How to ask for recommendations?

They should make copies of the forms and print x number of copies of letters from their computer. You’re not supposed to see the completed forms.

If two teachers know you at about the same level, but one just started teaching after like 8 years of not teaching, which should you ask? One is AP Physics and the other is AP Chemistry. I don’t plan on doing anything in the Physics realm and am planning to major in biochem, bio, or bioE. (AP Bio teacher is from soph, and most colleges i’m applying to require junior/senior teachers)

Ask whoever would write the better recommendation. Common sense.

I will be getting a supplemental rec from an instructor who I got along with well at a college summer program. She emailed me asking for my activities resume, comments, etc. I really want the rec to be more personal so is there a way that I can ask her to make it less about what I’ve done in high school? Also, do applicants with supplemental recs generally get to see them?

Why don’t you just ask her if she could emphasize you in the summer program? Applicants shouldn’t see any of the recs.

Can’t leave CC eh?? Electrovalently bonded??

hey say i am trying to apply to NYU, do the recommendations have to be from a teacher and high school counselor? Can’t i have any outside recommendations

MODERATOR NOTE to “question on reccomendations” thread:

I’ll merge this thread with: asking for recommendations sticky thread.

How does this process work? Once he/she gives me a rec how do i send it to the colleges?

When should i ask my teacher if i am applying at the end of November ?

Could i ask he/she on the 1st or 2nd week of September? They wont hand it in early will they?

Confused

Tho a bit irrelevant, colleges don’t start reading applications before a stipulated time do they?? So, sending early has no such great advantage? I can’t help it, but posting my teachers recs and everything can’t be done before 1st week of November. I am intl. So, I guess it will reach them by December(I really dunno how much time it takes) Will that be alright??

The teacher should put the rec letter in a sealed, signed envelope or something and send it directly to the college, it should not come through you since the idea is that you should not see what your teacher wrote. Sometimes the HS will get everything together from each student (transcript, school report, teacher recs) and send it all officially from the HS. Talk to your GC about your school’s procedures.

Should one hand in?

How many are you handing in?

Is there a limit? Could i hand in outside recs (meaning not from teachers ) and will they carry any weight?

Not sure if they carry weight but I sent in my two required teacher recs and the one required rec from my GC. For my top schools, I also sent a letter from my coach (who is a teacher but at a different school) from an academic related team. For my top two schools I ALSO sent a rec from a prof. i had at a program at Caltech along with my reviews from the program. There is no limit but I’m sure they get tired of reading them. Don’t send extra letters unless they present a completely different point of view on you as an applicant that can’t come across in your regular recs.

robertdwsmith: It doesn’t matter when you ask. Just make sure the rec gets sent in on time. If they’re going to write recommendations for you, what do you think you should do if you don’t want them to hand them in early? It’s not that confusing.

adrivit: Turn them in on time. No exceptions.

If I ask a teacher to write a rec, s/he has to mail it in to the colleges himself/herself, right? So I have to provide a postage stamp and due dates, right?

Also, does s/he send it in to every college, or just to the common app, or whatever?

Also, how many teacher recs do I need? My counselor is obviously already writing one…

You could mail it yourself, if your teacher trusts you, but your teacher should do it.
The letters get mailed to the colleges’ office of admissions. The addresses can be found on the colleges’ websites.
Two.

so if I’m applying to 14 schools, then i should provide 14 envelopes and stamps, etc?

MODERATOR NOTE to “Teacher Recommendation” thread:

I’ll merge this thread with: asking for recommendations sticky thread.

MODERATOR NOTE to “stupid questions about recommendations?!” thread:

I’ll merge this thread with: asking for recommendations sticky thread.