Hi, I want to major in something engineering/CS related, and I am great friends with my math teacher and I am asking him. I know my English teacher knows me well and will write an awesome letter, so I want to ask her. But, I also want to ask my physics teacher bc I am good friends with her and am the best in my class. I feel my physics teacher can show my leadership abilities well.
Is it ok to send all 3 letters of rec?
If I can only send 2, it becomes a question of English teacher vs Physics
It’s best to have a humanities rec and a STEM rec, so go with English.
Agree, I’d go with English.
does having three letters of rec not look good? or is it not allowed? I am sure I would get a good rec from my physics teacher
@Lindagaf
@happy1
Colleges don’t wants more than 2 teacher recs. If you send a third rec it should be a supplemental rec from someone who knows you in a non-academic setting (ex. a coach, a boss etc.) who knows you in a different context.
Why does the college say? Usually they will allow a third letter, but it needs to offer something that the other letters can’t. For example, your boss or soccer coach might be able to write a letter offering a different perspective. Your guidance couselor will probably mention any leadership roles you have. More of the same isn’t good. More isn’t better.
Note. Each school has their recommendation letter policy. Some want one but may accept one or two more, some do not want any more than your want. UIUC does not even want any. So you have to rank the teachers for who will write the best letter for you. If they are the same, choose one that would cover different aspects of you or is more relevant to your intended major may help in some cases. The main purpose of the recommendation letter is to let the adcom knows more about you (of course, about your good things).
I sent 4 letters to my top choice, (2 Social Studies, 1 Math, 1 English), and it worked out since I got in and planning on attending. I’m going for engineering. I just made sure one of them was a Math teacher since my science teachers all hated me so there goes that option. Try to make sure 1 is from a Science teacher, the other one is from a Math teacher. And the 3rd rec can be IMO, whichever rec you think will support the suggestion you’re a great candidate for admission into that school.
So yes I would send all 3 recs (if on the Common App it allows for 3 recommendations, if two then cut the “weaker rec”, if a school require a math/science then cut the English), if they’re all positive then it will reinforce the idea that you’re a great candidate. Nothing to worry about.