Letters of rec are probably the most underlerveraged (and consequently underutilized) tools in the Ivy League admissions process.
There's a basic reason why - students are afraid of their bosses/teachers/coaches. They're afraid of going for what they really want - a strong, positive letter of rec that highlights achievements and re-affirms the student's strengths.
Part of the answer is simple: get over yourself. Be courageous. That's something personal that this story won't be able to help you acquire.
But I can help you understand the process. And following these steps will greatly increase your chance of getting the exact letter of recommendation you'd hoped for - one that Yale, Princeton, and the best colleges around the globe will enjoy reading.
Here goes:
1. Identify the teachers/profs who a) know you the best and b) you excelled in their classes. These people will usually write the best letters of recommendation. Ideally they're the same ones that sponsor EC/club activities in which you partake. If not, I'd recommend proposing some of them to sponsor new clubs that you'd be starting. Win-win-win
2. Have your parents meet that teacher. I didn't do this, but in retrospect I should have. Teacher-parent conferences are a smart way to strengthen the student-teacher relationship, and a great way for parents to indirectly express their hopes and dreams (and their kid's wishes) to the teacher. Just make sure this type of meeting is friendly and casual. I actually remember reading teacher recommendations which subtly referenced controlling parents...these don't go over too well with your strategy to get into Harvard
3. Prepare a letter addressed individually to that teacher. In a written letter, talk about the following things:
-What universities and why - in more than just a few words
-Why that teacher was your top choice to write a recommendation
-A few achievements that you're most proud of, and any successes that were either in that teacher's classes or sponsored clubs
-What your overall story is for the Ivy Leagues, and how what your efforts help build on that story
4. Prepare a resume/brag-sheet. This should be the exact same one for the Common App. Attach this for additional reinforcement
5. Meet with your teacher in-person when asking them to write the letter. In this talk, make sure you cover topics similar to Step 3 - why you're applying to Ivy League colleges, why you think you should be accepted, what your story is that you're telling Admissions Offices, and why you thought they'd be a great recommender. Don't simply ask them to write a referral, smile politely, and say nothing more. This in-person chat is crucial to providing your teacher more info about your particular case
6. GIVE YOUR TEACHER PLENTY OF TIME TO WRITE THE LETTER. A week is too fast. A month should be fine. This is yet another example of how early planning is necessary for Ivy League colleges
7. Followup politely. If you haven't heard a response from Mrs. Davidson or Mr. Gonzalez and there's 4 weeks before application deadlines, politely inquire about the status of your rec
8. Thank them profusely! Give them a little card and/or gift to express your appreciation. After all, this may not be the last time you'll ask for their help and they've just done something for which they receive nothing in return
Step 5 is particularly critical. Do everything else wrong, but as long as you execute Step 5 well, your recommender will have the info and context they require to write something thats personal and shows they care. After reading thousands of these letters, you can quickly spot the genuine, heartfelt ones versus the form ones.
There's a basic reason why - students are afraid of their bosses/teachers/coaches. They're afraid of going for what they really want - a strong, positive letter of rec that highlights achievements and re-affirms the student's strengths.
Part of the answer is simple: get over yourself. Be courageous. That's something personal that this story won't be able to help you acquire.
But I can help you understand the process. And following these steps will greatly increase your chance of getting the exact letter of recommendation you'd hoped for - one that Yale, Princeton, and the best colleges around the globe will enjoy reading.
Here goes:
1. Identify the teachers/profs who a) know you the best and b) you excelled in their classes. These people will usually write the best letters of recommendation. Ideally they're the same ones that sponsor EC/club activities in which you partake. If not, I'd recommend proposing some of them to sponsor new clubs that you'd be starting. Win-win-win
2. Have your parents meet that teacher. I didn't do this, but in retrospect I should have. Teacher-parent conferences are a smart way to strengthen the student-teacher relationship, and a great way for parents to indirectly express their hopes and dreams (and their kid's wishes) to the teacher. Just make sure this type of meeting is friendly and casual. I actually remember reading teacher recommendations which subtly referenced controlling parents...these don't go over too well with your strategy to get into Harvard
3. Prepare a letter addressed individually to that teacher. In a written letter, talk about the following things:
-What universities and why - in more than just a few words
-Why that teacher was your top choice to write a recommendation
-A few achievements that you're most proud of, and any successes that were either in that teacher's classes or sponsored clubs
-What your overall story is for the Ivy Leagues, and how what your efforts help build on that story
4. Prepare a resume/brag-sheet. This should be the exact same one for the Common App. Attach this for additional reinforcement
5. Meet with your teacher in-person when asking them to write the letter. In this talk, make sure you cover topics similar to Step 3 - why you're applying to Ivy League colleges, why you think you should be accepted, what your story is that you're telling Admissions Offices, and why you thought they'd be a great recommender. Don't simply ask them to write a referral, smile politely, and say nothing more. This in-person chat is crucial to providing your teacher more info about your particular case
6. GIVE YOUR TEACHER PLENTY OF TIME TO WRITE THE LETTER. A week is too fast. A month should be fine. This is yet another example of how early planning is necessary for Ivy League colleges
7. Followup politely. If you haven't heard a response from Mrs. Davidson or Mr. Gonzalez and there's 4 weeks before application deadlines, politely inquire about the status of your rec
8. Thank them profusely! Give them a little card and/or gift to express your appreciation. After all, this may not be the last time you'll ask for their help and they've just done something for which they receive nothing in return
Step 5 is particularly critical. Do everything else wrong, but as long as you execute Step 5 well, your recommender will have the info and context they require to write something thats personal and shows they care. After reading thousands of these letters, you can quickly spot the genuine, heartfelt ones versus the form ones.
About the Author:
Hopeless To Harvard is the story of how a B+ student got into 6 Ivy League schools and Stanford. Click here to get Ivy League admissions help and break into the school of your dreams. Discover how to get into Yale now!
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