<p>S, a junior, had his heart set on a certain teacher writing a letter next year. He's had this teacher for three years, and the guy is the sponsor of the club my son leads.</p>
<p>We've found out the guy is leaving the country after this year for his wife's job. Even though he won't technically be a teacher at the school my son's senior year, is it OK to have him write a letter anyway? Should we get him to write it before he leaves the country?</p>
<p>Great question. I'm curious about this too. My son's Comp teacher last year told us in conferences that my son was the top writer she'd ever had, and encouraged him to pursue writing in college. He's interested in creative writing (he'll be a college freshman next year), so we were disappointed when she left teaching over the summer. Luckily, his writing should stand on its own as he writes essays, etc., but still, we were disappointed not to be able to have her write recommendations for him.</p>
<p>Youdon'tsay, I'd have your S go ahead and ask his teacher if he'd be willing to write the letter this spring. Then it could stay in his file at guidance (that's how our school does it) until needed next fall, and copies can be mailed. If the teacher knows his contact info for next year, maybe he could include that in the letter. Your S will probably also need to get another letter from a teacher currently at the school, but it sounds like this letter will be valuable.</p>
<p>I remember reading some posts recommending asking for rec letters in the spring of junior year. I think some of the admissions gurus actually recommend this. Teachers can get swamped with requests in the fall. I'd just go ahead and have your S ask for it. After all, he's had the teacher for 3 years - that would make a terrific perspective that colleges should appreciate.</p>
<p>That's what I'll recommend. He's going to ask him to write one for his Eagle Scout board of review in the next month or so. We'll let him know that one is a warm-up for the real thing in the spring. My son even is interested in the college the teacher's son attends.</p>
<p>I'm so bummed for my son. This is definitely his favorite teacher, and we thought my younger son would get to have him, too.</p>
<p>We're bummed too about son's teacher. Wish we'd have known she was leaving. Good to know for my other kids; ask for recommendations early if needed.</p>
<p>Son's creative writing teacher this year told him his first essay was better than anything teacher could have written. :( My son is bummed since he really wanted to improve his writing skills. Doesn't say much for the teacher.</p>
<p>It is absolutely fine for that teacher to write a recommendation. The easiest way to handle it will be to ask the teacher to give several (10?) signed copies to the GC, who can then mail it with the rest of the school forms.</p>
<p>One of my daughter's recommendations was written by a teacher who had left the school. She e-mailed him, and he consented to write the rec. I didn't get the sense that it was that unusual.</p>
<p>S asked for rec's at the end of junior year, as we were moving. Absolutely no problem. Might have been easier for the teachers, as they didn't have many rec''s to do at that time of year.</p>
<p>Our GC office handled correspondence for a very popular teacher who retired, and who they knew would receive a lot of requests for rec letters. He obliged, but made his early deadlines very clear, as there would be some delay in relaying requests to him. This teacher wrote page of instructions to students who might want a rec letter with specific instructions on what he would need (addressed, stamped envelope, copy of student's brag sheet, etc.) in order to write the letter, and left it with the GCs. This seemed to work out just fine.</p>