There is a very clear process to make sure that you get the best teacher recommendations possible in order to stand out in the college admissions process.
Here are the steps:
First, start building teacher relationships freshman year. The earlier you start, the better. There will always be teachers you like more than others. Focus on these teachers.
Make sure you do very well in classes and really participate while you’re in class. Ask questions, help fellow students, stay after class to clarify things you learned in the material, and do extra credit work as much as possible.
Second, you want to participate in extracurricular activities and clubs where teachers play an active role. As an example, let’s say that your math teacher is heavily involved in the academic decathlon.
Participate in the Academic Decathlon or Math Counts or Science Olympiad. That will give you a great opportunity to spend more time with the teacher and build a great relationship. It will also demonstrate to the teacher that you have a different set of skills that he or she can then write about in your recommendation.
The most powerful teacher recommendations that I’ve ever read have always been from teachers who have known the students for a long time. Usually, they have an acquaintance of at least several years. During the time, the teachers have typically interacted with the student, not only in the classroom, but also outside the classroom.
Their time spent with the student may have been participation in an organized sport, National Honor Society, Future Business Leaders of America, or some other club or afterschool activity. That’s why the more you participate in events in which teachers are actively involved, the better your opportunity for STELLAR recommendations will be.
The third thing you want to do is to arm the teacher with everything he or she needs to know to write you a good recommendation. This is a crucial step that many students miss.
The first thing to do here is to have a conversation with your teachers. Tell them what schools you are applying to, and tell them why you’re interested in Princeton or MIT or Harvard. Explain to them what you’ve done to prepare, what clubs you are in, and what your class rank is.
Give them as much information about you as possible so that they can then reference this information in their recommendations. Provide them with a printed resume or brag sheet that details the same information.
Give them exactly the same information that you would submit. Show them your essays. If you are able to engage them on your essays, there is a much better chance that they’ll get to know you better. This will be reflected in the quality of their recommendation letters.
Harvard wants to know that your teacher truly knows you and can give an accurate assessment of your potential. Harvard’s admissions committee can’t do that unless your teachers have all the information at their disposal to truly highlight you as a well well-rounded student.
The last thing to do is to follow up with your teacher and thank them for follow-up is the most important thing just in case Mr. Davidson or Mrs. Bain forget the deadline but even more importantly than that you want to thank them for what they did.
Write them a nice THANK YOU letter; maybe even buy them a small gift show your appreciation because this is a long-term relationship you’re building.
I’ve definitely heard of Ivy League schools where there are tight cases and they’re not sure who to admit, and these Common App readers will actually follow up with the teachers and counselors and managers that wrote recommendations to get additional information about the student.
You want to leave whoever writes you a rec with the best impression of you possible!!
Want to attend Ivy League schools? Check out my insider’s course and guide to getting into Harvard, even with a 1360 SAT from a public high school.
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