Most college applications ask for at least two letters of recommendation. Some schools require three. A third letter can be from a coach, internship or volunteer organization in which you have participated. Be sure to check each college's list of application requirements before sending in your materials. Always include at least the number of letters the college requires. Do not send in additional letters unless another letter reflects information that is very strong but very different from the information in the other letters you are including. The emphasis is quality over quantity.
Read your applications closely. Most schools require at least one letter from a teacher, a counselor or from both. Request letters from teachers whose classes you did well in recently. Do not go further back than your junior year of high school for letter writers, as colleges want to see evidence connected to the work that you have recently completed. Your letter writers should be able to talk about your academic work as well as your personal life, such as volunteer or sports accomplishments.
Discuss the letter-writing process early with your teachers. Most teachers need at least a month to produce a strong and specific letter. Be sure to remind the teacher about excellent examples of work that you completed for their class. Talk to them about your plans for college and your future; these details can greatly assist them in the letter-writing process. Include a current resume with the application information for your teacher to look over.
Letters of recommendation are traditionally confidential. Do not ask to see the letter before it is sent. If your letter writer wants to share the information with you, the decision is up to him. Address and stamp the envelopes the letters will be mailed in for your letter writers. Letter writing is seen as a favor, so you should make the process as simple as possible. Do not forget to thank your letter writers for their time. A short thank-you note can really make a teacher's day.