Students are advised to request the letters 6-8 weeks prior to the application deadline, ideally from two academic teachers: history, English, language other than English, math, or science, plus their high school counselor. Students should select teachers with whom they built a trusting relationship, regardless if a teacher’s academic expertise is related to their potential…
Asking for any help requires confidence. And, when asking for letters of recommendation, students must trust that the teachers and counselor will add dimension to their carefully curated application, including a resume of activities developed over years and autobiographical essays drafted over many hours. Thus, when students are required to fill out multi-page packets detailing…
Thank you for writing numerous letters every year, often an extra duty added to an already lengthy list of duties. When teaching, it took me a while to figure out how to write a letter of recommendation, piecing together advice from more veteran colleagues. So, having asked many different admissions officers about useful letters of…
Given the University of California (UC) test-free admissions policy, potential UC applicants will need to rethink how they prepare for admissions as well as frame their qualifications when applying, as subjectivity in admissions evaluations will likely increase: Thus, amidst the changing admissions evaluations, students with their parents’ support, will benefit from reframing their admissions preparation…
As a part of college applications, a recommender’s job is sharing anecdotal evidence to demonstrate the dimension and strength of a student’s character. And, in the age of COVID, when admissions evaluations may be more subjective without a standardized test score being required, recommenders can present the students’ qualifications for admissions. To assist counselors and…
In order for students to provide a complete and thorough summary of their achievements and qualifications for admissions, The Common Application added two new questions to the form. The Common Application is an online application utilized by almost 900 public and private universities across the US and internationally, which make applying to college more efficient…
For Fall 2016 freshmen admissions, the University of California Berkeley will be accepting up to two letters of recommendation from selected applicants. In November 2015, some applicants will received emailed invitations to submit letters of recommendation. Submitting the letters of recommendation will be optional; therefore, no freshman applicant, including those who do not receive an…
If you’re the new kid in school, smile often. If you’re not the new kid in school, invite the new kid to sit with you at lunch. Park in the furthest parking spot away from campus. A little sunshine can be just what’s needed to rejuvenate the grey matter. Say “hello” to your teachers daily. Don’t be…
The typical public high school teacher is responsible for 160 students and teaches at least two different classes–e.g. AP English 11 and Honors English 9–with multiple sections of each course, for example: 3 periods of AP English 11. So, what does this have to do with an online grading system? If one assignment…
