What if a letter of recommendation is optional?

Ultimately, an optional letter of recommendation can make a difference in your application if it complements your existing recommendation letters and adds valuable information about your skills, experiences, and character.

Should you submit letters of recommendation if they are optional?

The truth is that most college applications do not require letters of recommendation. Many students will successfully apply to all the colleges on their lists and never ask for a letter, but some students will find recommendations are a required or suggested part of their admissions checklist.

What if I have no one to ask for a letter of recommendation?

If you have time, take a relevant class (or several) at a local university or community college and build a relationship with your instructors! Take an interest in them as people (not just as potential recommenders), and ask them about their work, careers, and research.

Should I submit letters of recommendation if not required?

If a college doesn't require teachers recommendations then you don't have to arrange for such letters. BUT if a college allows letters to be submitted AND you know that your teacher can write a good letter for you, then it'd be a good idea to submit it.

What if I don t have anyone to write me a letter of recommendation?

If you're a working professional currently applying to go back to school, your options include bosses and mentors, colleagues, or former professors with whom you had a good relationship. When you're applying for a job, your former managers or supervisors often make the best letter writers.

The letter of recommendation that got me into Yale (and Princeton, and Columbia, and other Ivys)

Can you refuse to write a letter of recommendation?

There are several reasons to refuse a request to write a letter of recommendation. You may not know the applicant well enough, you may not have time to write it by the time the applicant needs it, you may not feel you could say good things about the applicant, etc.

What if I don t waive my right to see letters of recommendation?

To reiterate: even if you don't waive your right, you will not be able to access the letter until after the college application and enrollment process is over. And, truthfully, you won't really care about your letters of recommendation after you've enrolled in college.

Does it matter who writes letter of recommendation?

Ask a trusted adult who is not your family member. This could be a teacher, a coach, a mentor, someone from your faith community, a boss, someone who you have volunteered with, etc. Pro Tip: Ask someone who has known you for a long time or who has seen you work hard at school, a job, or an extra-curricular activity.

What happens if my teacher doesn t submit my recommendation letter?

If you have an additional recommendation letter available, have your guidance counselor submit it for you along with a note explaining what happened. Hopefully the college will understand.

How far in advance should you ask for a letter of recommendation?

Start early.

Ideally, give the person three to four weeks, but never less than two weeks to complete the recommendation. Most faculty and staff are very busy and have numerous recommendations to write, so you want to be courteous.

Is it OK to only have one letter of recommendation?

Students generally ask, “How many recommendation letters do I need to get into college?” The answer usually varies depending on the university. Typically, it's best to have one professional and one academic reference letter. Some universities may ask for three or more.

Who is the best person to ask for a letter of recommendation?

Teachers who know you outside of the classroom are a good choice. Consider a teacher who led a club you were in. If requested by the college, you can also think about other adults who know you well. A coach, employer, or club adviser can say a lot about your skills and character.

What happens if you exclude a recommendation?

When you exclude a recommender, that entry (including the link sent to your teacher) will be made inactive. If the original recommendation was previously submitted, it will not be included with your application, so please only exclude recommendations you no longer want to have considered.

Why is it so hard to get letters of recommendation?

Some schools place limits on how many recommendations teachers or counselors may write, which is why it is so important to approach them early to ensure they are able to write a letter for you. You can assume that popular instructors will have a lot of students asking for recommendations.

Can I submit my letter of recommendation after the deadline?

Some departments require all documents and letters of recommendation to be submitted by the application deadline. Other departments allow for supporting documents and test scores to be received after the application deadline.

Can a teacher write a bad letter of recommendation?

But basically, you should never write a bad recommendation. Instead you should tell the student that you won't/can't write a letter. Let it go at that if you can, but if pressed, tell the student why. If you are generous you can let the student try to convince you that you have an improper impression.

Will I ever be able to read my letter of recommendation?

Only you can decide whether or not to waive your right to inspect letters of recommendation. If you are uncertain, you may wish to ask the advice of people you know and trust (e.g. faculty, current graduate students, etc.).

Do schools check letters of recommendation?

The majority of letters of recommendation are written by someone that is affiliated with a school. In some cases the individual that has written the letter is contacted and questions are asked about the individual that is recommended in the letter. They can call the person.

What teacher should you ask for a letter of recommendation?

Choose the right teacher(s)

Depending on the kind of letter of recommendation you want, you'll need to ask the appropriate teacher. Generally, you'll want to choose a teacher who knows you well, has a positive opinion of you, and can highlight your strengths.

What does it mean when a letter of recommendation is waived?

Waiving your right to review your recommendation letters indicates to your recommenders that you will not read what they have written.

Can a teacher or counselor deny your request for a letter of recommendation?

In addition, it's perfectly acceptable for a teacher to decline your request. While this rejection might hurt, in the end, you are better off having a teacher decline your request than write a letter that is not strong.

Can you get into grad school without letters of recommendation?

Many post-baccalaurate and professional master's programs do not require recommendation letters. But if you want a PhD or a thesis MS, then yes. If you truly cannot find anyone to write letters of recommendation on your behalf, you will not be admitted to any reasonable research-based graduate program.

Is 2 weeks enough time to ask for a letter of recommendation?

The second aspect of starting early is giving your recommender enough time to write the letter. It's best practice to give at least one month in advance, and more if you're applying to graduate school. At absolute minimum, you want to give them a two week's notice.

What do colleges look for in recommendation letters?

Admissions officers want to learn about your personal qualities and strengths from your recommenders. These personal qualities could include integrity, caring for others, thoughtfulness, humor, and passion. Two traits they especially value are demonstrated leadership and strength of character.

Is it rude to ask a professor for multiple letters of recommendation?

The number is basically professor-dependent.

While one professor might happily write 5 letters another might prefer to write only 1 or 2. Because this letter probably won't need to be customized for each program, some professors will be wiling to send 10 or more letters but others might decline such a request.