Applying to College
In the colleges admissions, you will inevitably be put in the situation in which sending an email is necessary. What follows here is a list of 3 emails you will likely need to write during this college admissions process. We even include models of how to write them.
1. How to Ask for A Letter of Recommendation
First things first, I would highly recommend doing this in person. It shows a different level of respect, and it shows that this college admissions process matters to you. That being said, it is often the case that a teacher may ask for additional materials, like a resume or activities sheet, and that will require you to reach out again, often by email.
Here is a model of an email you could send.
Dear Mr./Ms./Mrs. (insert name here) ,
Hope all is well. I just want to start off by thanking you for being willing to write a letter of recommendation for me. I cannot adequately express how much I appreciate it. That being said, in light of our conversation (today?) I’m attaching below my (resume? Activities sheet? Common Application essay?) . Please let me know if you need any other materials. Thanks so much!
Regards,
(Your name here)
2. How to Email a College When You’ve Been Deferred
Being deferred can be an incredibly painful experience for many students during the college admissions process. What is helpful to remember, though, is that your college admissions process is not over; your applicant profile will be reviewed again. A common tactic to help your chances is to reach out to the school to reaffirm (i.e., “demonstrate”) your interest in attending and to update the school with relevant changes to your resume.
We include this under emails you need to write because it can be critical. However, always check the school’s admissions website before sending this email, as some schools explicitly discourage it.
While on the website, see if you can find the name (and email) of your Regional Admissions Officer or the email of a general college admissions department.
Here’s a sample email format.
Dear Mr./Ms./Mrs. (insert name of Regional Admissions Officer here), or (if no name available) To Whom it May Concern:
I hope this note finds you well. Since submitting my application, I’ve been very busy and have both expanded my roles in my long-standing pursuits and begun several new endeavors. Beyond reaffirming my genuine interest in attending (insert university name here), I would like to update you on my recent activities and accomplishments. The following is a list of these developments:
I expanded my role in …
My Ethics Bowl team and I …
As President of …
My Mock Trial team won …
I have begun …
I have advanced to Finalist standing …
Above all, I would like to convey that I can truly see myself at (insert university name here), and I hope that I will have the opportunity to attend. If you would like to speak further about any of the topics mentioned, please do not hesitate to contact me. I’d be happy to hear from you.
Thank you.
Regards,
(Your name here)
3. How to Thank Someone After an Interview
Many colleges require or offer an interview as part of their college admissions process, and sending a brief “Thank You” email is very helpful in showing respect to the person who interviewed you and making a positive impression on them when they submit their thoughts on you.
Here is a model of an email you could send.
Dear Mr./Ms./Mrs. (insert name here) ,
Hope all is well. Thank you so much for taking the time to meet with me yesterday. I really enjoyed our conversation and learning more about __(insert university name here)_____; in particular, I enjoyed hearing about (insert specific conversation topic here)____. I truly hope I will have the opportunity to attend!
Regards,
(Your name here)
Hopefully this article provides you with some helpful suggestions on how to begin all those emails you need to write in the coming weeks. Each email will be critical to the college admissions process. For more help with the college admissions process, all you have to do is ask! We are here to help students thrive.
