Teacher Recommendation Tips

With the November 1 Plan II Honors Early Consideration Deadline fast approaching, I've received several emails this week with questions concerning the on-line teacher recommendation system.

Here are a few tips and an outline of the process:

First, please note that an applicant may not begin the honors program application until the applicant submits ApplyTexas. Once your ApplyTexas is loaded (into the UT computer systems after processing), you’ll be able to access the honors program application and online recommendation system. It may take up to three working days (about two weeks for paper applications) for UT to receive and load your admission application into the UT system once you have submitted ApplyTexas. Early in the cycle (before December 15) it's likely to take only 24 hours. Later in the cycle, after December 15, it will take 48-72 hours for an electronic submission of ApplyTexas to load.

Secondly, the applicant may choose any teacher. The class/subject is not critical, however applicants should first consider choosing a teacher who can address the student's writing and critical and analytical thinking skills.

Plan II only wants one teacher recommendation.

A written letter may not be substituted for the on-line recommendation system. The applicant's file will not be complete, and therefore will not be reviewed, without a completed electronic teacher recommendation.

The applicant will submit the teacher’s name and email contact information. Then, the UT system will electronically contact the teacher and supply the link the teacher accesses to complete and submit the on-line honors recommendation form.

The teacher will receive an electronic confirmation after submitting the electronic recommendation.

The Honors Recommendation Process:

Online Recommendation System Step by Step (from BeALonghorn)

1. Log in to the honors recommendation system.

Log in to the recommendation system using your UT EID and password. If you don’t know or forgot your UT EID or password, visit the UT EID help site. (You will be able to access the recommendation system after you have submitted—and we have received—your ApplyTexas Application for Admission.)

2. Select honors program(s) and enter contact information.

Select the honors program(s) to which you’re applying and enter the name and e-mail address of the individual who you would like to submit a recommendation. (You’ll be able to enter only one individual’s information. If you want to send a recommendation request to another individual, you’ll need to start over at step one of the online recommendation process and submit another recommendation request.)

3. The individual will receive an e-mail from UT Austin.

The applicant will be able to see that the recommendation has been submitted by using the on-line status check site.