If you’re a senior applying to college, navigating your way through applications, deadlines, and letters of recommendation can be challenging. Throughout our high school experience, we received little to no guidance on the specific details of requesting letters of recommendation— there are so many students in our class that it can be tough for our teachers and staff to get to every person to walk them through the process. So,  here’s your step-by-step guide to letters of recommendation!

Your letters of recommendation serve as a way for admissions officers to get a better understanding of who you are as a student and more importantly; who you are as a person. When deciding who you want to write your recommendation, you should think carefully about your decision. The teacher(s) you choose should know you well as a student and as a person. It is also important to consider how many other recommendations they may have to write. A teacher is not required to write your letter of recommendation, they will not always say yes. That’s why how you ask your teacher is so significant. Asking in person can make a world of difference. Make sure that the teacher has some free time to talk and ask first if they can take on doing a letter of recommendation; If the answer is yes, from there, you should ask politely for them to write yours. (In the case that the teacher you asked is unable to meet your request, don’t fret, repeat the process with another teacher who you think would be a good fit to write your rec.) But, just asking is not enough. You also must go to Naviance to formally request the letter of recommendation so that your teacher can then submit it through Naviance for all of your colleges to see! It’s as simple as tapping the “College” tab on the top of the Home Screen and selecting “Letters of Recommendation”— from there, you select “add request” and put in your teacher’s email address. It’s as simple as that, and should not take you very long.  

Asking in person can sometimes be intimidating- if it works better for you, shoot them an email! Remember to address them politely and make it clear what you need and when you need it. (Tip: it makes their lives easier if you send your teacher a resume so they can see what other qualities you have that they may have missed!)

When requesting a recommendation letter, remember to be patient. It can be hard to deal with the anxieties of deadlines and scrambling to complete applications but try to remember that your teachers are taking on the recommendation as a favor to you. A gentle reminder on the submission of the letter as your deadline approaches should be enough for your teacher to get it in. We are all guilty of procrastination sometimes, but, be faithful in your teachers’ dedication to getting them done. And, finally, don’t put these things off. The later you request a letter of recommendation, the less likely you are to get a “yes” from your teacher. Give them lots of time and make it clear when your deadlines are. Any other questions regarding applications or anything college/career related can be answered by Mrs. Wilson in the career center. Happy application season, Seniors! Good luck, Raiders.

Contact Mrs.Wilson: [email protected]