<p>Questions:</p>
<p>(A) When is the best time to ask teachers for recommendations?
(B) When do colleges usually post recommendation forms online?
(C) Should I ask before the summer, so that teachers have plenty of time to complete them?
(D) What makes a stellar recommendation letter?</p>
<p>Also, are recommendations only limited to junior teachers? How many different people do you need a recommendation from? (including teachers, counselors, principals, etc)</p>
<p>Well, usually the counselors write a rec and 2-3tops teachers. Obviously not limited to junior teachers. Any teacher that knows you best, but maybe freshman wouldn't be a great idea. Ask teachers for recs AT LEAST 2 weeks before submitting apps, more time is much better though. I don't know if I'd ask before summer, they might forget or something. Ask beginning like sept/oct. not sure what makes it stellar and you can't really effect that much. not sure about online thing</p>
<p>Usually 2 teachers and your counselor.</p>
<p>I would reccomend asking as soon as possible Sr. year, since, at my school, some popular teachers will only write recs for the first 20 people or so that approach them. I would ask them ASAP and then get your resume to them a few weeks later.</p>
<p>It's probably not necessary to ask a teacher over the summer. As long as you give them a month's notice they should have plenty of time. But that's up to you.</p>
<p>Original recs, ones that make you stand out as a leader, are always the best. For instance, a teacher saying "John Doe does all his hw and turns it in on time" isn't bad, but it's not what top tier colleges are looking for. Instead, ask those teachers in whose classes you lead class discussions or do something else amazing. One of the teachers i'm going to ask (APUSH teacher) is always saying that I'm the "best essay writer he's seen in 35 years of teaching," and stuff like that. I figure if i can get that into writing I'll have an excellent rec. Also, make sure your sort of chummy with your rec-writing teachers/counselor. A more personal rec is good.</p>
<p>You could probably find college rec information on their websites about the same time school starts, although, of course, some will have apps and recs up before then. For most, the forms change very little each year, so they may not even take their apps down.</p>
<p>I'm no expert, so that's all the advice I can offer.</p>
<p>Also: Hooray! I'm now a regular member, as opposed to a Jr. Member.</p>
<p>My guidance counselor manages about 300 kids and has 80+ applications to write. It's kind of difficult to get "chummy" with a guidance counselor at such a large school. Can stellar teacher recommendations make up for a lukewarm counselor recommendation?</p>
<p>yeah most counselor recs are generic...that's not a problem. </p>
<p>you can choose your teachers, but you can't choose your guidence counselor! mine won't be stellar, either.</p>
<p>i think im one of the only 1 or 2 kids my guidance counselor knows by name...im not even kidding that's how bad he is</p>
<p>There are schools with 2000+ kids in one class and only one counselor. If you're going to get a generic counselor recommendation, add in a couple of excellent teacher recs as well. Ask the teachers that you know best and have excelled in his/her courses (though that's not necessary). I'd say give him/her at least three to four weeks to write it. They're pretty busy with a number of other recs for other students, so remember to factor in that time.</p>
<p>B) August or September
C) There will be no subject to write...you can ask right at the beginning of the start of your senior year if you want a head start.</p>