How to Ask for a Strong Letter of Recommendation
One of the most important parts of your college application isn’t something you write yourself – it’s the letters of recommendation for college written by your teachers and guidance counselor. These letters give admissions officers a glimpse of who you are beyond the grades and activities listed on your application.
Even if the rest of your application is strong, a letter of recommendation that doesn’t align with your application’s narrative can weaken your candidacy. That’s why it’s essential to know exactly how to ask for a letter of recommendation for college in a way that ensures your recommenders highlight your strengths in the most compelling way possible.
Part I: The Role of Letters of Recommendation in College Admissions
Colleges are aware that students will naturally emphasize their best qualities in their essays and activity lists. Letters of recommendation provide a third-party perspective from teachers and counselors who have worked with you in real contexts to help admissions officers validate your claims. For instance, if you describe yourself as passionate about community service and your counselor notes your impact on the school community, that adds credibility to your application.
At the same time, letters of recommendation can also reveal new dimensions about your character that are not as easily captured in your transcript or activity list. For example, a teacher might recall how you guided peers through a challenging project or describe you as someone who consistently drives classroom discussions forward. These kinds of observations help admissions officers understand how you might contribute to their college campus.
Recommendations can also provide additional context for any challenges or inconsistencies that appear in your application. While a dip in grades may raise questions, a teacher who explains that the student was balancing significant family responsibilities that semester adds color to the narrative. Because this perspective comes from someone who has observed the student directly, it often carries more weight than the student’s own explanation.
In a competitive admissions landscape where many students have similar academic achievements, a thoughtful and detailed letter of recommendation can provide the nuance that distinguishes you from other applicants.
Part II: When to Ask for Letters of Recommendation
Teachers will often have to write many recommendations each admissions cycle, so you should make your requests with ample notice. The more time you give your teachers, the more time they will have to craft a thoughtful letter. Teachers may also say no if they already have too many requests from other students or if they feel like they don’t have enough time to write you a high-quality letter.
At the very minimum, you should ask your recommenders a month before your application deadlines. Ideally, the best time would be the end of junior year – which would allow them to write your letters during the summer – or at the beginning of senior year.
Part III: Who to Ask for Letters of Recommendation
Most colleges require three letters of recommendation: one from your guidance counselor and two from your teachers.
Your guidance counselor recommendation provides colleges with context about your high school experience, both academic and personal. To help them write a compelling letter, don’t wait until senior year to introduce yourself. Make it a habit to check in especially during junior and senior year to share your goals, interests, and even challenges you’ve worked through. The more your counselor understands your journey, the more authentic and detailed their recommendation will be.
Teacher recommendations are especially valuable because they provide insight into your performance and character within the classroom setting. The best letters should come from junior-year teachers, who have seen your most recent year of work. When deciding which individuals to ask, prioritize teachers who:
Know you well and can speak to your character
Can tell specific stories that highlight your positive traits
Has seen you persevere and can speak to how you have grown throughout the course, even if you didn’t necessarily get an “A”
Know you in multiple contexts, such as also being a club advisor or coach
Always check whether colleges provide specific guidelines on which teachers to approach. Many schools recommend including at least one teacher from a core academic subject. Some suggest selecting a teacher in your intended field of study, while others — like MIT — require one recommendation from a math or science teacher and another from a humanities, social science, or language teacher. Even when not mandatory, following this balanced approach allows admissions officers to see different dimensions of your academic strengths.
Part IV: How to Ask for Letters of Recommendation
When approaching your teachers, make your request in person one-on-one. You can email your teacher in advance to schedule a meeting or stay after class and ask them if they have a few minutes to chat. If meeting in person isn’t possible, send an email to ask if you can schedule a video or phone call. Having a direct conversation allows you to share why you value their perspective and gives them a chance to ask any follow-up questions. While the process may feel intimidating, remember that teachers anticipate these requests and are experienced in supporting students through the college application process.
When making your request, you might say something like:
“I’m applying to colleges soon, and I really enjoyed being in your class this year. Would you feel comfortable writing me a strong recommendation letter?”
Framing your request this way is important because it gives your teacher the chance to be honest if they don’t feel they can write positively on your behalf. If a teacher says no, don’t take it personally – this actually works in your favor, since it ensures all the letters you submit will be enthusiastic. Simply thank them for their honesty and reach out to another teacher. If a teacher agrees but seems unsure about writing a strong letter, you can offer to provide additional information to help them craft a more personalized recommendation.
In fact, you should plan to send additional information to all of your recommenders to make their job easier and to help them write strong, specific letters. Prepare the below materials before you approach your recommenders, so that you can follow up right away with a thank-you email and share them promptly:
College list with deadlines
Personal statement (if you have a solid draft ready)
Supplemental Package
Extracurriculars (clubs, sports, jobs, leadership roles, etc.)
Awards
Why you would like them to write your letter of recommendation
Personal qualities you would like them to emphasize
Your academic interests & goals
Notable experiences in their classes (for teachers specifically)
Personal challenges you’ve faced
Some teachers may instead ask you to complete their own questionnaire, which often covers similar topics to your supplemental package. If that happens, let them know in your thank-you email that you’ll fill out their form and follow up within a few days. If you’ve already prepared your supplemental package ahead of time, you can adapt most of that information to fit their questionnaire and then add any extra details at the end if helpful.
Part V: Following Up On Your Letter of Recommendation Request
If your recommender has not submitted your letter of recommendation a week before your deadline, send them a polite reminder email. Teachers and counselors often juggle dozens of recommendation requests on top of their normal workload, so reminders are helpful.
Example:
Hi Ms. Williams,
I hope you are doing well. Since UChicago’s application deadline is coming up on November 1, I wanted to check in regarding my recommendation letter. Please let me know if there is any additional information I can provide to support you in the process.
Thank you again for your time and effort. I truly appreciate your support!
Once your recommender has submitted your letter, be sure to thank them again. A thoughtful thank-you email is always appropriate, but you can also go the extra mile by writing a personal card or giving them a small token of appreciation (such as homemade treats, a gift card, or a book you think they’d enjoy). Later on, when you receive your admissions results, be sure to share your news with them – they’ll be excited to celebrate with you and to see how their support contributed to your success.
