What are we going to do today? Hopefully,

1. What are we going to do today? Hopefully, • 1. Give teachers a better understanding about how important their student recommendations are for student admission and scholarship consideration, and, • 2. Assist faculty with ethical considerations with regard to writing these recommendations, and, • 3. Help the staff understand how recommendations to some schools can be a “difference maker” for certain students.

2. $58,000+ X 4 = almost $240,000! (Cost of attendance at Sarah Lawrence)

3. The Art of Writing a Recommendation

4. Admissions Scholarships Summer Programs / Enrichment Programs Advanced Classes (There may be other reasons) Why Write Recommendations for Students?

5. Central High School • The College Board - Designs / deals with AP Exams, the SAT, the PSAT and the CSS Profile, among other things Is a member of three professional organizations: 1.The College Board 2. NACAC 3. SACAC

6. NACAC • – they develop ethical standards of practice for educational institutions, sponsor college fairs, and offer professional development opportunities NACAC- The National Association of College Admissions Counselors is a professional organization made up of many colleges, universities, and some high schools (mostly college prep)

7. SACAC • SACAC – The Southern Association of College Admissions Counselors, affiliated with NACAC, does many of the same things but, in addition, offers many localized, area, PD opportunities (such as “Nuts & Bolts” for Counselors)

8. Admissions / Scholarship -The Common Application • https://www.commonapp.org/CommonApp/default.aspx • Teacher Recommendation • NOT all schools use (nor accept) the Common Application • Slightly more selective schools – member list on website

9. The Common Application Colleges That Use It Are … Schools That Don’t Are … A bit less selective; Many times state schools such as the U of Memphis, SWTCC, UTK, TSU, Ole Miss do not use the CA (Please note: in certain circumstances, some of these MAY ask for a recommendation for admission). • Generally more selective schools; • Those that usually require several recommendations; • (Examples of such colleges are UTK, Vanderbilt, Rhodes, Sewanee, Emory, Duke, all the Ivies, etc.)

10. NACAC and SACAC BOTH strongly suggest that students “waive their rights” to review your recommendation – if they refuse, you should not write the recommendation, and inform the student; the Counselors will be happy to intervene and discuss individual cases with a student.

11. The Student waiver of Rights • Students may opt to check: • “Yes, I waive my right to access….recommendations”, OR • “No, I do not waive my rights to access….” – (if they select this one, it’s time to tell them NO and send them to us)

12. Recommendations • When students come to you and ask for a recommendation, they really want a strong one written. If you feel you cannot do this, please suggest to the student that they ask another person… • BUT

13. Possible Legal Ramifications • We have a college preparatory Optional School within the school at large, and • There is some evidence that we are obligated (maybe moving toward a legal obligation) to provide a student, enrolled in a college prep program, with a college recommendation of some sort • (Please consult with the student’s Counselor )

14. Some “Code” Words for Recommendations (college application readers will know what you mean!) • Strong Recommendations: • I enthusiastically recommend… • I most highly recommend… • I heartily recommend… • I strongly recommend… • (AND REITERATE WHY! - student is a leader; student is mature; student is organized….) • Lukewarm Recommendations: • I recommend with reservation… • I recommend….. • “Recommendations” for other students: • With some assistance, I think this student can be successful…. • If this student seeks out the help that she / he might need, I think…. • This student was in my class…

15. Admissions and Reading a Student’s Application • Colleges that require one or more written recommendations generally use a holistic approach to reviewing a student’s total application; they look at: • 1. What the student says about her/him self. • 2. What the recommenders have to say about the student • GPA, tests scores, rank • Strength of schedule * • Activities • Writing ability (essays, tests scores)

16. Two Weeks Notice!(or more) • The Counselors will warn the students and parents about deadlines • We recommend a minimum of two weeks notice, and you may tell students that you require MORE notice • Stick to your guns! Do not write the “last minute” recommendations, or the floodgates will be opened for all!

17. Ask to See: *Student Resume, and / or *Senior Data Sheet (if applicable), or *List of Accomplishments (and who can verify them)

18. Teacher Written Admissions Letters / Scholarship Letters • 1. NEVER let a student review or handle the letter, unless it is in a sealed envelope; ditto for allowing parents to get their child’s letter – letters generally should be sent by you • 2. Letters should be typed, using school letterhead, or completed online • 3. Admissions letters / scholarship letters - usually the same 4. Content for letters • 5. Generic letters for college • 6. The Common Application (Teacher Recommendation)

19. Content of Teacher Recommendations School Report Teacher Recommendations Should NOT repeat too much of the Secondary School Report Should explain how teacher knows the student Should relay how student performs in teacher’s class Should mention something remarkable or unique about the student • This is the Counselor Recommendation • Mentions Rank • Mentions GPA • Mentions strength of schedule

20. A Note About the Common Application • The beauty of the use of the Common Application is that it only has to be completed one time by the student and recommenders • The student submits her / his parts online • The teacher writes (types) the recommendation and gives to the Counselor • The Counselor collates the material, copies it, then sends to all schools selected

21. Important Note! • NOTE: • It is a good idea for teachers to let Counselors know that you have written a recommendation for a student; this way, we KNOW that all materials have been sent to the college(s) in a timely fashion These Teacher Recommendations are hugely important, so teachers should take plenty of time writing and reviewing them

22. Please note: • We have seen some very poor, hastily written student recommendations the last few years. This cannot happen if the we want our students to be considered for admission and scholarship to some of these highly selective colleges. PLEASEtake your time with these – if you would like to do so, you may email the recommendations to us for constructive critique.

23. Online Option (for last second recommendations) If you decide to write for a student who brings you her or his material at the very last second, the online option (as opposed to the typed – handed in to Counselor version) might be best for you to use *Drawback – the Counselor may not be able to review it with you, nor assist you, with this version

24. In Summary • Tell the reader what YOU know about the student • Tell the reader something unique about the student – some way the student contributed to YOUR class • It is not necessary to repeat the student’s GPA and / or ACT scores • Please expect from the student the Senior Data Sheet and / or a resume, AND at least two weeks’ notice to do a recommendation • Please, if you tell a student you will do a recommendation, do so in a timely fashion • If using the Common Application, please turn in the Teacher Recommendation to the Counselor for review, copying, and sending IF you choose not to do it online.

25. Hosted by: The Counseling Department(Google “Memphis Central High School”; click on “Counseling” to the right) Grades 10 – 12 Counselors: Grade 9 Counselors: Ms. TraneseNelms Ms. Kimberly Gray • Mrs. Tanya Ayers • Mr. Lance Allred • Mr. Andy Prewitt

26. YOU ARE IMPORTANT! • College admissions folks remind us each year how important what YOU say about the student in your recommendation is for the student being considered for admission and /or scholarship ; as always, THANKS for all you do!