I got a sheet from my counselor saying all the things I have done through out high school. Now how do I approach people I want to get a rec from? Do I say “Can you write a recommendation for me?” Like that, or is there a different way?
Thanks
<p>Each college asks for a certain number of recommendations. Some colleges want the rec sent with package, or seperately. You need to know that.</p>
<p>Many do a "To Whom It May Concern" letter, or to Director of Admissions title</p>
<p>You ask someone who is relavent- a teacher, a sports coach, a boss (all depends on application) and ask if they would be willing to write a letter of recomendation for college. You want it to be someone who knows you well enough to put you in a great light and make you special in the eyes of the admissions people.</p>
<p>You don't need the writer to write a different letter to each college- many will do a generic To Whom it May Concern one, while others don't mind making each one specific to the college. It doesn't really matter either way, colleges expect both. </p>
<p>Sometimes, it helps the person recommending you if you have some information as reminders of what you have done.</p>
<p>What is this for at this time of year, exactly. If its for early admission in the fall, maybe that recommendation can be a more specific letter.</p>
<p>this is what i did...
get all the stuff you need (all the teacher rec forms, envelopes, stamps for each letter, and a resume), put it all in a folder and then stop by the teacher's room and ask when would be a good time to stop in and talk about a possible recommendation...if the teacher is open to it and everything and willing right away you can just hand them the folder...</p>
<p>2 suggestions.</p>
<p>First, and far more importantly, be sure to ask each recommender if they can write a STRONG recommendation. Ethically, and most teachers are, they well either answer yes or suggest that you ask someone else. It is crucial that you do this. If you don't then you've asked the person to write their honest opinion and that's just what they can do, good or bad. Some kids make the mistake of assuming "I've had Mr. B twice and I got an A each time, he'll write me a good rec". They may have got an A based on the tests, but it doesn't mean Mr. B thinks highly of them. I know someone who was on a scholarship committee and some of the "recs" completely slammed the kid.</p>
<p>Second, ask each person once. So figure out ahead of time all the places you're going to need to send recs and then ask the recommenders. You aren't the only one needing recs, and teachers find it irritating when a student asks for 3 recs, an few weeks later wants 2 more, and then at the last minute needs another one.</p>
<p>Yeah, you just ask a teacher you know, who likes you, if they'd be willing to write a recommendation letter for you. My teachers and principal all showed them to me just to see if there was anything to add or change, but I guess most teachers don't do that. It's good to have a list of your activities, grades, honors...anything you'd want included on the recommendation, other than "Student is a wonderful, delightful person who any college would be lucky to get." </p>
<p>A friend of mine, who is fairly intelligent but has a slight learning disability and didn't do wonderfully in school-about average, but had good extracurriculars and was just a really fun guy, asked his soccer coach to write his. She is also an English teacher at our high school. My friend was co-captain of the soccer team and did a good job, the players liked and respected him, he never missed a practice...the team was horrible and didn't win a single game though. This teacher writes "Although X often had trouble in school, he is a very polite student. He was a member of the soccer team, and he was very helpful with taking down the goals at the end of games." Like, well, the kid's stupid, but he can take stuff apart ok. Luckily, he had the chance to read it, showed it to another teacher, and she wrote a better recommendation and gave it to him the next day. So, I would agree that it's best to make sure as much as possible that the teacher really will say good things.</p>
<p>Teachers have hundreds of students, so give them some information so that they can refresh their memories about what you've accomplished. I gave all my teachers a copy of my resume, with all my EC's, awards etc. I think if the teacher is able to tell more about you than "X is an hard working student who got an A in my class" - if they were able to mention what you do outside of class, the recommendation would seem more personal, like the teacher knows you well and thinks you are a well-rounded, solid applicant.</p>
<p>The only teachers you should ask for recommendations are teachers who you would be comfortable having a beer/coffee/tea/soda with.</p>