How to Request Teacher Letters of Recommendation

On Naviance

Important Notes about Teacher Letters of Rec.

• Always speak with your teacher in person about asking for a letter of recommendation BEFORE initiating these steps
• Counselor letters of recommendation you do not request in Naviance. This is why we have seniors complete the College Application Envelope/Packet. By completing steps 1-10 of the College Application Envelope on time, you are requesting a counselor letter of recommendation

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Important Notes about Teacher Letters of Rec.

For Current Mountain View Teachers/Former Mountain View Teachers who are in the Naviance Dropdown Menu

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• For current MV teachers, you need to request their letters of recommendation on Naviance. Do NOT use Common App to request letters from Mountain View staff, or it will create technical difficulties with your application. Use only Naviance.
• Proceed to slide 6 to follow the steps to request their letter

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Important Note about Teacher Letters of Rec.

For teachers NOT from Mountain View/Former Mountain View teacher who is not in the Naviance dropdown menu

• Collect the email addresses for each of the admissions officers (or most appropriate email address from the college) for your teacher to email the college with their letter directly
• Your teacher may use the same email to send your letter, it should include your Date of Birth, Full Name, and Current High School of Attendance

Important Note about Teacher Letters of Rec.

For Additional Recommenders

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• Some colleges take letters of recommendation from adults who are not teachers, such as coaches, internship supervisors, pastors, etc
• Use Common App to request these recommenders
• Proceed to Slide 16

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1. Log onto Naviance, the easiest way is from the CCC homepage

Click here

1. Click on “Continue with Single Sign On”

1. Click on the “Colleges” tab

2. Click on “Letters of Recommendation” in the dropdown menu

1. Click on “Add request”

1. From the drop down menu select your teacher.

1. Select a teacher

Note: When you submit a letter of recommendation request, you select each college that you want a teacher to send their letter to. Please have a more finalized list when make your requests so you teacher does not need to frequently login to send a letter of rec to another school.

Remember, UCs and CSUs do not read letters of recommendation.

5. Click “submit request”

College Submission Types

• In case you’re curious about your college list screen and how your documents get sent here is some more information

College Submission Types

This column of your “Colleges I’m applying to” screen will display the different submission types

College Submission Types

• Each symbol should match the application type that you are using. For example, if you are using the Common App to apply to a college, the symbol should say “CA” in the computer screen symbol
• The Common App symbol, the Common App via Electronic, and the Electronic, mean that he school is accepting letters of recommendation electronically.
• The Common App Print Symbol and Print Only Symbol mean that you letter of recommendation will need to be mailed. You should let your teacher know to mail your letter. Contact your college counselor if you have questions

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College Submission Types

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• The Unknown Symbol means that you need to update the application type in Naviance.
• Some colleges (Georgetown is an example) will have the Print Only symbol, but actually just have their own portal for recommenders to use. For those colleges, please use their electronic portal to invite teachers to submit their letter.
• UCs, CSUs, and University of Washington do not want letters of recommendation from students when you apply in November. A few UCs might request optional letters of recommendation in January, but they will email you that update

Additional Recommenders

How to Request Additional Recommenders in Common App

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• Make sure that you’ve read slide 4
• Start by logging into Common and starting in the “Colleges” tab

Click “Invite Recommenders”

Click “Invite Other Recommender”

Fill in all of the information fields and Common App will email your recommender a link to sign in and upload your letter