Strengthen Relationships with Teachers and Counselors.

Work to improve your relationships with teachers, counselors, coaches, employers and community members.  Continue to get to know these people and expand your hard-working, respectful relationships with them.  These people must know you and your work well enough to write great recommendations next semester.

Remember, your high school counselor plays a special role in your success for getting accepted to college.  Virtually all private colleges and most public colleges require high school counselor recommendations (often called “Secondary School Reports”).  You need to get to know and impress your counselor as much as possible.  Visit your counselor to build a positive relationship and to share your college plans.     

Do well in your classes and earn top grades – no teacher will write a favorable recommendation for a student who does poorly or displays a poor attitude.  If you have a part-time job, an internship, or do volunteer work, give it your strongest effort and be outstanding.  Your bosses and advisors may be people you will ask for letters of recommendation next fall . . . but only if you do an excellent job for them.