The Student Guide To Requesting A Teacher Letter Of Recommendation printable pdf download

The Student Guide to Requesting a Teacher

Letter of Recommendation

This informational packet is designed to help facilitate the process of requesting a letter of

recommendation from a teacher Teachers at Weston High School prepare letters of

recommendation in their free time, because they are willing to devote time above and beyond

the school day to assist you in your admission process. The content of their letters reflect the

experience of having you as a student in one or more of their classes over the year(s). The

teacher may ask for additional information so they can speak to outside interests, if applicable.

Once you have identified the teacher(s) who will prepare a letter, you should keep in mind

several things:

1) Teachers would like as much advance notice as possible as to the applicable deadlines,

and very often prepare letters in the order in which all the materials required are

provided.

2) All teachers would like a thank you note for the work and time they devote to the

preparation of their materials, which often include college-specific forms in addition to

their letters.

3) Teachers would also like to know what the college’s decision was. Too often, teachers

are the last one to find out where students get accepted and after all the work they put in,

it is an essential part of the process to communicate decisions to them as well.

Process:

 Determine is whether you are applying to colleges that accept electronic application

materials through Naviance (hint: look for the computer icon next to the college name in

Naviance).

 Ask the teacher whether he/she intends to utilize the electronic submission option (but

remember, teachers can only send electronically if you are as well).

 To process the request for a letter of recommendation, you must provide your teacher

with the following: (use this as a checklist):

____

Prepare a time to meet with the teacher to personally go over materials and talk

about your questionnaire.

____

The “Basic Questionnaire” uploaded as a journal entry into Naviance that you

have shared with teachers.

____

College List Sheet (attached)

____

If the letter can be submitted electronically, you’re done. HOWEVER, if the letter

is to be mailed, fill in the necessary “Teacher Recommendation” Forms from the

Common Application or the college, and provide them, along with stamped and

addressed envelopes, using the WHS address as the return address (not your own).

8/15/11

The Student Guide To Requesting A Teacher Letter Of Recommendation