<p>I'm new to the transfer thing, and I don't know many others who are in the same boat as I am or have been in the same boat. Since applications are due in March, when would be a good time to ask your teachers for recommendations?</p>
<p>Better question, when would be a reasonable time to start working on essays?</p>
<p>Ask for recommendations NOW. Start on your essays/applications NOW. Etiquette for recommendations, IMHO, demands at least a month of time for your recommender. Likewise, good application essays take time to craft, edit, and revise, so give yourself the luxury of more time and don’t procrastinate. </p>
<p>Your applications should be ready at least a month in advance of their deadlines. That means each should be ready to sign, seal, and deliver (with the exception of perhaps recommendations, which should be in the works well before then if not already sent). I know it seems unreasonably anal, but you’ll thank yourself for planning ahead. Trust me. This allows you a week or two of rest from each application before a final proofing, which will be far more effective with some distance from it. Moreover, you’ll have those extra weeks to polish up your apps, though they shouldn’t need substantial reworking at that point. </p>
<p>Working down to the wire on applications/essays is hell on wheels and will likely result in an inferior product. CC is full of threads that ask frantically, “What happens if I submitted my application at 12:01?!” Or the ubiquitous, “How do adcoms feel about typos in applications?!” Don’t put yourself in either position. Send them ALL off no later than 24 hours in advance and ensure that they are proofed and that you’ve put your best foot forward.</p>
<p>When I transferred, I ended up finishing everything by February, which was at least two weeks before the earliest deadline and left me plenty of time to proof my applications and send them in with much time to spare.</p>
<p>seriously? ask now? why?
wouldn’t it be better to wait until the semester is almost over? Also, does asking midsemester show to the teacher that you’re only as active and dedicated as you are because you want a rec? wouldn’t that be disrespectful to the teacher if he values his current institution?</p>
<p>sorry for all the questions</p>
<p>Forgive me, I spoke too soon regarding rec timing. </p>
<p>If you’re asking a fall 2010 prof for a rec, I absolutely agree with antonioray: ask just before winter break so that your prof will have had the experience of teaching you for a full semester and be more familiar with your work. </p>
<p>If you’re asking an old prof from fall 2009 or spring 2010, ask now.</p>
<p>Agree with antonioray and waywardtrojan’s Take Two 
- end of first term is a good time to approach profs.</p>
<p>Also, if you haven’t… read the sticky threads at the top of this forum. They cover a ton of the basics - timeline, approaching profs re recs and virtually all aspects of the transfer process.</p>