Miss Shier's Tips for Asking for a Recommendation Letter

When you ask for a letter of recommendation from a teacher, coach, or another adult, you should provide the following information:

• Your full name
• What the recommendation is for (college or scholarship)
• Who the letter needs to be written to, if it's someone specific
• When you need it by
• Hard copy or email (and where to send it)

Include the following important information about you and your academic and extracurricular activities:

• Academics (honors classes, AP, college courses, early college, etc.)
• Rank and GPA, if you know it
• Clubs or sports teams you are involved in (NHS, Key Club, football, etc.)
• Special awards or honors you have received
• Anything else special you think your recommender should know or include

Remember: You are asking your recommender to do you a favor, so as a matter of courtesy, give them as advanced a warning as possible.  This should be AT LEAST one full week, but more if you can.  If you give less warning, there is a very good chance that they will say no or you will not get your letter in time.