College Entry Applications: Choosing Your References

Applying for college? Congratulations! This is an important first step, as you prepare for your professional life.

Presumably, you are already collecting application packets from the admissions offices of prospective colleges and universities. As you sort through these documents, you will find several requirements. Personal information, academic transcripts, standardized test scores, written essays, and letters of reference are common requests.

Whom can you ask to write your reference letters?

Most college admissions applications require at least three reference letters. Usually, forms are included in application packets, although personal letters may often be substituted.

These endorsements should be written by responsible people who know you well. At least two of these should be teachers who know and respect you. The third may be an employer, pastor or rabbi, coach, or adult friend. If possible, try to choose non-family members.

You will want to select people who can articulately express your abilities, expound on your good character, and extol your unlimited potential as a college student and a human being.

What must you do, before you ask a teacher for a reference letter?

Show integrity, honesty, and solid character. Completing your assignments (including doing your own homework and keeping your eyes on your own test papers) on time and as expected is essential. Avoid asking for extensions on book reports and other deadlines. Earning teachers' trust and respect is vital to developing potential referrers.

Demonstrate leadership. Participating in class and in school programs is important. Stepping up and assuming responsibility for projects, extra tasks, and student events can quickly mark you as a mature and reliable student leader. Faculty advisors for such programs can become excellent recommendations.

Participate in extracurricular activities. Choose clubs and programs that accentuate your strengths and appeal to your interests. Sports, music, arts, debate, and even chess club can be excellent arenas for expanding your capabilities and networking with teachers (outside the classroom).

Serve as a student aid. Help out after school or during study halls. Nearly every teacher enlists student assistants to run errands, make photocopies, and grade papers.

Understand that teachers can be allies, not just authorities. Teens may adopt an adversarial attitude towards school faculty members, even unintentionally. Ask teachers about their families, their interests, their vacation plans, and more. Without being nosy and intrusive, invite teachers to tell you about themselves. By doing so, you may make a trusted adult friend.

Think beyond the classroom!

Your best recommendation may not be from the teacher that gave you all A's. Certainly, that educator can comment about your academic performance. Still, the most convincing college recommendations usually come from adults who can describe your well-founded high school career, your outstanding personal talents, and your integrity.

Are you an athlete? Why not ask your team coach to write one for you? Perhaps you kept statistics for the baseball team, served as team manager, or kept the locker rooms in order. If you demonstrated commitment and professionalism, your faculty advisor for this activity can proclaim your merits.

Have you participated in the performing arts department? Whether you played the lead in the school musical, decorated stage sets, or printed programs, you have shown off your leadership skills. How about asking the drama teacher for a letter of reference?

Consider asking your employer for a letter of reference. Whether you work in retail, restaurants or real estate, your supervisor can clearly communicate your personal responsibility, honesty, dependability, and work ethic. These traits are important to college admissions boards.

Celebrity status is irrelevant here.

You need not pester the principal, manhandle the mayor, or cajole a chief executive officer to write your reference letter. Pick the folks who know you the best. A standard, empty-sounding form letter is simple to spot. On the other hand, a poignant, fact-filled epistle may be just the ticket to your admission to the college or university of your choice!