Madell,

Madell,

I teach English to high school seniors and witness first-hand the stress of the whole application process. Most of a student's application is nothing more than names and numbers. The names are classes taken, clubs joined, sports played, and awards won. The numbers are GPA, class rank, SAT, and state test scores. While these things do count heavily in the application process, they are somewhat cold and impersonal. The college essay and letters of recommendation are the only place where one's personality and character can shine. It is no wonder that this can frighten and intimidate students -- there's a lot at stake.
Your suggestions are extremely valuable to any high school student. The better their understanding of a teacher's recommendation process, and the better they build relationships with their teachers during their high school career, the smoother and less harrowing the process will be.