When should I ask for a recommendation letter?

Question

I'm a Junior now, so should I ask a teacher for a recommendation before or after the summer leading up to Senior year? (E.g. how long does it typically take to write one?)

Answer 1

It doesn't take years to write a letter, certainly, but all professors have other things to do and it can take us a while to get to it. It would actually be considerate to ask now, making clear that you don't need it until Fall, to give the person time to think about and write it. Let me give you an example. I'm currently traveling, out of the country, and I don't have access to files on any of my former students available to me. They're sitting on a thumb drive at home. I just got a request from a student I had in class five years ago for a recommendation to graduate school, and she needs it within two weeks. I do remember that she was a great student and that I think she would be a wonderful grad student, but my memory of details is fuzzy for that long ago. Was she a good writer? Did she do a great presentation? On what? I don't know. What is frustrating is that I know I wrote her recommendations for other things WHILE she was in school, and they would be in my files for me to reference, if only I could access those files in time! As it is, she will get a less than optimal letter from me because of the timing of her request. I don't mean that I will say anything bad, just that I can't back it up with many specifics. The other lesson from this example is to get letters as soon as possible after you finish the professor's class. They can always tweak it to fit a particular job or program later, but it will force them to write things down while they remember them. Ideally, we would write a recommendation for each student at the end of each class, but unfortunately none of us has time for that!

Answer 2

Ask sooner rather than later - it's much easier for teachers to remember your work, performance and behavior in class now than months later. Believe it or not, teachers (some anyway) actually appreciate being asked to do these sorts of things because it shows that you also value their work and opinion. These letters don't take long to write, after all, you're not the first and only student they've written a letter for so chances are it won't be inconvenient for them.

Answer 3

As a courtesy to your teachers, you should allow them about 2 weeks to a month to write the letters, so figure out when your applications are due, and plan accordingly.

Answer 4

in basic terms ask your instructor. In guy or woman. tell them which you're thinking approximately using to bathe college and you may prefer to have a advice letter written with a view to have a greater suitable possibility at a a techniques better education. good luck!

Answer 5

As soon as possible, once you know who you want to write it, give them as much time as possible. DEFINITELY before the summer ends.
No one complains about having too much time to write a letter of recommendation.