The time has finally come: college application season. You’ve taken the standardized tests, formulated your college list, and started scanning the essay prompts. Next up on the list is asking for letters of recommendations from your teachers. Here we’ll answer the what’s, who’s, when’s, and other details about teacher letters of recommendation.

An Overview

Many colleges require one or more teacher letters of recommendation. Admissions counselors may have to review hundreds or even thousands of student applications. Your letters of recommendation help to bring a face to the name. Beyond the black and white numbers of your grades and test scores, your teachers may have illuminating details about your intellectual enthusiasm, teamwork ability, and creativity that help to personalize your application.

Your teachers spend multiple hours a week with you. They review your homework, edit your essays, and grade your tests. Over the course of an entire year, they get a solid look into the type of student you are and what you bring to a classroom. That look is what counselors want to see and find out. How will you contribute to their college?

Who should I ask?

In the end, you want to ask the teachers who know you best and who will joyfully advocate for your strengths as a student and an individual. If you slump into their class every morning half-asleep and work on other homework during lectures, don’t ask that teacher, even if you got an A. Consider which teachers would be most likely to write about your motivation to learn, your passion for history, or whatever it may be that you are trying to project through your application.

There are a number of other factors to consider when selecting who to ask for a recommendation letter. We’ll start with class subject, grade, and teacher ability.

Class subject:

It’s preferable that you ask teachers in core subjects like English, social studies, math, science, or a foreign language.

Grade:

Colleges like to see recommendation letters from junior or senior year teachers. Junior year is generally better because your teacher has had you recently and has an entire year’s worth of time with you to write about. Senior teachers will only have had a handful of months by the time they’re writing the essay, and sophomore or freshman teachers may not remember a student from that long ago.

Teacher ability:

Does your teacher have a reputation for writing fantastic letters of recommendation? Do you know that they are already scrambling to churn out recommendation letters for other students? These details may persuade you to ask or not ask a specific teacher. Make sure to ask in-person at least one month in advance to give them adequate time to prepare the letter.

Of course, there are always exceptions.

Perhaps you have a teacher who doesn’t teach a core subject, but your relationship with them is incredibly strong. If your gut is screaming at you that they’re the perfect fit when it comes to writing a recommendation letter, ask them. Maybe you want to ask a teacher you had sophomore year because you’ve kept up close contact with them; and now they’re the advisor of the club you are president of. Ask them. Use your judgement to make the best call.

The Brag Sheet

The process of asking for recommendation letters differs for each school. In some cases, your school may ask you to fill out a type of ‘brag sheet’ that digs a bit more into your motivations, goals, and personality. It provides a cheat sheet of sorts that the teacher can work off of if they want to.

Brag sheet questions may fall along lines like:

1. What are some of your passions?   
2. Which major(s) are you interested in and why?
3. What do you consider to be your proudest academic accomplishment?
4. How would you describe yourself? What are your best qualities?
5. Which historical events, people, literature, or classes have had an impact on you and how?
6. What is your philosophy of life?

Answer every question to the best of your ability. Even if you don’t think your teacher will use it or needs to use it, fill it out anyway. Just the process of answering some of the questions help you to explore the type of person you are and the type of person you want to become. Outside of applying to colleges, it allows for important self-reflection that we don’t often get the chance to immerse ourselves in.

Just how important are they?

The importance of letters of recommendation vary for each college and also depend on your high school experience. If you attend a high school with a large student population where an individual relationship with your counselor is not as likely, then colleges understand that your counselor letter of recommendation may be less personal and instead turn to your teacher recommendations for a better glimpse into who you are. If your grades dipped in a certain class or semester, the teacher writing your letter of recommendation could help explain the reason (perhaps you were sick or had a disruptive life event occur).

Remember that your recommendations are only one piece of the jigsaw puzzle that forms your application. Even with amazing recommendations, it’s still crucial to keep in mind other factors like your grades, standardized test scores, essays, extracurricular activities, admissions interview, etc. On the other hand, it’s also important to keep in mind that a mediocre recommendation probably will not single-handedly make or break you.

Final note:

If you are looking for additional guidance and resources on the college admissions process, feel free to reach out to us at Empowerly to contact a college admissions expert who can provide you with help getting into the college(s) of your choice.

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How many LORs will be needed?

Firstly, how many LORs will a student need for his/her college applications? The ballpark estimate is one or two LORs. The exact number of LORs a student needs is determined by the student’s finalized college list. The reason for this is LOR requirements are variable among colleges. For example, Harvey Mudd College requires two LORs: one from a math or science teacher; and one from a humanities, social science, or art teacher. In contrast the institutions in the University of California system do not require LORs.

A general guideline is to plan for two LORs from teachers in different areas of study; but, overall, it is best to check on each university’s website once the college list is finalized. Some tips for putting together a college list can be found here.

What do colleges ask recommenders?

The LOR format for many colleges and universities consists of two parts:

• 1) an evaluation and ranking section, and
• 2) the letter itself.

There is an in-depth breakdown of what the recommender provides here. Briefly in the evaluation and ranking section, recommenders are often asked to answer questions about the maturity-level of the student and how the student deals with challenges. Additionally, the recommender can be asked if he/she would rank this applicant in the top 10% of students he/she has encountered. The top 5%? The top 1%?

Given this, the student needs to reflect and consider how the potential recommender would answer these questions before asking the recommender for a reference letter. When the student asks the recommender it is best it say: will you be able to write me a strong letter of recommendation? If the recommender has any reservations, then it is best to select another teacher.

A general rule of thumb:

If the student has not had a real conversation with the teacher over the course of the academic year, then this is probably not a teacher that can provide a strong reference. The recommender will only be able to provide information on the student’s grades and few insights into the student’s personality. Again, the LOR goes beyond grades and excellent projects/essays.

The right recommender can make all the difference

From Day One in high school it is advantageous to the student to develop relationships with teachers in diverse disciplines. One reason for this is that some colleges require LORs from faculty in different disciplines.Another reason is that the best LORs generally come from a teacher/mentor who knows the student.

For example, if a student earned the highest grade in the class but never interacted with the teacher, this may not be a situation in which the teacher will produce a strong recommendation letter. The final grade a student receives in a course only tells one part of the story – it is the culmination of classroom activities, projects, and tests.

The recommendation letter is a platform for a teacher to address the potential of the student beyond the four walls of the classroom. So, a student doesn’t want his LOR to come from a member of his fan club, but from the President of his/her fan club. Taking that into account, generally, recommenders should be teachers from 11th or 12th grade.

From my own experience reviewing applications…

If a student’s recommender states that the student is very punctual, has done well on tests, and has never missed an assignment, then that doesn’t really strengthen the student’s application. This could be said about many of the top-tier students. Especially in the context of someone who reads two to three applications an hour for several hours a day.

However, if the teacher has a specific example of situations and or events where the student has shone, then the reader of the LOR gets a better sense of the student and his/her personality. In fact, a lukewarm recommendation can hurt an otherwise strong application package. Recall, the LOR is one of the few components of a college application that the student doesn’t directly write; so it is given an in-depth examination, and could impact the decision to accept or reject a student. So a student get a strong recommendation letter?

Six items to provide a Recommender

Now that we have established that the relationship between the student and recommender is important, we suggest six items to provide the recommender. The purpose of these materials is to tell the recommender things that they may not know about the student and to help jog the recommender’s memory of what the student was like in class. These six items will help the recommender compose a strong, student-specific LOR.

Item 1: Resume

This is a very specific type of resume that is more like a curriculum vitae (CV). A great description of the differences between a resume and a CV can be found here. Briefly, the resume should include all relevant activities and experiences with a detailed description. For example a professional resume might have a line item like this: NHS membership 2013-2014. What is the NHS? How does one become a member? A good resume for a recommender would describe this activity as follows. National Honor Society (NHS) member 2013-2014, membership requires excellent scholarship (GPA >X.Y, Z hours of community service, etc.)

Item 2: Class experiences

To do this the student should provide the recommender a list of three specific experiences from the class. This is particularly useful for recommenders, because it tells them what the student enjoyed from their class.

Item 3: Strengths and Weaknesses

Composing a list of the student’s strengths and weaknesses will take some self reflection. It gives the recommender insight into the student’s personality and character.

Item 4: Connect class to future goals

If applicable, the student should provide a small description of how the class will tie into his/her future and studies in college.

Item 5: Recommender’s Intake forms

Teachers that are commonly asked for LORs may have their own intake forms and/or list of requirements to secure the recommendation. It is a good sign when a teacher is a popular choice for LORs. Through the course of high school a student can talk with classmates and upperclassmen to get the scoop on teachers that write the best recommendation letters.  Ideally, the student should get this at the end of eleventh grade so that the student can work on it during the summer before senior year.

Item 6: Student’s intentions

The student should let the recommender know the student’s intentions. Why does the student want to attend college? What does he/she want to study? Why this set of colleges?

Early decision/action and the college counselor LOR

What about early action/decision? If the student is applying early action or early decision to any university, the deadline will most likely be early November. This may influence whom the recommender is because he/she will only be approximately two months into the school year which is not enough time to really get to know the teacher in most cases. Think back to junior year for a recommender and, possibly a 10th grade teacher if the coursework was rigorous.

We would be remiss if we did not mention that many schools also require an LOR from the student’s college advisor/counselor.

Students should think about recommendation letters early in the application process. It is important to choose recommenders wisely and to provide them with the proper materials to help them to write a strong, student-specific recommendation letter.

When to begin?

Think about starting this document the summer before 9th grade and constantly add to it. Google Docs and other cloud-based programs allow you to archive and easily update and locate a resume. Each summer reflect on the activities from the prior school year and update it.     

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The letter of recommendation can serve as a powerful asset to the college applicant. A well-written letter of recommendation from the right person may tip the scales in your favor towards admittance, so spend a bit of time considering who will write yours.

Instead of wracking your brain for who will write the best recommendation though, follow this five step plan to find out who you should ask for a letter of recommendation.

Step 1: Read the requirements

Finding out if your application lists any requirements for letters of recommendation is an easy yet important step. Pull out a piece of paper and write down all of the requirements for your letters of recommendation. Keep this paper out, because you’ll use it for the following steps, too.

Step 2: Make a list of people who know you well

Now you’ll create a master list of potential recommenders. Make a list of everyone who knows you well. Don’t be afraid to think beyond teachers, although you should list as many teachers as possible, too. If it seems like you have too many options, that’s a good problem to have! The rest of these steps will help you narrow down this list to find the best people to ask.

Step 3: Crossing off some names

This will ensure you don’t spend time considering anyone that can’t help you. First, cross off the names of any family members or personal friends on your list – they are considered biased recommenders and cannot be used for your applications. Then, cross off the names of anyone else you can’t use based on the requirements you wrote down earlier. For example, some schools may not want supplemental recommendations, which are people you know from outside of school.

Step 4: Tallying the score

Now, make sure you have enough space left next to the remaining names to add tallies to each one. If you don’t, feel free to rewrite the remaining names on a new piece of paper. Once you’ve done so, add a tally or a checkmark next to each name that agrees with the following statements:

• I have known this person for more than a year.
• I have taken a class or worked with this person within the past year.
• This person is a teacher or advisor for a subject I excel in.
• This person is a teacher or advisor for a subject I want to study in college.
• I feel comfortable asking this person for help.
• I feel comfortable taking time out of my day to talk to this person about my college application.
• My family and friends think this person would write a good recommendation for me.
• I feel comfortable allowing this person to write a letter of recommendation without reading it personally.

Once you’ve tallied up the names, you’ll want to ask the people who received the most tallies or checkmarks. Count up how many recommendations you’ll need and are allowed to submit for your applications. Then, if you have more or less than you need, adjust accordingly.

Step 5: Asking your potential recommenders

Writing a letter of recommendation for someone, especially a good one, takes time and consideration. Therefore, ask your potential recommenders respectfully, while also making it clear why you are asking them in particular. Also, make sure you ask them at least a month before the letters are due, and offer to meet with them to give them details on your strengths and your goals for college.  

If they accept, give them a stamped and addressed envelope for each letter they’ll be writing to facilitate the process as much as possible for them. Give them a list of due dates as well, and check in with them a week before the due date. If anyone should decline to write you a letter, don’t fret too much about it; they may feel unequipped to write you the best letter possible, and ultimately are doing you a service by declining. You can simply move on to someone else on your list.

 After your recommendation letters are sent in, be sure to write thank you notes to your recommenders for the service they have done for you. You can also rest easy knowing you’ve received the best recommendation letters possible by going through this five-step plan. This will free up your mental energy to focus on the aspects of your application you can control, and leave the recommendations to the recommenders.

The post Who You Should Ask for a Letter of Recommendation: A 5-Step Plan appeared first on Empowerly.

Narrowing down who to ask

In spring of the junior year, you and your student should discuss which junior year teachers your student knows best and in which classes your student has excelled. It is best to select one high school teacher from the humanities (English, history, language – though most universities will want to see a recommendation from the English teacher) and one teacher from math and/or science. If your student is applying to a specialty program, such as music or art, a recommendation from a teacher in that discipline is essential.

If there are not two teachers in the junior year who your high school student knows well, it is fine to choose a teacher in the fall of senior year. However, being able to give teachers the summer to write their recommendations will produce a better product.

Follow this protocol for the best results with your recommendations proposal.

Be specific in what you are asking

When you ask, being specific helps you confirm they’re “willing to write a positive recommendation.” This gives the teacher the option to bow out if the teacher feels their recommendation will be mediocre; or if the teacher is swamped with requests, wouldn’t be able to write a good enough job.

Once the teacher says yes, your student should give the teacher a list of the colleges to which your student will be applying, with the deadlines, and a copy of their resume.

Bonus points:

Most recommendations are now electronic. So it is a courtesy to ask the teacher if they might need help with an online submission. If the teacher responds yes, arrange with your student’s guidance office to get support for the teacher when the time comes.

Connect live and talk it out

Next, your student should make an appointment to chat with the teacher. This will provide the teacher the chance to ask any questions for clarification on your student’s resume. Moreover, this creates the opportunity for your student to share the main characteristics (read elevator speech points) with the teacher. If you’re comfortable, you can ask that the teacher highlight said points in the recommendation. Ultimately, your student should explain why they have chosen each university; where their interests lie,; and why they believe the college is a good match for them.

This same process should be used for non-academic recommenders.

Words of Wisdom

Three final points that are important:

• There’s an old saying in college admission: “the thicker the file, the thicker the kid.” This means, the more recommendations that end up in a student’s file, the thicker the file becomes, which, in turn, makes the admission office wonder why the student feels the need to overwhelm them with paper. Two teacher recommendations, a school counselor recommendation, and one non-academic person (coach, volunteer coordinator, intern mentor, boss, church member, etc.) should suffice. An additional recommendation from a teacher if applying to specialty program is wise.
• If asking an alum or a donor for a recommendation, weight the benefit. Legacy will carry little weight unless the recommender can demonstrate they know your student well.
• And, always write thank you notes to those who recommended you.

This holistic approach to marketing your student in the college admission process will create a successful picture of who your student is and why your student should be admitted to the college of their choice. This process takes time, thought, energy, and planning, but the end result will be satisfying!

Final thoughts

This series described some of our advice for those of you building your student’s admission plan. At Empowerly, we are more than happy to help you through this. From building your own recommendations proposal to simply telling you what’s next as you work through things, our counselors can help.

Addendum:

Read the complete Your Admissions Plan series below.

1. The Applicant Elevator Pitch
2. College Networking Scenarios
3. Essay Writing with Style
4. Recommendations Proposal

Let us know if you need help!

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You may know that at some point you have to ask a mentor for a letter of recommendation to get into college. But do you know how much to prepare in advance? How important are letters of recommendation to admissions officers after all? In this article, we will answer how critical letters of recommendations are in the college admissions process. At Empowerly, the core team prefers to use data to answer vague and hard-to-answer questions like this in the admissions process.

Firstly, you’ll need to know the score. In our student portal, our students and parents have access to a set of data to help them through this process. As a result, we will focus on letters of recommendation and how the admissions officers view these in this discussion.

Within this accompaniment to our counseling, real former admissions officers from top colleges rank students across 17 variables. Let’s look at Princeton’s admissions officer data set to see how their admissions committee thinks about the applicant, and specifically, at letters of recommendation.

As you can see, letters of recommendation are considered “Very Important,” or 4/4, in this process for Princeton.  

Princeton Admissions Officer Card:

Next up:

Let’s look at some other Ivy League schools to see how important letters of recommendation are:

• Harvard – Considered
• Yale – Very Important
• Columbia – Very Important
• Cornell – Very Important
• Dartmouth – Very Important
• Brown – Very Important
• University of Pennsylvania – Very Important

As you can see, most of the Ivy League schools consider letters of recommendation very important (4/4). There are some schools like Harvard that simply consider the letters of recommendation, but every other school marks it 4/4.

So if letters of recommendations are so important in the college admissions process, how can we ensure that we get good letters of recommendation? Well, it’s a nuanced process. However, if you’d like to chat about your specific situation with one of our team members, we’re here. No obligations, just a complimentary assessment of your current profile, as well as a description of our Empowerly approach and recommendations. Book your session today.

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You got good grades. Took your standardized tests. Wrote and rewrote, deleted and rewrote essays. You’ve listed extracurriculars and community service. You’ve done everything to make yourself an attractive college applicant. But there’s one more piece: letters of recommendation.

Letters of recommendation can feel intimidating. They don’t need to be! They’re a chance for teachers, coaches and mentors to brag about you. Think of the way your parents do when they run into old college friends. Not so bad, right? Here are some steps to securing shining letters.

1. Choose carefully!

Most schools ask for 2-3 letters. Pick people in your life who have seen different sides of you. For example, if you pick a coach who will highlight your leadership abilities, pick a teacher who will highlight your work ethic and a club advisor who will highlight your creativity and organization. This will help the college build a more well rounded image of you.

Additionally, pick people you have formed a genuine bond with. While many teachers will be willing to write your letters, try to find those who are excited to do so! Maybe it’s the teacher of a class you got an A in by going in at lunch or the coach of a team you captained by training extra on weekends. Find people with whom you have a personal connection; their ability to talk about you with anecdotes (not just generic adjectives) will be memorable to admissions officers!

2. Ask early!

Leaders are busy people and you don’t want to make them feel rushed or stressed. Try to give them a month between when you ask them and the letter’s due date so they have plenty of time to write a letter you’ll both be proud of.

3. Provide all the materials!

Prepare a folder for each of your recommenders. The folder should include: your resume; the list of schools you’re applying to for which you need this recommendation (with each school’s due date); any guidelines the school has provided for letters (ie. length, official letterhead etc.); a stamped, addressed envelope for each listed school or specific instructions to the online submission process; and a thank you note!

4. Thank you’s!

This recommendation is a crucial piece of your application–write your recommenders a nice thank you note for helping you out. Handwritten is best!

5. Follow up!

These people are invested in you! Keep them posted on where you end up choosing to go to college and be sure to thank them again for helping you reach that dream. They believe in you–that’s why they wrote your letter! They’ll want to hear about your successes.

Don’t take it personally if someone is too busy to write your letter. Just remember to ask early so that someone else has enough time to do it!

The post Letters of Recommendation Explained appeared first on Empowerly.

You should take plenty of time to consider who to ask for letters of recommendation. Testing, transcripts, and even essays, can tell colleges a good deal about how you perform in academic settings and how you define yourself. What they lack, however, is the ability to combine this objectivity and personality testimony. This is where letters of recommendation come in.  

Colleges appreciate these letters, as they demonstrate parts of you that testing cannot. Letters show what a third-party figure thinks about you. For example, the person who writes your letter can attest to your character and work ethic via their observations over time. Do consider your timing  and selection carefully.

Time

Before asking for a letter of recommendation, you want to be sure to allow enough time for your reference to complete it. Your reference is writing on your behalf out of generosity, they will have other responsibilities to complete. [Plus, your reference will do a better job when they’re not rushed!]   Usually a month in advance is acceptable, but the earlier the better! Remember that your teachers and counselors have their own work plus other recommendations as well.

Selection

Who should you ask? Read each application carefully; often, schools specify who they want the letters to come from, and how many letters are required.

In general, colleges want to know the current version of you. Teachers from your junior year or above, who have known you for awhile, make good references. Also consider: teachers who know you from outside the classroom, like a club moderator, or a teacher who helped direct the play you performed in. Consider adults who know your strengths, and have a good understanding of you as a person. Think of someone who is enthusiastic and who would love to write about you. If you are unsure if they would be willing to write on your behalf, politely ask if he or she will be willing to write a letter of recommendation for you.

Questions You Should Ask Yourself when Deciding Who To Ask for a Letter of Recommendation:

1. What messages about myself do I believe are sufficiently conveyed elsewhere in an essay? What aspects of my identity do I want my letters of recommendation to reveal?
2. Would Person X (i.e., potential recommender) testify to my personal character or my academic character? Effectively, in what context does this person know me?
3. Do I want multiple recommenders who focus on the same side of my character (i.e., really driving home one point) or do I want more diversity in perspective (i.e., making sure two recommenders don’t rehash the same points)?
4. What specific aspect of my identity do I expect this person can attest to? Is this something I want to be showcased?
5. Does this person attest to the most temporally relevant aspects of my character (i.e., who I am today)?  

Even if the person knows you really well, you still want to be able to converse with them. If you are asking a counselor to write a letter, make sure you make an appointment. You want to make it easy for them to write a positive and detailed letter for you. Remind them of your accomplishments and challenges you have overcame. Talk about your plans for college and what kind of hobbies you are excited about.

A final note…

You want to waive your right to see the letters. Admissions will trust your references more if they know that you have not seen it. Make sure your references know the application deadline, and do not be afraid to follow up with them periodically to make sure they sent it. Once you have all your deadlines met, send thank you notes to your references. Without their opinions, you would not be able to meet the application requirements.

Learn more about navigating your personal college journey with an introductory conversation with our team!

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College Recommendation Letter: Where To Start?

Starting the process of finding the right people to write on your behalf can be tricky. Start by assessing your own strengths, accomplishments, and your level of college preparedness so you can go into your conversation with key details and material for your writer to base their recommendations on. Many people will ask you for some specific information when you ask them for a letter of recommendation. This should go past the general information listed on a resume; also think of what you are passionate about or what you hope to study within your higher educational journey. Preparing this information in advance will only further show your commitment to excellence and will help ensure the individual writing your letter of recommendation will have what they need to be concise and effective within their letter. 

One way to prepare is by taking the Empowerly Quiz. The Empowerly Quiz will give you insight into your college application readiness. If you need more information, you can also attain a separate Empowerly Score through the Empowerly portal. The Empowerly Score is an incredibly useful tool that can be used to help you identify areas of strength for your college profile. You can then share this information with those writing a letter of recommendation for you to help to avoid generic or mediocre letters. 

Who To Ask for a Letter of Recommendation for College

Asking the right person for a letter of recommendation for college applications is probably the most important factor. You want to ask someone who knows you, can speak to your character, and describe specific events or situations in which you have shown grit, integrity, and excellence. 

Some college applications will specifically ask for recommendation letters from two teachers and a counselor. In that case, you have your list narrowed down already. Others may let you choose who you ask. Either way, ask people who know you well and who know your strengths. Additionally, you will also want to be sure the person you ask is excited to help you. Consider asking a teacher whom you like, have performed well academically for, and one who has the time to write a well-thought-out letter. You can also ask a  teacher who may have also been your coach or involved in your extracurricular pursuits as they can talk about your performance and ability in and out of the classroom. 

While it is a good idea to plan to include at least three letters of recommendation for your college applications, you can always ask a few extra people as a backup plan. If you ask additional teachers or administrators who know you, you can avoid any issues of a late or delayed letter. If your college prefers that you don’t see your own letters before submission, be sure to comply—the reason for this rule is to prevent students from influencing the teacher’s opinions. If you do have a chance to see them beforehand, however,  pick which letters are unique, tailored to you, and show your best qualities and accomplishments. 

It is important to note that you need to give your teachers, counselors, etc. plenty of time to write your letter. You will want them to have the ability to take their time, consider what they want to say, and make edits as needed. Not to mention, they might be writing letters of recommendation for a handful of other students around the exact same time. Don’t forget to thank your recommenders, as well; a handwritten note goes a long way.

What To Ask Writers To Include in Your College Recommendation Letter

As mentioned, it is important to prepare specific information about yourself and your accomplishments for those selected to write your college recommendation letter. Even if you have a great relationship with a teacher or counselor, they may not know everything about you or your other extracurriculars. It is a good idea to put together a packet of information such as a resume, unofficial transcript, and information regarding your extracurriculars. A college admissions counselor can also help you to prepare information and help you make the best selections for who to ask for your letter of recommendation. Empowerly offers counseling services with college admissions experts to help you through the process and set you up on the best path toward success. 

How Empowerly Can Help

You should also research some of the partnership offerings we offer. Empowerly provides many workshops to schools and community organizations to help you through the college admissions process. Our expert counselors can provide college letter of recommendation insights and tips to help guide you through the ins and outs of asking and receiving strong letters of recommendation from your teachers. 
You only get one shot to impress college admissions. You want each aspect of your college application including your letters of recommendation to stand out above the rest. Quality, informative, and well-thought-out recommendation letters are key to a successful college application. Using resources such as Empowerly can help you ensure you have what you need to submit great recommendation letters and an overall competitive college application and we are here to help you every step of the way.

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What is FERPA?

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act is legislation originally intended to help parents who wish to involve themselves in their child’s education. It makes provisions for parents to better understand the records school administrators keep about each student and advocate for change if needed.

The law also applies to your college application materials (and letters of recommendation). Notably, when the student turns 18 or attends a college or university, the law transfers the decision-making authority to the young adult. 

What is the FERPA waiver?

As we mentioned earlier, colleges provide students with the option to waive their FERPA rights in regard to their college applications. This means that your writer submits it straight to the institution, and you (the student) can’t access it again later. What happens if you do choose to waive it? When you do, the system may “notify your recommenders of your decision,” Harvard writes. “As they submit a recommendation on your behalf, it may be useful for them to know if you will possibly have access to this recommendation in the future.”

Cons of waiving

The only tangible downside is that you won’t be able to see your teachers’ recommendations. Ultimately, while you may be curious, it isn’t necessarily important to see what your recommender wrote, now or in the future. By this stage in the process, you’ve likely chosen a mentor you trust and provided them with a “brag sheet” of concrete examples to talk about—so you have a good idea of what it will say, anyway!

Pros of waiving

Some mentors and colleges significantly prefer to see that students are comfortable waiving their FERPA rights for the college application. There are several possible reasons for this. The Common App organization cites the following benefits: 

1. “Waiving your right lets colleges know that you do not intend to read your recommendations, which helps reassure colleges that the letters are candid and truthful.”
2. “Some recommenders may decline to write a letter for you if you do not waive your rights. Check with your counselor or teachers to see if any of them follow such a policy.”

Should I waive my FERPA rights?

Only you (the student) can answer this question. However, if you are still unsure about what will be the best choice for your situation, take some time to talk it over with trusted professionals. We at Empowerly highly recommend waiving the right to read your college letters of rec so that you can be sure you’ve done everything possible to increase your chances of admission. 

If you don’t know who to consult, consider working with an independent college counseling company like Empowerly. Navigating these nuanced decisions is what we do! 

The post Waive the Right to Read Your College Letters of Rec appeared first on Empowerly.

The College Application Process

There are a few different things you will need to do when you are applying to college. The first step is to check if you meet all the basic requirements for admission. These requirements will vary from school to school, but most colleges will require that you have a high school diploma, GED, or equivalent—as well as earn a minimum GPA on your high school transcript and SAT or ACT scores.

Most students achieve these in their senior year of high school (aka 12th grade). Once you have met the basic requirements, you will need to start filling out your application for college. Students are invited to apply for college one year in advance of their planned enrollment. The application forms will include your personal information, educational background, and written responses to a few essay questions. Some schools may also require additional materials, such as letters of recommendation or a portfolio.

The final step in the college application process is to submit your application and wait for a decision. This can take a few weeks to several months, depending on the school. Once you have been accepted, you will need to pay your tuition, graduate from high school, and begin attending university classes!

Common Elements of Most College Applications

There are several common elements you can expect to find in a college application. Before you sit down to fill out your forms, collect the items you’ll need in advance to make it easier on yourself. These include:

• Personal information — This will usually include your name, contact details, and date of birth. You may also be asked for details about your family (your parents and any siblings.)
• Educational background — You will need to provide details of your secondary education, including any qualifications you have achieved. 
• Activities — This is the section where you can give details about extracurricular activities such as school sports or clubs, volunteering, or hobbies.
• Employment history — Many colleges will want to know about any relevant work experience you may have.
• References — You will need to provide the contact details of at least two people who can vouch for your character and abilities. They may also need to submit a letter recommending you.
• Essays — Most colleges require you to submit one (or more) written essays on specific topics. These are usually used as a way of gauging your writing ability and interests.
• Standardized test scores — While more colleges are becoming test-optional, you still may be required to submit standardized test scores from the SAT or ACT.

SAT vs. ACT

The SAT and ACT are the two main standardized tests colleges use to assess applicants. Some colleges and universities are now test-optional, meaning they do not require standardized test scores for admission, but will still accept them as part of your application. 

But which test is right for you? Here’s a quick overview of the differences between the two tests:

• SAT: The SAT is a 3-hour exam that tests your reading, writing, and math skills. It is scored out of 1600 points, with 800 points each for reading/writing and math.
• ACT: The ACT is a nearly 3-hour exam that tests your English, reading, math, and science skills. It is scored out of 36 points for each section, which are averaged to find a composite score.

So, which test should you take? Ultimately, it depends on your strengths and weaknesses as a student. If you’re stronger in reading and writing but weak in math, the ACT may be a better choice, given the higher number of questions in these areas. If your strength is more towards math, the SAT may be a better fit. Also, more students are now opting to take both the SAT and ACT to show their abilities better.

Tips for Your Personal Statement or Essay

One of the most important parts of your college application is your personal statement or essay. This is your chance to tell your story and show who you are outside of your grades and test scores. Here are some tips to help you write an outstanding personal statement or essay:

1. Start early. The earlier you start, the more time you’ll have to brainstorm, write, and edit your essay. Don’t wait until the last minute to start writing!
2. Be yourself. Your personal statement is an opportunity to showcase your unique personality and perspective. Be honest about who you are and what you want to achieve.
3. Be specific. Generic essays are boring! Admissions committees want to read essays that are interesting, thoughtful, and specific to you as an individual.
4. Tell a story. A good story will engage the reader and help them connect with you on a personal level. Focus on one specific event or experience in your life and share what it meant to you.
5. Edit, edit, edit! Once you’ve written your essay or personal statement, put it away for a day or two before coming back to it with fresh eyes. Then, revise and edit until it’s the best possible version.

The Common App: What Is It?

The Common Application is an online application that allows students to apply to several colleges at once. Colleges that accept the Common App—currently, over 1000 colleges do—will have a link to the application on their website or will state which applications they accept.

To fill out the Common App, you’ll need to create an account on the website, fill out personal information, academic information, and extracurricular activities, and complete an essay. You also can invite people such as teachers or counselors to submit letters of recommendation. 

Some schools may require additional essays or information for university admission, and you can also complete that through the Common App. Once you’ve entered all the required information, you can submit your application to your chosen schools. 

Some tips for filling out the Common Application: 

• Make sure to fill out all required fields thoroughly and accurately. 
• Take your time in crafting thoughtful responses to the essay questions. 
• Be sure to review and proofread your application before submitting it.

The Coalition App: Who Is It Best For?

Like the Common App, the Coalition App is a college application platform that aims to simplify the college application process. It is a good option for students who are looking for a streamlined application process and have a strong interest in one of the Coalition schools. The Coalition App was created to help historically underrepresented groups apply to college and works with around 150 universities that have lower tuition costs or provide generous financial aid packages.

The Coalition App is free to use, just like the Common App. It allows students to complete and submit their applications online. The app also provides access to a variety of resources, such as college planning tools and essay prompts.

The Coalition App may be better for you if you need more technical support or are looking for more flexibility in submitting documents and reporting extracurricular activities. If all the schools you are interested in accept the Coalition App, it can be a good choice. However, if any of the schools you want to apply to only accept the Common App, you’d be better off using that platform.

The Best Time to Send In Your College Applications

The college application process may feel overwhelming, but it doesn’t have to be. The most important thing is to start early and give yourself plenty of time to complete your applications.

For most colleges, the application deadline is January 1st. However, some colleges have earlier deadlines, so it’s important to check with each school you’re interested in.

Generally speaking, you should aim to submit your applications as early as possible. This gives you the best chance of college or university admission and can increase the amount of financial aid still available.

Who Should Apply to College Early?

You may be wondering whether or not you should apply to college early. The answer isn’t always clear-cut, but there are some things to keep in mind that can help you decide.

Two factors may influence whether you submit your application early or not:

• Are you sure about your top choice?
• Do you need financial aid?

Both of these come into play when deciding to apply early. The early application deadlines are known as early action and early decision.

Early Action or Early Decision: What’s the Difference?

First of all, it’s important to understand the difference between early action and early decision. 

• Early action is non-binding, meaning you can apply to other schools even if you’ve been accepted early.
• Early decision is binding, which means that if you’re accepted early, you must attend that school and withdraw your applications from any other school you’ve applied to.

Are You Sure About Your Top Choice?

If you have your heart set on one particular school, then applying to the early decision pool may be a good option for you. Keep in mind, however, that if your application is deferred (meaning they don’t make a decision right away), or if you’re not accepted early, you’ll still have to apply to other schools. If you’re accepted, it’s a binding agreement that you’ll attend. So make sure you’re really sure about your top choice before making the commitment of an early decision submission. 

Choosing to submit with early decision can also give you a slight advantage on acceptance, as many schools—especially very competitive ones—have better acceptance rates for students who apply to early decision. But it can give you a disadvantage when it comes to financial aid since the school knows you want to attend and doesn’t have to make their offer as enticing. 

Do You Need Financial Aid?

If you think you may need financial aid to attend college, you may want to apply as early action instead. That’s because with an early decision if you’re accepted early, you’re committed to attending that school, even if you don’t receive the financial aid you need. But early action can gain you a non-binding early acceptance and a better financial aid package. 

For many schools, financial aid is first-come-first-served. There is more money available early, and as the school fills its slots, there may not be as much available later on. If you apply to early action at several schools, you’ll be able to compare financial aid packages—and even negotiate—before making a commitment.

Let Empowerly Help You

If you’re feeling stressed about the application process, remember that there are resources available to help you. A college admissions advisor can help you navigate the application process and make sure you’re on track. 

Empowerly offers personalized college admission counseling and can help you through the college application process. Contact us today to find out how we can help you get into the college of your dreams!

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