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 campuses. The counselor Letter of Recommendation 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 your counselor to write the most impactful letter, seniors and their parents are required to complete a Counselor Letter of Rec (LOR) Packet. Each Counselor uses their own LOR Packet, linked below, and sets their own deadlines in order to manage the high volume of letters required every fall. Seniors should request a Counselor Letter of Recommendation as soon as possible and complete the LOR Packet by their counselor designated deadline.
LOR Packets
Ms. Couto's LOR Packet
Deadlines: if you are applying
Early - your LOR Packet is DUE: Friday, 9/5/2025
Regular - your LOR Packet is DUE: Friday, 10/3/2025
Ms. Ginsberg's LOR Packet
Deadlines: if you are applying
Early - your LOR packet is DUE: Friday, 9/5/2025
Regular - your LOR packet is DUE: Friday, 10/10/2025
Ms. Hunt's LOR Packet
Deadlines: if you are applying
Early - your LOR Packet is DUE: Friday, 9/5/2025
Regular - your LOR Packet is DUE: Friday, 10/3/2025
Ms. Erler's LOR Packet
Deadlines: if you are applying
Early - your LOR Packet is DUE: Friday, 9/5/2025
Regular - your LOR Packet is DUE: Friday, 10/3/2025
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 campuses do 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 campuses do NOT require or accept letters of recommendation. If you are applying to the Educational Opportunity Program (EOP), then you will need two contacts (a teacher and counselor, usually) to complete a questionnaire regarding your application.
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, all of the information and requirements for requesting a Letter of Recommendation from them. Over the summer, please complete the LOR questionnaire which includes a short Parent Statement.
When school starts, check in with your Counselor as soon as possible to let them know you will need a Counselor LOR for your college applications. Including your counselor on the 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?
The questions on the LOR packet help the counselor collect information about you in order to write an impactful letter; it is 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 does not 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***