You should ask teachers, counselors, or mentors who know you well and can speak positively about your academic and personal qualities for college recommendations.
A thorough response to a query
When applying to college, recommendations can play a vital role in the admissions process. But who should you ask? It’s important to choose someone who can speak positively about your academic and personal qualities. Here are some potential sources to consider:
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Teachers: Ask teachers who have taught subjects in which you have excelled. They can speak to your academic abilities and work ethic.
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Counselors: Your high school counselor is a good option because they can speak to your overall character and potential for success in college.
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Mentors: If you have a mentor outside of school, such as a coach or volunteer supervisor, they can attest to your leadership and personal qualities.
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Employers: If you have had a part-time job during high school, your employer can speak to your work ethic and responsibility.
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Community leaders: If you have volunteered regularly in your community, consider asking someone in a leadership position within that organization for a recommendation.
It’s important to choose recommenders who know you well and can provide specific examples to support their positive comments. Remember to give your recommenders plenty of lead time and provide them with any necessary forms or instructions.
As author and speaker Steve Maraboli said, “Surround yourself with people who believe in your dreams, encourage your ideas, support your ambitions, and bring out the best in you.” By choosing recommenders who believe in you, you can showcase your best qualities to colleges and increase your chances of admission.
| Potential Recommenders | Strengths | Potential Weaknesses |
|---|---|---|
| Teachers | Academic knowledge and work ethic | May not know you personally |
| Counselors | Overall character and potential for success | May not know you as well as other sources |
| Mentors | Leadership and personal qualities | May not have firsthand experience with your academics |
| Employers | Work ethic and responsibility | May not be able to speak to academic potential |
| Community leaders | Volunteer experience and leadership | May not have firsthand experience with your academics |
You might discover the answer to “Who should you ask for college recommendations?” in this video
The video provides advice on who to ask for a college recommendation beyond guidance counselors. The speaker advises getting recommendations from teachers in core academic classes or in fields relevant to your program of interest. The recommendation should come from someone who knows you well and can speak to your character and personality. The video suggests building a good relationship, such as working with a teacher who is also a student council advisor or a coach of a team.
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Teachers who know you outside of the classroom are a good choice. Consider a teacher who led a club you were in. If requested by the college, you can also think about other adults who know you well. A coach, employer, or club adviser can say a lot about your skills and character.
More interesting on the topic
Who is supposed to write a letter of recommendation for college?
Answer to this: A letter of recommendation for college admission is a short document typically written by a teacher, counselor, or mentor highlighting your strengths and potential contributions to a school. You must carefully choose who will write your letters of recommendation and be thoughtful and responsible when asking for them.
People also ask, Who should you not ask for a letter of recommendation? Don’t ask a family member or a friend for a recommendation as a college may not take them seriously. You should always follow the guidelines from the colleges you are applying to when choosing who to write your letter of recommendation.
What professors should you ask for recommendations?
“A professor with whom you’ve had multiple classes or worked closely with on a research or creative project are likely those in the best position to speak to your strengths and qualifications,” says Peltz. “Similarly, others who have observed or supervised your work can make good reference writers.”
How do you ask someone to recommend you for college?
How to ask for a college letter of recommendation
- Make sure you’re asking ahead of time.
- Make your request in person.
- Prepare what you’ll say in advance.
- Provide the letter writer with all relevant information.
- Follow up.
Consequently, How do you ask for a college recommendation letter? The reply will be: Asking someone who you have mutual respect for, knows your best skills, and is invested in your future will make your recommendation letter stand out to college admissions. Here are some tips when asking for a recommendation letter: Don’t wait until the last minute.
Moreover, How do I find a good college recommender?
Answer to this: The best recommenders have both experience writing letters of rec and familiarity with various colleges and their expectations. Often, students have a sense of who writes good letters through word of mouth. Your counselor may also be a good resource, as she might be able to recommend some teachers as good choices.
How often should I ask my teachers to write a recommendation letter?
Response: Instead, try asking two teachers to write you recommendation letters months in advance to give your teachers adequate time to plan and write your recommendation letter. You can check in every month or every few weeks or so to remind them about the letter, but you shouldn’t bug them any more than that.
Also to know is, When should a high school student ask for a recommendation?
Heckman encourages students at his high school to ask for recommendations in late spring or early summer of their junior year. This will give teachers and counselors time to work on a recommendation before seniors inundate them with requests midway through the fall.
Keeping this in consideration, How do you ask for a college recommendation letter? In reply to that: Asking someone who you have mutual respect for, knows your best skills, and is invested in your future will make your recommendation letter stand out to college admissions. Here are some tips when asking for a recommendation letter: Don’t wait until the last minute.
Secondly, How do I find a good college recommender?
As an answer to this: The best recommenders have both experience writing letters of rec and familiarity with various colleges and their expectations. Often, students have a sense of who writes good letters through word of mouth. Your counselor may also be a good resource, as she might be able to recommend some teachers as good choices.
How often should I ask my teachers to write a recommendation letter? Response: Instead, try asking two teachers to write you recommendation letters months in advance to give your teachers adequate time to plan and write your recommendation letter. You can check in every month or every few weeks or so to remind them about the letter, but you shouldn’t bug them any more than that.
When should a high school student ask for a recommendation? Heckman encourages students at his high school to ask for recommendations in late spring or early summer of their junior year. This will give teachers and counselors time to work on a recommendation before seniors inundate them with requests midway through the fall.