How To Get The Best Reference From Your Teacher For University Applications
As a student, you may have a teacher who really stands out from the rest. They might be funny and engaging in class, or they could be more serious but still make time to help their students when needed. Whatever it is that makes this particular teacher so great for you, your best bet for getting the most out of their reference letter is to ask them early on in your college application process what they want to say about you and how they want to say it.
Take notes in class
Taking notes in class is a great way to learn, but it can also be an asset when it comes time for you to write your reference letter. Your teacher knows that you were paying attention and taking notes because they're the ones who taught you how to do this. It shows that you're conscientious about learning as much as possible during their lectures so that you can use what they've taught you later on down the road--and if there's one thing most professors love more than teaching, it's seeing their students succeed!
Ask your teacher for a one-on-one meeting to discuss how you can improve
If you're struggling with a particular subject, ask your teacher for feedback on your performance. They may be able to point out areas where you need improvement and provide advice on how to improve them.
If there is a specific project that you need help with, ask them if they could meet with you one-on-one and go over the details of it together. This will give them an opportunity to see what skills and knowledge gaps exist in your work, which will allow them better assess what steps are needed for improvement.
Teachers often have connections within their field (and beyond), so ask if they could recommend someone who could act as a mentor for some aspect of university study--such as choosing courses or navigating bureaucracy at university level institutions like CEGEPs (Collège d'enseignement général et professionnel) or Universities here in Quebec!
Keep up with extra credit assignments
Extra credit assignments are a great way to build a relationship with your teacher. They allow you to demonstrate that you care about their class, and can help them see that the time they spent teaching was worthwhile. While it's true that extra credit is not required for a high grade in most classes, it's also true that if you do not take advantage of these opportunities then there will be no way for your professor or TA (teaching assistant) to know how much work went into your regular assignments.
If nothing else, consider doing extra credit assignments as an act of gratitude toward someone who has worked hard on behalf of their students--and who might be more likely than most teachers at getting references from other professionals in academia because of this fact!
Always ask questions
When you are in a class, always ask questions. This is a great way to get to know your teacher and show them that you are interested in the subject matter. It's also an excellent way to make sure that they know what kind of student they have in front of them, which will be useful when applying for university.
Ask questions about the material being covered: why it's important, how it relates to other subjects or fields (if applicable), whether there are any interesting applications for this knowledge outside of academia--the possibilities are endless! If there is something specific that interests or puzzles you about the content being studied by your professor or TA--and especially if they've given their approval for such inquiry--then go ahead and ask away! The more curious and engaged students tend to do well both inside and outside classrooms; so don't be afraid if someone else asks first but then wait until later on before raising concerns about assignments due dates/times etc..
Treat your teacher as a mentor and work with them on a research project or other activity
If you want to get the best reference from your teacher, treat them like a mentor.
You can do this by asking for their advice and guidance when you're stuck on something, or working with them on a research project or other activity. They'll see how serious and motivated you are, which will make it easier for them to write an excellent recommendation letter for university applications.
Make sure you don't ask for too much feedback, because it may overwhelm them
There are a few things you should avoid when asking for teacher references for university applications.
- Don't ask for too much feedback, because it may overwhelm them and make them less likely to help you in the future.
- Don't ask for too many revisions, because this can be a lot of work and will make it harder on your teachers if they have other students who need their attention as well.
- Don't ask for a letter of recommendation too early in the semester (e.g., September), since this could hinder your performance later on in the course when it comes time to write up recommendations from teachers or professors who know nothing about how good or bad of an essay writer/student/personality type person (etc.) that person actually is!
Know Thy Self, Know Thy Teacher
When it comes to college admissions, reference letters are an important part of the application process. A great reference letter will come from someone who knows you well and is able to write about your specific qualities as a student.
While many people think that teachers are only allowed to write recommendations for students they've taught in class, this isn't always true! Teachers can also write recommendations if they have worked with you outside of school or know you from other contexts (such as community service). However, these types of recommendations will still need to include some specific details about your achievements and how those achievements align with what colleges look for in applicants.
The best way to get a great reference letter is by being an excellent student. Keep up with the work, ask questions when you don't understand something and take notes in class. Good grades will show that you care about learning and doing well at school, which will make your teacher feel good about writing an awesome letter on your behalf!
If you're looking for support with the admission process, check out our 3-minute assessment to see if you qualify for our support here!
