Letters of Recommendation

How To Request Letters of Recommendation

Teachers

Do you need a teacher recommendation?

  • Request in person AND in SchooLinks AT LEAST 2 weeks before application deadline (timeline below).

    1. Include your Resume & Application deadline

  • Before you ask a teacher for a recommendation letter consider these questions...

    1. Is it required by the college? If not, then it is not needed.

      • How many teacher letters are required by the college? Choose your teacher carefully. Consider your future goals and which teacher will be able to speak best to your abilities.

      • Do NOT ask for a letter just to have a letter if it is not needed. Be respectful of your teachers' time. 

  • How To: Common App or Non-Common App (link only works when signed in to SchooLinks)

    • ONLY request a teacher letter of rec in SchooLinks

      • Do not put your teacher's email in Common App.

School Counselor

  • Complete the Recommendation Letter Brag Sheet (available in SchooLinks under "To Do")

  • Ask your counselor during your Post Grad Plan meeting to write your letter.

    • School Counselor recommendation requirements are automatically determined by the college/university.

  • Allow 10 business days for school counselors to submit transcripts, secondary school reports, and rec letters after student requests.

Student Brag Sheet Instructions

College Application Due Date

PFHS Transcript & Recommendation Letter Requested By

Recommendation Letter Brag Sheet completed 

(required for recommendation letter)

by the deadlines below

October 15

September 30

November 1

October 15

November 15

October 25

December 1

November 12

January 1

December 1 (one month prior due to winter break)

January 15

December 1 (one month prior due to winter break)

February 1 and After

January 13

Dual Enrollment (DE) Transcripts

  • Please do not request your dual enrollment transcript to be sent to a college/university until the end of senior year (once final grades have posted). 

  • Students are responsible for sending their final DE Transcripts to the 1 college/university the student commits to attending in the Fall of 2025.

  • Students must request their DE Transcript at the END of senior year to be sent to the college/university they have committed to attend.

  • Request the DE Transcript directly from the college awarding the DE credit (NOVA, JMU, GMU, or Shenandoah) once grades are final at the end of senior year.

  • Steps will be emailed out by your School Counselor.

SAT/ACT Scores

  • Students are responsible for sending SAT and/or ACT scores to each college/university applied to. 

  • Students are responsible for finding out if the college/university requires test scores. 

  • Request SAT scores directly from College Board 

  • Request ACT scores directly from ACT 

  • Visit the college's official website to determine if scores are required

  • Visit the National Association for College Admission Counseling for additional information about college/university requirements

Advanced Placement (AP) Test Scores

  • Students are responsible for sending their AP TEST scores to their college/university. 

  • Request AP Test scores directly from College Board.

Final PHS Transcripts

  • The student's school counselor will send the final official PFH transcript on behalf of the student. 

  • The final transcript will be sent by the school counselor to the college indicated by the student on the end-of-year senior survey (to be distributed in early May 2025).