Ask for recommendations from people who know your work well enough to describe it. Follow the application's requirements for who may write. A teacher who has seen you revise, ask questions, and help a classmate may have more useful material than someone with a prestigious title who barely knows you.
Make a specific request
Ask several weeks ahead when possible: "Would you feel comfortable writing a strong recommendation for my college applications? The first deadline is [date]. I can send the requirements and a short summary of my work in your class."
Give the recommender the deadline, submission instructions, and a concise reminder of relevant experiences. Mention a project you worked hard on, a challenge you addressed, and interests that may not have come up in class. They should write their own observations; do not script praise for them.
Ask how they prefer reminders. Check the portal before following up, and thank them when the work is complete. If you ask near a deadline, acknowledge the short notice and allow them to decline.
Build an interview story bank
Prepare examples of taking responsibility, responding to feedback, working through disagreement, making a mistake, and exploring something that interests you. The same experience may answer several questions, but prepare enough variety that every answer does not return to one project.
For each example, jot down the situation, your own role, what you did, the result, and what you learned. Practice explaining it in about one or two minutes, then let the conversation determine the length. Memorizing entire paragraphs can make it harder to respond to the question actually asked.
Practice the difficult follow-up
Suppose you say you improved tutoring access. A practice interviewer should ask: "How did you know access was a problem? What did you personally do? What did the teacher handle? How do you know the new time helped? What would you change?"
If you cannot answer, return to the facts rather than adding impressive language. "We saw more repeat attendance, but we did not measure grades" is a more trustworthy answer than an unsupported claim about academic improvement.
Prepare for questions about why you want that university or scholarship community. Read its actual programs and expectations, then identify what interests you and what you could contribute. Avoid simply repeating its website language.
Finish the practical preparation
Confirm the time zone, location or meeting link, travel plan, and any requested materials. Test your audio if the interview is online. Prepare a question whose answer is not obvious from the program page, such as how scholars balance program commitments with their classes.
An interview is a conversation about the applicant you already are. Practice helps you describe that person clearly; it should not require you to perform someone else's personality.