Your Junior year teachers will likely teach your most rigorous high school courses. For that reason, Spring is the right time to ask for their help.
How do I know if recommendation letters will impact my application?
The relative level of importance in the application read varies by school. Some schools do not consider recommendation letters at all (VA Tech and Penn State are examples.) Check out section C7 of the common application to determine the value the school places on recommendation letters.
How many recommendation letters are required or recommended?
You can find this information on the application checklist on each school's admission page. However, you, the common application, also aggregate this information in the application requirements section on the student dashboard.
Know your high school's or teacher's process.
Working with students from over 100 high schools, I can tell processes differ significantly. If a school has no process, respect your teacher's time and ask them in advance if they have a preferred request method.
If your high school guidance office has a process such as completing a "brag sheet" or a required resume, understand the timeline needed.
Also, schools that use application platforms such as Naviance, SCOIR, Maialearning, or Schoollinks will likely require students to formally invite teachers to those systems. Schools that do not have a platform might require paper forms, and the student will formally invite the teacher to their common application account.
Ask the teacher in person!
For some students, this task can take some courage. Be prepared by drafting a short note explaining why you are asking this teacher and other helpful information, such as what you plan to study, the types of schools on your research list, and why you think this teacher could add value to your application. Perhaps remind them of a time when you showcased drive, initiative, intellectual curiosity, or contribution to the classroom.
What is an "other recommender?"
Planning for your recommendation letter strategy will help minimize stress as you enter the next academic year. Think ahead!
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