Senior Letter of Recommendation Request Packet

Congratulations on arriving at this milestone of your academic career! To assist you in preparing for the important College Application and Scholarship Recommendation Deadlines, the counseling department is requesting that you complete and turn in this packet to your counselor if you plan on requesting letters of recommendation or School Reports from your counselors.

If your College or Scholarship application deadline is: / Your Senior Letter of Recommendation Request Packet Deadline is:
November 1, 2016 to January 10, 2017 / Friday October 2, 2016
AfterJanuary 10, 2017 / Friday November 6, 2016

Part of becoming a responsible young adult is learning to adhere to deadlines. Therefore, your counselors will adhere to the deadlines above and will not be able to write a full letter of recommendation if you submit the documentation to them after the required deadlines. You may want to make a couple of copies of this packet and present it to anyone else that you will be requesting a letter or recommendation from as a courtesy to them.

In this packet you will find the following information:

I. Cover page information

A. College Application information

1. ONLINE APPLICATIONS

1a. Most Private Schools use the “Common Application”

□ Log onto

□ Read ALL instructions thoroughly.

□ Complete student sections of the application.

□ Go to School Forms section of the application

“Invite & Assign a School Official”

□ Follow the directions to add names of the persons) from whom you are requesting a letter of recommendation.An email will be sent to each person you invite.

□ Verify that your recommenders received invitation.

□ Once invited, your Counselorand other recommenders will complete theirevaluation/recommendation online and attach allnecessary documents.

□ Send SAT, ACT, AP scores to all colleges.

□ Mid-Year reports will automatically be sent byyour counselor to all Common Application schools.

2a. Other Online College Applications

□ Follow instructions for the particular college’sonline application and submission of theCounselor Secondary School Report

□ Order SAT, ACT, and AP scores to be sent toeach college.

□ Check w/your college to see if a Mid-Year report and transcript are required

II. Student Resume Sample

III. College Admission Test Scores Worksheet

IV. Student/Parent Responses to Questions and Self Evaluation

Letter of Recommendation Cover Page

Student Name: ______ID:______

Counselor:□ Ms. Quezada□ Ms. Sachs □ Ms. Villarreal □ Ms. Wegman

IMPORTANT:

A late request will result in no letter being written. CounselorsWILL NOT be available to complete college evaluation paperwork or recommendations during their Winter Break. Please meet the established deadline to avoid this problem.

We have read the packet and will adhere to the deadlines.

______

Student Signature Date Parent/Guardian SignatureDate

______

Student Email Parent/Guardian email

Private College Applications You Will Be Submitting

Name of Private College / Deadline / Major / Reach
College / Good Fit
College / Safety
College / College
Website Application / Common Application / Other Process
Yes / No / Yes / No

University of California Applications You Will Be Submitting on :

Name of UC Campus / Major / Reach
College / Good Fit
College / Safety
College

Cal State University Equal Opportunity Program (EOP) Applications

PLEASE SUBMIT CSU Application THROUGH:

Name of UC Campus / Major / Reach
College / Good Fit
College / Safety
College

Student Resume - Sample

JOE STUDENT

123 College Bound Lane

Santa Ana, CA 92656

(714) 555-1234

SUMMARY OF QUALIFICATIONS

I consider myself to be a determined, committed, and highly detail-minded individual who is

unafraid to “wear the same face” everywhere I go.

OBJECTIVE

My immediate goal is to graduate from high school with an academic record that would be

considered competitive enough to be admitted to UCLA!I have always wanted to be a Bruin!

PROFESSIONAL ACCOMPLISHMENTS

  • Saddleback High School: GPA of 3.98; 2017 Class Rank 23
  • Scholastic Assessment Test:ELA Score of 430; Math Score of 500
  • SAT II Subject Tests: Math IIC score of 680; U.S. History score of 600
  • ACT Assessment: Composite Score of 27
  • Advanced Placement Examinations:World History (4); U.S. History (3);

Biology (5); Chemistry (3); Government & Politics, Calculus, Physics to be taken in May of 2017

  • California Scholarship Federation: CSF President
  • National Honor Society: NHS Member

PERSONAL ACHIEVEMENTS

SHS Yearbook: 4 years staff member; Editor-In-Chief (Grade 12)

Boy Scouts of America: Eagle Scout

SHS Track & Field: 4 year team member; Sprinter

VOLUNTEER COMMITMENTS

CFS and NHS: Provide outreach services to school and community

Boy Scouts of America: Co-Leader of Boy Scout Troop

EMPLOYMENT

Student Tutor: Provide academic assistance in all subject areas as needed

HONORS AND DISTINCTIONS

SHS Honor Roll:9th, 10th, 11th Grade

SHS Track and Field: “Most Improved Athlete”, Varsity Letter, Scholar-Athlete

REFERENCES

Saddleback High School: (714) 831-5590: Mr. Runner (Track Coach); Mrs. Runner (English Teacher)

Tutoring: (714) 111-2222; Rudy Runner(Mascot Tutoring Company)

Scoutmaster: (714) 333-4444; Boy S. Scout

College Admissions Test Scores Worksheet

Student Name ______ID:______

SAT I
Test Date: / ERW / Math
ACT / Test Date: / English / Math / Science / Reading
Composite Score: / Writing Score
SAT II Subject / Test: / Score: / Test Date:
Test: / Score: / Test Date:
Test: / Score: / Test Date:
Test: / Score: / Test Date:

Self-Evaluation

The information you provide in this questionnaire will be used by your counselor to prepare materials to submit to colleges in support of your application. Read the statements below carefully and rate yourself honestly! Place an “X” in the column that represents you the best.

Rating / Below Average / Average / Good / Excellent / Outstanding
Ability to organize and use time well
Self-confidence
Desire to learn new things
Willingness to take risks
Ability to get along with others
Willingness to work hard
Imagination/creativity
Ability to express self
Sense of humor
Concern for others
Emotional maturity
Reaction to setbacks
Ability to understand new concepts
Self-discipline
Growth potential
Leadership
Energy
Motivation
Warmth of personality

Student Responses to Questions

Please type all responses on a separate sheet of paper. The more detailed responses you provide, the better letter your recommender can write on your behalf. Answer all questions completely and accurately.

All About You

1. List three thoughtful adjectives that best describe who you are and describe why.

2. Describe your family.

3. Describe any talents you have; what sets you apart as an individual?

4. What hobby or endeavor are you passionate about and why?

5. What are you most proud of?

6. Describe one event or activity (positive or challenging) that has shaped you as a person and why.

7. Discuss one leadership role you have experienced in your life.

8. Do you work? If so, where do you work, and what have you learned in your job that is different from what you have learned in school? What do you do with your income?

9. Please discuss any non-school related activities that you have participated in (i.e. work experience, internships, non-school related organizations). List where, what you did with these organizations, how long you participated and why you participated.

10. Discuss one weakness you have.

11. Describe your personal philosophy or favorite quote. Explain

You and School

1. List three teachers who know you well. Tell us why these teachers stand out to you.

2. Discuss any significant decrease in your academic performance.

3. Discuss any significant increase in your academic performance.

4. What has been your favorite class at Saddleback HS and why?

5. List any clubs, activities, sports and/or students government participation (include what year you participated. (i.e. 9th, 10th, etc), offices held, hours per week and weeks per year were involved.)

6. List awards and/or honors you have received during high school (can be related to school or outside of school)

Your Future Plans

1. List three occupations you are considering in order of preference and explain briefly what it is about the occupation that interests you and why you might be successful in such a field.

2. Discuss any role model who has shaped your plans for the future and tell why. (i.e. family member, teacher, coach, pastor, world leader, character in a book etc.)

College/Scholarship Essay – Please attach a copy of a college/scholarship essay for your counselor to use in writing your letter of recommendation.

LETTER OF RECOMMENDATION FOR YOURSELF

Pretend you are the “recommender” and write a letter of recommendation for yourself.

What do you want the admissions officers to know about you that they cannot find elsewhere in your application? What is there about you that is unique and different and that can help distinguish you from all of the other highly qualified applicants? What do you have to offer the institution as a candidate and why should they select you?

**********************************************************************

OPTIONAL

Parent/Guardian Brag Letter – To be completed by parent/guardian; please type and attach letter.

What would we want the admissions office to know about your child that they would not be able to glean from only school records and the college application? Parental insight makes a tremendous difference in the quality of a completed letter of recommendation, so we ask that you address in the brag letter anecdotes and other pertinent information that is not already used in the college application.

Possible topics may include discussion regarding your son or daughter’s greatest strengths, most unique characteristics, significant family events, personal obstacles or triumphs, etc. (we recommend a one page minimum response). We thank you for your contribution! 