You should select people who know you well and who are familiar with your personal background, education, employment, and/or professional skills. You should not ask a family member, peer, classmate, co-worker, or friend to serve as a reference. Consider asking work supervisors, clergy, teachers, counselors, coaches, or someone else familiar with your motivation and community involvement.
See Also:
How many references do I need?
How many references can I enter?
What happens if I have more than two references?
How do I know if my reference responded?
If there is no response from a selected reference can I resend the reference request?
Can I change my references once I have submitted the application?