As a junior, asking teachers for a letter of recommendation is very nerve wracking. So, if you’ve been procrastinating because you don’t really know how to go about asking, this article is for you.
A letter of recommendation is something that requires a lot of time and effort to write, as it is an essential part of character evaluation on college applications, so teachers may not say yes to everyone who asks.
Here are some tips to absolutely guarantee your name a place on the top of your teachers’ priority list (this is a joke):
- Wash their car and pay for a detail
- Bring them their favorite Starbucks beverage before school
- Do your homework
- Walk their dogs
- Pick their kids up from school, but make sure to bring them back
- Pay for their gas and be sure to fill the tank
- Write them a sonnet on how influential their class is
- Write their lesson plans
- Clean their classroom
- Bring them a homemade 3 course meal for lunch
In all seriousness, a letter of recommendation is a lot to ask from a teacher, so here are some actual tips on how to effectively ask:
- Ask in person, not via email
- Don’t ask last minute
- Come prepared and know what you are going to say
- Be respectful and don’t expect an automatic yes
- Ask teachers who actually know you and will be able to personalize your letter
- Ask a teacher who taught you in a class you enjoyed
- Ask a teacher who teaches a class affilliated with your major, if you have a major decided
Counselor Mrs. Lee offered some of her advice to juniors when asking for letters of recommendation: “When you’re asking them, be kind. Focus on the teachers you’ve built relationships with, and who have seen who you are and how you’ve grown, even if it’s in a class you’ve struggled in.”
Asking for a letter of recommendation can be scary, but it’s not something to stress about. Just remember these helpful tips, and be sure to express gratitude to your teachers. Good luck, juniors!
