<p>My teacher is pretty popular with the senior class, and I am worried that she'll be bombarded with recommendation requests if I wait until October...so should I ask now? I'm worried that it's just too early because I haven't even finished my common app yet, so the "Evaluation" part isn't activated, and I have no idea how they're giving me the letters. Also, how should I approach them? It's the first week of school and I haven't spoken to them in a while.</p>
<p>The best time may have been at the end of last year–after the seniors graduated, but before she got busy with finals for underclassmen.</p>
<p>Since that ship has sailed, the best time to ask her is ASAP. Before classes start, if you can. Do you have an email address for her?</p>
<p>^^ If you don’t have your teacher’s email address, and do not currently have the teacher your senior year, I would write your teacher a letter and put it in their school mailbox the first day of class. Check back with the teacher on the afternoon of the first day of class for their response.</p>
<p>Do it ASAP. I say the best way to do it is to ask in person. Email seems too impersonal to me. Go up to them after class or maybe after school, ask them how their summer went, how their new classes are going so far. And ask them for the letter. If you can’t ask them in person, then try sending them a letter, then an email if all else fails.</p>
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<p>I’m a teacher. Recommendation-writing is part of school business. I would actually appreciate it if the student came politely, but fairly directly, to the point.</p>
<p>Insult the teacher’s teaching methods and clothing, then ask for a recommendation. Works every time…</p>
<p>Ask as soon as possible. And do it in person. Ask if they can write you a “strong” letter of recommendation. If they say they can’t or use some excuse, move on. You should give them at least a month before they’re due, preferably more. What I did was ask them if they would be comfortable with writing me a strong letter of recommendation, at the end of my junior year. That put the thought in their heads so it made it easier come fall, when I actually sent them the link. The CommonApp sends them a link and I think it has to be filled out via that link.</p>