<p>Hi!</p>
<p>I'm a sophomore, and I honestly do not know how to approach my teachers for my summer program recs...how can I politely ask them to put in a good word for me, without sounding rude or aggresive? I also don't know who to ask...i feel like I'm not their best student...but I am very hard working, have good work ethic and very self motivated etc. And since I'm a sophomore, I feel as though I am at a disadvantage--not getting to know my teachers well enough?</p>
<p>I would highly appreciate a response :)</p>
<p>I'm a junior, but I was in mostly the same situation a few months ago, because no one here ever applies to summer programs. </p>
<p>What I did was ask teachers who had me in more than one class (Like I had Anatomy and AP Bio with the same teacher, and soph and junior English with the same teacher) or asked teachers that I knew well. When I asked them, I had printouts of what the program was, and talked to them about the program for 3-5 minutes before asking them for a req. </p>
<p>It could be helpfull to have a list of your ECs availible if they want one.</p>
<p>So, basically, I told them about the program (and gave hard-copies), why I wanted to go to it, and could they write a req for me? </p>
<p>Give them the forms about 1.5-2 months in advance, if possible.</p>
<p>Good luck with your programs!</p>
<p>1.5-2 months? I want to send them this week!</p>
<p>who care do what u want. stop stressin</p>
<p>If you give your teachers a week to write reqs, they may either refuse or write a "form letter". Neither situation gives you what you need. </p>
<p>Planning ahead moves mountains ;)</p>
<p>And I agree with the stop stressing...</p>
<p>What's a form letter?</p>
<p>I applied to RSI just a couple weeks ago, and for that I just asked them if they would be willing to write a positive recommendation of me...(i asked two teachers i knew very well, club sponsors)...and they both said yes</p>
<p>Just go up and tell them what the summer program is, and what it means to you. Then ask them if they are willing to write a POSITIVE rec of you. </p>
<p>yea they took like 3 weeks for me (i asked before winter break)-they also had other recs to write</p>
<p>just walk up to the teacher and say " hi mr/mrs $^%$#^%, I am applying for a summer program this upcoming summer and I was wondering if you would be able to write a recommendation for me?"
teacher-"oh yes i would love to"
you-"thank you mr/mrs $^%$#^%, I really appreciate it. Thank you again.!"</p>
<p>simple as that
im not sure why people are so scared of asking teachers to help them out</p>
<p>" #8
zfox001
Member</p>
<p>Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Boise --->Brunswick
Posts: 921
just walk up to the teacher and say " hi mr/mrs $^%$#^%, I am applying for a summer program this upcoming summer and I was wondering if you would be able to write a recommendation for me?"
teacher-"oh yes i would love to"
you-"thank you mr/mrs $^%$#^%, I really appreciate it. Thank you again.!"</p>
<p>And you also should say, "The deadline for the program is xxxx. I will give you the form along with an addressed, stamped envelope tomorrow along with some info about the program and why I want to be in it. [This could be, for instance a copy of your complete application or your essay about why you want to be in the program].</p>
<p>A week before the app is due, follow up with the teacher to see if s/he has sent it yet.</p>
<p>After the teacher sends it, give the teacher a handwritten thank-you note.</p>
<p>If you are accepted, ASAP tell the teacher, and warmly thank the teacher again.</p>
<p>But the thing is that I want to apply early...so I won't get waitlisted for a class that I want to attend...or for financial aid.</p>
<p>Should I give all of the programs that I want to attend at one time..or just one? I had summer @ brown at mind. I don't remember ow much it costs but is the financial aid good? Or will I have to find a job to help compensate for some of it?</p>
<p>Your teachers probably will write just one recommendation: They won't have the time to tailor their recc to each program. This is the norm for how teachers handle reccs. Give them all of the reccs at one time, and give them stamped, addressed envelopes for each program. Tell them when you need the reccs to be submitted. Usually teachers need reccs at least a week in advance of the due date. It takes about an hour to write a good recc, so the earlier you give your teachers the info, the better.</p>
<p>If you don't do that, if the teachers are able to write a recc, it will likely be generic: " Student X is a student in my XXX class. S/he is getting a grade of X. S/he is pleasant and works hard. I recommend him/her to you for your program."</p>