Attention Juniors: Make Your Recommendations Stand Out

It’s never too early to ask for a recommendation letter! Right after spring break, juniors will need to start asking teachers to write these key letters for you. So now is the time to start thinking about who will advocate for you as strongly as they possibly can. It’s also important to know how you can make your recommendation letters stand out.

Teacher recommendations are more valuable than ever, as they are the one aspect of the application that is untouched by students or parents. They can’t be manipulated, so universities trust them as honest accounts. A good recommendation can push a candidate from potentially admissible to, “Wow, this is a special student!” A superb recommendation provides specific examples of where the student has done something impressive, such as being top of the class and also the youngest student. Examples of leadership, intellectual ability, emotional intelligence, empathy, creativity, kindness, sensitivity, and resilience show that a student will be an amazing university student, lab partner, roommate, and member of the campus community.

What is a recommendation letter?

This letter comes from a teacher, counselor, or another esteemed adult and highlights your strengths as a learner as well as a person. Generally, universities expect two teachers and one counselor to write recommendation letters for you. Some universities allow an “other” recommendation from a person such as a coach, music teacher, internship manager, or professor. Make sure that the people who write your recommendation letters know you well, and that you have a positive relationship with them. They should be able to provide specific examples that show case how wonderful you are.

What will they write about?

The letter’s content will differ depending on whether the recommendation letter is written by a counselor, teacher, or “other” adult. For a counselor, it’s important that they know you well and can highlight your academic and personal characteristics as well as any contextual information such as personal challenges or disciplinary actions. They will focus on how you’ve contributed as an active citizen in your school community and beyond.

Teachers will focus on what you are like in the classroom, that is, your intellectual engagement, commitment, attitude, and conduct. Ideally, you should aim to choose one STEM and one humanities/social science teacher. We advise against having two recommendations from teachers of similar subjects. But if you want to know who to ask, we would say “the two teachers who love you the most.”Be sure to check if your universities specify which teachers should be writing your recommendations. We strongly recommend a current teacher who has taught you in Grade 11(Year12) who can speak to your recent intellectual achievements and contributions in the classroom.

Teachers can also talk about activities outside the classroom that relate to their subject. For example, your English teacher might mention your participation in an Emirates Literature Festival competition as evidence of your love of writing. In general, stick to teachers in the five core subject areas of math, English, science, social studies, and foreign languages.

Avoid asking teachers of secondary subjects or electives unless you plan to pursue that field as a major. So if you are hoping to major in art or design, you should definitely ask your art teacher. “Other” recommenders should reveal facts about you that do not come across in your counselor or teacher recommendations. They could be from your school, such as your athletic coach or the mentor of a club. They could also be from outside of your school environment, such as a professor who mentored you for research or a manager who can speak to the unique strengths you displayed during an internship.

When to ask them?

The best time to ask is in early April, right after spring break. Exact timing will depend on your school, which may have a process you should follow; however, asking earlier is better, as teachers begin to fill up and may cap the number of letters they write. You’ll also portray yourself as someone who is organized and planning ahead. Furthermore, if your teacher is leaving the school, he or she could finalize the letter before summer.

How do you ask for a recommendation letter?

It’s best to ask in person and in a relaxed setting. It can be helpful to have a pre-conversation with your teacher in which you express that you’d be thrilled if they would write for you – then arrange to meet at a convenient time. Tell your teachers how much you respect them and ask if they would feel comfortable writing a strong letter of recommendation for you. This allows them to say ‘no’ if they can’t write a highly supportive letter. After your discussion, be sure to follow up with an email confirmation. Thank your teacher profusely and state how much you appreciate the support. Inform all recommenders of your timeline and tell them that you want to be prepared to apply for the early round and therefore require the letter by early October.

How to best utilize your brag sheet?

Many teachers will ask for a “brag sheet” or some brief notes about your experience in their class or activity and your commitment to the subject. You should include how long you have known each other, the grades and courses in which they taught you, and any other interactions you’ve had, such as clubs or trips. You can also highlight any difficult circumstances that you’ve had to overcome, special skills or talents, and awards or competitions related to their subject.

Try to make your brag sheet very specific to what you’ve done in your actual class. Give examples of extracurricular endeavors, such as internships or online courses related to the subject. You could also showcase where you went beyond expectations, showed intellectual curiosity or excellent teamwork skills, and helped someone else. Alongside overcoming challenges and showing resilience, these are all desirable attributes that universities will look for. Make sure to tailor your brag sheets to each teacher, counselor, and additional recommender as their letters should have distinct messages.

Most importantly avoid repetition; admissions officers hate reading letters that include identical information or those that sound like a list or resume. It’s time to get moving! Identify your two teachers, meet with your counselor to ensure he or she knows you, and begin filling out your brag sheets so that they are ready by the last day of spring break. If you have any questions, please reach out to your Ivy Options counselor.