Notre Dame Letters of Recommendation (Requirements)
For a first-year application to the University of Notre Dame, plan to submit a counselor evaluation and one recommendation from a teacher in a core academic subject. Notre Dame recommends a teacher who taught you in junior or senior year. Request both early, use your application platform, and check your applicant portal to confirm receipt.
The process can feel different before and after you know what is required. Before, a student may be asking several teachers, collecting extra letters, and still wondering whether the application file is complete. After, the student has identified the right writers, shared clear instructions, and set dates to check the portal.
In my college-planning work, I have seen how easily students confuse a promised letter with a submitted one. A recommender may intend to help, but the application still needs the required materials to arrive. The steps below focus on Notre Dame’s first-year recommendation requirements and how to manage them.
Admissions Overview: Notre Dame Recommendation Requirements
For first-year undergraduate admission, Notre Dame requires a counselor evaluation and one teacher recommendation from a core academic subject. The teacher should be someone who knows your work well; Notre Dame recommends a teacher from junior or senior year. An extra letter is optional and should add useful, new information.
The counselor evaluation and teacher recommendation serve different purposes. A counselor can explain your school setting and academic record in context. A teacher can describe how you learn, contribute, and respond to challenging work in a specific class.
| Item | Required? | Best source | What it can show |
|---|---|---|---|
| Counselor evaluation | Yes | School counselor or designated school official | School context and academic record |
| Teacher recommendation | Yes, one | Teacher in a core academic subject | Classroom work, growth, and intellectual engagement |
| Additional recommendation | Optional | A person with relevant, distinct knowledge of you | A quality or experience not already clear elsewhere |
An optional letter does not replace either required item. Sending several similar letters can add little if each repeats the same praise. I advise students to focus first on completing the two required recommendations well and on time.
These requirements apply to first-year undergraduate applicants. Transfer, graduate, and professional-school applications may have different rules, so check the instructions for the specific program you are applying to.
How to Choose Your Teacher and Counselor
A strong recommender is someone who can give accurate, detailed examples of your work. For the teacher letter, choose a core-subject teacher who has seen how you think and participate, not simply the person with the most impressive title or the highest grade you earned.
Notre Dame recommends choosing a teacher who taught you in junior or senior year. A current or recent teacher may be able to discuss your present academic habits, but the most important factor is whether the teacher can speak from direct experience.
Consider these questions before you ask:
- Can this teacher describe a particular assignment, discussion, or project?
- Have they seen your effort, progress, or response to feedback?
- Can they explain what you contribute to the class?
- Would their letter add a useful perspective to your application?
A counselor’s role is different. Your counselor may discuss your course choices, school opportunities, or circumstances that shaped your academic record. If your school has a large caseload or a formal recommendation process, ask early what information the counselor needs from you.
If you have a reason to ask a teacher outside the usual subject area, check Notre Dame’s current instructions before submitting. Do not assume an optional letter or a nonacademic reference can stand in for the required core-subject teacher recommendation.
When and How to Request Recommendations
Request letters well before your application deadline. Teachers and counselors may be supporting many students, and they need time to write thoughtful evaluations and submit them through the correct channel. A request made early also gives you time to address a missing item.
Ask in person when possible, then follow up in writing. Be polite and direct. Give the recommender the application deadline, the submission instructions, and a clear way to contact you if they need more information.
A helpful request packet can include:
- A short résumé or activity list
- Your academic interests and goals, if known
- A reminder of the class or work you shared
- The application platform’s submission instructions
- Your earliest applicable deadline and a date to submit before it
You do not need to write the letter for your recommender. Instead, give them reminders that may help them recall your work. For example, you might mention a research project, a change in study habits, or a time you acted on feedback.
| Step | What you do | What to confirm |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Choose | Select a core-subject teacher and identify your counselor | Each person can provide the right type of evaluation |
| 2. Ask | Make a respectful request well before the deadline | The writer agrees and knows the date |
| 3. Add | Enter recommender details in the application platform | Names and email addresses are accurate |
| 4. Track | Check your applicant portal for receipt | Each required item shows as received |
| 5. Follow up | Contact the writer politely if an item is still missing | The letter is submitted, not just promised |
Use the application platform you selected to invite and track recommenders. Notre Dame’s applicant portal is also important: check it for the status of required materials and follow Notre Dame’s instructions if a document appears missing. Procedures can change, so rely on current application guidance rather than an old checklist.
Waivers, Optional Letters, and Common Mistakes
When an application platform asks whether you will waive your right to view a recommendation, read the explanation and make an informed choice. Waiving access is a choice about later access to the letter; it is not a substitute for asking the recommender or for checking whether the letter arrived.
Some students ask whether they should add another letter. An additional recommendation may help if the writer knows you in a meaningful way and can offer evidence not covered by your counselor or teacher. For example, a long-term mentor might describe a sustained role that your academic recommenders have not seen. The letter should still follow Notre Dame’s current instructions.
Avoid these common errors:
- Assuming a recommender’s agreement means the letter has been submitted
- Asking several people for generic letters instead of securing the required teacher letter
- Using an extra letter to replace the counselor evaluation
- Entering an incorrect email address or selecting the wrong recommender type
- Waiting until the final days to check the portal
- Relying on a past deadline without checking the current admission calendar
A missing required evaluation can leave your file incomplete or delay its review. If the portal does not show an item as received, first confirm the submission method and allow for processing time. Then contact the recommender courteously. If the status remains unclear, follow Notre Dame’s current instructions for contacting the admissions office.
Two Recommendation Scenarios: What to Do
These examples are hypothetical, but they reflect common planning choices. The point is not to seek the most letters; it is to make sure the required writers are appropriate, informed, and able to submit on time.
Scenario 1: The student has a favorite teacher from sophomore year. That teacher knows the student well, but Notre Dame recommends a teacher from junior or senior year. The student should first consider a recent core-subject teacher who can give specific examples. If the earlier teacher seems essential, the student should check the current instructions before using that person for an optional letter.
Scenario 2: The student has two strong teacher options. One teacher taught the student in a core subject and can discuss academic growth. The other knows the student mainly through an activity. The first is the clearer choice for the required teacher recommendation. The second may be worth considering only if an additional recommendation is allowed and adds a distinct perspective.
In both cases, ask early and check the portal. These steps reduce the risk of a strong application being held up by a missing document.
Final Checklist and FAQ
A final check helps you confirm that the required recommendations are in motion and that your plan matches the current admission cycle. I suggest reviewing the application platform and portal at more than one point, rather than waiting until the deadline is near.
- [ ] I have identified a counselor or school official for the required evaluation.
- [ ] I have asked one teacher in a core academic subject for the required recommendation.
- [ ] I have reviewed Notre Dame’s current deadline for my admission plan.
- [ ] I entered each recommender’s details correctly in my application platform.
- [ ] I checked the applicant portal for receipt of both required items.
- [ ] I followed up politely on any item that is still missing.
- [ ] Any optional letter has a clear, distinct purpose.
Does Notre Dame require a counselor recommendation?
Yes. First-year applicants need a counselor evaluation as part of the application. Confirm that your counselor or the appropriate school official knows the submission process and deadline.
How many teacher recommendations are required?
Notre Dame requires one teacher recommendation from a core academic subject for first-year applicants. Check the current admissions instructions in case the process changes for your application cycle.
Should my teacher have taught me in junior or senior year?
Notre Dame recommends choosing a teacher who taught you in junior or senior year. Choose someone who can give specific, accurate examples of your work and growth.
Can I submit more than one teacher recommendation?
An additional recommendation may be optional, but it should add meaningful information that is not already covered. Do not send multiple generic or duplicative letters in place of the required teacher recommendation.
Can an optional letter replace my counselor evaluation?
No. An optional letter does not replace the required counselor evaluation or required teacher recommendation. Confirm that both required items have been submitted.
How do recommenders submit their letters?
Request and track recommendations through the application platform you use. Follow the instructions shown there and check your Notre Dame applicant portal to confirm receipt.
What should I do if my portal says a letter is missing?
Check that the recommender’s details are correct and that you used the required submission method. Then send a courteous reminder. If the item still does not appear, follow Notre Dame’s current guidance for resolving missing materials.
When should I ask for my recommendations?
Ask well before your application deadline. Give your writers the instructions and date, along with a concise activity list or résumé that can help them write a specific evaluation.
Does this advice apply to transfer applicants?
No. The requirements discussed here are for first-year undergraduate applicants. Transfer applicants should use Notre Dame’s current transfer application instructions.
Do recommendation deadlines match every application plan?
Not necessarily. Check Notre Dame’s current admissions calendar for the deadline that applies to your plan and application cycle. Do not rely on dates from a previous year.
(This article was written by one of our staff writers, Christopher Langston. Visit our Meet the Team page.)
