<p>When I ask my teachers for the recommendations, do I need to give them any information besides the forms? My parents keep nagging me about giving my teachers a list of my awards so they can relist my achievements or something. I thought that teachers have their own things that they need to say other than what's already on the application.</p>
<p>Some teachers like to have a "cheat sheet" of your activities, awards, etc. Make it less than a page.</p>
<p>So are these "cheat sheets" completely up to the teacher? Should I ask them if they want one before I give them the paperwork or give them this "cheat sheet" regardless?</p>
<p>If a teacher knows you well, they do not need more info. Teachers write lots of recs and they know what to do. Colleges will see your awards and do not need to hear about them repeatedly in recs. If a teacher was part of the process of choosing you for an award--like a universtiy book award-- they may flesh out the reasons behind it when they write anyway. </p>
<p>After talking with teachers who currently have rec requests on their desks, they seem to have a hard time when kids are good, likable students but the teacher really knows little else about them. The students who are reserved, appropriate in class, do well but show nothing else of themselves to the teacher are difficult to write unique things about. </p>
<p>So ask teachers that you've gotten to know and they will know what to do-- you can always ask if they'd like more information. It's about you-- not so much about your awards.</p>
<p>If you have one, it's a good idea to include an "activity list" or resume. Even though the teacher knows you (or you wouldn't ask them to write the letter for you), it's easier for them to be able to highlight and mention some the activities that have been important to you over the past few years.</p>