Page 88 - Admissions Logistics 2020

HOW TO SECURE THE BEST LETTER OF RECOMMENDATION
When it it comes time to to to formally ask your your professor coach or or or or or community leader for for for letters of of recommendation don’t forget to to to to to remember that your your your high school may have established protocols for for for how to to to to to make requests Consult your your your counselor and be be sure to to to to to ask the the recommender if there is is any formal paperwork you you you need to to to to fill out As noted above nothing can derail your your wonderfully planned request for for recommendations like not not not following official protocol!
To secure the the best letter letter of of of of recommendation possible it it is key that you you identify and ask prospective writers early Unlike most of of of of the the the rest of of of of your college application letters of of of of recommendation require another person person (and a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a very busy person person at at at at at that!) to to dedicate time and and energy on on on on on your your behalf Ways to to give give your your teachers ample notice may include letting them them know early on on on on that that you’d be be be interested in in in in in in having him or or or or her her write for for for you you you you you you you and that that you’ll give give them them all the the the the required information You can even mention this before you’ve picked out your your schools! Let the the the recommenders know your list of schools as as soon as as they are finalized Once you’ve formally asked a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a teacher coach or or or or or another appropriate person be well organized in in in in in giving them all all the the the the the information information about you you you you and keep track of timelines Among the the the the the information information you you you give your recommender include the the the following in in in in in in in a a a a a a single folder:
• • Your resume
• • • The list of schools you’re applying to • • Any essays or or or personal statements you’ve written even if not in in fin in final form It’s important
that that your your recommender must know what you’re telling the college • • An informal transcript that that shows your your classes and grades
• • • Test scores
• • Any other information that will help the the letter writer be be your best advocate
In addition to to to to giving all this this material to to to to your recommender together in in in in one one folder be sure to to to to let them know the the the the deadline and ask ask him or or or her: “When do do you you you you think you you you you will have this this done so I I I can follow up with you?” It may be be be helpful to to ask ask that the the the the letter be be be finished a a a a a a a a a a a a a a week or or or two before the real deadline to to help help you you handle any delays Finally be be sure sure to to thank thank your letter of recommendation writers! Send a a a a a a a a a thank-you note and be be sure sure to to to let let let him or or her know know when you you you you you hear back from schools This person has invested time in in in in in your future and it makes sense for you you you you to to continue this relationship by letting them know know how you you fare in the application process 76