When You Want Teachers To Say Nice Things About You
Below is a MRR and PLR article in category Reference Education -> subcategory College.
How to Get Great Recommendations from Teachers
What You Need to Know for College Applications
When applying to college, recommendations are an essential part of the process. They provide admissions committees with a different perspective on your capabilities and character. Here’s how to make the most of your recommendation letters.
Requesting Recommendations
Most colleges require between one to three recommendation letters. It’s a good idea to send at least two, even if only one is required, and ensure they come from different academic disciplines. However, avoid sending more than two additional letters. Excessive submissions may frustrate admissions officers and suggest you can't follow instructions. Each letter should highlight unique aspects about you that others do not.
Choosing Your Recommenders
While it might be tempting to ask everyone who thinks highly of you?"like your pastor or local storekeeper?"reserve this for those with strong ties to the college. Strong connections include alumni, recent graduates, college trustees, or significant donors. These connections can make a difference but only matter if you have the academic qualifications to back them up.
However, avoid choosing recommenders solely based on their status. What truly matters is their ability to speak knowledgeably about you. A letter from a notable figure is worthless if they can only speak in general terms about you. A letter starting with, “I don’t know much about Clara, but...” is bound to be ineffective.
Understanding Your Rights
You'll often encounter a waiver section in recommendation forms, asking if you wish to waive your right to view the recommendations. The Buckley Amendment ensures your right to access records once you’re enrolled in college.
Signing the waiver is recommended, as it conveys to your recommenders and the college that you trust the content of their recommendations. This often results in more candid and genuine letters. If you’re worried a recommender might write something negative, it might be time to find someone else.
Making the Process Easy
Once you’ve chosen your recommenders, make the process as smooth as possible for them. Provide stamped and addressed envelopes to save them time. Approach them well in advance and give ample time to prepare. Check in periodically to ensure everything is on track.
Keeping Teachers Updated
Lastly, keep your recommenders informed about your admissions progress. They took the time to help you, and it’s courteous to update them on your journey.
By following these steps, you can secure strong, effective recommendations that showcase your strengths and enhance your college applications.
You can find the original non-AI version of this article here: When You Want Teachers To Say Nice Things About You.
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