How to Ask for a Letter of Recommendation for College
College application requirements are for the most part consistent: you’ll find requests for transcripts, essays, extracurriculars, and all the usual suspects. One component that can be easily overlooked is the college recommendation letter. A strong letter of recommendation for college describes your strengths and capabilities, enriching your application and bolstering your odds of acceptance. But what exactly makes a good college recommendation letter, and how do you get one?
Fortunately, in this article, we’ll discuss everything you need to know about college recommendation letters.
In particular, we’ll talk about:
- The form and purpose of a letter of recommendation for college admission
- What makes a good letter of recommendation for college admissions, including a college recommendation letter sample
- Who should — and shouldn’t — be writing a college recommendation letter for you
- When and how to ask for a letter of recommendation for college admissions
- What to do after submitting your letter of recommendation for college
Before we discuss how to ask for a letter of recommendation for college, let’s start with the basics. Up next, we’ll discuss where college recommendation letters fit into your college admissions journey.
College Application Requirements
Most universities in the United States employ a holistic admissions process. This means every part of an application is evaluated. Contrary to admissions that only take into account test scores or grades, holistic admissions covers everything. Through a wide variety of application materials, admissions committees work to understand applicants as people and personalities, not just as numbers. For this reason, college application requirements have a laundry list of documents.
Transcripts and scores are a record of your academic performance, as well as your growth as a student. Extracurricular activities show admissions officers your interests, how you engage with them, and what you value outside of school. A personal statement provides insight into your background, values, thought process, and more by responding to a given prompt. College recommendation letters give another perspective on you and your abilities.
College application requirements don’t universally include college recommendation letters. However, as we’ll soon see, a well-crafted letter of recommendation for college can add significant depth and context to an application. For this reason, many more selective colleges require one or more college recommendation letters.
Understanding the College Recommendation Letter
Within college applications, recommendation letters illustrate your character. Rather than transcripts and scores, which are purely academic, a good letter of recommendation for college speaks about you as a person. They’re a little bit like personal statements, in that they are a descriptive account of you. College recommendation letters ideally show that you’re a star in the classroom or your community — and therefore a great fit for a university.
What exactly distinguishes a good college recommendation letter from a great one? We’ll discuss this in greater depth later on. In short, a good letter of recommendation for college is generally positive, but may not be very specific. Good letters could have the name and a few adjectives switched and still be applicable. Great letters, on the other hand, are glowing with praise and highly specific to you.
What is a Letter of Recommendation for College?
A letter of recommendation for college is a letter written by a guidance counselor, teacher, or other person for an admissions committee. College recommendation letters highlight their subject’s positive traits as a way of recommending them for admission to that university. While the exact letter format depends on the letter writer (more on that later), what matters is how they portray the student.
Strong recommendation letters support your application by providing insight into your character and achievements. Either directly or indirectly, it will vouch for your fit for the college you’re applying for.
What should be written in a letter of recommendation?
Exactly what goes into a letter of recommendation will vary based on experiences and relationships. However, there are certain qualities that all letters of recommendation will have. In fact, a letter of recommendation for college has five key components:
5 Letter of Recommendation for College Components
Context
How long has your recommender known you, and in what capacity? Any college recommendation letter from teachers, for instance, will describe what class the teacher had you for. If you worked with the recommender in an extracurricular activity or as an assistant, that should also be mentioned.
Academic strengths and achievements
This is most relevant for a college recommendation letter from teachers. Here, the recommender will talk about you academically — they may praise your essay skills or your ability to teach your peers. Significant achievements such as research positions, awards, or publications can also be included if applicable.
Personal qualities and character traits
Your recommender will describe certain qualities that they believe will make you successful in college. The difference between a good letter of recommendation for college and a great one is on display here. If your recommender doesn’t know you well, or isn’t prepared to write a letter, your character won’t show well.
Specific examples of contributions or success
An effective letter of recommendation for college admissions will have something to say here. How did you enrich the community you shared with this recommender? Perhaps you were an avid peer tutor or TA — maybe you even headed a school initiative or led a club they sponsored. When considering who to ask for a letter of recommendation for college, think about recommenders who can attest to your success.
Specific challenges, moments of resilience or growth
College isn’t all sunshine and rainbows, and neither are great college recommendation letters. When applying to colleges, it’s wise to show that you challenge yourself and can learn from setbacks. This is another section where having a good relationship with your recommender can put your college recommendation letter over the top.
College Recommendation Letters from Counselors and Teachers
Universities that require a letter of recommendation typically ask for two kinds of college recommendation letters. Counselor letters are written by your school counselor, and teacher letters are written by a subject area teacher. Of course, potential recommenders aren’t limited to these options — coaches, supervisors at a job or internship, and mentors are common recommenders.
Counselor letters typically speak more about you as a person and member of your school community. If you’ve held any leadership roles or had an impact on your school, those will be detailed in this college recommendation letter. Your counselor can also describe any awards or achievements you’ve received and why you deserve them. They typically also discuss your growth in high school as a student, community member, and young adult. Finally, they may explain any special circumstances to account for gaps or inconsistencies with your academic record.
On the other hand, teacher letters are about your performance within particular classes. These also speak to your character, but the points they touch on are slightly different from a counselor letter. Teacher letters may explore your character through intellectual curiosity, classroom demeanor, and interactions with peers. How do you operate in group work, in peer tutoring sessions, or in class-wide quizzes? While high school and college courses are conducted differently, an admissions committee can glean a lot from teacher letters.
College Recommendation Letter Sample
Now that we’ve covered some fundamental facts of college recommendation letters, let’s look at a real college recommendation letter sample. This letter of recommendation for college was sent to various institutions, and it helped the student gain admission to Harvard University.
What makes this college recommendation letter work? First, it has nearly all the elements we discussed above. Note how the teacher contextualizes her relationship with Jennifer and includes praise by indicating the rarity of a freshman in an AP course. She details Jennifer’s academic achievements both within math and more broadly in dual enrollment courses. Through specific examples, the teacher communicates Jennifer’s academic and personal strengths in ways that are unique to her. In the end, it’s a unique letter that goes beyond a basic college recommendation letter template to spotlight Jennifer.
On the whole, the tone is positively glowing: “above and beyond,” “absolute awe,” “unparalleled,” and other words make this crystal clear. The recommender makes a point of highlighting Jennifer’s unique brand of excellence. From taking AP Calculus AB as a freshman to hand-sewing a Klein bottle, Jennifer is clearly in a league of her own.
The anecdotes included in this college recommendation are also highly insightful. As Jennifer’s math teacher, it would be easy for the recommender to simply praise her academic achievement. And yet, this letter shows us that Jennifer is a creative, diligent, enthusiastic, and multitalented student. The best letter of recommendation for college is the one that emphasizes more than just your academic performance.
How many college recommendation letters should I have?
Most colleges require two to three college recommendation letters — one counselor letter along with one or two teacher letters. This is not a universal rule, as some require more, some just one or two, and others none at all. There are also more nuanced cases, such as specific programs requesting specialized letters. For instance, an engineering program may require college recommendation letters from STEM subject teachers. There may also be honors programs or other cases that require additional college recommendation letters.
All in all, some schools may require four or more college recommendation letters. However, remember to put quality over quantity. Just because you can submit additional college recommendation letters doesn’t mean you should. After all, a few high-quality letters are far more effective than many inauthentic ones written from college recommendation letter templates.
How to ask for a letter of recommendation for college?
When it comes to knowing how to ask for a letter of recommendation for college, think of it like asking a favor. You need to give your recommender(s) plenty of time and information, and show them your appreciation. While it can feel like teachers are expected to write a letter of recommendation for college, remember that they’re people too!
When requesting a college recommendation letter from teachers or counselors, ask them at least 4–6 weeks before the deadline. The earlier the better — if you’ve chosen your recommenders already, you can even ask in your junior spring. This will give them time to write more than a basic college recommendation letter template when the time comes.
If possible, be sure to ask them in person. It is more personal and considerate than just sending a message or email. You can and should follow up with an email to help them keep track of your letter. In your request and your follow-up email, give your recommenders information to help them write your letter. Where are you applying, and what will you study? Why have you chosen this recommender; what have you learned from them?
While this is on the back end of the process, don’t forget to thank your recommenders. Again, although writing a college recommendation letter or two is a part of their job, they’re still taking time to write about you. Even a short expression of thanks is better than nothing.
Who should I ask for a College Recommendation Letter?
In general, your recommenders should be people who can write about what you’ve achieved in high school. Common choices for recommenders include counselors, teachers, coaches, mentors, and supervisors; note that not all schools strictly require recommendations from teachers.
Where possible, choose recommenders with whom you’ve interacted recently and/or for multiple years. Their college recommendation letters will provide a more comprehensive portrait of you with plenty of context. Think again about Jennifer’s letter: we know she started high school strong and continued with various extracurriculars and dual enrollment courses. Without the teacher’s multi-year relationship with Jennifer, that impressive background information would be lacking.
It goes without saying that you must check the college application requirements at the schools on your college list. Make sure that your recommenders and their college recommendation letters match what each school requires.
Recommenders to Avoid
Remember, a strong letter of recommendation for college is specific, credible, and positive. In light of that, let’s take a look at some people who shouldn’t be writing a college recommendation letter for college admission.
First of all, don’t ask people who don’t know you well. These people won’t be able to write a specific letter, even if they have nice things to say about you. Think carefully about what the person knows about you, too. Being a club member for three years doesn’t necessarily mean that the sponsor can write a good college recommendation letter for you.
Second, don’t ask relatives or family friends. A letter of recommendation for college should be somewhat objective. Therefore, you should avoid recommenders who are biased toward you.
Finally, don’t ask people who don’t have a positive opinion of you. After all, you are looking for a college recommendation letter, not a word of caution. You’ll probably know if a person doesn’t think well enough of you to write a standout college recommendation letter. As a last resort, though, you can ask them directly.
In the end, following college recommendation letter templates isn’t enough — the best letters are undoubtedly authentic. They shouldn’t speak in generalizations because they don’t know you well, or lavish you with praise just because you’re their favorite cousin. And they shouldn’t write negatively about you at all.
5 Tips for Choosing the Best Recommenders
When considering who and how to ask for a letter of recommendation for college, there are a few things to keep in mind. Here are five tips for choosing recommenders who’ll write the best college recommendation letters for you.
5 Tips to Choose the Best Recommenders
1. Focus on your character, not just your grades.
You’ll already be submitting a transcript with your college applications. While it can seem like a good idea to choose any teacher whose class you aced, think bigger. Who can write about your personality and character as a person, not just as a student?
2. Select people who’ve seen you face challenges.
A great way to understand someone’s character is to see them overcome adversity. An effective letter of recommendation for college will speak to your response to challenges with specific examples.
3. Diversify your recommender pool.
You may need different sets of college recommendation letters for different schools. Therefore, you should have a pool of potential recommenders whom you can call on when you know exactly what you need. They should span different subjects, roles, and focus areas.
4. Pick recommenders who can speak to your potential.
Your college recommendation letters should demonstrate your full potential, from academic excellence to strength of character. Remember how Jennifer’s letter detailed not only her outstanding academic performance but also her general love of learning and diverse interests.
5. Align recommenders with your college goals.
If you already know your goals for college — in or out of the classroom — that can guide your recommender choices. We don’t mean refusing an impressive letter of recommendation for college from a humanities teacher when you intend to study physics. A good letter is a good letter! However, your first choice for recommenders should be people whose college recommendation letters will relate to your college goals.
At the end of the day, every situation is different, and every letter of recommendation for college has its place. If you’re unsure whether a recommender is the right one, bring it up with them, your school counselor, or an admissions expert.
When Should I ask for my Recommendation Letters?
As previously stated, earlier is always better when it comes to college recommendation letters. The latest you should ask for a letter of recommendation for college is 4–6 weeks before the deadline. However, requests should be made as early as possible.
One thing to consider carefully when thinking about how to ask for a letter of recommendation for college is application deadlines. If you’re applying early to any universities, you have to factor that into your schedule. For instance, if you have an application deadline in November, you should ask for a college recommendation letter from teachers by late August or early September.
That isn’t to say that you should put off your requests because you only have Regular Decision deadlines. If you already know what college recommendation letters you need and who you want to ask, go for it. Whatever your deadlines are, request those letters as early as possible. You don’t want to create unnecessary pressure or risk missing deadlines.
Preparing to Request your Letters of Recommendation
Knowing how to ask for a letter of recommendation for college admission is more than just knowing how to word a request. Your recommenders will benefit from as much information as you can give them. This will help them complete and submit their letters quickly, and help you work on the rest of your applications.
A letter of recommendation for college admission highlights your accomplishments and character in a way that makes sense for your college goals. Therefore, you should prepare a resume with your accomplishments, extracurriculars, and awards, along with a short statement of your aspirations. This will help them craft a glowing college recommendation letter that speaks to your accomplishments and goals.
You should also provide your recommenders with information that will help them with the logistics of sending college recommendation letters. Send them a list of all the schools you’re applying to, their deadlines, and the application portal you’re using. Since each portal has its own instructions for submitting letters, include basic steps or a link to the information page.
Resources for Recommenders
With so many application portals and platforms out there, submitting college recommendation letters can easily become overwhelming for recommenders. Feel free to send the relevant informational sections below to your recommenders to help them submit their letters of recommendation.
Writing a college recommendation letter requires a particular style that highlights certain traits about a student. Fortunately, there are a wealth of resources for writing letters, including guides on what characteristics to highlight. There are also general writing guides in addition to guides specifically for counselor letters. There are also plenty of college recommendation letter templates available online.
Common Application Recommender Resources
To create a recommender account on the Common Application, an applicant must first invite you as a recommender. Once you’ve been invited, you will receive an email with a link to create your account.
After creating your account, you can fill out some personal details in the Profile section of your portal. To submit college recommendation letters, click on the relevant student’s name in the Students section. There will be some forms to fill in, with required fields marked with a red asterisk.
Note that the Common Application portal sends your form responses to every school that a student assigns you to. Therefore, you should not customize a form (including college recommendation letters) for any particular institution.
For more details, see the Common Application recommender guide.
Coalition Application Recommender Resources
To create an account on the Coalition Application/Scoir platform, an applicant must first invite you. You will receive an email with an invitation link to create your Coalition account. The email will also contain instructions for uploading your college recommendation letter.
On your page, you will see a list of students who have requested a recommendation from you. There will be a section to upload the PDF file of your college recommendation letter.
For more details, see the Coalition Application/Scoir guides for teachers and counselors.
QuestBridge Application Recommender Resources
Once a student has added you as a QuestBridge application recommender, you will receive an email with a link to the recommendation form. Recommenders do not need to sign up or have a QuestBridge account in order to complete this form.
The recommendation form asks for a written recommendation letter and includes several questions about the student’s academic and personal qualities.
For more details, see the QuestBridge recommender resources page.
College Recommendation Letter Checklist
Here’s a quick checklist for getting a letter of recommendation for college admission submitted correctly:
Checklist
1. Confirm letter requirements.
What kinds of letters do you need?
2. Prepare all necessary documents.
Have a resume, list of activities and schools, and other important information ready to share with recommenders.
3. Ask your recommenders.
If possible, make your request in person and send a follow-up email.
4. Check submission status.
Monitor your application portal for the status of each letter of recommendation for college admissions.
5. Follow up politely.
If your deadlines are creeping up, politely reach out to your recommenders, reminding them of your request.
6. Confirm submission.
Make sure your application portal lists your letters as received.
7. Thank your recommenders.
Show your gratitude in person if possible — a little thanks goes a long way!
Think of this checklist as your guide on how to ask for a letter of recommendation for college. Adding in due dates or deadlines for each step can also help you stay on track as you work towards submitting your applications.
How do I know whether my recommenders have submitted their letters?
Despite small differences among the commonly used application portals, their recommendation sections are quite similar. You should be able to see your invited recommender with the date the invitation was sent. Once the letter is submitted, the status will be updated accordingly.
If your recommender hasn’t submitted a letter of recommendation for college admission and your deadline is soon, reach out. Politely remind them — in person if possible — of the letter; but don’t blame or rush them. Be proactive in reminding recommenders, but don’t be overly persistent. They likely have many other letters to write in addition to yours.
What Should I Do After I’ve Received My Letter of Recommendation?
First off, thank your recommenders! As with other steps in the process, it’s best to say thank you in person. If that’s not an option, send a kind email expressing your gratitude for their time. It’s common courtesy, and it helps to keep your relationship with them positive.
Most students don’t get to read their recommendation letters, so focus on the other elements of your application. Between other documents like transcripts, supplemental essays, and extracurriculars, there’s plenty to keep you busy. You should also keep track of your recommenders, just in case additional college recommendation letters are required.
Advice for Staying Connected with Recommenders
It’s a kind gesture and a good idea to stay in touch with your recommenders after they’ve written your letter. If they’re not one of your current teachers, it may take a bit more work to maintain a positive relationship. But it’ll be very worth it! As you graduate high school, you don’t need to leave those connections behind.
Continue to foster relationships with mentor figures and recommenders by updating them on the status of your applications. Let them know what colleges you got into and where you end up attending. If you have a good rapport with the recommender, you may even keep them updated on your achievements throughout college and beyond.
How to Ask for a Letter of Recommendation for College- Final Thoughts
Asking for a letter of recommendation for college admission doesn’t have to be hard. In this article, we covered who, when, and how to ask for a letter of recommendation for college. We also analyzed a sample letter and what makes an effective college recommendation letter template. Beyond that, we took a quick look at what happens after your letters have been submitted.If you’re still feeling unsure about the college admissions process, CollegeAdvisor is here to help. We have plenty of free resources, from specific application tips to our FAQs about college recommendation letters. If you need some extra help, reach out to us to connect with our team of experienced admissions experts!
This article was written by Gina Goosby. Looking for more admissions support? Click here to schedule a free meeting with one of our Admissions Specialists. During your meeting, our team will discuss your profile and help you find targeted ways to increase your admissions odds at top schools. We’ll also answer any questions and discuss how CollegeAdvisor.com can support you in the college application process.
