How to Choose Your Recommenders
When it comes to choosing recommenders for undergraduate applications, there are a few key things to consider.
Relevance: It's important to choose recommenders who can speak to your academic and personal strengths in a meaningful way. Ideally, these should be people who know you well and have had the opportunity to see you succeed, such as teachers, counselors, and mentors.
Role: Consider the role that each recommender plays in your life and how their perspective will add value to your application. For example, a teacher may be able to speak to your academic abilities, while a coach or employer can speak to your leadership skills and work ethic.
Diversity: Having a diverse group of recommenders can help give a well-rounded view of your abilities and experiences. This could include recommenders from different academic or professional fields, or those who have known you in different capacities (e.g. a teacher and a coach).
Relationships: It's important to have good relationships with your recommenders and to make sure they are willing and able to write a strong letter of recommendation on your behalf. It's a good idea to approach potential recommenders well in advance of the application deadline and to provide them with any relevant information (e.g. a resume, personal statement) to help them write a more informed letter.
Number: Most undergraduate programs will ask for at least one or two letters of recommendation. It's generally a good idea to have at least one from a teacher and one from another relevant source (e.g. a coach, employer, community leader).
Ultimately, the key is to choose recommenders who can speak to your strengths and help tell your story in a compelling way. By considering relevance, role, diversity, relationships, and number, you can ensure that you have a strong group of recommenders who will support your application.
