for your application, and schools want to learn even more about you—from someone who isn't you. Typically applications will ask for letters of recommendation from at least two teachers, but some may allow you to include additional notes from coaches, employers, or counselors.

1. Start Early

Like many other parts of the college application process, the trick with recommendation letters is planning ahead. Build relationships with your teachers as early as your first year in high school, and stay in touch with the ones you like the most. Stay after class to discuss the lesson with your teacher, or ask for help with an essay. That way you'll have a chance to get to know each other outside of the classroom. Make a good first impression, and you'll have an easier time finding someone who can recommend you to your dream school. 

2. Consider Your Potential Recommenders Carefully

Just because a teacher gave you an A doesn't mean you have to ask him or her for a college letter of recommendation. In fact, you may want to ask someone who saw you struggle a bit in class, and then overcome that obstacle. Feel free to discuss your options with your college counselor, or directly ask the teacher of your choice if he or she feels comfortable writing a recommendation for you. It's your job to make sure the teacher is excited to write to a college on your behalf. You won't actually get to see these letters, so you want to make sure you have a good feeling for what they're going to say.

3. Give Your Teachers Details & Deadlines

Remember: you're basically assigning your teachers homework. In addition to giving them plenty of notice, you must also send them all the materials they need to write a great letter. You may need to fill out a form from the college, provide credentials and information for a college's online application system, or get an addressed and stamped envelope. We recommend that you also give your teacher  a list of your extracurricular activities, draft of your college essay, a high school resume, and any other information you think is important so they have ideas for what to write in the letter. (Don't be offended if a teacher you had in a previous year asks for this info—it all makes for a fantastic letter). Above all else, be kind and considerate when interacting with your teacher.

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