How do I get a teacher to do a Letter of Recommendation through email?

These are my suggestions. Obviously they are not the only way to go about this, but it covers the things that I think are most important.

I think you ought to telephone them, because there's a lot to discuss for emailing back and forth. Since you don't know when and where they will have time to call you, you may want to offer to call at a specific time and to a specific number that is convenient for the teacher. Give options -- basically any time when you can stop whatever you are doing and make a call without a lot of drama. If you use e-mail, I suggest that you make that offer up front: you tell me when/where to call so my phone company will bill me for it. Of course, if you are given a time to call, you should call at exactly that time, even if it's inconvenient, unless you are in an ambulance or something (if you are in an emergency room with an actual emergency, there's a good chance that someone at the ER would be willing to call (using your phone) on your behalf to let the teacher know why you won't be calling yourself).

The original request can be short: "I am hoping you would be willing to write me a letter of recommendation to be sent to 4 colleges, and the first deadline for these letters will be on the ninth of December. I am (or am not) planning to waive my right to see the letter." (Note: people who do waive their right to see the letter won't ever come back to the teacher to complain about what was written, and so it's expected that those letters are more reliable.) I also suggest that if you e-mail or if you are leaving a message, you say something like, "I can send you the information about the schools (and/or programs) I'm applying to and the instructions for writing the letters, and any other information that would help you decide what to write."

You should be prepared to give them -- in writing, via whatever method each teacher chooses -- the kind of information that will help them submit the letter successfully and to figure out what they feel comfortable writing, like:

- Any forms or envelopes the school(s) require the teacher to use, and any information those schools (and/or programs) provide about the letter, including the deadline, any specific information they want teachers to provide, etc., and an explanation of how you want the letter submitted.

- Information about the schools (and/or programs, if relevant) to which you are applying, and a brief explanation of why you have chosen those schools (and/or programs, especially if the teacher taught you a subject that is important to what you intend to study)

- An explanation of why you picked that teacher and not another one, and anything particular you are hoping they will mention, like a brilliant term paper you wrote or your leadership abilities as demonstrated during group work or whatever.

- An unofficial transcript from your current school, unless this is your first semester, and possibly samples of your work, especially in each teacher's subject, that you have done since leaving

- A list of your accomplishments and activities, both related and unrelated to school, from when you were at the old school and since you left (even if you think the teacher already knows some of them)

- anything else you think will help them see you more completely than they did just by having you in class

Of course you will offer to get any other information that the teacher wants ASAP.

Whenever you finalize your plans, you're going to want to reiterate one more time what has been agreed, preferably via email (or as part of a hand-written thank-you note in the packet of information you send, like, "I just wanted to make sure we both are on the same page. If I understand correctly I'll be sending you [materials, via method], you're going to [brief description of what teacher has to do], and you're going to get it to [address(es)] by [date]. Thank you so much!"

Plan to contact them again about a week or so before they need to send stuff out, asking whether there is anything else they need from you (if you keep a calendar, write this in it in big red letters, and if you don't, put a sign up where you will see it, like on the inside of your bedroom door). This will have the advantage of making sure you jog their memories if they've forgotten, since they won't be seeing you in the halls every day, without saying outright that you worry they might have forgotten.

Good luck. I hope the application and admission process goes well for you.

You could, but I wonder if you might be better off with a phone call. It would give the teacher a chance to ask about your plans, and that could lead to a better letter. A brief chat could also jog their memory regarding what they liked about you as a student. It's also a nice way to express your appreciation if they agree - much nicer than e-mail.

But do it the right way. Even if their home phone numbers are available on line, don't call them at home. That could be creepy. Instead call the number for the school, explain that you are a former student and ask to leave a message for them to call. Good luck!

i'm in college and that i remember whilst i grow to be in intense college i might ask my instructors to e mail me stuff like that, it grow to be completely wonderful. My teahers in college even e mail me stuff i desire. If i grow to be u i might ask them to e mail it.