Many private colleges and some scholarships require applicants to submit letters of recommendation from teachers or counselors. Some have specific forms to be used and others simply ask for a letter; it's important to determine what each college or scholarshio program requires.
Follow these steps to request a letter of recommendation:
- Obtain any required forms and complete the sections that the applicant is to fill out. Guidelines for Letters of Rec
- Complete a "brag sheet" which is available in the counseling office or download it, and instructions, here:
- At least two weeks before any deadlines, ask the teacher or counselor to write a letter of recommendation for you. Remember that some people are asked to write many letters and won't be able to do a good job if not given enough time. Be aware that letters and forms that are needed to meet early January deadlines must be requested by December 1 due to the winter holiday.
- Provide the teacher or counselor with the brag sheet, recommendation forms or instructions, stamped envelopes addressed to the college(s) or scholarship programs, and a list of the due dates for each one.
NOTE: UC and CSU campuses do not use letters of recommendation as part of the admissions process.
