Dear Rising Senior:

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It is so exciting to see you all growing and preparing for college and "the real world." I have made this page on my website to provide you with information I need to write a college recommendation for you. While I would like to help as many kids as possible achieve their dreams, please remember that I am only one person and that recommendations are not a required part of my job. Accordingly, I reserve the right to decline to write a recommendation for any reason and, even when I have tentatively agreed to write on behalf of a student, will not do so unless the steps listed below are met.

 

In addition, no recommendations will be written unless all materials are submitted at least ONE MONTH prior to the EARLIEST application deadline. This will allow me enough time to craft a recommendation individualized to your strengths and performance in my class. Good recommendations take time to write. Ensure that you give me that time.

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Regardless, I hope you have a wonderful senior year and best of luck in your future endeavors!

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Sincerely,

Ms. Cushing

 

STEPS FOR OBTAINING A RECOMMENDATION LETTER FROM MS. CUSHING

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1. Prepare a resume (you may include a brag sheet as well but I want a resume). You can include any sports or clubs you have been a part of, awards you have received, or hobbies you are interested in, as well as any volunteering or work experience you have undertaken these last four years. Here is an example of what you should include. Here are some examples of what resumes should look like (in all likelihood, you will be submitting a resume with your college applications as well so feel free to send me that one).

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2. Type out your potential majors or concentrations as well as any information you would like me to include in my recommendation. Do you want me to mention that you participated in three sports all four years of high school and also managed to earn As in all your classes? Let me know! Are you interested in minoring in political science and therefore want me to wax poetic about your work in Civics specifically? Let me know!

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3. Prepare (typed) a list of schools/scholarships for which you would like a recommendation along with deadline for when recommendations are due. 

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4. Print out and staple the previous three items together, ensure your name is on it and give them to me (physical copies are a must).

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5. If necessary (basically only if you see I have not submitted your recommendation), send a reminder email ONE WEEK prior to EARLIEST application deadline. I am usually on top of everything, but sometimes things can slip through the cracks.

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6. Remember to thank all your recommenders for taking the time to advocate for you. I also love hearing where you will be going next year so keep me updated!