Recommendation Letters: Who to Ask, How to Ask, and How to Follow Up

Published on May 14, 2026

Every September, I receive anxious messages from parents: "The teacher said, 'I'll write the recommendation letter' - but now it's October and it still hasn't been submitted! What should we do?"

My answer is always: "A teacher saying 'I'll write it' and a teacher submitting it on time are two different things. You should have started tracking it on September 1. If you wait until October, you are already late."

Parents get even more anxious: "Will my daughter's physics teacher write a weak letter if they are not that close?"

The answer is: the quality of a recommendation letter written by a Taiwanese teacher depends on how much information you give them. Drawing on 15 years of field experience, this article breaks down 12 strategic decision points for recommendation letters.

1. The Structure of Common App Recommendation Letters

Common App recommendation letters fall into 3 categories:

The truth: the 3 recommendation letters account for roughly 5-10% of the application evaluation - less than the Personal Statement and Activities, but they have a "bimodal effect":

• Strong recommendation letters -> significantly elevate the quality of the application
• Weak / mediocre recommendation letters -> reduce the perceived quality of the application
• Negative / cautionary recommendation letters -> immediate elimination

2. Counselor Letter: The School Counselor

2.1 What Does the Counselor Write?

The Counselor usually writes about:

• Your overall performance at school (GPA, course rigor)
• The school's background (size, characteristics, average academic performance)
• Your relative standing among classmates ("top 5 in class of 200")
• Your personality / extracurricular activities
• Any "context" (if your grades dropped, or if your family had difficulties)

2.2 The Counselor Role in Taiwanese High Schools

The truth: Counselors at Taiwanese public high schools often have never written an English recommendation letter - this is one of the biggest obstacles in U.S. applications.

2.3 What If There Is No Dedicated Counselor?

Important: The Common App system automatically identifies "what position the Counselor holds at the school" - so using a "Vice Principal" or "Director of Academic Affairs" carries more weight.

3. Teacher Evaluation: 2 Subject Teachers

3.1 Who Should You Ask?

My 4 principles for Dr. G. students:

1. A teacher who taught you in 11th grade: 12th-grade teachers have known you for too little time; 9th-10th grade teachers knew you too long ago
2. A core subject teacher: STEM applicants should ask Math / Physics / Chem / CS teachers; humanities applicants should ask English / History teachers
3. Related to your intended major: CS applicants should ask a Math teacher; Pre-Med applicants should ask a Bio teacher
4. A teacher in whose class you performed well: not "the teacher you are closest to," but the teacher "best able to explain why you are excellent"

3.2 How to Pair the Two Teachers

The most common mistake: both teachers are from the same field.

Why must you cross fields? AOs want to see your combined "STEM + humanities" ability - recommendation letters from only two STEM teachers will be read as "lopsided strengths."

4. When and How to Ask for Recommendation Letters

4.1 Timing: May of 11th Grade

The standard timeline I give Dr. G. students:

Why ask in May? Because:

1. Teachers have time to write during summer break (they are too busy during the semester)
2. Your 11th-grade performance is still fresh in the teacher's mind
3. Giving 6 months of advance notice is basic courtesy

4.2 What to Say When You Ask

Wrong example:

Teacher, I want to apply to U.S. colleges. Can you write me a recommendation letter?

Correct example:

Teacher, I plan to apply for undergraduate programs in the U.S. You taught me physics this year, and I was also your TA in chemistry the year before last, so you are the teacher who has taught me the longest and understands my academic ability best. Would it be possible for you to write a recommendation letter for me by September 1? I will prepare a complete information packet for your reference.

Key points:

1. State the specific deadline
2. Mention specific shared experiences (to help the teacher remember you)
3. Promise to prepare materials (so the teacher knows you will reduce their workload)
4. Leave time for the teacher to consider / decline

5. Brag Sheet: The Key Information Packet for Teachers

The biggest secret: the more information you give teachers, the stronger the recommendation letter will be.

5.1 What Should a Brag Sheet Include?

5.2 Brag Sheet Template

6. How Long Should a Recommendation Letter Be?

Typical recommendation letter length:

Main point: 1-2 pages is the sweet spot. The more complete the Brag Sheet, the easier it is for the teacher to write 1-2 pages.

7. English Letters from Taiwanese Teachers: How to Handle Them

Many Taiwanese high school teachers are not comfortable writing in English - but the recommendation letter must be in English. There are 3 ways to handle this:

7.1 Teacher Writes in Chinese -> You Translate -> Teacher Signs

This is the most common method. Note: your translation cannot change the teacher's original meaning, or it violates Common App rules.

7.2 Use AI-Assisted Translation + Teacher Review

Teacher writes in Chinese -> use ChatGPT to translate -> print it for the teacher to review -> teacher signs only after approving it.

7.3 Hire a Professional Translator

Consulting firms such as Dr. G. provide recommendation letter translation and editing services.

The truth: AOs know that many international students' recommendation letters are "translated versions" - as long as the content is truthful, it is OK. The Common App system even has a checkbox for "translated documents."

8. Other Recommender: Supplemental Recommendation Letters

Common App allows 0-2 Other Recommender letters - recommenders who are not subject teachers.

8.1 Suitable Other Recommenders

8.2 The 3 Principles for Other Recommenders

1. Do not seek famous people just for prestige: "Nobel Laureate who does not know you" < "Lab PI who has known you for 2 years"
2. They must add an angle not covered by subject teachers: for example, leadership, research depth, or personal character
3. Do not exceed 2 letters: 3 or more letters = "trying too hard to squeeze in recommendations" = backfires

9. The 3 Follow-Up Points for Recommendation Letters

A teacher agreeing to write does not mean the teacher will submit on time. This is the follow-up schedule I give Dr. G. students:

The truth: 30% of Taiwanese teachers will delay recommendation letters. Proactive follow-up is the student's responsibility, not the teacher's responsibility.

10. What If the Recommendation Letter Is "Too Generic"?

If you see a teacher's draft recommendation letter (Common App policy prohibits students from seeing the final version, but there are exceptions involving the Counselor / FERPA Waiver) and feel that it is too generic, you can:

The most important thing: For the FERPA Waiver, you should select "I waive my right to view the recommendation letter" - when AOs see "student waived the right to view," they will trust the letter more.

11. What If You Get Rejected? What If the Teacher Refuses to Write?

In a small number of cases, teachers will refuse. Possible reasons:

Warning sign: If a teacher says, "I can write it, but I may not be able to write it well" - switch immediately. It is better to find another teacher than to submit a recommendation letter with a cautionary tone.

12. Conclusion: Recommendation Letters Are Documents You "Cannot Control, But Can Influence"

Over 15 years, I have seen too many parents worry that "we cannot see what the recommendation letters say" - but in reality, 80% of what teachers write depends on the materials you provide + your relationship with the teacher.

My final reminder to Dr. G. students:

A recommendation letter is not about you "asking the teacher for a favor" - it is about you "giving the teacher enough material so they can write the strongest possible version". The more complete the Brag Sheet, the earlier you ask, and the more proactive your follow-up, the higher the quality of the recommendation letter.

Ask in May of 11th grade. Do not wait until September, and definitely do not wait until October.

Further Reading:

• Guiding Teachers to Write Stronger Recommendation Letters (Essay Strategy Version)
• How to Write the 10 Common App Activities Slots
• 12th Grade September-December Timeline
• Common App vs Coalition vs UC vs Apply Texas
• How to Write the 650-Word Common App Personal Statement