| As the competition for scholarship money | | | | the teacher or whoever would be willing to put their |
| hasincreased, the need for great | | | | comments on a CD. Remind them that you will be |
| recommendationletters has also increased. It's | | | | sending out dozens of applications. It will save them |
| important toget the best responses possible. "Cookie | | | | time. Then, you will bring the letters by for their |
| cutter"letters should be avoided. | | | | signatures. They can inspect the documents before |
| Your scholarship application is due in ten days. It must | | | | you send them in. A hand-written signature is always |
| have three recommendation letters attached, and, so | | | | best. |
| far, you have not gotten any back from your | | | | Who should you ask? Does it make a difference? |
| teachers. A note toeach of them last week hasn't | | | | Yes, it doesmatter. Know this: English and foreign |
| gotten any results. Talk about strained nerves. All the | | | | language teachers generally write the best letters. |
| work to get the applicationready, and now letters | | | | They personalize them and may write from a half to |
| are halting the process. | | | | a whole page. They also produce results that have |
| This is a scenario that repeats itself hundreds and | | | | no spelling or grammatical errors. Again, and this is a |
| thousands of times each year. You can avoid this | | | | general statement, coachesand physical education |
| problem by taking important appropriate actions. | | | | teachers write the shortest remarksand may have |
| Start by askingfor your recommendation letters at | | | | many mistakes in spelling and grammar. But, go with |
| least six weeks in advance. This allows busy teachers | | | | your best options regardless of teaching position. |
| to take their time in writing great responses. After | | | | Use your high school letterhead, when possible. |
| two weeks remind them witha note in their | | | | Remember to ask your teacher if they can write a |
| mailboxes. Seven days after that make a visit to | | | | positive response. If not, move on. A probable |
| their classroom. Remind them in person that | | | | scholarship winner fulfilled all requirements with a big |
| yourapplication could be late and disqualified and that | | | | plus and wasin line to receive an $8,000 award. |
| you will come by in a few days to pick it up. Thank | | | | Everything was superexcept for one |
| him or her again and then stop by once more. | | | | recommendation letter. She assumed her coach |
| One way to avoid total mayhem is to ask for more | | | | would write a glowing response. He didn't. Don't let |
| letters than is really needed (awards may vary in the | | | | that happen to you. She didn't win. |
| number of letters neededIf the requirement is two | | | | Follow the same time-line for all requests, and |
| for an award, askfour people. | | | | remember this: everything in life is a decision, make |
| If you are applying for more than a couple of | | | | the right ones today for your college scholarship |
| scholarship awards (and you really should be), ask if | | | | success. |