When searching for people to recommend you for colleges, you want to make sure that you're asking the right people (and asking them properly).
Recommendation letters form a key component of any competitive college application. This is also one of the main areas of the college application process where you will be working with somebody else, so here are some tips to keep in mind.
Start With a Resume
A good step to cover before requesting any recommendation letters is to write your own resume. This will help you to review some of your achievements during high school, and perhaps give you an idea of who you might ask for your recommendation letter. More importantly, it will form a basis for the person who eventually writes your letter to refer back to your specific activities and achievements.
Who to Ask
You should plan to ask three people for your recommendation letters. One will be your college counselor, who is required to submit reports for his or her students. Next, you should plan to ask two additional people. Most colleges will only request one additional recommender, but it's good to have two just in case. The people who write your references should not be family members. You should plan for one of your recommenders to be a teacher, preferably one who has taught you across multiple years and can attest to your ability to academically succeed in college. (Bonus points if they also taught you in a subject related to your intended major!) You should have a good relationship with this person and be confident that they will write you a strong reference.
You can imagine your development through high school as involving three elements: Academic, Personal, and Extracurricular. Academic growth refers to your development in your classes. Personal development refers to character growth or transformative experiences you've had in high school. Extracurricular achievements refer to your success in activities beyond the classroom.
It would be best to have a recommender who can speak to your development in all three areas. However, you should aim to find somebody who can personally attest to your growth in at least two out of the three elements of your development.
Requesting the Letter
Requesting your recommendation letter begins with an email. Make sure that you draft it professionally, beginning with "Dear _____,", and that your tone is friendly but formal. It can be helpful to quickly let the teacher or counselor know how thankful you are for their guidance over the years, and maybe highlight one particular memory that stands out. Finally, request your letter and attach a resume. You should always give your recommenders at least three weeks notice to write your reference letters. After emailing, it's also a good idea to see them in person if possible to thank them for agreeing to help you.
Final Thoughts
Having strong references can make a real difference to your college applications. Take the time to pick the right people, and make sure that you remain courteous and helpful throughout all of your interactions with them.
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