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Letters of Recommendation

Introduction

Most institutions will require 1 or more recommendation letters. These letters and the college essay are your opportunity to show who you are rather than what you’ve done. Therefore, it is important to be thorough when filling out recommendation request forms. This will give the individual(s) writing your recommendation letters a well rounded understanding of who you are. Each school has a different letter of recommendation form. Please select the button for your school to be brought to this form.

LOA

LPA

Who to Ask

It is recommended you ask a teacher you have a good connection with who teaches a core subject. Core subject areas are English, Math, Science, and Social Studies. A teacher who is in the field you are considering for a major is also suggested. More competitive schools may require 2 letters. The additional letter can come from a teacher, counselor, mentor, coach, religious leader, or supervisor. Each individual you ask will require a completed recommendation form. Some schools might also require a letter of recommendation from your counselor. Check the application and/or the institution's webpage to understand the requirements. 

When to Ask

You MUST ask a teacher to write a letter of recommendation before requesting for them to write it on your application. It is important to ask for a letter of recommendation AT LEAST 2 weeks before the letter is due. Teachers only have the capacity to write so many essays, so if you are asking last minute for a letter of recommendation, do not be surprised if a teacher says they do not have the capacity to complete the request. The earlier a student asks a teacher, the more likely you are to receive a thoughtful and well-considered letter. Students can verbally ask faculty as early as the spring of their Junior Year. 

Note: Wait until Aug 1 before your senior year to formally request your letter of recommendations on the Common App. Common App refreshes the "My Colleges" page on that date and any recommendations requested on this page will be deleted.

Letter of Recommendation Submissions

YOU CAN SUBMIT YOUR APPLICATION BEFORE A TEACHER UPLOADS THEIR RECOMMENDATION. Please do not wait on your teacher's recommendation to submit your application. Teacher's have a different timeline than students.

Steps for Requesting Letters of Recommendation

  1. Check Requirements: Find out if your college(s) or program(s) require a letter of recommendation. If it's not required and your grades meet or exceed the average for admitted students, you probably don't need one.

  2. Complete the Request Form: Fill out your schools' letter of recommendation request form (see buttons above).

  3. Ask Your Teacher: Ask your teacher in-person (if possible) at least 2 weeks in advance if they’re willing to write a letter for you.

  4. Provide Submission Information: Depending on the application platform you are using, different methods for submitting recommendations may be required. Some schools may ask recommenders to send their letter to a specific email address or mailing address. Other institutions and platforms, such as the Common App, may require you to enter your recommender’s email address, after which the platform will send a secure link for the recommender to upload their letter. NOTE: On Common App you cannot input your teacher's information in the "My Colleges" section until after the application has refreshed for the new cycle. If you do this step before the August prior to your senior year, your information will be deleted.

  5. Send a Thank You: Write a thank you note to anyone who writes you a letter. A small gesture goes a long way!