Recommender guide

Get everything you need to complete your recommendations within the Common App system.

What is the Common App for recommenders?

Common App for recommenders helps you organize and submit letters of recommendation . Here, you can track requests, manage your school's information, and submit transcripts. The first-year Common App for recommenders has extra tools to track student progress on the Common App .

Get started

Create an account to begin completing recommender forms in the Common App.

To create a recommender account an applicant must first invite you as a recommender.

First Year Recommender Types

Transfer Recommender Types

Learn about the system

Take a tour and learn more about how the system works.

First Year Recommender System

Transfer Recommender System

Complete forms

Learn what information you’ll be asked to provide about your students.

First Year Recommender System

Transfer Recommender System

Resources

Writing guide for counselors and teachers

Counselor and teacher recommendations show a student's personality and strengths from different viewpoints. This guide gives examples of key student traits that admissions committees look for and explains how each writer might discuss them.

Writing effective letters of recommendation

Recommendation letters help colleges get to know students better from a different perspective. These letters provide insight into what makes a student unique in the classroom, at school, or in their community. Here are tips to effectively advocate for your students.

Developing a school profile

Every high school in the U.S. and around the world is different. A school profile is a document that provides colleges with context about a high school community. Check out our tips for developing a school profile.