With so many students applying for a limited number of spots at colleges, applicants need whatever they can to separate themselves from the competition.
When written effectively, letters of recommendation can be the extra boost needed to get an applicant into a school.
English teacher and stand-in counselor Jane LaBond stressed the importance of letters of recommendation.
“It gives colleges a more personal understanding of applicants,” LaBond said.
They can help colleges if they have any questions about the applicant.
“Letters help if something needs to be explained or added,” Counselor Walt Romano said. “High ranked schools, or any college or university using a standard application, such as Michigan, require letters of recommendation.”
Romano added that students should carefully consider which teachers they want to ask for a letter of recommendation.
“Colleges want to see ‘core’ teachers, compared to ‘elective’ teachers- except for special cases,” Romano said.
When asking teachers for letters of recommendation, it’s important that students keep in mind the number of letters each teacher has to write and plan accordingly.
“It varies every year, depending on how many juniors I teach that year, but I usually write somewhere [from] 15 to 20 letters every year,” Math teacher Carol Pinneo said.
As the school year is coming to an end, Romano said that students should talk to their teachers as soon as possible.
“Students should start asking [their teachers] by the end of May in order to give a heads up, so the teachers can have it to you before application deadlines,” Romano said.
“I need to be given at least two weeks’ notice,” Pinneo said.
In order to get a more personal letter, students often ask teachers that they are close with.
“Students usually have a pretty good feel about teachers that know them,” Flex teacher Peter Shaheen. “Usually students who ask I have a good relationship with or some sort of connection.”
Students afraid to ask should not fear—in most cases, teachers are willing to write a letter of recommendation.
“I haven’t said no to a student before,” LaBond said.
Shaheen said that he attempts to focus on each student’s individuality.
“I try to write something different and unique about every kid,” Shaheen said. “I try to be specific to all the cool things students do, because we have a lot of cool kids at Seaholm.”
Other teachers have students fill out forms or answer questions so they can talk more about what kind of person they are.
“I have a form for students to fill out, asking about their experiences,” LaBond said. “I then incorporate what they say to make their letter more personal and less generic.”
