Students Seeking College (or other) Recommendations

If you selected no and you are not currently serving time in a correctional facility please stop and come see me in room C 104

Step Three: So far so good... now it gets tricky so pay attention

1. Give me a “résumé”. If you already have an activity list created you can just give me that. I am looking to find out what you are interested / involved in outside of school. You may want to highlight some activities that require maturity, responsibility, or a great deal of time. Usually when I read these I come across information which surprises me, what about you do I probably not know... keeping in mind that I already know everything as I am the Webmaster.

2. Please give me a 1-2 page response to the following:

• What did you do particularly well in my class?
• What were some of your strengths?
• How do you think you improved as a student this year?
• What did you struggle with which you are now capable of doing?
• Was there a particular topic / assignment that you were interested in or were successful with?
• What do you think you still need to improve on as a student?
• How will you improve on it?

• How great is your love/hate/respect/passion for my beard

Step Four: Now that we got that part out of the way lets get down to business

Place your resume/activity sheet along with your answers to the questions above in a larger envelope or folder with your name on the outside... My favorite color is orange.

1. Now gather up all of the other papers and forms that need to be sent out and label them with sticky notes so I know what they are all for. You need to give me this stuff at least two weeks in advance (if I have already written your essay and you just need a new copy i can get it out in the mail that same day if you drop by with the envelope). That said the sooner you give me the materials the better your letter will be.
2. Put all materials, applications, envelopes, etc, into that larger envelope or folder with your name on it.
3. Include on the sticky note when each application needs to be mailed by.
4. Include on this whatever email address or phone number you can be reached at in case I run into a problem or have a question.
5. If you are using the common application please fill out as much of the applications as you can. It is easier for you to fill out things like the school’s address, my phone number at school, when you are typing into the form than it is for me after you print it out. Additionally you only need to give me two signed copies of the common app as i will fill it out and make photocopies of the completed form. Seriously i don't want to handwrite the high school's address on hundreds of applications. (you laugh but 20 students times 5 to 10 schools each is hundreds of applications if you couldn't do that math in your head and you are applying to college you may want to go back to the top of the page and select a different destination from the menu)
6. Likewise, think of how wonderful an experience it would be to lick all those letters to close them. If possible, please give me self-sealing envelopes.
7. Envelopes need to be preaddressed and covered with the appropriate postage stamps.

• School Address: Darien High School, 80 High School Lane, Darien, CT 06820
• Teacher phone: 203-655-3981 ext. 2297
• Teacher email: sOtterspoor@darienps.org
• I will sign and write my name.