For most of my apps I need one LOR. I will probably submit more if able. The two teachers that know me the best are AP teachers and also extremely popular in the school. I worry that these teachers are going to have a million requests and might get overloaded. I have heard stories about some teachers “cut and pasting” LOR’s. I have another honors teacher in mind but don’t have as a close relationship. I am not 100 percent sure if he’d write something amazing. Is it okay to sit down with them and ask?
I will probably get hammered on here for asking this. I’ve never done this before so I genuinely don’t know how to approach it.
Guidance counselors see the letters from all the different teachers, so they know which ones write the best LORs. Email your GC with a brief note listing which colleges you’re applying to, and listing the teachers you’re thinking of asking for LORs. Ask the GC to help you choose which teachers to ask and then read between the lines. A good GC will steer you towards the teachers that write the best letters and are on time.
If you do this during the summer (some GCs are year 'round employees so still receive and respond to emails during the summer) you can then go ahead and send email requests to the teachers you decide to ask. Even if the teachers don’t receive your email request until the start of the school year, you’ll be near the front of the line if you request early.
BTW, you mention submitting more than one letter. Be careful with this. Only submit what each college asks for. If a college asks for one - send one. If a college asks for two in specific subjects or from specific grades - follow their instructions.
I suggest you start asking soon. You want a teacher that knows you pretty well. You can certainly provide information about what was memorable about his/her class, etc. At our local school, some teachers only agree to write a certain number of LORs. One teacher (who has a great reputation and wrote my D17’s LOR )was declining by May of junior year.
Ask the teachers who know you best.
Thanks! I’ll reach out to the GC. I didn’t even think about asking the GC but I know she’s very familiar with the teachers I have in mind. And I’ll ask the teacher (s) this week too once I decide. They are probably already swamped.