check list for college applications requiring letters of ...

CHECK LIST FOR COLLEGE APPLICATIONS REQUIRING
LETTERS OF RECOMMENDATIONS
Revised 9-23-2013
FOR COMMON APPLICATION SCHOOLS ONLY:
1. Set up your account at www.commonapp.org and create your college list.
• Must complete the Education section of CA first to be able to link w/ BHS
• Complete the FERPA Release Authorization, My Colleges Tab, under Assign
Recommenders section
2. Log on to Family Connection; under the Colleges tab in the “colleges I’m applying to” section,
follow the directions for Common App Account Matching.
• In addition you must always check the transcript request box (IMPORTANT!)
3. If you need a teacher recommendation, scroll down to the Teacher Recommendation section
and add the teacher’s name from the drop down menu.
• You must still request a letter of recommendation in person giving them a brag sheet
4. Your counselor completes the School Report Form. For them to do this you must turn in to
your counselor, in person, a brag sheet and senior questionnaire.
Continue completing your Common App form on-line and submit all parts electronically.
IMPORTANT - Colleges will not be able to access your counselor or teacher recommends unless
you have submitted your completed application.
5. IF YOU ADD A SCHOOL(S) LATER, NOTIFY TEACHERS & COUNSELORS.
FOR NON-COMMON APPLICATION SCHOOLS:
1. Log into Family Connection and list the schools in “colleges I’m applying to” section, be sure to
request that transcripts be sent to each of these Non-Common App colleges.
2. For schools that require counselor recommendations bring the following to your counselor, at
least 3 weeks before the application deadline:
a. Printed forms from the college website that need to be completed by the counselor for
each school, i.e. Counselor Recommendation Form or School Report Form. Be sure to
fill out the necessary biographical information and sign the form(s) prior to giving to your
counselor.
b. The completed Senior Questionnaire along WITH your Brag Sheet.
c. Two (2) stamps for EACH college that you need a recommendation sent to.
3. If you also need Teacher Recommendations, print off these forms from the college website
and submit it to the teacher(s) with a college-addressed, stamped envelope(s) and a copy of your
brag sheet. Again, please give the teacher at least 3 weeks notice.

Counselor Letter of Recommendation: SENIOR QUESTIONNAIRE
(Revised August 2012)
Student name: ______________________________ Counselor: _____________________
Your email address: ________________________________________
Please complete this form and return to your counselor, along with your resume/”brag sheet”
[includes: coursework, clubs, activities, sports, leadership positions, awards/honors, work, community service, volunteer
experiences, etc.]. Be sure to enter all of your colleges, transcript requests, Common Application, etc.
on Naviance. Confirm specific due dates or unique circumstances directly with your counselor.
ALLOW TWO-THREE WEEKS FOR A LETTER/APPLICATION.
Name three teachers or staff members who know you well.
1. ___________________________
2. ___________________________
3. ___________________________
Describe your specific personal, educational and professional goals [for higher education and
beyond]. What do you plan to study/be? What do you see yourself doing ten years from now?
What is your greatest strength/asset? What are some of your limitations? Are there any
obstacles that you have overcome in order to achieve success?
What aspect of your personality, your accomplishments, or your life would you like me to share
with your prospective college? What would you contribute to academic or campus life in
college? Also, why do you think you are the “best fit” for this/these school(s)?
Please ask your parent(s) to write some personal comments/insights about you:

PARENT “Brag Sheet”
(Use back of this sheet)
Describe your child. What are his/her greatest strengths, weaknesses? What makes your child
unique? What are you most proud of?
Describe one or two major events that you see as turning points in your child’s academic or
personal development. Explain why you view them as such.
What contributions has your child made in out of school activities? What leadership,
improvement to the quality of others, or contributions to organizations has your child been a part
of?
“Something you should know about my child is…” [Please cite specific examples from their life that I
would likely be unaware of – for instance, family experiences that highlight your child’s
motivation, independence, originality, and/or initiative]. Is there anything else you think I need
to know, any special circumstances related to family background, personal achievements,
learning differences, medical history, etc.?

SENIOR “Hodge Podge”
1. What is the name of your favorite book, technology source, and/or movie? Why?
2. What is a favorite quotation? Explain your choice.
3. Who is a person you especially admire or respect? Explain.
4. Is there anything on your transcript [either positive or negative] that you feel warrants further
clarification or explanation? Perhaps an area or circumstance where you may not have done as
well as you think you should have or, conversely, a subject that you particularly enjoy/excel in?
5. How would you describe Boise High? Has the environment encouraged you to develop your
interests, talents, and abilities? What would you preserve and/or change about Boise High if you
had the authority and resources to do so? What will you remember most about your high school
experience?

6. List six adjectives that you, your family, friends, and/or teachers would use to describe you?
______________________
______________________
______________________
______________________
______________________
______________________
7. If you had a year to go anywhere and do whatever you wanted, where would you go and
what would you do?
8. Describe a situation in which you demonstrated leadership or compassion.
9. How do you learn best? What methods and styles of teaching engage your interest and effort
the most? What has been your most stimulating intellectual experience in recent years?
10. What is the biggest mistake you made and/or disappointment you’ve had in life and what
did you learn from it? In what ways have you grown or changed over the past three years?
RATE YOURSELF IN THE FOLLOWING AREAS:
1 = average or below, 2 = above average, 3 = excellent, 4 = outstanding
___ motivation ___leadership ___energy ___creativity
___self-confidence ___maturity ___personality ___initiative
___self-discipline ___concern for others ___sense of humor ___respect from others
How would you compare yourself to your graduating class?
___academically ___character/personal promise ___extracurricular/community

___overall
Select five “action words” from this list which most describe you…
accomplish
advance
affirm
alleviate
amplify
appreciate
associate
believe
brighten
build
cause
choose
communicate
compel
compete
complete
compose
confirm
connect
consider
construct
contact
continue
counsel
create
decide
defend
delight
deliver
demonstrate
devise
direct
discover
discuss
dream
drive
educate
embrace
encourage
enhance
enlighten
enliven
entertain
enthuse
envision
evaluate
explore
express
facilitate
foster
gather
generate
give
grant
heal
identify
illuminate
implement
improve
improvise
inspire
involve
keep
know
labor
lead
master
mediate
model
motivate
move
negotiate
nurture
organize
participate
perform
persuade
play
practice
prepare
praise
produce
progress
provide
realize
refine
reflect
relate
relax
rely
renew
resonate
respect
revise
sacrifice
serve
share
speak
stand
support
sustain
team
travel
understand
uphold
utilize
validate
value
venture
volunteer
work
worship
write
Identify three of your
CORE VALUES:
truth
integrity
honesty
freedom
trust
faith
justice
wholeness
honor
self-worth
dignity
respect
inner peace
love
positive attitude
hope
joy
charity
safety
relationships
kindness
service
equality
excellence
nobility
humility
simplicity