THE PURPLE PACKET A /

THE PURPLE PACKET
ALLOW AT LEAST TWO WEEKS FOR YOUR COUNSELOR AND/OR TEACHERS TO WRITE YOUR RECOMMENDATION.
RECOMMENDATIONS, EVALUATIONS, ETC., REQUESTED FEWER THAN TWO WEEKS (10 WORKING DAYS) PRIOR TO THE DEADLINE
ARE NOT GUARANTEED TO BE COMPLETED BY THE DEADLINE.
Your counselor uses this packet to help write your letter(s) of recommendation. Information gathered is confidential and will be
used in-house only. It will not be seen by students, parents, or colleges. Completing this packet is not the same as asking your
counselor or a teacher to write a letter of recommendation for you.
Please follow these directions carefully:
1. Be sure that your name, date of birth, address, and social security number are complete and legible on the first page of
the packet. Write legibly throughout the packet!
2. When you respond to the questions, please be specific, thorough, and write legibly. The more information you give, the
more informed and complete your counselor’s assessment can be. REMEMBER: the purpose of a counselor
recommendation is to explain to the college what makes you special! It is perfectly acceptable (and even preferred) for
you and your parents to answer these questions on the computer and attach the pages.
3. Please provide the names of four teachers who know you well and who would be able to provide additional information
about you if necessary.
4. Write your name and your counselor’s name at the top of the “Teacher Information to the Counselor” form. If necessary,
your counselor will copy this page and distribute copies to your selected teachers.
APPLICATION TIMELINE:
Junior Year / Spring Semester
 Begin to research colleges and universities to which you would like to apply.
 Register for and take the SAT and/or the ACT in the spring semester of your junior year. Register online for the SAT at
www.collegeboard.com and the ACT at www.actstudent.org. List the colleges to which you would like to have your SAT
and/or ACT scores sent.
Senior Year / Fall Semester
 Plan ahead! Give ample time for your counselor and/or teachers to write your letter of recommendation. Allow at least
two weeks’ notice when you need a letter of recommendation, whether you are requesting a letter from your counselor
or a teacher.
 Be aware of deadlines. Make note if the deadline is a “postmark deadline” or a “received by” deadline. Do not wait until
the last minute.
 Retake the SAT and/or the ACT in the early fall of your senior year.
 Complete the Student and Parent sections of the Purple Packet Student Profile and turn in to the counselors’ office. Signand have your parent sign-to waive your access to these documents and letters of recommendation. Failure to sign will
result in no letters written on your behalf.
 Begin to fill out online applications as early as possible. The Apply Texas application is available online at
www.applytexas.org. The Common Applications is available at www.commonapp.org.
 If applicable, download the Counselor Recommendation/School Report and Teacher Recommendation from individual
college websites. Be aware that many schools do not require letters of recommendation.
 Organize your Counselor Recommendation/School Reports. Give these forms to your counselor so that your counselor
can write a complete and effective letter on your behalf.
 Aim to have your college applications completed and submitted by December 1.
Senior Year / Early Spring Semester
 Give your counselor the mid-year report form in January (if your college requires a mid-year report)
 Wait for the fat envelope to arrive!
PLEASE REMOVE THIS PAGE AND RETAIN FOR YOUR RECORDS.
THE PURPLE PACKET
Student Profile Packet for Recommendations for Morton Ranch High School Counselors
Please write legibly.
Student’s Full Name: __________________________________________ Date of Birth: ______/______/______
Social Security Number: _______ - _______ - _______
Father’s Name: ____________________________________ Mother’s Name: ____________________________________
Home Address: ________________________________________________________________________________________
Street City State Zip Code
Home Phone: _________________________ Work: _________________________ Cell: _________________________
All college recommendations are confidential in nature. Therefore, we ask that you sign below BEFORE asking
your counselor and/or teacher(s) to complete your recommendation. A parent/ guardian signature is required if
you are not yet 18 years of age.
 I give permission for all my test scores to be released to the college(s) and/or scholarships of my choice.
 I waive the right to see the recommendation(s) submitted to the college(s) and/or scholarships of my
choice.
 I understand that failure to agree to these terms will result in no recommendation.
_____________________________________/__________ _____________________________________/__________
Student Signature
Date
Parent Signature
Date
Check all that apply:
_____ I need a letter of recommendation. I have turned in:
_____My part of the Purple Packet Student Profile
_____My parent’s part of the Purple Packet Student Profile
_____ I have selected the following teachers to complete the
Teacher Information to the Counselor page, if necessary.
___________________________ Subject Taught________________ Year__________
___________________________ Subject Taught________________ Year__________
___________________________ Subject Taught________________ Year__________
___________________________ Subject Taught________________ Year__________
Choose at least two teachers from your junior or senior year and up to two teachers from earlier years.
Choose teachers who know you well.
Have you requested to have your transcript sent to your college(s)? __________
Yes
__________
No
STUDENT INFORMATION—PLEASE COMPLETE THE FOLLOWING
The purpose of a Counselor Letter of Recommendation is to make you stand out from the crowd. By giving thought
to the following questions and giving full and complete answers you can help your Morton Ranch High School
counselor write a letter which will make you a three dimensional person.
FRESHMAN YEAR
Extracurricular Activities / Club Memberships: ______________________________________________
Honors / Awards: _____________________________________________________________________
School Leadership: ____________________________________________________________________
Activities and leadership roles outside of school (church, clubs, scouting, work, volunteerism, etc.)
____________________________________________________________________________________
SOPHOMORE YEAR
Extracurricular Activities / Club Memberships: ______________________________________________
Honors / Awards: _____________________________________________________________________
School Leadership: ____________________________________________________________________
Activities and leadership roles outside of school (church, clubs, scouting, work, volunteerism, etc.)
____________________________________________________________________________________
JUNIOR YEAR
Extracurricular Activities / Club Memberships: ______________________________________________
Honors / Awards: _____________________________________________________________________
School Leadership: ____________________________________________________________________
Activities and leadership roles outside of school (church, clubs, scouting, work, volunteerism, etc.)
_________________________________________________________________________________
SENIOR YEAR
Extracurricular Activities / Club Memberships: ______________________________________________
Honors / Awards: _____________________________________________________________________
School Leadership: ____________________________________________________________________
Activities and leadership roles outside of school (church, clubs, scouting, work, volunteerism, etc.)
____________________________________________________________________________________
1. What is your
a.) Intended major?
b.) Intended career goal(s)?
2. In your opinion, what makes you stand out from the crowd? What is your passion? What intrigues you?
3. List two words that come to mind that best describe you.
4. Do you work? If so, where and for how long?
5. What is
a.) Your favorite course? Why?
b.) Your least favorite course? Why?
6. What class, activity, or faculty member has had the most influence on your high school career? Why/how?
7. What has been your most rewarding experience?
8. Where do you see yourself in ten years?
9. Describe the role of character and integrity in the choices you make. Please offer specific examples.
10. Please consider any additional information: What has been your most rewarding experience? Are there
extenuating circumstances in your life, which have affected your grades? (illness, death in the family, divorce,
move, family problems, etc.)
PARENT INFORMATION—PLEASE COMPLETE THE FOLLOWING
To help the college admissions committee get to know your child better, your input is very important to complete
the counselor recommendation letter. Please share anecdotes, which would illustrate any (or all) of the following:
1. Tell what you would like the admissions committee to know about your son/daughter regarding:
Unusual talents: ____________________________________________________________________
Academic strengths: _________________________________________________________________
Worthwhile community activities: ______________________________________________________
2. What are the first two words you would use to describe your son or daughter?
3. What is the one thing you would like to change about your son or daughter?
4. What motivates your child? How would someone notice this?
5. Explain how your child reacted to any unusual circumstances or situations in the family.
6. List one or two of your child’s significant qualities/characteristics, then briefly describe an incident, event, or
situation which illustrates these strengths.
7. Please provide any other information about your child that you would like to share.
TEACHER INFORMATION TO MORTON RANCH COUNSELOR
TO THE STUDENT: Please put your name and your counselor’s name in the top section before returning your packet. This form
will be distributed to the teacher(s) of your choosing only if additional information is necessary.
Student __________________________________________ Teacher ___________________________________________
Subject taught ____________________________________________________________________________ Year ___________________
Please return to _____________________________________________ no later than _____________________________________
[COUNSELOR]
[ASAP is not a DATE]
I am writing a recommendation for this student and I need your help. You know this student; therefore, your input is critical for me to write a
comprehensive evaluation. In making the following ratings, please keep in mind that they will be used to compare this student with his or her
entire class. Please check the single most appropriate box.
The student WILL NOT see this evaluation.
Quality
Below
Average
Average
Above
Average
Top 10%
Outstanding
Academic Motivation
Academic Self-Discipline
Academic Growth Potential
Academic Integrity
Leadership
Self Confidence
Warmth of Personality
Enthusiasm
Sense of Humor
Concern of Others
Personal Initiative
Reaction to Setbacks
Emotional Maturity
Respect Accorded by Faculty
Respect Accorded by Peers
What are the first words that come to mind to describe the applicant? ________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Strengths in your course? _____________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Notable personal characteristics? ______________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
-SUMMARY EVALUATIONPlease use the back of this form to add additional information. We are particularly interested in the
student’s intellectual promise, motivation, and capacity for growth, special talents, and enthusiasm. Information
that will help us to differentiate this student from others is helpful—what makes him/her stand out in a crowd?
Thank you.