What is a Letter of Recommendation?
Most universities will require you to submit 2-3 letters of recommendation, which must be written by your teachers and a counselor. Supplemental ones from mentors and advisors are also accepted. Your Letter of Recommendation will be used for all US universities, so make sure to ask your instructors not to write school-specific letters. While you can't write the letters yourself, you can certainly guide your recommenders and let them know what you want to be included in the letters.
You will get your letters from:
Make sure to ask instructors who know you best as a person, not those who just give you good grades. The best letters will include insights into your personality and anecdotes from your interactions with the recommenders, which are only possible if you have a strong relationship with them.
How to request a Letter of Recommendation?
As discussed in the previous section, you will be getting your Letters of Recommendation from your counselor, teachers, and possibly employers. However, they won't automatically know that you need the letter! You need to formally request it.
It's best to request a Letter of Recommendation towards the end of your Junior Year or early in your Senior Year. Asking early will give your instructors enough time to write a standout letter.
Whenever possible, request the Letter of Recommendation in person by visiting their office or scheduling an appointment. If asking in person is not feasible, here is an email template you can customize and send to your recommenders.
Use this email template as a guidance:
The secret to a great Letter of Recommendation: a brag sheet
It's important to remember that every teacher gets many LOR requests from their students, and it's unrealistic for them to remember all details about each one. That's why you need a Brag Sheet.
A Brag Sheet is very similar to a resume: it includes information on your academic accomplishments, extracurricular activities, and plans for college. It's a handy document you can share with your recommenders.
