My senior year just started and I already know which teachers I want to ask for letters of recommendation, but here’s the problem:
My PSAT score junior year was a 1480, so I think I qualify to be a National Merit Semifinalist, but those results don’t come out until mid-September.
I’m applying early action to a bunch of schools so I want to give my teachers time to write my letters.
These teachers will probably also write letters for a bunch of other students.
My resume is already pretty impressive and my grades are already really good, but I don’t know how much National Merit Semifinalist would help me.
FYI: A bunch of my friends asked after they became semifinalists and they did fine.
Should I ask now or wait?
Ask now. Give them as much time as possible. Your PSAT score will already be on your application so schools will see it and it doesn’t need to be in a LOR.
Please ask as soon as possible!!
It’s the start of a new school year. After 2 months when there was plenty of time to write those letters, your teachers are now swamped with all the start of a new school year stuff. Please give them as much time as possible if you want them to take their time and write the best possible letter for you.
As @momofsenior1 mentioned, they’re not going to mention your PSAT score in their letters anyway.
Ask now. Don’t wait. It’s not uncommon for favorite teachers to get asked before school ends junior year.
what is the advantage of waiting? Your teachers are supposed to comment on what they’ve observed when you were in their classes. I don’t see how that changes if some outside group decides you are a National Merit Semifinalist.