5 Tips for Obtaining a Good Letter of Recommendation for Online High School

March 10, 2026 byConnections Academy

5 min to read

Student sitting at a desk working on a good letter of recommendation

If you’re a high school student preparing for college, scholarships, or internships, you understand the importance of presenting a compelling application. While grades play a significant role, securing a strong letter of recommendation is equally crucial when applying for colleges.

Here are some essential tips on how to obtain a stellar letter of recommendation while attending high school online as well as who to ask to write your letter and ways to become more involved in your school or community if you need additional references.

Why do Students Need a Letter of Recommendation?

A strong letter of recommendation can succinctly highlight the student’s:

unique qualities, experiences, and achievements beyond their GPA
soft skills, such as leadership, teamwork, communication, and resilience
insights into interpersonal strengths, academic habits, and future potential
meaningful contributions to a course, project, or the community

A strong letter of recommendation can boost a student’s application or resume by showcasing personalized insights in a way that application forms and transcripts rarely can.

How to Get Letters of Recommendation

1. Build Strong Relationships

Letters of recommendation are usually written by adults in the student’s life who have a deep understanding of the student’s character, personal and academic growth, and resilience overcoming obstacles. Naturally, students may want to get a reference from one of their teachers based on how well they did in that person's class. However, a strong letter of recommendation can also come from coaches, employers, tutors, mentors, or anyone else who have seen the student take on challenges or who have witnessed their dedication and progress in extracurricular pursuits and who can offer unique insights into your abilities and potential.

Before application season, students might think about building strong relationships with the teachers, coaches, and mentors in their lives. This can look like volunteering to work on additional assignments or participating in class or group discussions often. Having a strong personal foundation with teachers, coaches, and mentors can also help it feel less daunting for the student when asking for a letter of recommendation to be written.

2. Request the Letter Early

Since each application can have different requirements, students should start gathering the relevant materials—including things like letters of recommendation, resumes, transcripts, portfolios, and person essays—by first thoroughly reviewing the application forms and instructions.

Understand how many recommendation letters are needed, if any, the submission deadlines, and preferred submission methods. Taking the time to know these details can help students plan how far in advance they need to ask for their letter, how much time they should give the person writing their letter to work on it, and make sure that their application is complete and well-rounded.

As a guide, students should ask for recommendations at least three weeks before the deadline, but ideally, they should aim for one month in advance.

3. Provide Helpful Information

If the student is applying for a specific program, scholarship, or internship, it might be helpful to include details to help their recommender write a more personalized and impactful letter for the student.

Information to include with a request for a letter of recommendation can include:

the due date for the letter of recommendation
a list of extracurricular activities, jobs, community involvement, or awards
personal goals
relevant background information about the college, program, scholarship, or opportunity
their portfolio, transcripts, or resume

Often, students complete a questionnaire called a “brag sheet”. This helps the person writing the recommendation better understand the student and their strengths. This is particularly useful for students attending a virtual school—with many schools now making this part of their process.

Finally, writing a letter of recommendation can be a time-consuming task. Students should always ask with respect, consideration, and understanding. If the recommendation needs to be physically mailed, offer to provide an envelope with a stamp and address pre-filled to make the process easier.

4. Follow Up with Gratitude

After the student receives their recommendation letter, they should remember to express their gratitude for the reference. Letters of recommendation often require effort and time, and showing appreciation, whether you write them a thank you letter or express your appreciation directly, can be a meaningful gesture. Furthermore, keep your recommenders updated on the status and outcome of your applications. They will be delighted to hear about your successes and celebrate your achievements with you.

5. Letter of Recommendation Request Template

Students can customize the template below to send to the people they plan to ask to write a letter of recommendation. Remember, a persuasive request can make all the difference in securing a strong letter of recommendation that reflects their potential and aspirations.

Dear [Recommender’s Name],

I hope you are doing well. I am currently applying to [college/scholarship/internship] and preparing for the next step in my academic/professional journey.

I have truly valued your guidance and support during my high school experience, and I would be honored if you would be willing to write a letter of recommendation on my behalf. I believe your perspective would provide meaningful insight into my growth and readiness for this opportunity.

I am particularly interested in [field of study or career path] and have been involved in [relevant coursework, activities, or experiences]. Your letter could speak to my [key strengths, skills, or accomplishments] and my commitment to continued learning and growth.

If you can write a recommendation, the submission deadline is [date], and it can be submitted via [submission method]. Please let me know if you need any additional information from me.

Thank you very much for your time and consideration. I truly appreciate your support.

Sincerely,

[Your Name]