How to Request Additional Letters of Recommendation in January or February

Why request additional letters of recommendation in January or February?

Most of the time, it’s because a college decision update landed in your student inbox. Maybe it was a deferral. Maybe it was a portal message asking for a midyear grades report. Or maybe it was a scholarship deadline you postponed from December. Now you’re staring down January with one big question: do additional letters of recommendation help right now, and how do you request one without annoying busy adults?

This guide has the answers you need. We’ll walk you through each step and a quick checklist of what to do right now. You’ll leave with a plan for additional letters of recommendation that respects school rules, your recommender’s time, and admissions readers with a clear reason to take a second look.

Additional letters of recommendation?

When it comes down to it, January recommendation requests for college applications work best when three conditions are met: 

1. The college allows supplemental materials.
2. The additional letter adds new, specific information. 
3. You handle timing and follow-through with care.

Let’s talk about each piece.

Check school policy first.

Before you ask anyone for a new letter of recommendation, confirm the college’s rules. Some colleges accept extra recommendations after submission. Others discourage extra materials. Some only accept updates through a specific portal form. 

Start with the school’s official admissions site and/or applicant portal. Look for language like: 

• “Additional recommendation” or “supplemental evaluation”
• “Additional materials or “updates to your application”
• “Deferred applicant instructions”
• “Document upload instructions”

You can try using Control+F (or Command+F) to search for these terms on the admissions site directly. Some schools bury their rules deep in FAQ pages or application update instructions.

Why policy matters

Admissions offices set limits for a reason. Review time is limited, and extra reading slows file review. 

Some schools do not want to receive any additional materials and spell this out directly. Other schools allow an extra letter but set a clear standard: new context, not repetition. Still other schools accept all new recommendation letters, provided you follow the specific submission guidelines.

Bottom line? Even if there’s no explicit ban, admissions readers don’t want a second version of what they’ve already read. Only proceed if you’re confident your new letter adds a clear, useful lens.

What to do when policy feels unclear

If the portal or website lacks clear guidance, you can always contact admissions with a short, practical question. Keep the message short and focused. This article has some great advice from former admissions officers on how to reach out in a professional and successful way!

Quick rules of thumb for January

Following directions always helps make a good first impression. 

1. If a school discourages extra recommendations, do not send anything.
2. If a school allows a supplemental evaluation, focus on “new context” as the decision filter.
3. If a school provides a special submission process, use only the approved method.

Choose the right recommender.

A January add-on letter has one job: to add new, specific, information that the first set of recommendations did not cover. Think “new lens,” not “more praise.” A great recommender will complement your file, not just echo the same.

Best-fit recommenders for a January letter:

• Senior-year teacher who sees recent growth
• Current or recent research mentor, internship supervisor, or employer
• Coach, arts director, debate advisor, or community program leader
• Counselor (only when the counselor has a concrete new update)

When to skip an extra recommender:

• It’s just a “big name” who barely knows you
• Someone who already wrote a letter and has no new information
• A writer who tends to produce generic letters
• A writer with no time

Mini-checklist for picking a great recommender

Choose a recommender who checks at least three boxes:

• Recent or current contact (senior year or late junior year experiences)
• Clear, specific examples of your characteristics as a scholar
• Relevant academic or professional setting (academic, research, work, leadership)
• Ability to meet the submission window
• Willingness to follow platform instructions

Bonus? If they’ve already written a different reference for you this year outside of college apps (for example, a scholarship or internship application), they probably have recent content about you, and can move faster.

In this short video, Empowerly Lead Counselor Denard explains his top three tips to find the best recommenders for his students:

Looking for more? This article explains when supplemental recommenders are likely to help (or detract from) your college applications in January.

Prepare materials to share.

Chances are, if you’re requesting additional letters of recommendation in January, you’re on an impending deadline. Your recommender will write faster and better if you provide the keys. 

What to include in your outreach

Send a single email with: 

• The school and program name
• The exact deadline and submission method
• The school’s policy link or portal instructions screenshot
• Your resume or activities link
• A short “what’s new since submission” update

You don’t want to write the whole letter for the recommender, just helpful notes about what you’ve been working on. These updates can include: 

• Upward grade trends or academic milestones
• New leadership role (and description)
• New award or recognition
• New project deliverable
• New service impact (hours and outcomes)

If you want a structured tool, Empowerly’s Guide to Letters of Recommendation includes worksheets and planning guidance for the whole process from start to finish.

How to ask in January: timing and tone.

January is tight. Teachers return from break with grading, exams, and recommendation fatigue. Supervisors return to work piles. Your approach needs two qualities: respectful urgency and clear organization.

• Best case: ask 2 to 3 weeks before the school’s update deadline.
• Common January reality: 7 to 10 days.
• Emergency: less than 7 days.

When your window is short, you still ask. You simply adjust expectations.

1. Ask early in the day.
2. Provide all materials in one place.
3. Offer a graceful exit: “If timing does not work, I understand.”

And if you’re down to fewer than 5 days, it’s considered a big favor. Don’t just send a cold email; reach out personally, then email the details.

What not to do in January:

1. Do not guilt-trip (or blame) the recommender.
2. Do not attach ten files without explaining what matters.
3. Do not ask for multiple extra letters “to be safe.”

You want it to be personal. To that end, do not blind-copy other schools or recommenders in your email. Each request should be tailored to one school and one letter.

Submission and follow-up.

Your job does not end when a recommender agrees. January success depends on the student’s follow-through. 

1. Confirm the submission method.
2. Use clean labeling. Clear files = less friction = faster turnaround.
3. Track receipt inside the portal.
4. Send a thank-you within 24 hours of submission.

What if a recommender misses the deadline?

1. Check the portal first. Some schools accept materials after a student deadline.
2. Email admissions with a short process question: “Our recommender submitted on [date]. Will your office match late-arriving recommendations to my file?”
3. Avoid sending a second letter from another person unless admissions tells you to.

Quick review: additional letters of recommendation checklist

Let’s review the most important things to do now:

• Confirm the college accepts extra recommendations for your situation. 
• Limit the plan to one new letter unless the college requests more. 
• Pick a recommender who adds new context from senior year or a different setting. 
• Send a single email packet: policy link, deadline, submission steps, resume, updates.
• Ask in person first when possible, then email follow-through.
• Track portal receipt and confirm status.
• Send a thank-you within 24 hours of submission.

A focused additional letter of recommendation helps most when the letter adds new context and follows the school’s process. Aim for one strong, specific letter, not a stack of repeats.For more support, download our Guide to Letters of Recommendation or book a free consultation with the team. In your consultation, we’ll review your current standing and discuss how our program could support you in achieving your goals in college, and beyond.