While getting a letter of recommendation from a teacher in whose class the student received an вЂњAвЂќ is good, it is even better to get a letter from a teacher who can describe the studentвЂ™s performance in the class with specificity. I have read thousands of letters of recommendation over the years,and some of the strongest letters were from teachers who did not necessarily agree with the studentвЂ™s opinions, but felt that the student was a powerful thinker and a dynamic contributer to class room discussions. And when I say a teacher who likes the student, I do not mean like as in a personal sentiment I mean like as in respecting the studentвЂ™s opinions. Students will be the best judge as to whether a teacher likes them. Although we may find it hard to imagine that a teacher may not like a student, it does happen.

That way, the teacher can talk about the studentвЂ™s growth over time. Students should select a teacher who knows and understands the studentвЂ™s learning style a teacher who, perhaps, taught the student as a 9th or 10th grader, and also as a junior. How should the student pick the teacher? DonвЂ™t laughвЂ¦but I recommend that students pick teachers who (a) know the student and (b) like the student. If a college/university requires 2 letters of recommendation from teachers, students will generally get a letter from a junior year teacher and a senior year teacher. Since most colleges and universities provide teachers with the ability to submit a letter on-line, giving the teachers an envelope may not be necessary.

Once the student decides the colleges to which he/she will apply, the teacher should be provided with the letter of recommendation form from the school, along with a stamped,self-addressed envelope if the teacher will be submitting the letter in hard copy. Do not assume that the teacher knows everything about the student. If the student has a resume or summary of academic and extracurricular activities, the information should be given to the teacher as background. Although the student may not have decided the colleges to which he/she will apply, the teacher can still begin to think about (and write) the letter over the summer.

The student should make an appointment to meet with the teacher (explaining in advance the purpose of the meeting), and let the teacher know that the student would like the teacher to write a letter of recommendation. If the student decides that there is a junior year teacher whom he/she would like to write a letter of recommendation, I suggest that the student ask the teacher at the end of the junior year. As a student goes through his/her junior year of high school, it is important to think about which teachers from the junior year (if any) the student will ask to write a letter of recommendation. Why is this important? It is important because most colleges and universities that require letters of recommendation from teachers ask that the letters be from teachers who have taught the student in the final 2 years of high school (junior/senior year). So even if it is still 2-3 years before the applicant will apply for admission, the student or parent can check the schoolвЂ™s web site now to see if there are requirements or preferences for the letters of recommendation. If a school has requirements or preferences for letters of recommendation, these requirements/preferences do not usually change from year to year. As an example, if the student is applying to a focused program in science or engineering, the school may require that a letter of recommendation come from a teacher in science or math. The most important consideration is for students to select teachers based on the requirements or preferences of the college/university to which the student is applying. LetвЂ™s first discuss letters of recommendation from teachers: You will need to differentiate between letters of recommendaiton from teachers and letters of recommendaiton from individuals who have not taught the student in an academic area.вЂ‹Not all colleges and universities require letters of recommendation as a part of the application process.

Recommendation letter