Advice for my situation

<p>I changed high schools after sophomore year. I really like the school I'm attending but I have a problem. Since the school is a lot bigger than the previous one, and I haven't been there since freshman year I haven't really gotten to know the teachers very well.
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The one's I do know are in classes I get B's in and I know they know that it's because I was lazy and didn't put enough effort in their class.</p>

<p>So I would really like some perspective on how important letters of recommendation are for schools like The Catholic University of America or schools like UCF?</p>

<p>I have a 1200 on my SATs and a 3.5 weighted GPA (I think 3.2 unweighted)
I'm taking AP Government and AP Microeconomics this year and took mostly honors course last year. (But had one C)</p>

<p>I don't really know who to ask for letters of recommendation and have been doing this whole college process on my own. Is it possible to get in on your own merits and without the recommendation of a teacher?</p>

<p>Also will the fact that I transferred schools affect my admissions process in any ways other than having to list my previous school? (It was a personal choice, not disciplinary related)</p>

<p>Probably the best person to advise you on this is the guidance counselor in charge of college placement at your current HS. They have dealt with many transfer students in their career and can help you sort everything out.</p>

<p>Thanks for the reply,
but how important are letters of recommendation exactly? Are they an absolute necessity?</p>

<p>^^
If your colleges require recs, then they are important. </p>

<p>Are you saying you are/were lazy in all of your math, science, and/or English classes at this school? Weren’t you a “good-effort” student in any of them? How about your current classes?</p>

<p>You don’t need that many recs. All you need is a couple - even if they are teachers from the current school year. They don’t have to “know” you personally; they just have to be familiar with your quality of work.</p>

<p>BTW…there are schools that don’t require recs…consider some of them, too… Here’s a link for some suggestions… <a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/college-search-selection/802256-list-good-schools-have-fast-ez-apps-no-essays-no-recs.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/college-search-selection/802256-list-good-schools-have-fast-ez-apps-no-essays-no-recs.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;