Asking for Letters of Recommendation

What is a Letter of Recommendation? Letters of recommendation are letters from your teachers to the college or university you want to attend. Letters can also be used for scholarships, internships and job applications. Colleges usually want letters from your teachers in English, math, and one other core subject like history or science.

That Personal Touch The letter from your teachers can give the colleges or selection committee some idea of the real person you are. The letters can help you stand out from the thousands of other applicants. Look! Here I am!

Your Teachers Know You They’ve seen you struggle to learn and succeed. They’ve seen you handle failure and success. They know your strengths and challenges.

Above all, they know you have style.

The Letter of Recommendation The letter of recommendation can say, “Based on my experience with my student Bob, he would be a great fit at Harvard (or for your internship or for the scholarship or for the job).”

What Letters of Recommendation are NOT Letters of recommendation are NOT form letters! Teachers take time to craft your letters personally and specifically. We care!!

What Do Teachers Need? We need a “Brag Sheet!” The brag sheet answers some of our big questions: What accomplishments do you want us to mention? What challenges have you faced that we don’t know about? What aspects of your character should we make sure your college knows about?

Where Do I Get a Brag Sheet? You will get one today to fill out! Make copies or type it so that you can use it more than once. Additional copies can be picked up in the Asia or Australia offices.

How Much Time? Once you’ve filled out the brag sheet, give your teachers days to write your letters! (Sometimes we’re a little busy.)

Too Pesty? It’s okay to send an in about 5-7 days to say, “Hey, Mrs. Pterodactyl, it’s Bob. I just wanted to say thanks in advance for writing that letter of recommendation for me.”

Too Pesty? We all know it means, “Hey, have you written my letter yet?” but it’s a nice and polite way to ask. (Your mom would be proud of you)

Other Tips Make it as easy to write the letter as you can. Give the teacher the name and address of the university/organization you want to apply. Give the teacher a pre-stamped envelope with the address already on it.

Other Tips, Part II This will sound really obvious, but…remember to ask for a letter ONLY from those teachers who know you and like you. Probably not a good choice…

We Look Forward to Helping! We love helping you get from here… To here!