Letters of Recommendation 101: How Many You Need, How to Get Them & Common Mistakes

Letters of recommendation are personal endorsements or formal statements written for students as part of their college application. These letters can highlight a student’s strengths, character, and academic potential. But not all letters of recommendation hold equal weight. In this blog, we’ll discuss the role of letters of recommendation, who and when to ask, and common mistakes to avoid.

Key Takeaways:

• Letters of recommendation are one of the more important “soft factors” of the college application process, with 50% of surveyed colleges stating they have “moderate” to “considerable” importance. 
  

• Typically, students will be expected to get anywhere between 2 and 4 letters of recommendation, depending on the college and program they apply to. 
  

• Some colleges require recommendation letters to be written by teachers and a school counselor, while other colleges are more flexible about where recommendations come from. No matter who ends up writing them, strong letters of recommendation are those that speak to a student’s growth, character, and accomplishments in and outside of the classroom. 

Why Do Letters of Recommendation Matter to Colleges

For college admissions officers, letters provide insight that quantitative data (grades and test scores) cannot provide. Essentially, they offer a human perspective on who you are and why. Letters of recommendation also add context to a student’s college application. They explain a good (or poor) grade, in-class participation, and how the student interacts with the world around them. Without context, colleges cannot distinguish the everyday nuances of a student’s life.

Now, why is this actually important to colleges? Students are surprised to learn that they spend very little time in an actual classroom setting throughout college. Instead, much of their time will be spent interacting with students and contributing to the wider campus community. Colleges want to admit students who will make the most of these opportunities and experiences.

How Many Colleges Care about Letters of Recommendation?

College applications are built up of qualitative and quantitative information, and letters of recommendation are among the most influential qualitative components. According to a 2023 survey conducted by the National Association for College Admissions Counseling (NACAC) found that 50% of participating colleges viewed letters of recommendation as having “moderate” or “considerable” importance to the decision-making process.

How Many Letters of Recommendation Do Students Need?

Students may be asked to submit an average of 1 and 3 letters of recommendation for college, depending on the college and program they’re interested in. Some colleges, typically community colleges, do not require letters, while other private universities or highly selective programs may ask students to submit anywhere between 2 and 4 letters of recommendation.

Most public institutions will list letters of recommendation as optional. Even so, submitting a strong recommendation can add much-needed context to a student’s application and potentially improve their candidacy.

Timeline: When Should Students Ask for Letters of Recommendation?

Most students ask for recommendation letters in the fall of their senior year, before they begin applying to colleges. Don’t be like most students. Aim to ask for letters of recommendation at the end of junior year, before summer break. Why? “The early bird gets the worm.”

Early requests give teachers enough time to consider their approach and craft detailed and thoughtful recommendations. In the 6-8 weeks before college application deadlines, teachers are bombarded with requests for recommendations, and it’s not uncommon for teachers to turn away students because of the overwhelming number. Asking well in advance will ensure students get priority over which teachers provide their recommendations and allow them to plan ahead for early college application deadlines without feeling overwhelmed by missing application components. 

Who Should You Ask for a Letter of Recommendation in High School?

Some colleges may ask that letters of recommendation come from very specific people. For example, most Ivy League institutions request letters from two teachers and one counselor. For students who have flexibility on who they can ask, here are some things to consider:

• Ask current teachers who you’ve spent a considerable amount of time with and who speak to your growth and development as a student in and outside the classroom.
• Consider core subject teachers, as they’ve likely witnessed a transformation in your high school journey and can speak to how you engage in your learning. This is particularly important for students applying for a specific major.
• Ask teachers who may have led extracurricular activities you were involved in, and who can provide insight into your involvement.

• Consider mentors, coaches, or other adults who can speak to your growth, leadership, initiative, and personality.  

FAQ: Can I ask a family friend for a letter of recommendation?

While we typically discourage asking a family member or close friend, there are exceptions. The exception is if this individual was a mentor, manager, or supervisor who can offer an unbiased recommendation or valuable context that no other adult can provide.

How to Get Stellar Letters of Recommendation

It’s understandable to feel nervous about asking for letters of recommendation. It can also be equally nerve-wracking to know that teachers can write virtually anything in their recommendations, and which contributes to the quality of a student’s overall application.

Here are a few tips and tricks on how to grab letters of recommendation that stand out:

Build Your Relationships with Recommenders Early & Choose Someone Who Knows You Well

The best recommendation letters are those that come from teachers who have a longstanding relationship with you. That doesn’t happen overnight. While we recommend asking for letters of recommendation at the end of junior year, we encourage students to start thinking about recommendations much earlier. This will allow you to develop meaningful relationships with the adults in your life.

Provide Context and Direction

Before approaching a potential recommender, do your homework and compile information that may be helpful in guiding them. Give your recommender:

• A “brag sheet” or a list of accomplishments you’re most proud of.
• Key themes you’d like them to reference in their recommendation.
• A brief note about what you hope to study in college and why.
• Specific examples of your proudest contributions to jog their memory.

Even if a teacher or counselor goes rogue and maintains autonomy over what they write, it’s still valuable to be prepared in case a recommender asks for more direction.

Make the Ask Personal & Show Appreciation 

When asking for a recommendation letter, specificity is important. Consider something like:

“Hi [Teacher], would you feel comfortable writing a letter of recommendation for my college application? Your feedback this past year has pushed me to challenge myself, and your teachings have inspired me to apply to [College Names] as a [X Major]. I believe your perspective on my growth, initiative, and persistence in [X Class] would be invaluable.”

Lastly, always follow up with a short note of appreciation and an update on your admissions outcomes.

Letters of Recommendation: Common Mistakes to Avoid

1. Asking a teacher from the earlier years of high school. Colleges want recommendations to speak to who a student is today as they near college.

2. Waiting too long to ask for a recommendation. Teachers will turn away students who ask too late. This will lead to generic recommendation letters.

3. Not communicating a college’s specific deadline to the recommender. Some colleges have rolling admissions, early action, or early decision. Be sure to let the recommender know the dates in advance to ensure recommendations are submitted on time.
   
   
4. Not keeping track of submissions in your Common App application portal. This will give students a chance to politely follow up with recommenders before it’s too late.
   
   

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Should I waive my rights to see letters of recommendation?

In the application, students will be asked if they’d like to waive the right to review submitted letters of recommendation. This is known as FERPA rights. Yes, students should waive this right to signal to colleges that the letters have not been tainted and are trustworthy endorsements.  

2. Do the UCs require letters of recommendation?

Some UC campuses or UC programs will request letters of recommendation; however, it is not a standard requirement. Be sure to keep track of what requirements are needed before applying.

3. How long are letters of recommendation?

Letters of recommendation are typically between 350 and 650 words or roughly one page. However, volume isn’t necessarily the focus here. Given the volume of college applications submitted each year, the more detailed and concise a recommendation letter, the better.

4. When are letters of recommendation due?

Letters of recommendation are due the day of a college application deadline and can be submitted on behalf of a student anytime before then. Depending on when a student applies (rolling admission, early action, early decision, or regular decision), the date will differ. Students should know college application deadlines before asking a recommender and keep track of submissions through their application portal.

5. Can letters of recommendation be sent after application deadlines?

No. Once a deadline has passed, students will not be permitted to submit additional information as part of their application unless requested directly by the application readers.

Final Thoughts

Strong letters of recommendation can amplify a student’s college application, especially in a competitive admissions cycle. With more colleges recognizing the value of recommendation letters, students should spend time identifying the right recommenders who can offer valuable perspectives and authentic accounts of a student’s journey throughout high school.

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About Us: With more than 26 years of experience, Collegewise counselors and tutors are at the forefront of the ever-evolving admissions landscape. Our work has always centered on you: the family. And just like we’ve always done, we look for ways for your student to be their best self - whether in the classroom, the applications, or in the right-fit college environment. Our range of counseling, test prep, academic tutoring, and essay management, all with the support of our proprietary platform, lead to 4x higher than average admissions rates.