Securing the Best Letters of Recommendation
In his scandalous expose on higher education admissions, NY Times education reporter Jacques Steinberg examines the inner workings of the college admission sentinel during his one-year appointment at Wesleyan University. During the scope of his time as an eyewitness to observe the admissions process, Steinberg shares how a ranking system and typical application face time of 5-8 minutes in total forces admissions committees to predict potential academic accomplishment for the year’s applicant pool. Just to give you a snapshot, this 2022’s class profile boasts 12,788 received applications with only 2,223 granted admission (that’s 17.4%).
Wesleyan shares the data of HS preparation, legacy connections, need-based aid, Early Decision applicants, gender, geographic area, ethnicity, class rigor, ACT/SAT scores, and class rankings. During his assignment, Steinberg jots down how even though some colleges opt for professors to review applications (they would be directly involved with students in their discipline, after all), generally, admissions committees note class rank, size, race and ethnicity, athletic achievement, leadership opportunities, curriculum rigor, ACT/SAT scores, and yes, teacher recommendation letters. After all, colleges value recommendations because they reveal qualitative data (personal opinions about an applicant’s character, family dynamic, and reputation) rather than merely quantitative data. This facet can especially be significant to marginal applicants as committees take into account aspects that grades and test scores doesn’t reveal and perhaps most importantly, who is willing to speak on the student’s behalf.
With all that said, colleges often ask for two or three letters of recommendation to supplement a student’s application package. With admissions season fully underway, it’s time to consider just whom you can lean on to ask for a letter of recommendation. Some tips and tricks to consider:
When to Ask:
• After Labor Day, the frenzy of back to school excitement has died down a fair bit as teachers too are settling into a more predictable routine. That said, teachers will be writing stacks and stacks of letters for their advisees and students—on top of their regular workload—so be respectful of their time and use this as an opportunity to plan early. Especially if you’re considering early decision or early action, asking for recommendation letters as early as the first month of senior year will only save you from headaches down the road.
• Try to give teachers 4-6 weeks to write your letter.
Who to Ask:
• Carefully review your college application requirements. Schools often ask for letters of recommendations from an academic source (sometimes in a specific discipline) and within a given time frame (now may not be the best time to call up your favorite teacher from the 4th-grade). Colleges want a current perspective to make a prediction on whether or not you could thrive at their school.
• Lean into your personal network for advice. Ask your family or mentors who they think would be able to speak to your academic achievements, personal character, and gifts and talents.
• Consider asking a teacher who knew you outside of a class roster. Maybe an orchestra teacher, debate club counsel, or advisor who worked with you directly on your high school’s newspaper could make great references.
• Consider other adults—employers, tutors, coaches, managers, advisers, mentors, or church leaders—who would have a strong understanding of you as an individual, your strengths, and how you contribute to the greater good of society.
How To Ask:
• E-mail your teacher to set up an in-person meeting, if possible. Showing initiative to take the time out of your busy schedule emphasizes your commitment.
• If meeting in person is not possible, send a detailed e-mail to your chosen teacher(s) or advisor(s) politely outlining your request, timeframe (i.e. by October 15th), and an idea of disciplines you’re pursuing (I’m considering pursuing a journalism track in college), and schools you’re applying to (I’m applying to Northeastern Liberal Arts schools).
• Make this extra task as straightforward as you can for your teachers by including a resume that briefly outlines your activities at school, interests outside the classroom, and future objectives. See tips on how to craft the best resume here from our friends at Resume Builder.
• Give teachers bullet points with positive, detailed information about personal achievements and ultimate potential to refresh their memory and simplify the writing process. Some things to include would be:
o Your class participation (“regularly contribute in harkness discussions in British Lit”);
o Specific work or project you’re proud of (“I put a lot of effort and passion into my Spanish portfolio of 16th-century Art”);
o What you learned in class and how that would translate into your chosen discipline (“Fully understanding the research process gave me the problem-solving skills to succeed in a communications field in the future”);
o Challenges you overcame (“Despite a rocky start to term III of junior year, I was proactive to regularly meet with academic support at tutorial three times a week, participated in study groups, and had earned a 92 by the end of the quarter”);
o Specific examples of work (bring a portfolio of work you’re most proud of—that award-winning essay, an oil canvas for the art exhibition, your statistics project, etc.);
o Accomplishments, hobbies, and plans for college and the future (This will encourage your teacher to clearly connect your academic achievement thus far to your future pursuits)
After You Ask:
• Give your references addressed and stamped envelopes for each college that requested a recommendation letter.
• Confirm the deadline for each college. Remind your references.
• A week prior to the deadline, follow up with your references to confirm the deadline and ask if they need any additional information from your end.
• Write a handwritten thank-you note to each reference to let them know that you’re grateful for their support.
Happy Writing!