Securing Letters of Recommendation

It’s common for colleges, competitive summer programs, and even scholarships to ask for one or more letters of recommendation (LORs) as part of the application process. These letters serve as a reference — offering insight into your capabilities, character, and potential. The primary question is: Who should you ask?

This guide breaks down the process of identifying the best recommenders and how to approach them.

Who to Ask?

Sometimes, the program may specify who the letter should come from — like a physics or math teacher for a STEM-focused summer school. But more often, the choice is left to you. With multiple teachers from different subjects across your academic journey, choosing the right one is crucial. However, it is best to get letters from a science teacher and a humanities teacher. Both these subjects offer the colleges different aspects of your academic strengths.  you can help the admission board get a better sense of who the student is as a person as well as their academic or career goals.

Humanities Strengths:

• Critical Thinking: Analyzing texts, historical events, and philosophical ideas helps students assess multiple perspectives.
• Communication Skills: Writing essays, participating in discussions, and constructing arguments boost articulation and persuasion.
• Creative Problem-Solving: Engaging with literature, history, or art encourages thinking outside the box.
• Research and Analysis: Digging into primary/secondary sources sharpens the ability to interpret data and form evidence-based conclusions.

Science Strengths:

• Analytical Skills: From interpreting data to identifying patterns, science trains students to break complex problems into manageable parts.
• Quantitative Reasoning: Working with formulas, measurements, and statistics strengthens numerical fluency and precision.
• Experimentation and Curiosity: The scientific method encourages hypothesis-driven inquiry and resilience through trial and error.
• Technical Proficiency: Labs and research projects teach students how to use specialized equipment, software, and scientific processes.
• Problem-Solving: Whether it’s understanding a chemical reaction or building a robot, science fosters logical, solution-oriented thinking.

1. Insight Over Grades

Often students are tempted to choose the teacher from the class where they have earned their highest grades. A more strategic approach is to select a teacher who truly knows you — your work ethic, class participation, curiosity, and personal growth. A letter from a teacher who can speak about your character and journey is more impactful than a generic one praising your high scores.

If you were a quiet student who rarely engaged with a particular teacher, the teacher may not have enough material to write a compelling letter. Instead, a teacher who witnessed your intellectual curiosity, leadership, or determination — even if the subject wasn’t your strongest — could craft a more vivid, memorable recommendation.

2. Look for Long-Term Connections

Teachers who have taught you for multiple years can provide a better account of your development as a student. They can speak to your progress, resilience, and interests. In case your teacher is leaving school and you will need to get the LOR from the new teacher, consider getting your teachers to have an interaction and pass on their insights about you. Although your new teacher will form her opinion about you, a word from the outgoing teacher will help her gain some understanding of your potential.

3. Consider Writing Strength

A teacher who can articulate your strengths and potential in a clear, engaging way will make a bigger impact than one who struggles to convey these ideas, even if they know you well. Reflect on which teachers communicate effectively — both in class and in the feedback they’ve given you.

Counsellors Recommendation

Many schools require a counsellor recommendation, but if yours doesn’t, a counselor who knows you well can offer a broader overview of your academic and personal journey. If you have been working with a Private Counsellor for some years, they will be able to write a glowing recommendation letter about you since they have witnessed your growth.

Rapport Building and Brag Sheets to help recommenders

It is important to create a rapport with your teacher who you have identified as a potential recommender from the beginning of your grade 11. Informing them that you would be expecting an LOR from them and giving them enough context about yourself that they can incorporate in the letter will be critical for a good LOR. This is where the Brag Sheet comes in handy.  A brag sheet is essentially a personal resume — but designed specifically to help teachers, counselors, or other recommenders write a strong, personalized letter of recommendation for you. It outlines your achievements, goals, and qualities, giving them plenty of material to work with.

You can start by creating a “Brag Sheet” which ensures that the teacher has specific and pertinent information about you that they can incorporate. As the name suggests, the brag sheet is meant for you to highlight your achievement in a particular class which the teacher can utilize. It saves your recommender time and ensures they mention the qualities and stories that align with your college or program application. Teachers will need to use concrete examples that highlight the student’s skills and best qualities and identify the student’s strengths besides highlighting the student’s integrity, character, or leadership ability

Final Checklist: Picking the Right Recommender

Before making your final decision, ask yourself:

• Does this teacher know me beyond my grades?
• Can they describe my personality, growth, and work ethic?
• Have I interacted with them enough to leave a lasting impression?
• Do they write well and convey ideas effectively?
• Will they be enthusiastic about recommending me?

Once you’ve chosen the right people, don’t forget to approach them early, provide them with the context of your application, and express your gratitude.