Ask teachers who know you well. You do not have to be getting an A in the class. 

Colleges generally want letters from teachers of core subjects (English, Math, Science, Social Studies) for the required number of letters. If a college requires two letters, then ask core teachers for those two. If a college requires one letter but will take two, you could ask a core teacher for the one letter and use a non core teacher (language, music, art, elective) for the other letter. 

That is relevant. If you are applying as a direct admit to an engineering program, you should include at least one STEM teacher. If you are applying to a music conservatory, you should include at least one music teacher. Feel free to ask college representatives for the colleges' preferences for questions at this level, because the answers may vary from school to school.

No. If a college requires two letters but will take up to four, they will not devalue your application if you provide two. 

Yes, if you are willing to do a bit of extra work. 

See Letter Writer Isn't a Shorewood Teacher above. 

If the recommender is a Shorecrest teacher, we can do the same procedure in general, but if the teacher works at a middle or elementary school, you will have to go through the process outlined in the headline above. 

If your teacher is retired, teaches out of district, or is one of your professors for a Running Start class, you will have to do some legwork. See the options in the headline above. 

There are two common problems in the letter procedure:  

1. Teachers may have uploaded but not sent the letters. Teachers are asked to not only upload, but also electronically send the letters so that the letters are an arrangement between the student, the teacher, and the college (not with the rest of the Shorewood staff). If there is a glitch, sometimes the teacher cannot send. If the teacher asks  Mrs. Stephens or Ms. Hurley directly to send a particular letter, we will do so. 

2) Letters cannot be sent to Common App schools until the teacher also completes a short evaluation. If your teacher does not know how to complete the evaluation, Mrs. Stephens or Ms. Hurley will help. Mrs. Stephens can re-send instructions to any teachers who need them. 

You cannot, unless the teacher chooses to provide you with a copy. (Do not ask the teacher for it!)

The FERPA waiver that you sign when you set up the application systems in Naviance and the Common App says that you waive your right to see the letters. This step is regarded as the standard, since it shows integrity on your part. Colleges will not trust letters that they know have been screened by the student. 

Scholarships often ask for letters of recommendation. 

If you already asked teachers for letters for college applications, ask the teacher(s) if they would be willing to repurpose their letters for your scholarship application. Please give them plenty of notice since they will have to adjust how the letter is written. 

Scholarships vary in how they wish the letters to be submitted. There may be an online portal, they may wish the recommenders send letters directly to a particular email address, or they may wish for a hard copy (in a sealed envelope) to be submitted with your paper application. In any of the above cases, it is best if you handle the letters as little as possible so that they are confidential. 

If you do not already have letters for college applications, then ask for a letter several weeks in advance and ask if they would like you to fill out a brag sheet. If they would, type the answers and email them to the teacher. Also be sure they know the scholarship deadline. 

Thank your teacher for the letters!