Many colleges and universities ask you to submit 1-3 teacher recommendations alongside your counselor recommendation. The teacher recommendation is essential in helping admission officers understand how you learn. Sure, they have access to your transcript, but that tells them very little about what it took to earn that grade. Teacher recommendations provide the context that helps answer this question. These letters share anecdotes about your behavior in the classroom, reflect on tests or assignments you’ve completed, and share impressions about your impact on the learning environment.
We recommend asking teachers from core academic subjects (math, science, English, history, or foreign language) who taught you in junior or senior year. The best recommendations are from teachers who know you well, not who has seen you earn the highest grade. In fact, admission officers can learn a lot about your academic resilience if a teacher shares how you bounced back from a tough test, or realigned your study habits to better understand challenging material. If your family needs help deciding which teachers to ask and why these letters are an important component of the application, Infinite Futures can help.
Once you’ve decided who to ask to write your recommendations, the next step is reaching out.
When you go to make the actual request, here’s how to do it well:
Ask in person
Pick a calm moment, such as before homeroom begins or when you know the teacher has a free period. We recommend scheduling a meeting with them instead of popping in unannounced. Ask whether they’d be comfortable writing you a letter. If the teacher seems to hesitate, thank them and ask someone else.
Provide a resume and relevant personal information soon after your in-person request
Include a copy of your resume and your list of colleges with deadlines. It can also be helpful to include a document that answers questions or provides details such as: why you asked them to write the letter? Which moment in class or assignment/paper/project you are proudest of? How did you deal with a setback such as a lower grade or difficulty understanding the material? How you pursued this topic beyond the classroom (e.g., reading for fun, internships, additional related classes). This is especially effective if you’re making your request in the fall of senior year from someone who taught you the year prior.
Mind the timing
Make sure your teacher has at least four weeks before your earliest deadline to write their recommendation. For early applications due around November 1, this means making requests by the end of September at the latest. Some high schools may require you to ask teachers in the spring of junior year so teachers can utilize the summer to write recommendations.
Follow up once
About 1-2 weeks before the deadline, send a brief thank-you and offer to answer any questions.
Give an additional thanks after the deadline has passed
A handwritten note goes a long way!
Teachers write a lot of letters, so the more specific and organized your request is, the better your letter will be. At Infinite Futures, we help families understand how recommendations are used, who to ask, and what information you can provide to teachers to make their recommendations more effective. If you're still unsure who might provide the most compelling letter of recommendation to support your college application, schedule a meeting with our team.
