No successful application or high school career happens out of nowhere. It takes the support of family, friends, coaches, and teachers. It is important that students take time to thank the people who supported them and, notably, the teachers that wrote their recommendation letters for their college applications.
So, how should students thank their recommendation letter writers?
First, you should make sure to thank your teachers sooner rather than later. After the Thanksgiving Break, it will be a mad dash to get through all the work that needs to be completed before winter break and the New Year. This, coupled with all the fun and obligations that come with the holidays, means that you should plan your “thank you” before you get too inundated with distractions and forget to think about those teachers who played a pivotal role in your applications.
Second, there is no single “right way” to thank your teachers. Whether you stop by their classrooms, send them a card, or get them a gift as a token of your thanks, it’s best to make sure your appreciation is genuine and reflects the value of the work they did to support you in your admissions journey. The thought, care, intention, and work put forth when writing a letter of recommendation is a task that is not easy. Each and every teacher who agrees to write a letter of recommendation does so hoping their students will be accepted into the colleges of their dreams and they also do so without being paid for their time. Tell your teachers how much this effort meant to you!
For the families and parents of students who are yet to receive their own letters of recommendation but are wondering how best to prepare for this experience, it’s important to build relationships with your teachers early in high school. And not just relationships as a form of strategy in the college process but, relationships that are born of genuine connection to the teachers who you see everyday, who support you when you’re struggling with a new concept, and often are supporting you outside of the classroom as your coaches and club mentors. By leaning into these relationships and building trust with your teachers you ensure that not only do you have a number of teachers who would love to write letters of recommendation for you but, that you also have a number of teachers who know you well enough to write thoughtful, detailed, and supportive recommendations of the amazing scholar and young adult that you are.
