Application Preparation

How to request recommendation letters

Ask people who know your work well, ask early, and give them useful details. Check each college's rules first, because colleges decide how many letters they want.

A recommendation letter gives colleges a view of you from someone else. Teachers describe how you learn. Counselors describe you within your whole school. Your job is to choose well, ask politely and make their work easier.

Who to ask

  • Teachers: Pick someone who saw you think, ask questions and work through something hard. The guide to the admission process from the National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC) generally suggests junior-year teachers, since they have seen you recently.
  • Your counselor: Most colleges want a counselor's input. Meet your counselor early so they know you. They can also explain anything unusual on your record.
  • Other recommenders: Some colleges accept a coach, employer or mentor. Check first.

The highest grade is not always the best reason to ask. A teacher who watched you improve after a rough start may write a more useful letter than one who gave you easy top marks.

When and how to ask

Ask early. Common App's recommendation guide says to ask at least three weeks before a deadline. More notice is better, and many students ask at the end of junior year. Teachers get a lot of requests, and spots can fill up.

  1. Ask in person if you can. Email is fine if you can't.
  2. Give the teacher an easy way to say no. A rushed or reluctant letter won't help you.
  3. Share a short note with your deadlines and details about your work in their class.
  4. Invite them in your application only after they agree.
  5. Remind them politely if a deadline is getting close.
  6. Thank them, and tell them where you end up.
Made-up example: asking a teacher
Weaker

Hey, can you write me a rec? I need it soon. I'll send you the link.

Stronger

Hi Ms. Okafor, I'm applying to college this fall, and your chemistry class is where I learned to stick with hard problems. Would you feel able to write me a strong recommendation? My first deadline is in the fall. I can bring you a short summary of my work and my dates. If your schedule is too full, I understand.

The strong version gives a reason for choosing this teacher, offers help and lets her decline. It also shows respect for her time.

The FERPA choice

FERPA is a federal law that protects student education records. Before you invite recommenders in Common App, you choose whether to waive your right to see your recommendations later. Common App's affirmations page explains that this choice applies to all your colleges, and that you can't change it after any recommendation or application is submitted. It also warns that not waiving may lead some teachers or counselors to decline to write for you. Talk this over with a parent or guardian and your counselor before you choose.

What to do next

Pick your recommenders and write down each college's rules, then tick recommendations off on your application checklist. Then check Common application mistakes to avoid last-minute problems.

Sources

Reviewed October 2026.

Peakscor is independent and isn’t affiliated with any college. Common App is a trademark of The Common Application, Inc., which is not affiliated with, and does not endorse, Peakscor.