Recommendations: A How To Guide

Applying to College
1

<p>This is for all students who know they had to-die-for recommendations from teachers or who have had very successful relationships with teachers; how do you do it? What attributes do you have to exhibit in class in order to have a killer recommendation? How do you behave? How do you "compete" with other students for the teacher's attention? How do you get that teacher to feel a high comfort level with you? What do you have to do and say in oder to have a great recommendation from a teacher? Hopefully this can help those who will be asking for recommendations soon.</p>

<p>Thanks in advance!</p>

2

<p>I'm not sure how much you want my advice, since I didn't really focus on doing anything special to get a good recommendation- I didn't really think about it until I had to ask for them, actually, and then I just put some thought into figuring out which teachers from my junior year would probably be the most willing to write nice things about me.</p>

<p>But anyway, I just did my normal class thing: did my best work and tried to stay on good terms with all of my teachers, participated in class discussions, would occasionally crack a joke (but never, ever one that could have crossed the line), and was always polite and friendly when seeing them outside of class. I did keep an eye on which teachers seemed to want to talk to me outside of class (asking about what I was reading, planning for college- just anything), and they ended up being the ones that I asked for recs. Basically, I didn't focus on recommendations, I focused on being a good student and a pleasant person to be around, and the recs (as well as the grades) were simply a byproduct. I think it paid off quite nicely- my English teacher let me read her letter, and she said some of the nicest things anyone, not just teachers, has ever said about me.</p>

3

<p>You don't have to suck up to a teacher? Just be a good student. I don't think there is much need to write a how-to guide on how to be a good student. You do the assigned readings, participate in discussions, make valuable contributions, and the like. </p>

<p>What attributes? Well, I hope that you're at least nice! I mean, if you slaughtered a cat in school, that isn't a very positive attribute. You don't need a "killer" recommendation from a teacher. I think the people who get the best recommendations are the best students, usually the "class geniuses."</p>

<p>How do you behave?
- You raise your hand before you speak. That sorta thing. I mean, come on, are you for real? </p>

<p>How do you compete with other students for the teacher's attention?
- Honestly, what's with this supposed need to compete? Your teacher sees you 5 days a week. If you make an effort to learn, your teacher will know it.</p>

<p>How do you get that teacher to feel a high comfort level with you?
- If you're nice to your teacher and talk in class, there's no need to do anything special.</p>

<p>What do you have to do and say in order to have a great rec?
- Nothing special. Just ask nicely, provide stamps, and if you feel the need, try to set up an appointment. If you're naturally a good student, there's no need to stress!</p>

<p>So this is the How to guide:</p>

<p>Be a good student!</p>

<p>The people who go crazy over getting good rec letters are usually the bad students who worry because they're afraid that their teachers will tell the truth and so they suck up and actually do the classwork and contribute to class just to get the recommendation, and as soon as that's over they don't care and go back to bad students again.</p>

4

<p>bump!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!</p>

5

<p>Be genuine.</p>

6

<p>i think it really depends on your personality and how much you put into building a relationship with your teacher. there is no How-To. just communicate with teacher like castillo said: genuinely. then it's just how you make an impression on that teacher. if your teacher can see that you are putting in extra time to succeed at something i;m sure he or she would respect that and remember it for your recommendation. and give your teachers opportunities to know you. tell them little personal facts about you. i;m sure you don;t want to see this on your recommendations:</p>

<p>" his legal name is Charles Jonathan XXXXXX. and he gets As most of the time and sometimes Bs. but not many Cs but there was that one time where i gave out a Momentum quiz and he didn;t do so well, he got a C."</p>

<p>sincerely
his teacher</p>

<p>good luck</p>

7

<p>I read a recommendation last year that said "I have only known this student for two months and I do not have a sufficient basis to provide information." I wondered at the time why the student would have selected a teacher that they barely knew and who was clearly unenthusiastic about the candidate.
Choose wisely.</p>

8

<p>''I read a recommendation last year that said "I have only known this student for two months and I do not have a sufficient basis to provide information." I wondered at the time why the student would have selected a teacher that they barely knew and who was clearly unenthusiastic about the candidate.
Choose wisely".</p>

<p>The above can certainly happen especially if the student school is on a block schedule. There are some applications namely (summer programs) that require recommendation from a "current"math or science teacher. As such if you are on a block schedule and just completed biology, and now you are taking chemistry with a new teacher for two weeks, there in lies the issue. </p>

<p>This by no means should allow the teacher to write such a crappy rec. He or she could have collaborated with the prior biology teacher and write a comprehensive recommendation. It also helps if the student provides a resume/brag sheet to the teacher.</p>

9

<p>I guess that it is not about what you do in class. During your years in high school you are likely to have a much more close interaction with couple teachers. Either because the teacher teaches a class related to your futre major and you did something beyond the curriculum, e.g. participated in an academic competition in his area, or were engaged in some EC he leads. This is what gives you a stellar rec.</p>

10

<p>My D never was a grade graber. She said one of her teachers hate that. She did not get top grades, ie there are other students that are smarter. But her teachers like her enough they always bump her from B+ to A- or from A- to A. Counselor also likes her and I believe wrote her a very good letter of recommendation. I think in the parent's bragsheet, I mentioned "integrity" as one of her strong quality. Characters and manners also help, not just getting top grade in the class. In the end, colleges don't alsways admit brainy students, there are other factors that are important too.</p>

11

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<p>100% agreed. well said :)</p>

<p>i would emphasize 'participating in class'. if the teacher knows you are willing to apply yourself and exceed in developing your understanding then he or she will probably be more likely to write a letter for you.</p>