Hi,
I am currently a junior, and I’m a bit unsure about how to go about asking my teachers for recommendations. When (what time of the year) do students usually go and ask teachers for LORs? Is there anything in specific that you gave your teachers, without them asking, to assist them in writing your recommendation?
Just as a side note, I will be applying ED to a university, which has an app deadline of November 1st.
Thank you!
I just went through recommendations last year.
Usually, students ask for recommendations in September of their SENIOR year. Don’t do that. For me, I had already needed recommendations for an internship, so I got two in February of JUNIOR year. Then in June, I asked my counselor for a recommendation, to which she responded with, “Wow, I’ve never had someone ask me so early! Good!”
If your app deadline is Nov 1st, definitely ask for as many as you need in June, NOT September/October when they will be swarmed with requests. Since I got two so early, they just had to revise when I asked them for finalized versions for colleges.
Ask as early as possible. Ask in person. E-mail a thank you afterwards. Good luck!
Piggy back on the OP – Do the students give anything to the teachers they are asking? I think i read somewhere that they should provide an official letter of request and also a transcript and/or resume type folder ??? My DD was planning on simply asking some teachers who know her well, but we want to make sure that we are going about this the correct way.
I would ask the teachers at the end of your Jr year, NOT at the beginning of your SR year, and in addition supply them with a crib sheet that tells about you, so if they dont get to it until Summer they have something to refer to. We gave Starbucks gift cards as thank you gifts.
–Agree that you should ask the end of this school year – my kids asked around Memorial Day I think.
–Ask teachers if they can write you a “positive recommendation”. If they agree, ask if there is anything you can provide (resume, list of activities etc.) to help them write it.
–You should also mention upfront that you plan to apply ED and will have a Nov. 1 deadline.