How to Get Stellar Recommendations

References are a very important part of your university applications. According to the National Association for College Admission Counseling, admissions officers rank recommendation letters as the fifth most important determinant of admissions after grades, curriculum strength, test scores, and essays. 

Late spring is the best time to approach teachers, preferably current ones, who can write you stellar letters of recommendation. Ideally, letters should be from instructors in different core academic areas, e.g. math and English. If you know that a teacher is leaving this summer, please make sure that his/her letter is on file with your high school counseling office prior to the end of the school year.

WHO WILL WRITE FOR YOU?

There are three categories of references requested on Common App (and most other applications):

1. Counselor (mandatory)

2. Teachers (mandatory)

3. Other (e.g., coach, internship or charity manager, music teacher, religious mentor, or research mentor)

WHAT WILL THEY WRITE ABOUT? 

Counselors write about how long he or she has known you, your academic and personal characteristics in the context of your high school, and any information that could be helpful to admissions officers (e.g., personal challenges faced, explanations for missing courses, disciplinary action, or time away from school). 

Teachers convey what you are like in the classroom as a learner, a person, and a classmate. They comment on your intellectual engagement and commitment to learning as well as your attitude and conduct. Typically, you should choose a teacher who knows you well and who you believe will write enthusiastically and positively about you. Ideally, choose one STEM and one humanities/social sciences teacher. Avoid choosing teachers in similar subjects like Business and Economics or Spanish and French. Core academic subjects are the best choice when possible, so English or math is better than business– unless you are applying for a business course or major. 

Other recommenders can be a wonderful addition to your application. They should reveal facets of you that do not come across in the counselor or teacher recommendations, such as professionalism, community service, athletic talent, or musical accomplishments. If you can obtain a recommendation from an internship manager, it can be very helpful to do so; however, a variety of individuals who know you well in a specific context could write for you. 

WHEN SHOULD YOU ASK?

Spring (usually April) is the best time to ask your teachers if they would be willing to write a recommendation letter for your university applications. If your school has a specific rule about when you can ask, please follow their instructions. Nonetheless, earlier is always better! In the past, we’ve seen that popular teachers fill up quickly and sometimes stop accepting new requests.

HOW SHOULD YOU ASK FOR A REFERENCE?

Arrange a short meeting to ask – don’t email or ask hastily before or after class. Here's an example of what you could say: “Would you be willing to write a letter of recommendation for me for my university applications this fall? I think you know me well and would be a great advocate for me. I’d be so grateful for your help. I plan to apply in the early action round and will be submitting my applications before October 15th.”

To help your teacher best write your recommendation letter, provide a reminder or “brag” sheet which should include:

• How long you have known each other and in what context

• In which grade(s) the teacher taught you (9th-12th)

• The courses you have taken with this teacher, including the level of course difficulty (AP, IB, GCSE, A-level, accelerated, honors, elective, etc.)

• Any other interaction with the teacher (clubs, school trips, etc.)

Be sure to give examples – these should be in the context of the teacher’s class: 

• Examples of extracurricular endeavors, such as internships or online courses that relate to the teacher’s subject

• One example of where you showed intellectual curiosity

• One example of when you went beyond expectations

• One example of where you showed excellent teamwork skills

• One example of where you helped someone else

• One example of where you showed resilience/perseverance/overcoming a problem

• Points listing what you think is important about yourself as a student (academically) as demonstrated in this teacher's classroom

• Other relevant points to describe your character with evidence

You could also give reminders about:

• Special circumstances (illness, changing schools, other challenges)

• Comments on your maturity, conduct, attitude

• Development over time

• Class participation (can comment on improvement here)

• Subject skills – special accomplishments in the teacher’s academic area (in or out of the classroom)

• Special talents, awards, competition involvement, etc.

While not the most important criteria in the admissions process, recommendations can tip you from a rejection or waitlist to an acceptance. And remember, the more selective the school, the greater the weight of these personal insights. Please contact your Ivy Options counselor or info@ivyoptions.com if you need help selecting recommendors, or developing your brag sheets.