How to Choose References for a College Application

Applying to college can be an arduous process in a person's life. Picking the right school, preparing for the lifestyle change and gathering all application materials together can be exciting and stressful. It is very important to choose the right references for your college applications but it can be complicated. Follow these steps to choose references for a college application and begin the first step in your future college career.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

1. Make a list of the different colleges you are planning on applying to. Write how many references are needed on each application.
2. Begin making a list of adults or professionals that know you well. Write down anyone you think would be able to give real insight into your character, achievements and aptitudes.
3. Consider not only teachers, but counselors, employers or mentors who have known you and can speak to your ability. Pay special attention to whether the school wants specific recommendations from different aspects of your life. Then make a list of possible employers, teachers and community members who you would be comfortable asking.
4. Ensure that you give your references plenty of time to complete the recommendation process, especially if they must write a letter. Ask your references early, usually at least 6 weeks in advance. You want to give them ample time to fill out everything correctly.
5. Choose the best choices for references, then politely ask them if they would be willing to give you a reference. Provide them with all pertinent information for your reference such as addresses and information needed to complete the process.

Tips & Warnings

• Give your references a copy of your resume. If it has been awhile since you have had contact, then remind them of their relationship with you. It is especially important if you email or phone someone you haven't spoken with in a while.
• Ask your references if they will need a sample of a letter of reference for the application or a sample of how the reference sheet should be filled out.