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Why should additional letters cost money? All a teacher has to do is make a copy of the letter and fill in some simple info (how long have you known student? Check box re if you would recommend student for admission.). With any other questions, a teacher could just refer the admissions staff to the letter.
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I think some teachers believe that they need to tailor recs for each college. My son ran into this with a couple of teachers who would only write two or three recs. Of course, this resulted in more work for more teachers, because he ended up getting three different teachers to write his second recommendation.</p>
<p>delayed update!!!. Son said he spoke with teacher, (without any mention of what she conveyed to the class) and asked if she would write him a recommendation. She asked when he needed it for and he told her. She agreed and told him that some people ask her to write the recommendation today, but expected it yesterday. So I guess that may have been her reasoning for the blanket statement she made to the class without going into specifics to the class. This is a core subject for an AP class and she is the only teacher that teaches the class with few students, so she is in demand :-). As they say.. ALL IS WELL THAT ENDS WELL! Thank you all again for your fabulous responses. </p>
<p>Oh Chedva.. As I was sort of conveying to son, along your suggested approach. He stopped me in my track, and said "Are you second guessing the manners you instilled in me?. My final answer was "I rest my case". lol....gosh that was a proud moment!</p>
<p>I write recs for students who ask me, and for whom I can write strong letters, primarily because someone did it for me once, twice, three times and more, when I applied for college, grad school, fellowships, etc. It isn't contractually mandated, but I view it as part of my job.</p>
<p>Having said that, I've never been able to write one in 5 minutes. I'd say it takes at least an hour to write the letter, and then there is a certain amount of time involved in filling out the online material, checking those darned boxes (which I hate), and so on. Thank goodness for on line references though!!</p>
<p>I also read a lot of letters of reference. The best ones are those that are specific and concrete and include details of the student's performance. The least helpful letters are those that say, "Great student, hard worker, will do excellent work wherever admitted." For me, at least, at good letter of reference for a student is worth its weight in gold in terms of making admissions decisions. </p>
<p>I don't envy HS teachers during the fall admission seasons!</p>
<p>Thanks for the update! She sounds like she takes care about the letters that she does write. I also write letters for students. Yesterday one student texted me that she was accepted into one of her faves. I called her back to congratulate her, and she said she wanted me to be the first to know, because I wrote her rec letter. She thanked me SOOOO much for writing the letter. That's the best!</p>
<p>Many people have asked how they could thank rec teachers. I think the best way is to let them when/where you have been accepted. It is a lot of work and it is not normally part of job description, even though it probably should be. I think schools should give 11th grade teachers less work or extra pay for writing those rec letters.</p>
<p>I have helped out a few students on CC. It is nice when they thank me. I remember one in particular emailed me on mother's day to let me know he just got off the waitlist.</p>