dsultemeier

I think the only risk in waiting is that other juniors at your school may be asking the teachers now and then the teachers may get "filled up." Maybe you could ask around and try to get a feel for whether your fellow students are asking teachers now or not.

You can also ask the teachers in a way that lets them say no gracefully if they don't think they know you well enough to be able to write a good letter for you. For example, you could start by saying "I know you are really busy but can you write a recommendation for me?"

I hope it works out well for you.

nvilla

thanks dsultemeier, thats good advice.
i think i'm going to just ask the junior year teachers that i feel most comfortable with. you're right, i wouldn't want to take the risk that they wouldnt be able to write on for me in the fall if i waited.

this is one of the main parts of my application i'm not looking forward to!

dsultemeier

I hope it works out well for you. My D was nervous about asking her teachers a few days ago but they said yes and she was very relieved.

nvilla

One down, one to go
My English teacher was very nice about it, said he had been hoping I would ask him. He also said he's only writing 5 total this year, so i am so glad i got to him early (i was number 3)!

Redwood

i have a question...how are u guys asking them for rec's when u dont even have the rec forms?

nvilla

i just went to my teacher and asked him if he would write my letter for next year. he won't start writing it probably until the fall, but its just polite and a good idea to give your teachers time to think about what they will say. i plan on giving them the actual forms in the fall.

RMspeed

Hello everyone,

First post here at CC but a long time lurker.

I have a few questions about recs. I am honestly clueless about the teacher recommendation process, and I've tried to gather as much as I can by reading this thread without any specifics. If it's possible, can someone outline a step-by-step process of the recommendation cycle? I have 2-3 teachers in mind that I would like to approach before the school year is over (marketing teacher, tennis coach, possibly a math teacher I have had for three years), and am very comfortable in asking them. The problem is, I have no idea how or what to approach them with (envelopes? resumes? do I just ask them and they know what to do?).

I'm sure this won't be my last of questions about the recommendation process, but any help is greatly appreciated.

No Quarter

Most privates require 2 teacher apps. However, I don't really know/interact with my math or science teachers that much. Any tips in getting them to write me a letter?

dchow08

Just go up to them and ask if they'd be willing to write you a strong letter of recommendation for the colleges you're going to apply to. They should know you well enough that it doesn't have to be awkward-sounding. Most likely they'll be happy to write one for you. You should have a list of the colleges to which you're applying and the due dates, and a stamped and addressed envelope for each of the colleges. Prepare a list of activities that you do, and a short explanation of each of the activities, and a short list of awards, that you think would help your teacher understand your high school life better. And it would be nice if they were all in a folder with your name on it. Also, be willing to stay during lunch or something to talk to them, because they might want to ask questions about anything special you want to get across in the recommendation, or they might ask about why you're applying to these colleges. And give them plenty of time.

Silverzc413

For our class our office have rec forms that have some questions/formats that may help the teacher to write your letter.

But I still don't understand if teachers know how to follow the common app's format, and alot of schools like NYU and Umich have their own format. Do I need to give them that too? Some aren't even released yet.

Slowpoke

I got my English teacher to write one because she knows me better than my other teachers through my writing. Im considering getting my Physics teacher to write me one. He knows I dont fool around in class and I work diliglently even though my grade doesnt reflect it (B)

dsultemeier

nvilla: Congrats! I'm glad it worked out for you.

RMspeed: I would ask the teachers and if they say yes then ask them if they want forms and information now or would prefer to wait until fall. Hopefully they have done recommendations before and know what to do. Depending on the colleges you apply to the coach and marketing teacher may not work. Some colleges require specific teachers such as math/science or humanities. But you can check the websites of the colleges you are interested to see. Some colleges are vague about the requirements and some are very specific.

Silverzc413: We just noticed that my D's school counseling office has a pretty long form to fill out to give to the teachers. What I have gathered from the college advice books is that you should prepare a cover letter for each teacher listing the colleges you are applying to and the forms needed for each school and the deadlines. Then for each college you can give the teacher a copy of the form that is needed. You can just make a note on the cover letter as to when the form will be released. If the teacher really does get started over the summer they can work on a general letter or write-up they can use for all the schools.

Good luck everybody!

tstarr31113

so, I have a couple teachers in mind and want to ask them now, before they're inundated with requests. Here's what I think...can anyone affirm it's a good plan?

1. get a form (what form????) and ask them if they would be comfortable with filling it out? I think that my school has some policies about recs (ask my gc, huh?)

2. give my "resume" (with a list of activities,and the colleges I wish to apply to...?) the classes I've taken with that teacher, and one or two examples of my best work in that class.

3. Should I keep them over the summer? Can I read them?? I really don't know, but I guess a pre-addressed/stamped envelope is out of the question given the fact I don't know OoA's addresses yet.

Suggestions for myself and others likewise confused? :]

dsultemeier

I would suggest asking them first (verbally, in person) and then if they say yes you can ask if they would like the forms now to work on over the summer. They may want to wait until fall and take break over the summer. But at least they are committed to you.

For the forms you have to check on each college's website or on the Common Application website to see what forms they use. Not all of them are available right now.

You can check on your school's website under the counseling department to see if they have a form they want you to use. That is where we found one for my D's school.

Also, before asking teachers you might check on the website of the colleges you are applying to and see if they stipulate which teachers you need to ask. Some require one from a math or science teacher and one from a humanities teacher.

Good luck!

Student615

Somewhat like dsultemeier, I'd recommend giving them a 'heads up' now, but waiting to take action until fall. You can offer to give them a resume or something over the summer in case they think they'll want to begin early, but otherwise, there's no reason to rush (and IMO, numerous reasons to wait). Wait until you have each schools' specific rec form, some/most of which may not be available yet. Even if you have the forms, there are still a lot of months for the rec to get lost or forgotten about. Plus, it's still likely that your list of schools will change. And who knows, you might even wind up with a senior year teacher with whom you really click, and want him/her to write you a rec.

Asking early next fall will be plenty of notice, particularly if you've already asked your teachers if it would be alright for you to contact them for recs. When the time comes, you can do it right, with stamped + addressed envelopes, the correct paperwork, etc.