1. Letters of Recommendation
For High School students

2. What is a letter of recommendation?
A letter of recommendation is a letter of support for an applicant.
A letter of recommendation describes your skills, accomplishments, and personality.

3. Why Do I Need a letter of recommendation?
Colleges and employers often ask for 2 or 3 letters of recommendation.
Colleges and employers value a letter of recommendation because they:
reveal things about you that grades and test scores do not.
provide personal opinions of your character.

4. Who Should I Ask for a recommendation?
It is YOUR job to find people to write you POSITIVE letters of recommendation.
For this assignment:
Seniors: 3 letters of recommendation

5. THINGS TO REMEMBER
If you are applying to college, read your college application carefully to see if they specifically identify who should write your letters.
Some colleges request letters from an academic teacher, a teacher from a specific content area, or from a school counselor.
Ask your teachers, your counselor, and your family who they think could write you a positive recommendation.
Choose someone you have known for a while.
Consider other adults such as an employer, coach, an RA from the dorm, minster/pastor/priest, mentor, etc.

6. When Should I Ask for a recommendation?
Be sure to give your references at least one month before your earliest deadline to complete and send your letters.
The earlier you ask, the better!

7. How to Get the Best recommendation
Talk to your references! Talk to them about:
your class participation
specific work or projects you are proud of
challenges you overcame
your plans for the future (college, graduate school, job, etc.)

8. Finally…
Give your references addressed AND stamped envelopes for each college that requested a recommendation.
YOU have to buy the envelope and stamp… with your own money…
Make sure your references know the deadlines for each college.
One week before each letter of recommendation is due, follow up with your references or send a friendly reminder.
Once you have decided which college to attend, send thank-you notes.
Tell your references where you are going and thank them for their support!

9. Information to include:
recommendation