Recommendations

Students

US– Usually one or two teacher letters and/or a counselor letter; Only when requested/required Character reference, peer reference, pastoral reference

UK– One counselor Letter

Other countries– Usually don’t require. But check each school to be sure.

How to request recommendations:

  1. Decide on the teachers who you would like to write for you.

  2. Complete request form and sign to wave your rights to view them. Attach your resume.

  3. Bring the request form to the teach and ask them if they would be willing/able to write a good recommendation for you AT LEAST TWO WEEKS BEFORE DUE. Teachers have been told they are allowed to say no if you do not give them sufficient time.

  4. If they agree, send a BridgeU request to them to submit their recommendation.

  • – Log into BridgeU
  • – In the left menu, find “Recommendations” Click on it.
  • – Click on “My Progress”
  • – Click on “New Recommendation”
  • – Complete the form and submit when ready. Change that email content to be personalized!

If applying through CommonApp or UCAS, you will need to sync your account with BridgeU so that all your documents in BridgeU can be sent. I will receive the references and be able to proof them before they are submitted.

Teachers

Teachers- Thank you!

Thank you from me, thank you from our students, and thank you from the universities! You get to give a picture of our students that their application might not portray. We want the universities to get a better understanding of the amazing students we have at CRICS and your teacher recommendation is a key part of that. Here are a few tips to do that well.

  1. Students will be giving you a request form with questions they should have answered. You are also welcome to set up an interview with them if that would be helpful to you. Each student is unique and the recommendation should reflect that. Please do not use the same recommendation for multiple students. Show don’t tell. Give real examples of ways students have demonstrated what you want to say.

  2. Universities need to be able to trust that you are writing honestly. To ensure that, we have students sign a waiver (on the form they give you) saying they will not see their recommendation. Please do not show them their recommendation. Also, never give the student a copy of their recommendation. If they insist that they need it for some reason, please direct them to the college counselor. They will help them get it where it needs to go.

  3. Students are coached to ask you if you would be willing to write a recommendation for them If you feel you do not know the student well or are not able to write a positive recommendation, you are encouraged to ask them if they might be able to ask someone else or say no. If you aren’t sure what to do, please ask the college counselor.

  4. Know the university country destination. Students should be answering that question on their form. What you need to write for a UK recommendation is different than what you should write for the US.

  5. Please use CRICS letterhead and try to keep to one page.

  6. Students should also be sending a request through BridgeU. Please submit your recommendation there. That is the only place you should send it unless I have instructed you otherwise.

  7. Students have been encouraged to plan ahead and request recommendations at least two weeks before the deadline. If a student requests one only a few days before it is due. You may say no.

Here is a great video to understand US Recommendation expectations.

Here is a link with great examples with comments for writing a recommendation for a student applying to a highly selective US school.

More resources and examples are available by request.

CRICS Students

This is a place for you to find all the resources you need to be the best student you can be.

© 2022 CRICS. All Rights Reserved.

Still can’t find what you are looking for?

Let us know by clicking on the red button.