I’m very fortunate in that I only have to write 18 letters of recommendation this year-- I only have 1 class of juniors. (The rest are all Senior classes.)
I’m so happy to announce that I have 4 done as of right now! They’re due by the time school ends in June. At this rate, I’ll have them in well ahead of time.
But I’ve got to stop for today, or they’ll start to sound too much alike. Maybe I can crank a few more out tomorrow while I’m still on vacation.
Maybe do the students you like least first, and get them out of the way.
Thank you for showing us the “other” side of the application process… The Teachers. Your doing this on your vacation… Dedication is all I can say.
Something tells me your students are very lucky to have you. ??.
Actually, I like to do them in alphabetical order. That way I’m not doing the same type of letter, one after another.
And I have to mention: I originally saved today’s letters as Word documents, forgetting that they need to be PDFs. Needless to say, in re-saving them, I accidentally completely deleted one!
Thank goodness I printed up a copy before doing so. Otherwise it would have been a 19th letter. I just had to re-type.
I’d be over the moon if, when DD’s time comes, her teachers have her LORs done so far in advance. There are parts to the process over which the kids have no control, so knowing that even one of those parts is going to go smoothly is a relief.
I finished them all during the week and submitted them the other day. All done until Aug 1, when I have to log into their Common Apps and fill out the survey there.
@bjkmom Thank you for the rare opportunity to get a peek inside the part of this process where I, at least, am completely shut out of. If I may pry a bit, what are your pet peeves (annoyances or things which get in the way of writing a letter you think is accurate)? That is, are there things students should do to make this easier for you, I guess I am asking?
From my professional exposure to this market, I know that teacher letters are very important (at least at the schools where I get to look behind the curtain). So ensuring the teachers’ jobs are made as easiest as possible on this seems like a good idea. TIA
Thanks to teachers like you, kids have a better shot at getting in. Great job!
Good question.
Our kids fill out a survey that goes to the teachers writing their letters. The hardest letters to write are those for the kids who don’t take that assignment seriously, who answer the questions in 2 or 3 words. The easiest are the ones who give me anecdotes… And the kids who are regulars at extra help-- that one on one time give me the chance to really get to know them better.
The letter I worked hardest on this year was for one of the boys who really does NOT like math. But he has been at extra help all year, determined to do well in my class. He’s a B average kid, and is not going to major in anything STEM related. But he worked and worked and worked, and earned my respect. That was the letter I saved for last, as a treat to myself… and I said so in the letter.
@bjkmom What would be the best time to ask the teacher for a letter of recommendation? Thank you
Before school lets out at the end of Junior year, if that hasn’t happened yet.
In my school, the kids ask in March of Junior year, and letters are due in College Placement before school ends this Wednesday.
My daughter’s last day of junior year was Thursday and we never heard anything. Or she didn’t mention it.
Our school has a Process with a capital P to request letters officially, and students can’t start that Process until senior year starts. Kids in the know (those with older siblings, mostly) do ask the teachers informally at the end of junior year, so some teachers start them over the summer while some wait for the Official Request.
Our teachers do also get release time based on the number of letter they are asked to do, so that should make it a bit easier on them, I hope.
@bjkmom Thank you. Very helpful info. I suspect this will inform many students and hopefully some of your fellow teachers out there will owe you one.
@bjkmom do you ever have to say no to anyone who followed all the right procedures?
Well done! I also have completed 4 so far this summer. This is extremely early for me as our letters are not due to the counseling department until end of September and I usually have requests still trickling in until mid September.
Have you ever felt overloaded with too many LoR requests? If so, did you have to ration them (and how)?
@ProfessorPlum168 this year, for the first time, I opted out of a letter. One of my students had an awful first marking period, but really turned things around after Christmas. I told her I would be happy to write her letter, as I could concentrate on her upward trend. But then she ended up falling back into old habits. On last week’s final (which counts heavily in her grade and could have conceivably pulled her up) she left most of the 10 point questions blank and failed horribly. I went to guidance and said that the only letter I could truthfully write would NOT help her get into a college. Even her attendance was outrageously poor. (And, yes, guidance has been on top of things-- serious issues at home.) So one of the guidance counselors said she would take over.
Beyond that, though, no, I don’t refuse kids. Writing these letters is part of my job.
@ucbalumnus College Placement tries hard not to overload anyone. The kids request 3 letters, but only need 2, sp CP rations them so that the heaviest hit teachers aren’t overwhelmed. That said, if you teach STEM, and particularly Juniors, you’re going to get a lot. Those teachers who have 30 or more (and, yes, that’s been me plenty of times) have the whole summer.
Personally, I can’t do more than 2 at a single sitting or they’re going to start sounding too similar. So some years, that’s how I start my summer mornings, doing 2 letters a day.
We send letters to the whole junior cohort the beginning of the spring term. We talk to the teachers and they collaborate on a brag sheet. Each teacher also states their requirements: samples of student work, one one one interview, the number of letters they are writing. I request students email teachers for a request for a recommendation letter and cc me.
For counselor recommendations there are junior conferences, students fill out brag sheet (a different one from the teacher). There is a follow up interview seeking clarification for anything written on the brag sheet. This way the counselor can write all of the letters a student needs; recommendation, third part letters for waivers, McKinney Vento letters for unaccompanied minors (this letter will be updated on September depending on housing situation). Counselors will start next week for students whose grades are finalized