Letters of Recommendation for US Colleges

What recommendation letters are and who writes them

US college applications typically require letters of recommendation from adults who know you in an academic or extracurricular context — most commonly two teachers and a school counsellor. The recommender writes and submits the letter directly; you do not write it.

The letter gives admissions officers a perspective on you that goes beyond grades and test scores: how you engage in class, how you handle challenges, what kind of community member you are, and how you have grown over time. A strong letter from someone who knows you well is more useful than a generic letter from a prestigious name who barely knows you.

Requirements vary by school. Always check each college's official admissions page for the specific number and type of letters required.

Who to ask

For teacher recommendations, choose teachers who know your work well — ideally in subjects relevant to your intended area of study, and ideally from 11th or 12th grade when your academic record is most recent.

A teacher who gave you a good grade but had limited personal interaction with you may write a weaker letter than a teacher who saw you struggle and persist in their class. Depth of relationship matters more than the prestige of the subject.

Ask early — ideally several months before your earliest application deadline. Teachers and counsellors write many letters; giving them enough time is respectful and likely to result in a more thoughtful letter.

• Prioritise teachers who know you well over teachers of high-prestige subjects
• Relevant subject areas (aligned with your intended major) are helpful but not essential
• Ask in 11th grade or very early in 12th grade — not the week before the deadline
• Ask in person when possible, not just by email; a brief conversation helps the recommender understand your goals

How to make the request professionally

When you ask a teacher or counsellor for a recommendation, give them context. Share your list of schools, your intended area of study, any deadlines, and — if it is not intrusive — a brief note about experiences in their class or context that you hope they might remember.

Many schools and counsellors ask students to provide a "brag sheet" or activity summary so the recommender has the full picture. This is standard practice. It is not writing the letter for them; it is giving them the information they need to write a complete and accurate one.

Always ask — never assume someone will write a letter. If a teacher seems hesitant, it is better to ask someone else than to receive a lukewarm letter.

Academic integrity: the letter must be the recommender's own work

A letter of recommendation must be written entirely by the person recommending you. You must not write the letter yourself and ask someone to sign it, offer heavy edits to their draft, or have an AI tool generate the text. Doing so — or forging a letter — is a serious academic integrity violation. If discovered, it can result in rejection, rescission of an offer, or expulsion.

The Common App and many colleges include certifications that recommenders sign confirming the letter is their own work. The system is designed to support this: recommenders receive a direct link and submit independently, without the applicant seeing the letter unless the applicant waives their right to access (waiving is the standard practice and is encouraged by most colleges).

• The recommender writes the letter — the applicant does not
• Providing a brag sheet or activity list for context is standard and appropriate
• Do not write a draft for a recommender to sign — this is a violation
• Waiving your right to view the letter is standard practice and is recommended by most colleges

Guidance for international applicants

If you are applying to US colleges from outside the United States, your recommenders may not be familiar with the format or expectations of American recommendation letters. It is completely acceptable — and helpful — to share information about what US colleges are looking for, such as the Common App recommendation guidelines, with your teachers.

If your school does not have a college counsellor, a teacher or administrator who knows you well in an official capacity can serve the equivalent role. Letters should ideally be written in English, or submitted with an official translation if that is not possible. Check each school's specific requirements.