How to Get Good Recommendation Letters in a Virtual World

Considering all components of a college application, the only one that addresses how a student has grown and who they are as a person and student is the recommendation.

Colleges vary in what they require, so applicants should verify what their particular colleges require with regards to letters of recommendation. For Common Application schools, the list of what is required and how many is in the My Colleges section for each college. Most require the School Report from the counselor and at least one recommendation from a teacher. Some more selective colleges require two teacher recommendations. Given that many colleges have suspended standardized test requirements and more high schools are adopting Pass/Fail grading systems, admission officers are probably leaning more heavily on recommendation letters in making decisions.

These letters of recommendation represent the part of the application that makes the student “real” to college admission officers, helps the student stand out, and adds insights into academic strengths and learning style. Recommendations provide an opportunity for someone to consider the student within the classroom context. As COVID has hampered in-person access to teachers, here are suggestions to provide recommenders ways of getting to know the student:

• Turn on the camera when appropriate. That way teachers can recognize faces and get to know the person behind the voice.

• Participate in the virtual classroom. Ask questions, interact and if s/he creates online break-out groups, take on a leadership role.

• Let teachers see eagerness to engage and learn, however challenging the new environment feels.

• Be respectful. Don’t engage in silly comments on the chat/conversations function.

• Go further: ask the teacher for an after-class conversation about challenging material, offer to create an extracurricular club, ask for book or podcast recommendations to supplement the online materials.

Many high school students have not sat in the classroom for most of 2020, and still now, in early 2021, many are still not in person. In-person requests are not always an option, and the approach to gaining good recommendations must adapt. It is still important to create a document or resume that lists important personal and academic achievements, including those outside the classroom and virtual learning. Students should shed light on their career goals and ambitions and why those matters in the context of which colleges and majors they are applying to. Then consider which teachers to approach. For students interested in STEM programs, select one or two Math/Science teachers and an Arts/Language teacher. If a teacher has coached a student through struggles in their class and the student improved grades through hard work and determination, consider approaching that teacher. If a student is extra-involved with any specific class, they should ask that teacher. Students will probably need to submit their request for a recommendation by email. In the request, be polite, use good grammar, spelling and punctuation, personalize each one and attach the prepared accomplishments document. Be clear and precise. Offer to schedule a one-on-one video conversation with the teachers to respond to any questions they may have.

Submit requests as early as is reasonable and once the teacher(s) have responded and agreed, thank them warmly. A personalized thank you note goes a long way to creating good will.