I am a senior and I just found out my college requires a letter of rec and it is due January 1. I am freaking out. I feel like I waited too late plus I have not had a good connection with any of my teachers.
I do not participate in any of my classes at all. I never raise my hand I just sit there all day and just listen and do my work.
I am planning on asking my History teacher for one. I had her for APUSH in 11th grade and Honors Gov/Econ in 12th grade. I know that she likes me and knows who I am. I got an A in all of her classes. Still, I never participate in her class voluntarily. I have done 30 presentations in her class so she had heard my voice often. Her class is basically presentations all year long. She knows I’m a really shy guy, but I have actually always done well in the presentations.
I have never really had a regular conversation with her, but my school has this brochure that every student has to fill out and bring to a teacher they want a rec from. It tells you to list work experience, achievements,and ECs.
Should I just go for it? I hate being rejected because I still have to see her everyday since I have her all year long my senior year. What should I say? I want to say something that is short and will make it easy for her to pull out like “how willing are you to write me a letter of rec?”
Schedule a short appointment with her, bring a neat copy of your resume or a list of important academic and extracurricular information about yourself so she can learn more about you and politely ask her. College and adulthood for that matter, are going to require that you push yourself, and sometimes outside your comfort zone. Practice what you will say with your Mom or a friend, or even write it down and practice in front of a mirror. If you really want to go to college you need the recommendation. You can do this.
@vzext34 , I’ve written hundreds of letters over the years. And a decent number of them were for kids too shy to raise their hands, though they did their work.
Here’s the thing: I teach math. I don’t teach public speaking. If you’re paying attention, if you have your homework and study for the tests, if you’re in class more often than you’re out, then you’re participating.
I think you’re getting worried about something that you don’t have to sweat.
Tomorrow morning, before school if possible, go up to your teacher and ask if she’ll write your letter. Give her that copy of your resume. (Yes, she may already have one. But this will serve as a reminder of the request. I find that if it’s not in writing, I forget any and all requests 10 minutes into my next class.)
I PROMISE you, you won’t be rejected. Writing letters of recommendation is part of our job. And it’s particularly easy for those student who we like and who we’ve taught multiple times, and those who have A’s.
But this is a crazy busy time of year. It’s due BEFORE Christmas vacation, so you’ve got to get the request to her ASAP.
Okay, any tips on what exactly I should say? I want it short and simple so I don’t panic mid sentence due to my nerves. I think I am kind of hard to say no to and I don’t want her to write me a rec because she feels sorry for me…
@vzext34 - I think it’s best if you keep it simple. I said something along the lines of, “Hi ___, would you be comfortable writing me a college recommendation letter?”
She won’t say no, but your letter might not be as strong as one she would write for a student she had a connection with, but it is part of her job. As you get older, the same will apply to asking past employers for references. Its one of the disadvantages introverts have to deal with. Extroverts probably get better recommendations. .
My teacher did, but she actually loved that I was quiet, since the rest of the class acted obnoxiously.
In my school, we have to write a brag sheet, where we write our ECs. We also have another form where we write some characteristics about us. The recommenders use these two forms to help them write our letters. If your school does something like this, it’ll be helpful. I emailed my teacher, and she was fine with it, you could do this if your school allows it