The Step Most Juniors Put Off Too Long
As spring semester winds down, most juniors have one thing on their mind: summer. And honestly, after the year they’ve had, that’s fair. But before school lets out, there is one college application task that absolutely should not wait until fall and that’s securing letters of recommendation.
Every year, I work with students who come back in September planning to ask teachers then, only to discover that their first-choice recommenders are already committed to other students, or that teachers feel rushed and stressed by the sudden ask. The students who handle this in the spring arrive at senior year with one significant item already taken care of and with recommenders who’ve had months to write something genuinely strong.
If your student is finishing junior year right now, this is the time.
Tip #1: The Time to Ask Is Now
Teachers put real thought and care into these letters. They are advocating for your student in one of the most important processes of their academic life, and that takes time. Springing a request on a teacher in October with application deadlines around the corner is not respectful of their time and it can result in a letter that feels rushed.
There’s also a practical reality: popular teachers fill up. Some of the most sought-after recommenders will tell a student who waits too long that they’ve already committed to as many letters as they can handle in a given cycle. Asking now means your student gets their first choice not whoever is still available.
Tip #2: Ask In Person First
There are a lot of opinions about how to ask for a recommendation, but mine is firm on this: the first step is a face-to-face conversation.
Your student should approach the teacher directly and say something like: “I’m putting together my list of recommenders for college applications next fall, and I was hoping you’d be willing to write one for me.” Most teachers will say yes. Some may say no and while that can sting a little, it’s far better to know upfront than to have a teacher write a lukewarm letter they weren’t truly invested in.
That in-person conversation also opens the door for the teacher to share what they’ll need from the student a resume, answers to a few questions, or simply a heads-up that they’ll be in touch over the summer. Whatever the next step is, the student needs to know what it is.
Tip #3: Follow Up with an Email
Once the teacher says yes and the student knows what’s expected, the next move is a follow-up email. This serves two purposes: it’s a genuine thank-you, and it creates a written record of the agreement and any next steps.
This is also a great opportunity to teach students a skill they’ll use for the rest of their lives following up in writing, confirming details, and taking ownership of their own process.
Tip #4: Don’t Just Pick the Class Where They Get Easy As
This is one that surprises a lot of families. The class where everything comes naturally and the grades are effortless is not automatically the source of the best letter of recommendation. Easy success doesn’t always make for a compelling story.
Some of the most powerful letters come from teachers in whose classes a student struggled at first, found their footing, and grew. That arc — challenge, persistence, growth is exactly what admissions offices find meaningful. Ask your student to think not just about where they performed well, but about where they had a real experience worth telling.
Tip #5: Start with Junior Year, Core Academic Teachers
When it comes to who to ask, the priority should be junior year teachers in core academic subjects English, math, history, science, or foreign language. If a college only accepts one letter of recommendation, it should come from a core academic teacher, and ideally one from junior year.
After that, there’s more flexibility. A second letter might come from an elective teacher who knows the student well, or from a teacher in a field connected to the student’s interests or intended path. Some colleges even allow an additional letter from someone outside of school a community mentor, a supervisor from a job, a volunteer coordinator which can add another dimension to the student’s story.
One important note: the goal isn’t to match the recommender’s subject to the student’s intended major. The goal is to identify who can be the strongest advocate overall. Who has seen this student at their best? Who has a story to tell? That’s the person to ask.
The Quick Recap
Ask now before school ends, not after summer begins. Start with an in-person conversation, then follow up by email. Look for junior year teachers in core subjects who can speak to a real experience of growth or success. And remember: the best letter isn’t always from the easiest class. It’s from the teacher who truly has something meaningful to say about your student.
If you’d like help thinking through your student’s recommender strategy — or any part of the college application process — we’d love to talk.
Book a free call with our team we’d love to learn more about where your student is in the process and how we can help.
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