Recommendation letters are one of the most overlooked components of the art school application — yet a strong letter from the right person can genuinely strengthen an application, and a weak or generic letter can undermine one. If you’re applying to US art schools, understanding how to get recommendation letters for art school — who to ask, when to ask, what to provide, and how to manage the process — is essential. This post walks you through everything you need to know.
How Many Recommendation Letters Do Art Schools Require?
Requirements vary by school, but most US art schools ask for one to three letters. Here’s an overview:
| School | Letters Required | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| RISD | 1 required, up to 3 accepted | From teachers or professionals with firsthand knowledge of your art or academic work |
| Parsons (The New School) | 1–2 | Submitted through Common App |
| CalArts | 1–2 | Program-specific; check requirements |
| SVA | 1–2 | Common App submission |
| Pratt | 1–2 | Common App submission |
| Cooper Union | 1 | Common App submission |
At most schools, one letter is the minimum requirement. Submitting two or three well-chosen letters — from recommenders who each add a different perspective — is generally stronger than the minimum. However, three mediocre letters are worse than one genuinely strong one. Quality always outweighs quantity.
Who Should You Ask?
For art school applications, the ideal recommenders are people who know you well in a context that is relevant to your application. The best recommendations typically come from:
1. Your art teacher (most important for art school). For an art school application, a letter from your art teacher carries unique weight. They can speak directly to your creative development, your work ethic in the studio, your ability to receive and respond to critique, and your potential as an artist. This is a letter that can say things no one else in your application can say.
2. An academic teacher from a core subject (English, history, science, mathematics). Most schools that require two letters want at least one from an academic subject teacher, not just an art teacher. Choose a teacher who knows you well — ideally from junior year — and who can speak to your intellectual curiosity, your writing ability, your persistence, and your character as a student.
3. A mentor, instructor, or professional in the arts (for students with relevant experience). If you have worked with an artist, attended a summer program, completed a residency, or worked with a gallery or arts organization, a letter from a mentor in that context can add meaningful additional perspective that a high school teacher cannot provide.
Who Not to Ask
Do not ask someone who doesn’t know you well. A letter from a prestigious person who can only say generic things about you is far weaker than a letter from a less prominent person who can describe your specific work and growth in concrete detail.
Do not ask someone who cannot speak to your creative or academic potential. A letter from a family friend, a parent’s colleague, or a coach in a sport unrelated to your application adds little to an art school application.
Do not ask the person who will write you the weakest letter just because you feel obligated or because they are willing. Be strategic. A strong application deserves strong letters.
When and How to Ask
Ask early — much earlier than you think necessary. Teachers and mentors receive many recommendation requests, especially in the fall of senior year. The most in-demand recommenders often have strict limits on how many letters they will write. Asking in the spring of junior year — or at the very latest, in early September of senior year — gives your recommender adequate time and demonstrates that you take the process seriously.
Ask in person, not by text or casual email. Approach your teacher privately, outside of class time, and make the request directly and respectfully. Explain that you are applying to art school, that you would be honored to have their support, and ask if they feel comfortable writing you a strong letter. Phrasing it as “would you feel comfortable writing a strong letter for me?” — rather than simply “will you write a letter?” — gives the recommender an easy, graceful way to decline if they don’t feel they know you well enough.
Follow up the in-person conversation with a written email that thanks them for agreeing and provides all the information they need.
What to Give Your Recommenders
Once someone agrees to write your letter, make it as easy as possible for them. Provide:
A complete school list with deadlines. List every school you’re applying to, the application type (EA, ED, RD), and the exact deadline for each recommendation submission. Recommenders cannot submit a letter they don’t know is needed.
Your portfolio or a selection of your work. Your art teacher has seen your work, but providing a curated selection of your best pieces — especially the work you’re proudest of — helps them write with specificity. For academic teachers, sharing your artist statement and personal statement drafts helps them avoid repeating what you’ve already said and instead add complementary perspectives.
A brag sheet or background document. Write a short document (one page) covering: the projects and pieces you’re most proud of, specific moments of growth or challenge in their class, why you’re applying to art school, and what you hope to study. This is not asking them to write your letter for you — it’s giving them the material they need to write specifically about you rather than generically about any student.
Clear submission instructions. Most schools use the Common Application’s online recommendation system, where you invite your recommender by email and they submit through a portal. Provide the email address they’ll receive the invitation from and confirm they’ve received it.
Following Up
Once you’ve made your request and provided materials, follow up politely:
- Send a brief check-in email 3–4 weeks before the earliest deadline, reminding them of the upcoming date and asking if they have any questions
- If the deadline is approaching and the letter has not been submitted, send a single polite reminder — do not nag
- After the application cycle is complete, send a genuine thank-you note. Recommenders invest real time and care in these letters; acknowledging that matters
A Note for Korean Students
Korean students applying to US art schools from Korean high schools face a specific challenge: most Korean teachers are unfamiliar with the US recommendation letter format and the type of content US admissions readers expect.
A Korean art teacher who writes a letter in the style common in Korea — brief, formal, focused on grades and technical accomplishments — may produce a letter that reads as generic to a US admissions reader. A more useful approach:
Brief your recommender. When you provide background materials, include a brief explanation of what a strong US recommendation letter looks like. You might note that US admissions readers value specific examples and anecdotes about your creative development, your ability to work independently, your response to critique, and your character as a student — not just your grades or technical level.
Consider providing a draft outline. In some contexts — and this is a fully accepted practice in the art world — recommenders may ask you to draft the letter yourself for them to review, edit, and sign. If your recommender is willing and asks for this, write the draft in an appropriately professional voice (not your own personal voice), focusing on specific examples of your work and development that they can verify and personalize.
Use English or Korean depending on your recommender’s capability. If your recommender does not write in English, they can write the letter in Korean and you arrange for a certified translation. However, if your recommender can write in English, that is simpler and preferred. Ask them directly which they are more comfortable with.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use a recommendation from a private art academy (미술학원) instructor instead of a school teacher? Potentially, but use it as a second or third letter, not as your primary recommendation. US art schools generally place the most weight on letters from school-based teachers who can speak to your academic and personal development. A letter from a private art instructor can complement a school teacher’s letter by providing specific perspective on your creative practice — but it typically cannot replace the academic teacher’s letter.
Should I waive my right to see the recommendation letters? Yes, in almost all cases. Waiving your right to see the letters (which you do within the Common Application system) signals to admissions readers that the letters are candid and independent. Letters submitted without the waiver are viewed with some skepticism. Your recommenders will also typically write more freely if they know you won’t see the letter.
What if my art teacher doesn’t speak English? Most recommendation systems allow letters to be submitted in other languages with a certified translation, but check each school’s specific policy. If your recommender writes in Korean, work with a professional translation service rather than translating the letter yourself.
How long should a recommendation letter be? A strong recommendation letter is typically one full page — roughly 400 to 600 words. Letters that are shorter than half a page often feel rushed and generic; letters that are much longer can lose focus. The most important quality is specificity, not length.
What if a teacher says no? Accept their decision graciously and ask someone else. A teacher who declines is usually doing so because they don’t feel they know you well enough to write a strong letter — which means a forced letter from them would have been weak anyway. Thank them for their honesty and move on.
Royal Blue Art & Design는 압구정에 위치한 유학미술학원으로, 19년간 한국 학생들의 RISD, Parsons, CalArts 등 미국 최상위 미술대학 입시를 도와왔습니다. [상담 문의하기 →]