First, make sure to pick the right people as your recommenders. Most schools only need two recommendations - who should you choose? Ideally this is somebody with whom you get along well, who has recently taught you an academic subject and/or who has worked with you in one of your extracurricular activities (e.g. as a coach, or as a club advisor).

You don't want somebody who doesn't really know you (and who ends up writing the generic letter of "John Doe was a good student. He worked hard in class…"). You want the recommender who can give specific examples and make a solid case for your entrance into the college of your choice, though understandably it's not always possible to get the teacher who writes that you are one of the 3 best students he/she's ever had in 50 years of teaching! But if your teacher can write that, then awesome! At the very least, one of them should be a teacher of an academic subject.

If you have known them for a relatively long period of time, that's even better. Make sure, however, that this great adult with whom you've learned or worked with can translate your ability and personality into printed words. Though you aren't looking for William Shakespeare to create a sonnet recommendation, you want somebody whose writing will gain college admissions officers' interest.

To read more about recommendations and how to approach the recommender, continue here.