Get great college recommendation letters

Current high school juniors will soon apply to college, and the lingering impact of COVID-19 may make it difficult to stand out in the admissions process. A good recommendation letter goes a long way toward success, while the absence of enthusiastic support from your teachers and counselor is noticed by experienced admissions officers and can lead to rejection.

At the height of the pandemic, instead of receiving letter grades, many students were given only pass/fail marks. And due to restrictions on gathering, they may not have taken the ACT or SAT. With fewer grades and a lack of test scores, recommendations from your teachers and school counselor will be more important than ever this year.

Here are 5 tips to help you get the most effective letters of recommendation.

Set yourself up for success

It takes planning to form the kinds of connections that will be the basis for high-quality recommendations. Beginning at the start of your junior year:

• Get to know your teachers and guidance counselor.

• If school is virtual, be visible; turn on your camera and keep it on.

• Take an active interest; ask questions.

• Help build a sense of community with your classmates, teachers and school administrators by interacting with them as much as possible, even if only virtually.

And finally, keep records of your accomplishments — and efforts — in school, so you can later help your teachers and counselor write recommendations that are specific and personal.

Ask recent teachers

College applications typically involve three letters of recommendation: One is automatically written by your school counselor, and two others are written by teachers of your choice. You should ask one teacher