<p>Hi, I was just wondering how to approach a teacher for a letter of recommendation and how to discern whether the teacher is confortable or not about writing the letter? The schools I applied to so far did not require any recommendation letter, but I will be applying to some private schools next year. ALso, How important is it to have a recommendation from your guidance counselor? WIll a letter from a teacher be more impressive than one from your GC in terms or does it not matter? </p>
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<li>Like, do you have to approach the teacher and ask her for a letter directly or should you explain your situation first, etc? and do letters from AP/IB teachers look better than from regular classes?</li>
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<p>ALso, in average, how long should a recommendation letter be and what should it include? My classmates' letter vary notably. For instance, math/science teachers tend to write about half a page with simple language while AP english teacher uses more sophisticated language and tends to write about a page, mainly describing in-class observations.</p>
<p>Last week I went to ask my AP physics teacher for a letter of recommendation and she said she was very busy at the moment with finals and everything and that she wasn't really experienced writing such letters. I was counting on her letter since I am the number 1 in the class and scored the highest grades ever on her test. I asked her for the letter during her office hours, when all the teachers were near by, and needless to say, the moment was very frustrating and disconcerting...</p>
<p>Just ask the teacher. It's not a hard concept. I'd ask the beginning of your senior year, when the teacher isn't real busy or anything. IT'S KIND OF STUPID TO ASK RIGHT NOW, AT THE END OF THE YEAR, BECAUSE THE TEACHER COULD BE BUSY, COULD BE IN THE MIDDLE OF GRADING THINGS, ETC..</p>
<p>You get a much better chance to get a positive reaction if you ask at the start of the new school year. At least I would think.</p>
<p>Give them a resume too. Both my recommenders said they appreciated that. Also, follow up with a nice card maybe small gift after the apps are in.</p>
<p>I asked my teachers if they could write a letter for me and about when I needed it. (Give them at least a couple weeks before you need it.)
Definitely give them a short resume. I suggest a one page bullet point style, it is simple and easy to read. </p>
<p>Try to ask teachers who have seen traits in you that the college is looking for. (usually hard work, growth in some area, and integrity) A card is a nice thing to give afterwords, too.</p>
<p>I asked my english teacher to write one in January this year. She was really enthusiastic, AND I also kind of gave her a little warning that she will be writing not one or two, but most likely 8- 12 recs. She said that she will keep that in mind. I think its most respectful to allow your teachers know what to expect, in stead of turning up with 15 rec forms that need to be filled out 3 weeks before the deadline.</p>
<p>I'm just shocked at the lack of social skills of most of the kids on this website. But again, seeing "Math Club", "Science Olympiad", "Chess Team" makes me remember who i'm speaking to most of the time.</p>
<p>S's HS GC recommended a very direct approach, i.e. "Would you be able to write me a strong recommendation?" If the teacher hesitates or hedges, FIND SOMEONE ELSE. Unless there is a good reason, the rec writer should be a recent teacher, not someone from freshman year. Make sure you supply a stamped, neatly (preferably typed) addressed envelope and rec form.</p>
<p>At S's school, the teachers know that their job descriptions include writing recs, so I don't know of anyone who has been turned down, but the level of enthusiasm may vary, depending on who the student asked. The teachers are also expected to send the rec out within two weeks of receiving the request.</p>
<p>For S, the beginning of the senior year was soon enough to begin the rec process. Follow up with a thank-you note. Once you've made your final college selection in May, let your rec writers know where you are going.</p>
<p>thank you very much amdgmom,
Actually I will be taking a gap semester and applying for the spring term, so can I ask for recommendations and keep them with me until I apply to colleges in october?</p>
<p>"I'm just shocked at the lack of social skills of most of the kids on this website. But again, seeing "Math Club", "Science Olympiad", "Chess Team" makes me remember who i'm speaking to most of the time."</p>
<p>This coming from the kid with 1000+ posts. Yeah, social skills did you say?</p>
<p>Well...
"Hey Bitc*h, write this letter for me since I sat through your class for a semester and wrote you that stupid 20 page term paper on Romeo & Juliet."
probably will not work.</p>
<p>Just ask nicely, most teachers will say yes, or they'll politely refuse by saying they don't have the time.</p>
<p>If a teacher tells you they're too busy, it's usually a polite way of saying they can't write a good letter for you. It should be fairly obvious which teachers admire your work. Good test scores are just part of the picture.</p>
<p>I have a question-- I know you're supposed to have two teachers from junior or senior year write your recommendations. I have one junior year teacher who I want for sure to write mine because he knows me really well, etc, but not really any other junior year teachers that would do a good job writing one. My sophomore English teacher, who I loved, knows me really well, etc, would write a great recommendation, but she's from sophomore year. Should I go for the sophomore English teacher or try to find another one?</p>
<p>admanrich, yeah it is ok to use sophomore teachers, especially if they can add special insight, ie they know you very well. </p>
<p>Also to the OP, mark19 (i think)<br>
Yes you can hold the letters for a little bit, but i recommend having your high school send them off with your transcript. It will look more professional. </p>
<p>All of the colleges I applied to only wanted letter of rec from Junior/Senior teachers. So that means that you might not even be able to use a letter from a sophomore or freshman teacher. </p>
<p>I wrote a letter of request asking my teachers for a reccomendation. I hand delivered it after school when they weren't busy and also gave them a copy of my resume. I think it is a good idea to wait until next year to ask for letters. Everyone is so busy at the end of the year. Besides you can ask during the first three weeks of schools and the teachers will still usually have over a month to write you a letter. All of my teachers only wanted like two weeks. </p>
<p>Beware of the resume letter though. This is when your teacher basically just copies your resume in their letter. It is a good idea not to use these letters as it looks as though the person writing it does not know you very well.</p>