Do the best recommendations have to come from teachers who saw you consistently succeed? Not necessarily! Effective recommendations come from teachers who know you well, who are asked early, and who have been impressed with your character. For some students, that could be a teacher who has seen you mightily struggle with an academic subject. If they have seen you grapple with a difficult course, a great letter could be written, even if your grade is not very high. That letter could focus on your determination, letting the colleges know you are ready to work hard & you won’t give up.
Letters of recommendation can bolster an application substantially. A good letter of recommendation reveals details about you that grades and SAT scores simply can’t show. Letters provide college admission reps with more personal information about who you are, what you’re capable of and all you’ve accomplished. They can solidify the overall “picture” you are trying to paint of yourself.
Colleges want to know how you participated in the classroom. What better way to reveal academic efforts than by asking those who have personally seen your work? Teachers are key references as they’re familiar with your work ethic and can provide a personal and professional opinion on your success and abilities. Supplemental recommendations can bolster an application too—from people like coaches, employers & academic advisors. These NEVER take the place of the teacher recommendations though—they just add an additional perspective.
Don’t wait until the last minute to ask your teachers for recommendations! Give them enough time to write a positive, detailed letter on your behalf and give them plenty of material to work with.
We help our students decide which teachers to approach and how to approach them. Figuring out who to ask for letters of recommendation can be challenging. Picking the right references can make all the difference. We take into consideration your experiences throughout high school & what you hope to accomplish once in college, providing guidance throughout.
We supply our students with detailed instructions on how to procure impressive letters that make an impact. Getting an early start on letters of recommendation can be highly beneficial and getting them from the right teachers is key. As with everything else in college admissions, plan ahead for best results!
Call us at (818) 207-0263 to learn more about how we can help improve your college application.
