How To Ask for a College Recommendation Letter

This week on Homeschool Highschool Podcast: How To Ask for a College Recommendation Letter. How To Ask for a College Recommendation Letter For many years, 7Sister Vicki served as junior/senior advisor for our local homeschool umbrella school, while the rest of the 7Sisters taught these teens. SO we all have written a LOT of college recommendation letters for our homeschool students! Here are so tips that we always told our teens. Plan Ahead for Recommendation Letters One of the most important steps in securing a college recommendation letter is to plan ahead. Start the process early, ideally in the summer before senior year. Start talking with your teen about getting recommendation letters and, together, try to identify potential recommenders. Anyone they have worked with can be a good recommender, such as teachers, coaches, mentors, youth pastors, volunteer leaders. When it’s time, give your recommenders at least three to four weeks’ notice to ensure they have ample time to craft a quality letter. These are all people who who can provide valuable insights into their character and abilities, work ethics and commitment, and a growth mindset. So understand the application timelines! In addition to brainstorming with your teen on who to request a recommendation letter from, you will also want to understand the timelines for college applications, especially for those using the Common App . This will help your teen manage time effectively and ensure that everything is submitted before the deadlines. It’s important to stay organized and keep track of all the requirements for each college or university your teen is interested in or applying to. Empower Your Teen to Ask Who asks for the recommendation letter? Not you! It’s time for your teen to prepare for the next stage in life, and that includes reaching out to appropriate individuals themselves for recommendation letters. So encourage your teen to personally ask for the recommendation letter. This is an essential life skill that teaches them the importance of polite and direct communication. Whether