Letters of recommendation are an important part of the college application. Knowing who, when, and how to ask is critical during the college planning process, but it can feel overwhelming to get right. Many students, including those who attended our fall 2024 My Journey events, have lots of questions about letters of recommendation. So, let's answer your pressing questions!
Can we get recommendation letters from people who didn't teach us (e.g. club faculty advisors, sports coaches, etc.)?
Yes! If you have built long-term strong relationships with a coach, counselor, club advisor, etc., you can and should ask them to help write you a letter of recommendation. Remember that it’s best to ask those who know you well and can speak to you as a well-rounded applicant.
For example, you may ask a coach you’ve had for a number of years who knows how hard you’ve worked to keep your grades up while balancing the rigor of practice and games. This coach may also be able to speak about your leadership skills and how you’ve dedicated yourself to being a mentor to others on the team. Similarly, your club advisor might be able to see your passion for making a difference. They can see how organized, productive, and reliable you are as a leader and club member, which would be valuable information to a college admissions officer.
A word of advice — avoid asking ONLY those who know you well outside of school to write your recommendation letters. Colleges want to also hear from your teachers about your abilities to do well in class, to ask questions, and dedicate yourself to your academics. Colleges need to believe that you as an applicant will be successful in college and will persist to graduation!
Bonus: Check out an example of a recommendation letter request email.
Does the recommendation letter have to come from a teacher in a class immediately related to the major you are interested in?
No, you do not have to get a letter of recommendation from a teacher in the major you’re interested in. In fact, many students still aren’t sure what major they want to pursue, and that’s okay! The most important thing is to ask a teacher in a class you did well in or one that you worked hard in. This teacher should know you well, meaning you participated, went to office hours if you needed help, were polite, etc. If you’re trying to decide between a few teachers that you interact with regularly and one of them happens to be related to the major you want to study, then that would be a great option!
For homeschool students do you recommend asking a coach?
Colleges are looking for the same things with homeschooled students as public or private students. They want to know that you’ll do well academically and will contribute to their campus with your leadership skills, creativity, and passion.
If you are homeschooled and looking for someone to write you a letter of recommendation, there are a couple of great places to turn. Start with an outside teacher from your homeschool organization or if you take any classes at your local community college.
You can also ask other adults in your life like coaches, managers from work, and community leaders, if you regularly volunteer or attend local clubs. Each of these individuals will have great insight into how you operate in different types of situations and what you bring to the table.
When should I ask my teacher for a letter of recommendation? Is fall of senior year too late?
The key to getting a great letter of recommendation is to ask at the right time so your teachers have plenty of time to complete the task. Plan to ask those on your list in spring of your junior year if possible. This gives them your entire junior year to get to know you, and then provides them with plenty of time over summer break to complete the letter in time for applications at the start of your senior year.
Teachers and those who get asked to write letters of recommendation often may also place a cap on how many they are willing to write. It’s better to ask early so you have an idea of who is willing to help write one for you.
If it’s senior year and you’re just getting started, there is still hope! Start asking the adults on your list in person if they are willing to write you a letter of recommendation. Be upfront about the deadline, what it’s for, and why it would mean a lot to you if the letter came from them. Try and give those who agree at least one month to get their portion done to avoid them rushing it or missing the deadline.
What is a polite way to check in with teachers to remind them of deadlines to submit letters of recommendation? How long would you advise that I wait after asking for a letter to check and see if they need anything else from me /remind them of the deadline?
Being polite, upfront, and helpful will make the process smoother and hopefully land you a great letter of recommendation. It might feel uncomfortable to check in with the adults on your list, but know that everyone forgets about something every now and then.
If you’ve asked someone to write you a letter of recommendation and they’ve agreed, first start by sending them an email that day with all the information they will need. Include the deadline, an overview of the request, who to address the letter to, and any requirements about the format or where to send it to. It’s also a great idea to send them a list of talking points that they can use as a reference for things to mention. This might include your future aspirations and goals, your intended major and why you’re choosing it, any awards, honors, or accomplishments, and of course any relevant extracurricular activities.
Assuming you’ve done that, and the deadline is a couple of weeks out, send a polite follow-up email, possibly a reply to the first email so they can reference the original request, and thank them again for being willing to complete this letter by the set deadline. Ask if they need any further information or have any questions that you can help answer.
It might read:
Hi Mr. Johnson,
I wanted to thank you again for your willingness to write me a letter of recommendation as part of my college application to the University of Iowa this fall. I wanted to reconnect before the December 1st deadline to ask if you needed anything further from me? I truly appreciate your time and support with this, and I’m very grateful for your help. Please don’t hesitate to let me know if you have any questions.
Thank you,
Josh Williams
Once they have submitted their letter of recommendation, write them a thank you note so they know their time was appreciated.
Check out our applying to college resources for more information on how to make your college journey a success!
