Recommendations

COUNSELORS written evaluations  and TEACHER recommendations

COUNSELOR RECOMMENDATIONS (Includes Evaluation, School Report and Profile) are requested in google doc. Please fill out this form for EACH college/university you are requesting a counselor letter of recommendation. Please be sure you have added these schools into the “College I am Applying To” tab and request your transcripts in Naviance > College > Manage Transcripts.

LINK: https://forms.gle/T2qf6rzFd9F9mToHA

TEACHER RECOMMENDATION are requested in NAVIANCE ®

QUICK Naviance Recommendation Reference LINK: Letters of Recommendation using Naviance

Using the Letter of Recommendation (LOR) in Naviance Student can:

• See the number of requests colleges in your list of Colleges I’m Applying To require and allow.
• See the  requests you have already made for colleges in your Colleges I’m Applying To list.
• Select specific colleges and specific teachers for which you want to write a recommendation. A notification will display if the college does not allow LORs or if you have already requested the maximum number of LORs allowed by that college.
• Make a general request if you do not have any colleges in your list of Colleges I’m Applying To or if you have no preference for which teachers will fulfill the recommendation requirements for each college.
• See your requests along with the status of the request, including Requested, In Progress, Submitted, and Canceled.
• See the submission date and time of each requested LOR. You will also see the date and time of each status change, as well as the name of the person who made the change. If you delete an application, the corresponding LOR request will no longer be listed on the LOR status page. If the application is restored, the LOR request will re-appear in your list of requests.

How to Get a Great Letter of Recommendation

Colleges often ask for one or two teacher recommendation letters from people who know you well. These letters should be written by someone who can describe your skills, accomplishments, and personality in the classroom. We highly recommend filling out the YHS Teacher Brag Sheet, located on our website: https://yhs.apsva.us/counseling/counseling-forms/. Our teachers take a great deal of personal time writing letters of recommendation. You want colleges to focus on your other parts of your application. Please limit teacher recommendation to two teachers.   The more recommendation a teacher writes, the less time they have on each recommendation. For counselor recommendations, the student brag sheets and the parent brag sheet, also on our website, should be completed and emailed to your counselor before the end of your junior year. A letters of recommendation reveal things about you that grades and test scores can and provide personal opinions of your character. The recommendation work for you when the writer presents you in the best possible light, showcasing your skills and abilities. When to ask for recommendationsMake sure to give your references at least one month before your earliest deadline to complete and send your letters. The earlier you ask, the better. Many teachers like to write recommendations during the summer. If you apply under early decision or early action plans, you’ll definitely need to ask for recommendations by the start of your senior year or before.Remember that some teachers will be writing whole stacks of letters, which takes time. Your teachers will do a better job on your letter if they don’t have to rush.  

Whom to Ask

It’s your job to find people to write letters of recommendation for you. Follow these steps to start the process:

• Read each of your college applications carefully. Schools often ask for letters of recommendation from an academic teacher — sometimes in a specific subject — or a school counselor or both.
• Ask a counselor, teachers and your family who they think would make good references.
• Choose one of your teachers from junior year or a current teacher who has known you for a while. Colleges want a current perspective on you, so a teacher from several years ago isn’t the best choice.
• Consider asking a teacher who also knows you outside the classroom. For example, a teacher who directed you in a play or advised your debate club can make a great reference.
• Consider other adults — such as an employer, a coach or an adviser from an activity outside of school — who have a good understanding of you and your strengths.
• Perhaps most important, pick someone who will be enthusiastic about writing the letter for you.
• If you’re unsure about asking someone in particular, politely ask if he or she feels comfortable recommending you. That’s a good way to avoid weak letters.

How to Get the Best Recommendations

Some teachers write many recommendation letters each year. Even if they know you well, it’s a good idea to take some time to speak with them. Make it easy for them to give positive, detailed information about your achievements and your potential by refreshing their memory.Here’s how:

• Talk to them about your class participation.
• Remind them of specific work or projects you’re proud of.
• Tell them what you learned in class.
• Mention any challenges you overcame.
• Give them the information they need to provide specific examples of your work.
• If you need a recommendation letter from a counselor or other school official, follow these guidelines:
  • Make an appointment ahead of time.
  • Talk about your accomplishments, hobbies and plans for college and the future.
  • If you need to discuss part of your transcript — low grades during your sophomore year, for example — do so. Explain why you had difficulty and discuss how you’ve changed and improved since then.

Final Tips

The following advice is easy to follow and can really pay off:

• Waive your right to view recommendation letters on your application forms. Admission officers will trust them more if you haven’t seen them.
• Make sure your references know the deadlines for each college.
• Follow up with your references a week or so before recommendations are due to make sure your letters have been sent.
• Once you’ve decided which college to attend, write thank-you notes. Tell your references where you’re going and let them know how much you appreciate their support.

This information is from: https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/plan-for-college/college-prep/stand-out/how-to-get-a-great-letter-of-recommendation