Asking for Letters of Recommendation

Dear Parents/Guardian,

The long process of college selection is nearing its end. The next few weeks are crucial. Students will be completing their applications, asking for recommendation letters from me and from their teachers, and writing their application essays. Depending on the number of schools they are applying to and whether they can apply on line, your student may be facing piles of paper to fill out and several essays to write.

Each student has a checklist to help organize and manage the application process. Even so, the anxiety level is often high during this period. Understanding the process, however, may help you to help your student.

With Web technology, students can now apply to many colleges online. Some 290 colleges accept the Common Application™, which also means that students can apply to multiple colleges using only one application. Other colleges and universities put their own applications online for students to download, complete, and email back or print off and return by regular mail. Being able to complete forms electronically saves a great deal of time and tension over lining up spaces with a typewriter and correcting typing mistakes.

Admissions personnel regard online applications in the same light as traditional paper applications. Colleges that receive applications online typically are able to process them more quickly than paper forms, though the medium through which a student opts to send his or her application does not affect admissions decisions.

The major source of anxiety for students usually revolves around writing the essays that are required by most colleges. No amount of prodding and pushing will get a reluctant student to write the essays until the student is ready--usually at the very last possible minute. We are providing some help here in school to try to make the process less intimidating and less anxiety producing. [Counselor: use this space to describe any special support offered by the English department in helping students write their essays.]

Sincerely,
Guidance Counselor