Perhaps the most difficult part of the application process is seeking out and acquiring recommendations from teachers. To avoid
puzzled looks and possible embarrassment, there are some steps you can take.What you need to do before approaching someone for a recommendation. Prepare a folder with biographical information other than
the actual teacher recommendation form. You will give the entire folder to the teacher who's filling out your recommendation. The added material will come in handy if the teacher has trouble remembering the
type of student you were. The information is also useful for teachers who know you well, because they might learn some things that they previously were unaware of. These extra facts come in handy when a teacher tries to
remember nice things to say about you. Here's what to put in that folder:
1- Prepare a short autobiography - This simply means write up a 1 or 2 page summary of your activities, interests, awards, and goals for the future. This is extremely important for those
teachers who only know you as an acquaintance.
2- Along with your autobiography it is smart to include the grade you received in that teacher's class and a paper or exam that you scored particularly
well on. Many teachers have hundreds of students and it's hard to remember everybody's characteristics. If you didn't save any material from that specific class you could even give a paper or two
that you wrote for another class. That would give the teacher a good idea as to what type of worker you
are.
3- Go to your high school guidance counselor and get a transcript.
Put it in your folder. Highlight classes that you excelled in.
Note on Timing
Don't tell your teacher you need the recommendation completed in one or two days. You should prepare in advance so that a teacher has at least two weeks to
complete the necessary forms. Tight deadlines produce low quality results, even from teachers.
Provide a date that the teacher must complete the recommendation by. Create a recommendation deadline for teachers that is weeks before the application deadline. It's been my experience that
teachers, like students, historically wait for the last minute before completing tasks. That extra time will provide a necessary cushion for teachers who are late in filing your recommendations.
- When you give your recommendation to a teacher, don't just assume that it's going to be completed and handed to your guidance counselor. Check with your guidance office periodically to see if your
recommendations actually come in.
-Should I get recommended by a teacher from a specific department?-
If you wrote on all your applications that you are thinking of going to medical school, then by all means obtain a
recommendation from your biology, chemistry, or physics teacher. If you need two recommendations, make sure the teachers are from different departments
. If you received a recommendation from your science teacher, try getting a second from the English or history department. That will really show an admissions officer how well-rounded you are. Getting a recommendation from two biology teachers only puts you into the one-dimensional category, and one step closer to the rejection pile.
