<p>Some tips on letters of recommendation.</p>
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<li><p>Think of teachers who knew you well and who can also write well. This can be challenging when you are asking a math teacher because you might not know how well he or she writes. Ask you school counselor in advance if the teachers are good choices. School counselors usually know which teachers write good letters and respond quickly. </p></li>
<li><p>Ask the teacher IN ADVANCE. You may think this is obvious, but having worked as a consultant in schools, I can’t tell you how often I heard about a kid who was asking for a recommendation a day or two before it was due. Ask if they would mind, would they feel comfortable, etc. DD asked her teachers at the end of junior year if they would mind writing a letter for her. Both teachers wrote their letters during the summer when they had more time. </p></li>
<li><p>Follow up with a letter that tells the teacher some of your hopes and dreams, what you want to get out of college, etc. Make it easy for them to want to write a good letter. </p></li>
<li><p>Thank the teacher in writing.</p></li>
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