News
The Sumner - Bonney Lake School District (SBLSD) is excited to partner with seven Washington colleges and universities through a Guaranteed Admission Program (GAP).This program is designed to create greater access to higher educational opportunities for seniors. Guaranteed admission is not free admission.
Letter of Recommendations
Letters of recommendation from counselors, teachers, coaches, club advisors, or employers play an important role in applications for college, scholarships, jobs, and internships. These letters highlight your character, achievements, and potential.
Guidelines for Requesting Letters:
Choose the Right People- Select teachers, coaches, or mentors who know you well and can speak to your character, strengths, and work ethic. Family members are not allowed.
For college applications, choose a teacher from a core class (history, science, math, English, world languages) or a specialty area (music, business, etc.) depending on the program, career path, or school you’re applying to.
Ask Politely –Make your request in person or through a polite email. Remember, you’re asking for a favor—show gratitude and respect. Even a simple “thank you” goes a long way.
Request a specific date – Respect your recommender’s time and ask at least 2–3 weeks before the deadline. Provide a specific due date, such as “October 15th.”
Provide a Brag Sheet – A brag sheet is like a student résumé highlighting your achievements, leadership, and experiences to help them write a strong letter.
Make It Easy for Your Teacher-If the letter can’t be submitted online, provide a pre-addressed, stamped envelope. For Common App, add the teacher as a recommender and send the link directly to their email.
Offer Friendly Reminders- It’s okay to send a polite reminder if you haven’t heard back. A quick check-in shows responsibility without nagging.
Show Your Appreciation- After your letters have been submitted, take the time to send a handwritten thank-you note. It’s a simple, thoughtful way to show gratitude—and it leaves a lasting positive impression. (There are thank you notes in the Career Center if you need one.)
Request Transcript- If your recommender requests a transcript, order one through Parchment.com to be sent directly to them or yourself.
GPA & Class Rank- Email your counselor or Mrs. Nelson for this information
FAFSA OPENS OCTOBER 1st!
What is the FAFSA® form?
The Free Application for Federal Student Aid is used by colleges and career schools to determine how much financial aid you're eligible to receive, which could include grants, scholarships, work-study funds, and loans.
Who should complete the FAFSA® form?
Any student, regardless of income, who wants to be considered for federal, state, and school financial aid programs. To get the complete financial aid package you must complete the FAFSA to have all federal and state aid available.
How long will it take?
It takes most people 15-30 minutes to fill out the FAFSA form, including gathering any personal documents and financial information needed to complete it.What do I need?
- Verified account username and password (federal student aid Login)
- Parent or spouse contributor’s email address
- Income and asset information (if required)
- 2025 Income Tax form (if required)
SchooLinks College Application Manager helps you keep your college search and applications organized in one place.
Steps to get started:
- Explore colleges and programs that interest you.
- Save your favorite schools and create a college list.
- Compare schools based on location, majors, cost, and admission requirements.
- Connect your SchooLinks account to Common App to help manage your applications.
- Add important application deadlines to your calendar.
- Track application requirements, essays, transcripts, and recommendations.
- Check your progress regularly and update your application status.
Using SchooLinks consistently will help you stay organized, avoid missing deadlines, and feel more confident throughout the college application process.
CONTACT YOUR COUNSELOR:
- A-C: Mr. Simmons alec_simmons@sumnersd.org
- D-He: Mrs. Herrera diana_herrera@sumnersd.org
- Hi-Mc: Mr. Sandberg david_sandberg@sumnersd.org
- Me-R: Mrs. Paulson amanda_paulson@sumnersd.org
- S-Z: Mrs. Cuellar cynthia_cuellar@sumnersd.org