Letters of Recommendation: What to Know Now

As college application season approaches, one often-overlooked element can make a big difference: Letters of Recommendation. These letters provide colleges with a window into who you are beyond your GPA and test scores.

Here are a few tips to help you get strong, thoughtful recommendations:

What They Are & Why They Matter
Recommendation letters give colleges insight into your character, classroom contributions, and how you interact with others in a learning environment.

Who to Ask
Choose teachers who know you well and have seen your growth. That might mean a teacher in whose class you didn’t earn the highest grade—but where you persevered, participated actively, or made steady progress.

When to Ask
Ask early--ideally before the end of junior year. By fall, many teachers are overwhelmed with requests and may limit how many they agree to write.

How to Ask
Always ask respectfully: “Would you be willing to write a strong letter of recommendation for me?” If they say no, thank them graciously and move on to ask someone else.

Next Step
Want to make your letters stand out? Use our Guide to Letters of Recommendation. It includes a helpful brainstorming form you can fill out to support your recommenders with real classroom memories.