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After Jeanette McElroy, sophomore at Central Missouri State University, Maryville, MO, had unsuccessfully racked her brain for five days trying to think of a topic for her American lit research paper, she turned to her teacher for help. No, not her college prof -- her high school senior English teacher.

E-mail accessibility has made it easier than ever for college students to call on their high school teachers for extra support, especially in those first few critical months on campus.

While brainstorming with her teacher, Jeanette settled on the perfect topic, and more important, felt confident knowing she had chosen something her teacher thought she could write successfully.

Staying in touch with your high school teachers can be amazingly beneficial for many reasons: academic assistance, valuable input on course selection/career choice, study hints, and plain old moral support. Check out these tips for staying in touch:

Reach Out
Make the first contact soon after you start college ­- just a note to say you're settling in and sending your address, phone number, and e-mail address. Note: unless otherwise told, all letters should be sent to teachers at their school addresses.

Open Up
While out-and-out whining is a definite no-no, it's okay to share some of the obstacles you're facing. Often teachers can help by simply reminding you of your past achievements and the positive qualities that helped you succeed in high school.

Geoff Scholz, sophomore at the United States Military Academy in Annapolis, MD, says he relied heavily during his freshman year on "pep talks and suggestions from my high school debate teacher, Gloria Henry."

For Henry, helping former students is part of her job. "For young college students, a high school teacher is an objective source," Henry explains. "At the same time, she is someone who knows them well enough to validate what they're doing, and help them in problem areas."

In Geoff's case, she recalls, it was all about concentration. "We both knew it would be critical for him to stay focused, and that's what I tried to help him do."

Be Real, and Realistic
Refrain from asking advice regarding personal issues. Your high school teachers can be great resources for study skills, ideas, and academic assistance, but it's unfair to expect them to address areas such as relationships, for example.

Write with a specific request, preferably one at a time. In Henry's opinion, some areas she feels most high school teachers would be willing to accommodate include helping with ideas for papers and projects, and looking at sample paragraphs from a paper. In other words, keep your requests realistic.

"I wouldn't proofread papers or read an entire essay, but I would certainly be glad to look over an introductory paragraph and give an opinion as to whether or not the student is on the right track," says Henry.

Take Advantage of Your History
Having a history together is another great way your high school teacher can help, especially when it comes to suggesting tactics to make sure you're on track career-wise.

Chris Brown, sophomore at Washington University in St. Louis, MO, says when he checks in with his high school journalism teacher, Karen Black, he feels right at home. "I don't have to remind her that I'm looking toward a future in politics someday." Because Black knows Chris as a student and understands his goals, he explains, her input on topics such as class choices is especially valid.

Be Considerate
Most important, respond to your teacher's help with an immediate thank-you. Even an e-mail with just two words -- THANK YOU -- will mean a lot to your teacher. And, if you plan to request help in person, always make an appointment. Remember how busy your high school teachers always were; an unannounced visit is unlikely to come at a good time.

Lastly, offer a service in return. Teachers with senior students especially appreciate former students making appearances before their classes to talk about college life and the importance of having an academically successful senior year.

Get Started Now
By now, you probably have a teacher in mind with whom you'd like to stay in touch once you're on that illustrious college campus. If so, make sure you're taking the necessary steps to ensure that he or she will be willing to give you academic assistance....

Show effort now. Teachers don't expect all students to make A's; in fact, they know it's the students who give maximum effort, not the ones who breeze through high school, who are the ones most likely to succeed in college. Teachers respect effort.

Express interest in the subject matter. A little enthusiasm goes a long way toward showing you are a motivated learner. Get involved in class discussions, and if something confuses or captivates you, mention it to your teacher personally after class.

Come to class with a friendly attitude. Answer questions, volunteer to participate, and occasionally chat with your teacher before and after school. Such initiative will distinguish you as a stand-out student, one worthy of assistance and mentorship.

"Building a relationship with an individual student during class isn't appropriate," says Henry, "but a student who cares enough to drop by at other times can begin to build a connection."

Ask! Pull your teacher aside and find out if he or she is willing to correspond with you once you're at college. If so, get his or her e-mail address or make note of the school address.

Kaleena Blackburn, a freshman at Baker University in Baldwin City, KS, recently asked a favorite high school English teacher if she would be willing to keep in contact with her through e-mail. "Just knowing that she's watching me grow as a person is a real incentive," says Kaleena.

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