| Your scholarship application is due in ten days. It | | | | ofapplications. It will save them time. Then, you |
| musthave three recommendation letters attached, | | | | willbring the letters by for their signatures. They |
| and, so far,you have not gotten any back from your | | | | caninspect the documents before you send them in. |
| teachers. A note toeach of them last week hasn't | | | | Ahand-written signature is always best. |
| gotten any results. Talkabout strained nerves. All the | | | | Who should you ask? Does it make a difference? |
| work to get the applicationready, and now letters | | | | Yes, it doesmatter. Know this: English and foreign |
| are halting the process. | | | | language teachersgenerally write the best letters. |
| This is a scenario that repeats itself hundreds | | | | They personalize themand may write from a half to |
| andthousands of times each year. You can avoid this | | | | a whole page. They alsoproduce results that have no |
| problemby taking important appropriate actions. Start | | | | spelling or grammaticalerrors. Again, and this is a |
| by askingfor your recommendation letters at least six | | | | general statement, coachesand physical education |
| weeks inadvance. This allows busy teachers to take | | | | teachers write the shortest remarksand may have |
| their time inwriting great responses. After two | | | | many mistakes in spelling and grammar. But,go with |
| weeks remind them witha note in their mailboxes. | | | | your best options regardless of teaching position. |
| Seven days after that make avisit to their classroom. | | | | Use your high school letterhead, when possible. |
| Remind them in person that yourapplication could be | | | | Remember to ask your teacher if they can write a |
| late and disqualified and that youwill come by in a | | | | positiveresponse. If not, move on. A probable |
| few days to pick it up. Thank him orher again and | | | | scholarshipwinner fulfilled all requirements with a big |
| then stop by once more. | | | | plus and wasin line to receive an $8,000 award. |
| One way to avoid total mayhem is to ask for more | | | | Everything was superexcept for one |
| lettersthan is really needed (awards may vary in the | | | | recommendation letter. She assumed her coachwould |
| number ofletters neededIf the requirement is two | | | | write a glowing response. He didn't. Don't let |
| for an award, askfour people. | | | | thathappen to you. She didn't win. |
| If you are applying for more than a couple of | | | | Follow the same time-line for all requests, and |
| scholarshipawards (and you really should be), ask if | | | | rememberthis: everything in life is a decision, make |
| the teacher orwhoever would be willing to put their | | | | the right onestoday for your college scholarship |
| comments on a CD. | | | | success. |
| Remind them that you will be sending out dozens | | | | |