SENIOR YEAR TIMELINE FOR ASKING FOR RECOMMENDATIONS

August/September
If you haven’t already, ask teachers to write your letters of recommendation by the end of the first week of school. Also ask other people you want to write extra, “unofficial” letters of recommendation. Don’t forget to touch base with your high school counselor.

October
Provide each teacher with everything they need to write a good recommendation for you (see What To Provide Teachers). Also make sure your high school counselor has everything he/she needs (see What To Provide High School Counselors). And finally provide your other recommenders with what they need (see What To Provide Other Recommenders).

November
Contact the colleges to which you are applying early to make sure that they have received your recommendation letters.

January
Contact all the colleges to which you have applied regular decision to make sure that they have received your recommendation letters.

adMISSION POSSIBLE® TIP! Sometimes students find that a favorite teacher will be taking a sabbatical year, maternity leave, moving to another school or retiring. This doesn’t mean that they can’t write a recommendation for you; but you do need to ask them to do this before the school year ends. Critical to your request is getting the teacher’s email address, personal phone number and home mailing address.

PARENTS TIMELINE FOR ASKING FOR RECOMMENDATIONS

• Common wisdom says that students whose parents take a real interest in their education usually get better recommendations than students whose parents keep their distance. Starting your child’s freshman year, make sure to go to teacher and counselor meetings and attend school open houses. It will help your child if you go out of your way to be friendly and develop relationships with teachers, the counselor and others.

• Remember that how you behave – positively and negatively – with school officials can affect your child. When you bring a request or complaint to someone, always be respectful and polite regardless of how you might be feeling. Negativism and anger rarely get you what you want and may provoke negative reactions toward your child.