Hello! I will be applying for multiple colleges this upcoming July, August and September. Do you think it is too early for me to ask my teachers/ counselor for letters of recommendation? Would it be wrong for me to ask them to write them, seal them formally, and mail them myself when my application window opens? I know my teachers/ counselor are very busy with letters of rec in my large school, so I figured this would give them a larger window to get around to it. I’d just have to ask them to give them to me, rather then mailing them right away. Thank you!
A lot depends on the colleges and the high school. If a teacher or counselor did that at our large school it would have been against school policy. All letters are submitted and sent via Naviance unless there is a very special circumstance that you get in writing. I will say for some special scholarships, programs and Honors colleges that didn’t need the GC, son’s AP Bio teacher did write a letter, sealed it and let us send it. (One program in particular wanted everything transmitted in one envelope - a little old school but the best program he is now in!)
Yes, it’s too early. The school year just started and your junior teachers don’t even know you yet. You can begin asking in the late winter.
So you are a junior? Too early. And as stated above, you don’t handle them yourself anyway. Ask in the spring (late March or so). In case you don’t know, typically they write one letter that is used at all your schools. So they don’t mention specific colleges. Also, colleges typically want letters from core academic subject teachers. Check the website of each college you are applying to for specific info on what they want.
If you are a junior it is too early. Teachers don’t know you well yet and they are likely still writing letters.for seniors. Generally late in your junior year (a month or two before the end of the school year) is a good time to.ask.
Thanks! So, if I’m applying in July/August, do i just ask for my teachers to hold their letters and send them out then?
Your guidance/college counselor will take care of uploading the letters and sending them to the schools. Ask teachers in the spring of junior year. You should get information from the school in the fall/winter about the college process and how they want things done.
Which colleges are you applying so early? If you are using the common app, it won’t be out until Aug, and most colleges early decision aren’t until Nov. Are you applying to the rolling admission schools?
This seems to be a trend that students want to get their apps submitted in July/August. Yout HS GC isn’t likely to send your transcripts then – most don’t send them until late Sept/Oct unless there is a specific deadline. Ask your teachers in the spring, and let them know you have some rolling admissions schools where you would like to get your apps in early in the fall. Remind them politely a week before school lets out. Then let it be until September. You can still send your pieces earlier if the application is open and you want to.
Most Juniors identify 2 - 3 teachers and ask them at the end of Junior year. When you go back for senior year in the fall, you can give them updated information. If you are applying to MIT, you need at least one math or science teacher.
Honestly, your teachers are swamped writing letters for the current seniors. Please cut them some slack and wait till the spring.
Another important point…something could certainly happen this year that they would want to include in that letter!
Does your school setup a meeting for students in your grade to discuss the college app process? If you don’t know, ask your GC. They will tell you the appropriate time to ask your teachers for a recommendation. Your teachers are probably busy with Seniors right now. Every school is different, but you will probably never see your recommendations. They are uploaded and sent to colleges along with your transcript.
You will be STRONGLY advised to sign the waiver that says you will never see your letters.
If I write a letter you won’t see, I can be totally honest without concern from any helicopter parents. If I know you’re going to read the letter, it might temper what I write. Colleges know that. Letters without the waiver are absolutely useless.
Again, your school has procedures in place. But right now, thery’re working with the seniors.
You’ll probably be given a “brag sheet” of some sort on the spring to fill out to help your teachers write the letter. Your teachers will know the procedure…we do this every single year. In my school, it means submitting one hard copy, and uploading an electronic one onto naviance. But that’s their concern, not yours.
Your school will send out your letters as part of a packet, so all the materials arrive together and nothing gets separated.
If you want to get ahead, start researching schools and scholarships.