Letters of recommendation are one more factors students have to consider when applying to college. Because colleges practice a holistic review when evaluating applicants, I always encourage students to think about who they feel would write an effective and compelling letter. It is always a good idea to choose 2 teachers from one of your core classes which include math, science, social studies and english.
Consider some of the following questions before choosing which teacher to write your letter of recommendation:
1- Do I have a good relationship with your teacher? Have I built a solid relationship with this teacher? Do you feel he knows you well enough to write an effective letter of recommendation?
2- Am I an active participant in this teacher’s class? Do I ask questions during class? Have I shown a curiosity to learn more about the subject being taught.
3- Is the subject of teacher’s class related to my major? Students who are pursuing a major in the sciences should consider asking their science teacher for a letter of recommendation. If you are pursuing a major in journalism or creative writing, your English teacher would be a good teacher to ask.
4- How long have I know this teacher? I always encourage my students to choose a teacher from junior year as those teachers are the most recent and can write about the students’ academic and social growth.
5- Have I shared with my teacher how I get involved outside of class? It is a good idea for you to also share how you get involved outside of class. Which activities do you enjoy the most? Why are you involved in these activities. Sharing your involvement outside of class can help shed light on the type of student you are both inside and outside of the classroom.
Many teachers have students fail out a questionnaire with some basic questions to learn more about their students. Because teachers may have to write many letters of recommendation, I always advise students to ask their teachers ahead of time.
If you have any questions or need help choosing your teachers to write your letters of recommendation, please don’t hesitate to contact me!