Scholarship & College Application Tips
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 II 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.