<p>Just wondering if anyone else ever felt kind of bad about asking teachers for recs. Its like "yeah i know you have a million and one things to do right now but could you fill out a bunch of forms and write a bunch of letters for me." Not to mention all the other students needing recs. And you know theyre thinking "why im i waisting my time with this, he will never get into THIS college". Well just had that on my mind and wondered if anyone else ever felt the same way.</p>
<p>I do. I'm really dreading asking them in a few weeks when school starts. I was going to ask them in my junior year, but I was just dreading it so much I decided to wait. I'm kinda the quiet kid who knows what they are doing and is interested but doesn't ask questions, and I go to a HUGE high school, so none of my teachers are really close to me. I feel bad for making them do extra work too, they already have 200 kids to worry about and their family life at home. :/</p>
<p>Yeah, I agree. I could tell that my math teacher, although he liked me, didn't want to write a letter of rec for me. The other teachers I asked liked me too, and they said that they'd be happy to write a letter for me, but I wonder if they just interpret it as just another thing they have to do. I'm sure some teachers like the fact that they're helping their favorite students get into the college they want, and I don't think it would be as bad if they were writing a rec for a really good student they liked a lot. For the most part though, it's probably a bother. It might help to give the teachers a small gift (like go out and buy a cup of coffee) for them as a surprise and a way to say thank you. Another nice gesture would be to ask early and give them plenty of time to work on it. I don't think one letter of rec itself takes that long (it's just a page). I mean, if a teacher did the ratings in 5 minutes and spent maybe 15 minutes on each paragraph, it shouldn't take that long to finish it. But there are probably a lot of students asking the teachers (especially the really nice teachers that students want to take advantage of) so it might end up being a big time commitment. The teacher, though, will understand that students don't have much of a choice, though.</p>
<p>Yeah, I felt like I was somehow burdening my teachers when I asked them for recs, especially when I had to go back and ask for extras when it got lost or when I wanted one for a scholarship application. </p>
<p>However, my teachers seemed really good natured about it and really wanted to help. I'm sure your teachers wont be too different. And anyways, even if they are writing one for your reach school, that same letter will be used for your safety/match school b/c teachers usually only write one per student and send it off to different colleges.</p>
<p>Uh... No. I know my teachers pretty well, and most of them actually offered to write the letters. If you feel bad asking the teacher to write one for you, then perhaps you don't know them well enough. As long as you give them a reasonable amount of time and guidance, it shouldn't be a big deal at all.</p>
<p>How about making it easier on the teachers by putting together a neat organized package in a large manila envelope (so nothing is folded) for each teacher, and include;</p>
<p>A list of the colleges you want letters sent to, including some info about each school (perhaps the college's brochure) and reasons why you want to attend. </p>
<p>Include the date that the letter(s) must be postmarked by.</p>
<p>A stamped business size envelope properly and neatly addressed to each college admissions office with your high school's address as the return address. Splurge a bit, buy quality envelopes with the self stick adhesive strip, -it's nice to not have to lick the envelope.</p>
<p>Some blank sheets of nice printer paper.</p>
<p>Write a short letter to the teacher reminding him/her who you are, what class/es of theirs you had, what your final grade was and recall some experience from in class (or out) that has stayed with you and made you a better person or will help you in your college years. Explain why you are asking them in particular for the rec. This will be a great prompt for them to write about you, rather than rehash what is already in your transcript. Be sure to include your properly spelled (as it will appear on your college apps.) name and contact info, phone and e-mail, in case they have follow-up questions.</p>
<p>Include a handwritten thank-you note. </p>
<p>Most colleges acknowledge the receipt of letters of rec. on your active application account. When that happens send a second thank-you note to your teacher, and of course let them know the admit decision.</p>
<p>Poisonous, if I feel bad asking a teacher, it doesn't mean that I don't know them well enough. For example, I asked my math teacher who has known me for four years and who was also my chess club advisor. We knew each other quite well. It's just that some teachers don't have enough time on their hands to easily include several recommendation letters. My math teacher had to help out students after school, coordinate chess events and schedule chess practices, and meet his wife and his daughter for dinner, and grade tons of homework and tests. So I felt kind of bad about asking him because of that, not really because I didn't know him well enough or anything, even though I did give him a few months.</p>
<p>yess</p>
<p>esp b/c i was supposed to ask them junior year and now im going to send them a letter asking for recs... in the middle of summer. Id wait till the end of summer but... it woudl be rather late</p>
<p>I felt bad/weird about asking my teachers for recs, which is probably why I waited until the last minute to ask them :/. (Not a good idea...)</p>
<p>A few of my teachers have offered to write my recommendations, so I haven't felt bad, since they were the ones that instigated it.</p>
<p>Here's a question if anybody knows - I've had my Latin teacher throughout highschool, but he's not coming back to teach this year [my senior year] and is instead going back to grad school. He offered to write me a recommendation and I'd really like that. Is it ok to get a rec from a teacher that's no longer at your school?</p>
<p>Yeah, I feel a little bad about burdening my teachers with extra work, but I think there's a way to go about it to put as little stress as possible on them. First, ask as early as possible - the end of junior year, if you can. When you ask, give the teacher an out - you don't want them to write you a rec while feeling upset about having to do it. Say something like, "I was wondering, if you have the time, would feel comfortable writing me a letter of recommendation?" That way they don't feel totally obligated to say yes. I also second the suggestion of getting the teacher a gift afterwards to say thanks.</p>
<p>INVENIAMVIAM, yes. It just has to be an academic teacher who has taught you before.</p>
<p>Okay thanks dchow :]</p>
<p>Yeah, its not that i dont think my teachers will write them for me, i know they will and will do their best, its just that they have a lot of other things going on.</p>
<p>"And anyways, even if they are writing one for your reach school, that same letter will be used for your safety/match school b/c teachers usually only write one per student and send it off to different colleges."</p>
<p>So the y fill out the little rec forms for each different school, but send the same letter? Ok, that makes me feel a little better. I guess the forms dont take too long.</p>
<p>And thank you 4trees for the tips.</p>
<p>^ </p>
<p>"So the y fill out the little rec forms for each different school, but send the same letter? Ok, that makes me feel a little better. I guess the forms dont take too long."</p>
<p>That's exactly right.</p>