Becoming Who You Want To Be

Recommendation letters are probably the most underlooked (and consequently underutilized) tools in the admissions process for Ivy League schools.

There’s a simple reason why – most students are afraid of their teachers/coaches/bosses. They’re afraid of requesting what they really want – an incredible, memorable letter of rec that highlights strengths and re-affirms the student’s spike.

Part of the answer is to just get over yourself. Be courageous. That’s something that this post can’t be able to help you acquire.

But I can help you understand the process. And following these steps will greatly increase your chance of getting the exact letter of recommendation you’d hoped for – one that Yale, Princeton, and the best colleges around the globe will enjoy reading.

Here it goes:

1. Identify the recommenders who a) know you very well and b) you performed the best in their classes. These teachers will write the best letters of recommendation. Ideally they’re the same teachers that sponsor club and sports activities in which you are involved. If not, I’d recommend asking some of them to sponsor new clubs that you’d be starting. Win-win

2. Have your parents meet with that teacher/coach. I didn’t do this, but in retrospect I should have. Teacher-parent conferences are a helpful way to strengthen the student-teacher connection, and a great way for parents to indirectly express their concerns/wishes (and their kid’s wishes) to the teacher. Just make sure this type of meeting isn’t too aggressive. I actually remember reading teacher recommendations which casually referenced controlling parents…these don’t go over too well with your plans to get into Harvard

3. Prepare a letter addressed individually to that teacher. In a written letter, talk about the following things:

-What colleges and why – in more than just one paragraph

-Why you’d like that teacher to write the recommendation

-A few “clear wins” that you’re very proud of, and any accomplishments that were either in that teacher’s classes or sponsored activities

-What your overall story is for the Ivy Leagues

4. Prepare a resume/brag-sheet. This should be the exact same one for the Common App. Attach this for additional reinforcement

5. Meet with your teacher in-person when asking them to write the letter. In this talk, make sure you cover topics similar to Step 3 – why you’re applying to Ivy League colleges, why you think you should be accepted, what your story is that you’re telling Admissions Offices, and why you thought they’d be a great recommender. Don’t simply ask them to write a referral, smile politely, and say nothing more. This in-person chat is crucial to providing your teacher more info about your particular case

6. GIVE YOUR TEACHER PLENTY OF TIME TO WRITE THE LETTER. A week is too fast. A month should be fine. This is yet another example of how early planning is necessary for Ivy League colleges

7. Followup politely. If you haven’t heard a response from Mrs. Davidson or Mr. Gonzalez and there’s 4 weeks before application deadlines, politely inquire about the status of your rec

8. Thank them! Give them a thank-you gift and/or card to express your appreciation. This won’t be the last time you’ll ask for their help and they’ve just done something for which they expected nothing in return

Step #5 is extremely important. Do everything else wrong, but as long as you execute Step #5 well, your recommender will have the info they need to write you something thats personalized and unique. After reading 1000s of these letters, you can quickly spot the genuine, heartfelt ones versus the generic ones.

Hopeless To Harvard is an insider’s account of how a B+ student got into Harvard, Stanford, and Princeton. Click here to learn college admissions advice. Follow the advice and go to any Ivy League school. Learn how to get into Princeton now!