Take Active Steps to Develop and Maintain Good, Respectful Relationships With Your Teachers, Counselors and Other Adults.

During your junior year, establish respectful, hard-working relationships with adults you will ask for letters of recommendation in the fall of 2009.  These people must know you and your work well enough to write great letters of recommendation.

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 during your junior year to build a positive relationship and to share your college plans.     

Also, think about teachers, coaches, employers, neighbors, and community members you may want to ask for a recommendation next year and work on your relationship with them. 

Get to know your favorite teachers and have them get to know you.  Do well in their class and earn a top grade – 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 year . . . but only if you do an excellent job for them.
 
Talk with school educators and coaches in June 2008 to update them on your college plans. Say goodbye before you leave school for the summer and demonstrate the personal qualities college admission officers are seeking – be engaged and caring.