No one likes a suck-up, but everyone needs well-written recommendation letters to apply to college. Here are some tips on how to score strong letters without being obnoxious:
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Stand out in class. Even if you're not a star student, contributing to discussions and making a good effort won't go unnoticed. Along the same lines, not paying attention will lead to you getting noticed in the wrong way. (And if you're a quiet student who does neither, you might not make much of an impression at all!) Make sure your performance in class is up to par, so your potential recommenders won't have any reservations when you ask for a letter.
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Build relationships. Quick chats before or after class go a long way toward strengthening relationships with your teachers. They may be adults with very different lifestyles than yours, but that doesn't mean they're not interested in your passions and pursuits. Rely on your teachers for advice, guidance, and support and don't be afraid to talk to them about your life and your goals. Besides, the more your teachers know about you, the more they can write once application season rolls around.
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Don't worry about grades. Just because you're getting an A in trigonometry doesn't mean you should ask your math teacher for a recommendation. Choose teachers who know you well and can write personal, authentic letters which actually allow admissions officers to know you. Those will be stronger than letters testifying to your good scores on tests. If you're not a great student, a strong, well-written recommendation could be what you need to edge out the other candidates.
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Start early. Admissions season is a busy time and many teachers may be writing multiple recommendations in addition to their daily work (grading papers, teaching classes, etc.) Depending on the deadlines, you want to give your teachers at least a month to write and send your recommendation. Ideally, you should start asking for letters as soon as you finalize your apply-to list.
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Choose wisely. At least one of your letters should come from a teacher who taught you in an academic subject (so P.E. is out of the question). If a school accepts multiple letters of recommendation, you could ask your tennis coach or your newspaper adviser to write an additional one. This allows you to demonstrate more facets of your skills, personality, and talents.
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Prepare an information packet. Make sure your recommenders have all the information they need by including in a folder the following items: your resume or "brag sheet", your personal statement(s), recommendation forms (if needed), a list of colleges and deadlines, and a pre-addressed and stamped envelope for each college you are appying to.
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Be polite. Don't forget to send a thank you card! It's an important gesture that demonstrates your appreciation for the time they took to write your recommendation.