Best Recommendations

When you are applying to a college, especially to a highly selective college, recommendations can be very important. Just think, if everyone has terrific grades, outstanding test scores, and is ranked in the top percentages, recommendations can be one way to differentiate a student from the rest of the pack. So start smart. Follow these guidelines to get the best recommendations and recommenders.

Stick to the basics. Most colleges and universities want recommendations from academic teachers, not Aunt Sally. If a school wants a recommendation from someone other than a teacher or guidance counselor, they will specify that.

Early is good. Your best bet is to ask a teacher early in the year, or better yet, line them up at the end of the junior year. Good teachers may be asked to write dozens of recommendations, so ask early.

Details, details. Give your teacher a reminder about how you contributed in the class. Did he/she tell you that your project was one of the best she has seen in all her teaching years? Then remind her of that comment and perhaps bring in that old paper. Details are important in teacher recommendations. Don't hesitate to jog his or her memory with them.

Tick-Tock. Give your prospective recommender a proper amount of time to write the recommendation. A good estimate is to give at least two weeks for the letter. Strong recommendations are like strong papers. They take time. Do not ask one day prior to the deadline.

Ask politely and don't forget to thank your recommender. It is the best payment for extra work.

Dont' forget to include the stamped and addressed envelope. Include specific instructions and a due date.

For your eyes only...not. Remember, recommendations are usually considered invalid if the student reads them. However, it is alright to follow up with the writer to see if the recommendation has been sent. Universities and colleges also may have mechanisms in their application process to check the status.

OK, it is time to go. If you haven't already, line up those recommendations and get those applications completed.

A "Major" Advantage to Saving on College Expenses

Want an unexpected way to save money in college? Decide ahead of time what you want to major in. Take time to explore career choices. Head into college or university with a purpose in mind. So many students take over four years to complete college, which can increase the cost by thousands of dollars. All because they go in with no idea of what they want to study.

There are some colleges that even require that you indicate your intended major on the application. This can be quite tough if you haven't thought this through. Take advantage of this free website to help you explore college majors. This tool requires you to spend about 20-40 minutes answering questions. The end result is a list of three to five majors that may be potential matches for you. Just one more piece of the puzzle to help you save time and money!

College Application Check Up

Last week I visited my physician for my annual physical. An interview of sorts. This was a chance to see how my body was holding up. Two hours of various blood tests, measurements, and a full head to toe exam. It was also an opportunity for the dear doctor to see if I had heeded her advice. Advice to make the changes that could help me live a longer healthier life.

So how about completing your own college application readiness check-up? Take a look at where you stand. Here are some of the things you may want to assess:

What are you reading this summer?
What are you curious about?
Have you spent time improving on your own best skills and talents?
Have you used those skills or talents to better your own community?
Have you gathered up all your stats? GPA, Rank, test scores, etc
Have you looked over college application essay topics?
Have you checked to see when your favorite college applications are available?

There are a lot of other areas that you could include in your own check up. But start somewhere so you don't turn up empty at one of the most important interviews of your life.

Prospective College Athlete Information

Think you may possibly grace the front of a Wheaties cereal box? For most the answer is probably "no" but, for many of you out there, college athletics IS in your future. Here is information that may help you as you pursue your dream of playing at the next level.

Whether you are a freshman or nearing the completion of your high school years, one of the most important resources for information in college athletics is the NCAA. This site can give you information on initial eligibility and how to make sure you are taking appropriate classes in high school.

For a free guide to the NCAA Publication 2009/2010 Guide for the College Bound Student Athlete, call 1 800 638-3731 or download from the NCAA student site.

All potential athletes should be familiar with and follow recruiting regulations.

Freshmen and Sophomores:

• Check out the ncaaclearinghouse.net website to make sure you are taking approved courses that keep you on track for participating in NCAA college athletics.
• Keep in mind, you must graduate from high school in 8 semesters.
• Keep records of all athletic awards, newspaper clippings, video throughout high school athletic participation.

Juniors:

• Register at the beginning of your junior year with ncaaclearinghouse and fill out the amateurism questionnaire.
• Take SAT or ACT or both and have official scores sent by the testing agency to the NCAA. The code on the SAT or ACT registration is 9999.
• Ask guidance counselor to send transcript after completing junior year to the clearinghouse. This can't be faxed.
• Review core courses with counselor.
• Make a list of schools that you are interested in and talk with high school coach about potential to play in Div. I, II, or III college level.

Seniors:

• Take SAT or ACT again if necessary-send to NCAA Clearinghouse.
• Review all coursework and pass all classes.
• After April 1, ask for final amateurism certification.
• Ask guidance counselor to send final transcript with proof of graduation to NCAA clearinghouse.
• Fill out recruiting forms or have your high school coach contact college coaches for you.

There is a wealth of information at from the NCAA. Don't wait too long to explore this site!

Organize your College Application Process

Earlier this week you read a post about the importance of preparing. Let's take this preparation to the next step. Getting organized with your college process will help you save time and perhaps your sanity! So here is one way to help you organize.

Get a notebook and a small box of sheet protectors.
Allow at least one sheet protector for every school to which you will apply.
Organize them alphabetically.
In each sheet protector, put a cover sheet. Behind each cover sheet, place all correspondence and information to or from that college/university
.
Here is what the cover sheet for our center includes:

College Name:______________________________________

Address/Website:___________________________________

Info. Requested:_(Date)_______________________________

Info. Received:_(Date)________________________________

College Application Deadlines:________Use Common App? Yes No

Application Fee Cost______________ Waiver used? Yes No

Need academic recommendations?:Yes ___No___How many?______
(include addressed and stamped envelope for each recommendation or give web access information to teacher)

Teacher Recommendation given:_____________________________
Name Date

Teacher Recommendation__________________________________
Name Date

Guidance Portion?:_Yes No

SAT/ACT (mid-50%) SAT CR _______M______W______ ACT_______

Need essay? __________

Cost of Attendance__________________________________________________

Sports:_________________Div I Div II Div III (money only available at I and II)

Sororities/Fraternities_______________

On Campus Housing _______________

Car for freshmen? ___________

Scholarships:_____________


ADDITIONAL NOTES:


Hope this helps get you begin to get organized. Let me know if you have any tips that have helped you through this process! If you go to Richland Northeast, stop by our Career and College Center for free copies of the cover sheet OR send me an email and I'll send you the attachment and you may print as many copies as you like. Email me at ksanders@richland2.org .

Graduation

To all the seniors out there that have graduated or are preparing to graduate, CONGRATULATIONS! You have made it. You have persevered through the ups and downs of high school! Give yourself a big round of applause! I'm cheering too!

I know that you are now a high school graduate and you have learned so much, but..... May I offer one more piece of advice? Decide today who you will be. Today. Before you walk onto any college campus. If you don't decide for yourself who you will be, someone else will decide for you.

OK. That's it. Now go enjoy your future!

The clock is ticking.

Abraham Lincoln once said "If I had eight hours to chop down a tree, I'd spend six sharpening my axe." What a reminder that what we want to do, and what we want to do well, we need to spend time preparing for. Are you planning on attending college? Then begin preparing today. The clock is ticking.


Rising Freshmen:
Begin by knowing that your GPA (Grade Point Average) in your freshman year is very important. It is not impossible to overcome bad grades from your first semester, but good grades from the get-go sets the tone for the remainder of your high school years. Did you know that when you apply to college, your application is based on your grades through the end of your junior year. That means that the one-third of all the grades they have to base admission on comes from your first year in high school. Make it count. Begin, and end, strong!


Rising Sophomores:
You now have one year of high school under your belt. Look over the past year. What did you do well? What do you still need to work on? Take time to plan out the remainder of your high school plan. What activities are you involved in? Have you taken on any leadership roles? What about community service? What are you reading? Will you work this summer? Use your answers to help you as you prepare for the future.

Rising Juniors:
This is the year you will be busy formulating a list of colleges that you can narrow down as the year goes by. Most students apply to between 5 to 7 colleges in the senior year. Begin with a large list and use visits to campuses, web materials, recommendations from your counselor, books, and your personal preferences to narrow the list. You can also fill out the Fafsa4Caster to get an idea of how much federal aid you and your family will be eligible for.

Rising Seniors:
Well, this is it. This the last summer you will use to narrow down that long list of colleges. The list you will use to determine where you will send your applications. Make sure you use your summer well, practicing essays, filling out practice applications, requesting information from colleges, visiting. September will be here before you know it.

Plan well. Prepare well. The clock is ticking.