Letters of recommendation from high school teachers are a very important part of a student’s college application. Colleges that require letters of rec are looking to understand more about the student than their grades and activities. These letters address not just what you have accomplished, but who you are as a person and a student. 

Your counselor will tell you which of the colleges on your list require letters of recommendation. A good rule of thumb is to request them from two teachers: a humanities teacher, and a STEM teacher.

These letters represent the part of your application that makes you “real,” helps you stand out, and adds insights into your academic strengths and learning style. Recommendations provide an opportunity for someone to consider what you are like in the classroom. In order to provide your recommenders with more ways of getting to know you in the virtual classroom, here are some things to do now:

Turn on your camera when appropriate. Let your teacher recognize your face and get to know the person behind the voice.

Participate in the virtual classroom. Ask questions, interact and if there are online break-out groups, participate in a leadership role.

Let your teachers see that you are eager to engage and learn, however challenging the new environment feels.

Be respectful in the virtual classroom. Don’t engage in silly comments on the chat/conversation function.

Do more: ask the teacher for an after-class conversation about material that is challenging, offer to create an extracurricular club, ask for book or podcast recommendations to supplement the online materials.

COVID-19 has changed the typical manner by which students have historically obtained their all-important teacher recommendations. Many high school students have not sat in the classroom for most of 2020, and still now, in 2021, many are still not attending school in person.

In this case, your approach to gaining good recommendations must adapt. Your college counselor will provide you a “Brag Sheet” to fill out and give to your teacher recommenders. It provides good information to your teachers about things you have accomplished while outside the classroom and learning virtually, shed light on your career goals so your teachers can see your ambitions and why that matters, and tell them which colleges and majors you are applying to. 

You will need to submit your request for a recommendation by email so above all, be polite, use good grammar, spelling and punctuation, personalize each one and attach your Brag Sheet. We recommend that juniors reach out to teachers now and give them a heads-up that you hope they will be willing to write on your behalf.