Do letters of recommendation from alumni help?

Recommendations and interviews with alumni are not considered very important in the admissions process. Colleges want academic (or music, art, talent) teachers to give you strong recommendations. Of course, if the alum knows you well and is active in alumni actitivies at the college, the letter won’t hurt!

Do recommendation letters help you get into college?

You may be wondering if these recommendations are even important— after all, there are already so many other parts to your college application. The short answer is yes, recommendations are important, and are among the many factors that colleges look at when making admissions decisions.

Why should a teacher write me a letter of recommendation?

Many colleges require letters of recommendation from teachers as part of the college application. Colleges recognize that your teachers spend significant time with you and, therefore, trust them to provide a candid picture of who you are as a scholar and a person.

Why is it important to ask a teacher for a letter of recommendation?

The teacher you choose to write the letter can tell your future school about your engagement in the classroom, beyond what a letter grade allows for, as well as informing them about your passion for the particular subject, learning, or other aspects of your life, education, or future career.

How important is letter of recommendation?

Letters of recommendation are particularly valuable to admissions officers because the experiences that high school counselors and teachers describe can help them paint a better overall picture of who you are and the impact you will have on campus.

When to ask a teacher to write a college recommendation letter?

When to Ask for College Recommendation Letters Ideally, you will ask teachers and counselors if they will write on your behalf at the end of junior year or the very beginning of your senior year. This will give them ample time to plan and draft a thoughtful and comprehensive letter that they can submit as soon as the Common App is available.

Are letters of recommendation confidential in MIT admissions?

Letters of recommendation are confidential in the MIT admissions process. It is a great pleasure for me to recommend David for admission to MIT. He is one of the most extraordinary students I have encountered in 20 years of teaching.

How do I write a letter of recommendation for an outstanding applicant?

A well-written letter for an outstanding applicant can show impressive characteristics beyond their own self-advocacy. Both school counselor and teacher evaluations are most helpful when they are specific and storied. They should provide us with the information and impressions we cannot glean from the rest of the application.

Which year teachers are the best for writing recommendations?

Junior year teachers or senior year teachers are usually the best for writing recommendations, since they are more likely to have taught you in a high-level course, taught you over a few years, and/or know you in different capacities.