Letters of Recommendation
Letters of Recommendation
Seniors may need a Counselor Letter of Recommendation for college applications, scholarship applications, and special programs such as EOP at the California State University. This letter is meant to highlight who you are as a whole person, bring together various threads of your application, and address particular challenges or meaningful experiences that have impacted you during your time in high school.
In order for us to write the best letters possible, we ask seniors and their parents to complete the Counselor Letter of Rec Packet and submit a resume. Each Counselor uses their own LOR Packet, which is linked below. We also set our own deadlines in order to manage the high volume of letters that we write every fall. Seniors should communicate that they will need a Counselor Letter of Recommendation as soon as possible and complete the LOR Packet at least one month in advance (not including school holiday breaks) of their first due date.
LOR Packets
Ms. Couto's LOR Packet
Deadlines: if you are applying
Early - your LOR Packet is DUE: Friday, 9/6/2024
Regular - your LOR Packet is DUE: Friday, 11/1/2024
Ms. Ginsberg's LOR Packet
Deadlines: if you are applying
Early - your LOR packet is DUE: Friday, 9/6/2024
Regular - your LOR packet is DUE: Friday, 11/1/2024
Ms. Hunt's LOR Packet
Deadlines: if you are applying
Early - your LOR Packet is DUE: Friday, 9/6/2024
Regular - your LOR Packet is DUE: Friday, 10/4/2024
Ms. Erler's LOR Packet
Deadlines: if you are applying
Early - your LOR Packet is DUE: Friday, 9/6/2024
Regular - your LOR Packet is DUE: Friday, 11/1/2024
Ms. Pula's LOR Packet is accessed on Naviance, in the About Me section, under Surveys
Deadlines: if you are applying
Early - your LOR Packet is DUE: Tuesday, 9/10/2024
Regular - your LOR Packet is DUE: Monday, 10/7/2024
LOR Info
Do I need a letter of recommendation (LOR) from my Counselor?
If you are applying to college using the Common App, your Counselor will need to complete the Secondary School Report, which includes school information, a School Profile, and a transcript. Most (but not all) schools using the Common App also require a Counselor Recommendation, in addition to the Teacher Evaluation(s) required.
UC does NOT require or accept letters of recommendation. On rare occasions, a UC campus wants more information and requests a teacher or counselor letter of recommendation. Be sure to check your email regularly after you submit your applications.
CSU does NOT require or accept letters of recommendation. If you are applying to the Educational Opportunity Program (EOP), then you will need two letters of recommendation and may request one from your Counselor.
If you are using the Coalition Application, requirements will vary.
If I need a Counselor LOR, how do I request one?
Toward the end of the school year, your Counselor will send you, via email, an LOR Packet. Over the summer, please complete the questionnaire, attach a resume, and ask a parent to write the Parent Statement.
When school starts, check in with your Counselor as soon as possible to let us know you will need a Counselor LOR for your college applications. Just initiating a link via Common App does not constitute a request. Each Counselor will write between 40 and 60 letters of recommendation for seniors applying to 4-year colleges. Be mindful of their stated deadlines for Early and Regular applicants as they are planning their own timelines to make sure all letters get done on time.
What do I write for the LOR Packet?
It’s not an English essay but please be honest, reflective, and give specific examples. When you say, “I’ve grown a lot and am proud of how hard I’ve worked to get where I am,” that doesn't give us a very good sense of your experience. The Counselor LOR is a chance to provide context to your application and highlight and/or explain a bigger picture of your time in high school than can be conveyed by just coursework, grades, and test scores. Help us to help you shine!
How do I add my Counselor and Teachers to my Common App as Recommenders?
***Check out these INSTRUCTIONS with class size and contact info***