BASIC ETIQUETTE FOR SENIORS IN SEARCH OF SCHOLARSHIPS

I.  LETTERS OF RECOMMENDATION

Always ask for the letter AT LEAST two weeks before the scholarship deadline.

Provide the teacher with 1) the name and address of the person or organization offering the scholarship and 2) the criteria on which the scholarship is based. The teacher needs to write a business letter that addresses the points that are most vital. Help him or her do that for you.

If the letter needs to be mailed, provide a stamped and addressed envelope and it can be mailed for you.

If the letter is one of several things that you must mail off, put a folder in the counselor's office and let the teacher put the letter in that folder. Then ask the counselor to send it for you after you have provided the postage.

Students who ask for letters of recommendation should not ask to be given those letters in person. If you thing the teacher will not give you a good recommendation then you have asked the wrong teacher. Choose well and then trust us.

All of the above holds true for letters of recommendation sent to colleges as well.

II.  CHECK SHEETS FOR SCHOLARSHIPS

Always give the teacher AT LEAST one week or more before it is due.

Understand that the teacher will take the sheet to the counselor's office. You should not ask to or expect to see it again, choose wisely and then trust us.

III.  ACKNOWLEDGMENT AND THANKS

You should write each teacher who wrote letters or filled out any type of recommendation for you a "thank you" note before the school year is over.

If you receive a scholarship or were accepted by a college, be sure to include that information. We want to know!

Teachers are generally very willing to help you get into college or get a scholarship. Remember that you are asking for a favor to be done on the teacher's time after school hours. Many of you ask the same teacher so that favor may be multiplied many times. Be considerate. The teachers will be timely but they must also be honest. Don't expect or ask them to testify to more than they know or see of you in a classroom situation. They like to be recognized for their time and effort and be appreciated. Teachers have schedules, obligations, and feelings too. Help them help you. Do your part - they'll do theirs.