College Resources
(Adapted from College Counseling Sourcebook, 6th Edition)
Recommendation LETTER FAQS/TIPS:
- Think about who knows you and can attest to the quality of your work; choose a teacher in an academic subject who knows your strengths.
- Most college applications request two or three recommendation letters.
- If a non-specified academic teacher is requested, your English or Math teachers are usually good candidates.You can also use a teacher from junior year or current year who knows you long enough to form an opinion or a teacher who's also been involved with you outside the classroom.
- Talk to your teachers about what you remember about their class and their participation in it(you can highlight a particular incident, paper, etc. that will help provide anecdotal information and specific examples of your work/achievements).
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Writing tips:
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College Recommendations & Essays:
The Counselor’s Role :
- Counselors need to know students well enough to create a 1-2 page letter that portrays the applicant honestly and adequately.
- School counselor can also obtain useful information from students through: questionnaires, one-on-one meetings, and by requesting information from teachers and parents.
- School counselor should also establish procedures to provide information in time to meet college deadlines (several weeks is usually the minimum time needed to meet college deadlines).
- School counselor can also ask a teacher to convey his/her classroom experiences with the student to give colleges an idea of how the student is likely to perform academically. Handout 5A is a helpful guide to teachers writing recommendation letters. 5D is a checklist for teachers and counselors.
- School counselor can also obtain useful information from parents by asking them to complete a parent questionnaire. Handout 5G has recommendations for parents to follow.
College Application Essay:
Many colleges require an essay or personal statement as part of a student’s application.
Two Kinds of application essays:
wanting to attend our college)
Counselor’s Role
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Resources:
- Bauld, Harold. On Writing the College Application Essay. New York: Harper & Row 1987.
- Witty, well-written advice from a former Ivy League Admissions Officer.
- McGinty, Sarah Myers. The College Application Essay. New York: The College Board, 2004.
- McGinty shares essays that worked and provides critiques that help students identify what works and why (includes a chapter for parents).