CEEB/ACT CODE:  262-690

1.  When applying to colleges and for scholarships, it is a good idea to make practice copies of  your applications. Remember, it is better to make a mistake on a copy rather than the original.
   
2.  When requesting letters of recommendation, it is an excellent idea to have a resume ready and readable for those who are recommending you. Teachers and counselors  may know you in class, but they rarely follow you outside of it.    Resume formats are covered in Communication Arts IIA classes. Resume  formats can also be found on the computers in the Internet Lab and  Mac Lab.
   
3.  Pay attention to deadlines.   Give recommenders plenty of time to write letters of recommendation  for you. People who grant you a recommendation, do so on their own           time. Don’t be surprised if some recommenders ask you to write your own letter of recommendation, and then check it over to see if they agree or want to add to it.
   
4. Give recommenders a reason to want to recommend you. Your behavior in your classes, your work  ethic, and how you present yourself inside and outside of the classroom reflect on how people feel about you. Teachers and  counselors take recommendations seriously. They will not recommend  students who present themselves unfavorably. Recommendations reflect     them as well, and they do not want to stand behind people they feel  are not deserving. They do not want to be responsible for recommending a poor candidate for a college or a scholarship. Some people will not recommend students who do not waive their rights to  see what is being written about them. Select only those people with whom you are sure will favorably recommend you. Most people will let  you know if they have reservations recommending you.
   
5.  Provide recommenders with the actual part of the application that states recommendations are required. This way, they will know exactly what you are applying for, and they can tailor the recommendation to fit the need. Also,  provide the recommenders with addressed and stamped envelopes. It is not their responsibility to pay for the mailing of your letters.
   
6.   Remember, it is your   responsibility to see that you have done the right things in             preparing the paper work for college and in applying for  scholarships. Teachers and counselors are happy to assist you, but ultimately the responsibility is yours. If you are deserving, you  will see that you are properly prepared. How do we know this? We  work with students who take charge of their responsibilities. They   set the standards for you.