College recommendations how many

Even if a school allows you to submit multiple additional letters, I recommend only sending one. They get it! All these people think you're awesome. Letters of recommendation should be sought before the end of junior year, and you should always ask in person. Also let your recommenders know your submission plans. For example, if you're applying Early Decision or Early Action , your recommender should have your letter ready by early to mid-October.

And it doesn't hurt to send an email reminder in August, along with a thank you. Not sure who, how, or when to ask for a letter of receommendation? In terms of who you ask, colleges typically ask you to provide a range of perspectives , like one letter from a science or math teacher and one from a humanities or social studies teacher this includes technical schools like MIT and CalTech.

The other common policy is that the school leaves the choice up to you. In pretty much any case, you should ask two teachers from core courses. If you're applying to an art or performance school, like Juilliard or the New England Conservatory of Music, then one of your letters should be an artistic recommendation from a private studio teacher, conductor, coach, or artistic mentor.

As you saw above, a select few schools, like Dartmouth, Davidson, and Wheaton, get specific about additional peer or pastoral recommendations, but these are definitely exceptions. Now that you have a sense of the colleges that want two teacher recommendations, take a look at the few that want three FYI, they're all military schools. These schools also require a nomination from a Congressperson, which essentially counts as another recommendation, bringing the number required up to five!

Above, we briefly touched on whether or not you should send a letter even if your school doesn't require it. On a similar note, should you ever send an extra letter? Logistically, you should be able to send an extra recommendation letter via mail or assigning an additional recommender on your school application or Common Application. Many schools allow this option, but you should be cautious and make sure you understand your school's opinion about sending extra material.

Each school has its own stance on supplemental letters. If your school allows it, you want to make sure an extra letter adds something substantial to your application and comes from an authoritative source, like a community supervisor or spiritual leader with whom you've worked closely.

Another circumstance in which an extra letter could be a good idea is if you attend a huge high school and haven't gotten to know your teachers or counselor very well. Again, make sure to learn about your school's policy. You don't want to play into the old admissions saying, " The thicker the file, the thicker the kid. Rather than helping your application, excessive supplemental could just end up raising red flags about the strength of your candidacy.

While researching your colleges' requirements is a critical first step in planning your recommendation letters, there are several other factors that require your attention. Read on for more on gathering recommendation letters, along with the resources that can help you through the process.

Before you invite your recommenders to submit their letters online, you should be thoughtful about who you ask and how you make your requests. Make sure to ask teachers of core subjects who know you well and give them all the necessary information at least a month in advance, if not in the spring of junior year. To get your best letter , part of this information should be a detailed resume and "brag sheet. Finally, make sure you understand your rights surrounding your rec letters and how to approach the FERPA question on your application.

Recommendations: Whom to ask MIT requires two letters of recommendation from teachers. Math Biology Chemistry Physics Earth science. Environmental science Computer science Engineering Technology Science research as a class.

English History Foreign language Classics Economics. Instead, make sure you highlight the individual strengths of each particular student, their unique achievements, and why you think they would be a good fit for their chosen institution.

The Common App has an example which you can download here. Likewise, it is not necessary to include quantitative data like test scores or activity lists, as these will be submitted by the student. Instead, focus on what these things indicate about the student. Perhaps they are a natural leader, or a born storyteller. Or maybe their good results are a consequence of a true dedication and passion for their subject.

In general, we recommend that you keep your letter to under 1 page. As long as you have followed the other tips in this blog, this should be more than enough space to portray your students in a great light! If you have students who are applying to multiple international destinations, remember that not all application processes are the same. For example, the UCAS reference sits on the opposite side of the spectrum to the college letter of recommendation, and is designed to give a purely academic view of the applicant, rather than a holistic one.

It gives an overview of the two documents and the differences between them, as well as tips on tone, structure, and what to include. It also contains real-world examples to help you guide your writing. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Helpful advice, thank you very much! From myself, I can add next — while proofreading, check for active voice, proper grammar, and a formal yet warm tone.

Good luck everyone!