Asking of a Letter of Recommendation: A Guide
Many students believe that they have little control over their letters of recommendation. After all, most students can’t even view letters of recommendation before submitting; someone else speaks for you, and you don’t even know what they say.
Contrary to popular belief, there are actually several ways to optimize your letters of recommendation to ensure that they reflect everything that you want to show off about yourself.
Timing is Everything
Although most students don’t begin writing their applications until senior year, asking for letters of recommendation this late often puts you behind the eight ball. Many teachers at my school, especially those that teach upper level classes, stopped accepting letter of recommendation requests in early September. For your sake, as well as your writers’, start thinking about letter of recommendation requests at the end of your junior year, or at the start of your senior summer. Asking well in advance ensures that your writers have time to reflect and produce a well-written, thoughtful recommendation.
If you’re a senior now who hasn’t asked for letters of recommendation yet, be sure to ask your recommenders in the month of September, especially if you intend to apply early.
Choosing the Right Recommenders
Since the individuals who write your letters of recommendation speak on your behalf, it’s important to choose people who are well-equipped to do so. Most teachers know you in an academic setting, but there’s so much more to a student than how they act in a classroom. I recommend finding a teacher that you interact with outside of an academic setting, like the coach of your sports team or the advisor for a club you’re heavily involved in. When someone sees you as a leader, collaborator, or organizer rather than just a successful student, they’re able to speak on skills that encompass your best self.
Though teachers are the most conventional choice for letters of recommendation, your choices are not necessarily limited to your teachers. If you have a close mentor from a community-based organization, they may be the best option for a recommendation. If you have a boss or manager from an employment or internship opportunity, they will be able to speak to your capabilities. Allow your judgement of who can best speak to the qualities you want to showcase to guide you. Try not to limit yourself to only teachers in the academic field you want to pursue; recommenders can come from a variety of backgrounds and fields. What’s most important is their relationship with you. That being said, some programs require specific recommenders. As a direct med applicant, many of the programs I applied to required recommendations from a science teacher. Be sure to research major and program specific recommendation requirements.
The Big Ask
While it may seem intimidating to ask for a letter of recommendation, odds are that the person you’re asking has some experience writing recommendations and knows the process. More often than not, recommenders are so delighted by the opportunity to help students get into the colleges of their dreams. I recommend asking well in advance and providing material for them to work with. When I applied to college, I assembled information packets for all of my recommenders. I included a cover letter detailing my college plans and other relevant information about my applications, a résumé, and a form that my school required for recommendations. This not only allowed me to fill in the gaps about everything that I was involved in that they did not know about, but it also allowed me to guide the content of their recommendations. My cover letter explained my passion for science and intent to pursue medicine; with this information, my recommenders could tailor their letters to my academic and career interests.
Reminders
Because many recommenders juggle multiple requests on top of their day-to-day work, it’s possible for them to lose track of time and put your recommendation on the back burner. When reminding a recommender of a deadline, it’s important to do so respectfully, as they have other commitments. I reminded my recommenders twice after the initial ask: a month before my deadline and another time two weeks before my deadline. As it gets closer to the deadline, you may need to consider asking again. It’s always a good idea to err on the side of caution when it comes to college application deadlines to prevent the “night before applications are due” scramble.
By following this guide, you should be able to enjoy a smooth, stress-free recommendation process. Good luck!
[by: Preeta Kamat]
