LOR That Win

Spring of junior year is a pivotal moment. It is a season of transition, growth, and preparation that quietly shapes the rest of your college journey. For student-athletes it can go by in a blink of an eye.

When families think about college admissions, the focus often lands on GPA, test scores, and athletic performance. We all know those factors matter. But there is another component that carries significant weight in admissions decisions: letters of recommendation.

A strong letter of recommendation is not a formality. It is a narrative. It gives admissions officers insight into your character, your work ethic, your resilience, and your presence in a learning community. The impressions your teachers form this spring will directly influence the strength of those letters.

Student-athletes who are intentional about their letters of recommendation can set themselves up for success this spring. This blog post explores how.

Identify the Right Teachers

This spring, every junior should identify two academic teachers from core subjects such as English, math, science, social studies, or world language.

Ask yourself:

• Who has seen me grow?

• Who has watched me work through challenges?

• Who understands how I balance academics and athletics?

Colleges want recommendations from teachers who can speak to your intellectual engagement. Choose teachers who truly know you, not just those in whose class you earned the highest grade.

Participate With Purpose

Teachers write meaningful letters when they have meaningful experiences to draw from.

Participation does not mean dominating discussion. It means contributing thoughtfully, asking questions, and engaging respectfully with peers. It means being prepared and consistent.

For student-athletes managing demanding schedules, steady engagement in class communicates discipline and maturity.

Use Office Hours

Office hours are one of the most overlooked opportunities in high school.

Stopping by to ask a question, review feedback, share an idea, or clarify a concept shows initiative. It demonstrates that you take ownership of your learning. For athletes who miss class due to competition, this is especially powerful. It shows responsibility and follow through.

Small interactions build strong impressions over time.

Demonstrate Intellectual Curiosity

Colleges value curiosity as much as performance.

Go beyond completing assignments. Ask deeper questions. Connect classroom learning to real-world issues. Show that you care about understanding, not just earning a grade. Even if it’s a subject that you’re not particularly passionate about, find a connection, and share that with your teacher. As educators, we always 

Teachers remember students who are genuinely engaged in learning.

Prepare Your Materials

Before formally requesting a recommendation, prepare supporting materials for their reference. In many schools, students are encouraged or required to attach their “brag sheet” or resume with their requests. As a counselor I always led our students in writing self-writtten letters of recommendation as a reflective exercise in preparation for their admissions journey. These self-writtten letters also served as an incredible resource for teachers to hear the voice of their students in an entirely new light. 

With academic strengths and accomplishments, athletic commitments and leadership roles, community involvement, personal challenges and growth, and future goals all woven together – students are able tto provide their recommenders with a window as to who they are and who they hope to become.

These materials help teachers write with specificity. Specific examples elevate a recommendation from general praise to a compelling endorsement.

Why This Matters

Admissions officers are not admitting transcripts. They are admitting people.

Strong letters come from teachers who can speak to your growth, your character, and your resilience. They help colleges understand who you are when things are difficult, when expectations are high, and when leadership is required.

Junior spring is not about rushing the process. It is about strengthening relationships and being intentional in how you show up and we like to remind our student-athletes that preparation builds confidence. The habits you develop in the classroom matter are another opportunity to show who you are becoming.