What makes a student tick academically is of great interest to
admissions officers. What are your strengths? How do you respond
to a challenge? How well do you write? How do you interact with
your peers? Do you participate in class? Colleges want to know
how a student approached academia, and those who are in the best
position to offer a perspective and prognosis about students are
teachers. That's why most colleges require teachers'
recommendations. These recommendations do influence admissions
decisions. Through these letters, colleges learn about your
personality, attitude, character, level of maturity, and special
interests.
Choosing Recommenders
Select teachers with whom you have had an ongoing relationship
and who would be able to offer positive comments that will
distinguish you from other applicants. Ask someone you like and
respect, and who feels the same about you. Students often worry
about a teacher refusing to write about them. Rarely does a
teacher turn a student down. When this happens, it is usually
because the teacher is overburdened or feels unqualified.
Here are some guidelines to follow for selecting
recommenders:
Approach teachers who know you well. If none
falls within this category, you should try to build relationships
immediately.
Select teachers from your junior or senior
year. Colleges like a recent impression of the
student.
Consider asking teachers whose subject may relate to a
future area of study. For example, students who plan on
studying engineering should ask a math or physical science
teacher. A student interested in communications should ask an
English teacher.
Choose teachers who can comment upon growth and
willingness to work to improve. Colleges are more
interested in learning how a student strives to improve than
about how easy it is for him to earn A's.
Approach teachers early, at least two months in advance of the
deadline. Many senior year teachers are flooded with requests for
recommendations. Students who procrastinate may find these
teachers are already overcommitted or unable to get the
recommendations written on time.
Be clear about how the letter will be sent to the colleges. At
some high schools, teachers file their letters in the guidance
office and they are sent to the colleges along with school
records. If your school does not do this, provide the teacher
with a stamped, addressed envelope for each college.
Other recommenders
Some schools ask applicants to provide
supplemental references, such as from a peer or an employer. When
choosing these individuals, it is wise to pick those who can
write well. Be sure to discuss with them why you are asking, and
give them an idea about what you expect from the recommendation.
The key to selecting a supplementary reference is to choose
someone who will offer a unique perspective about the applicant
that is not covered elsewhere. Here especially, it is important
to choose recommenders with whom you have a close
relationship—this will serve you better than an array of vague
and impersonal letters.