REQUESTING A LETTER OF RECOMMENDATION

1. Provide your teacher with the necessary forms an dproperly addressed and stamped envelopes. Place the form and envelope in a large manila envelope (one per school) with the name of the school and the deadline written in red marker on the front.
   
   
2. Include an unofficial transcript and a résumé with your request.
   
   
3. Write a paragraph that addresses specifically the positive contributions that you made to the class you took from your teacher (getting a good grade doesn't count!).
   
   
4. Write another paragraph that tells your teacher what to highlight in the letter of recommendation.
   
   
5. Allow at least three weeks in which to write your letter.

Most importantly, you must WAIVE YOUR RIGHT to see the recommendation. Colleges view CONFIDENTIAL recommendations as being more honest and accurate. If you are comfortable with asking the teacher for a letter, then you should be comfortable entrusting him/her to write a confidential letter of recommendation that accurately addresses your academic and extra-curricular achievements.

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