4 Letters of Recc for Harvard?

[asappebble]

Hi! I was just wondering if Harvard adcoms would look down upon 4 letters of rec (2 from school teachers + 2 additional)? I feel like my 2 additional reccs would add significant perspective to my application and this perspective would not be a repeat of previous information.

Does anyone have experience with sending an extra letter? Did it affect anything?

Any insight would be greatly appreciated. Thanks so much

[gibby]

It’s difficult to say without knowing more details about who will be writing your additional recommendations and what other perspective they will be offering.

Harvard is after all an academic institution, so your performance in the classroom is key. Are you a student that constantly raises your hand, or are you a shy student that makes insightful comments but needs to be called upon? Do you lead classroom discussions? Does your writing go beyond the constraints of the assignment? Are you respected by your peers and teachers? Are you wise beyond your years? Are you the kind of student who will be remembered for years to come after you graduate? Are you the kind of student that might change the world?

Those kind of questions, and their answers, might get watered down with more than one additional recommendation. But, that might not be true if one additional recommendation is from your research mentor who will write about your observational skills in the lab, and the other additional recommendation is from your employer, who will attest to your maturity and drive in the workplace.

[gibby]

FWIW: http://thechoice.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/09/14/harvarddean-part3/

it is wise to refrain from sending large numbers of extra recommendations or mounting a letter-writing campaign, especially if the school has already written effectively.

The value of an additional letter or two depends on how well the person knows you, not the person’s profession or who he or she might be.

One of the best letters we ever received over the years was written by the school’s custodian who supervised the student in the school’s work program under very difficult circumstances, when everyone was tired at the end of the school day. The letter supported the other positive information in the application about how the student always made everyone around him better — and it made up for sparse recommendations from the over-worked teachers and counselors at that school. The strong personal qualities and character noted by the custodian were confirmed by the remarkable difference the student made to others during his college career and the difference he continues to make today.

And over at Yale, there’s this advice: http://admissions.yale.edu/instructions

High school teachers can provide extremely helpful information in their evaluations. Not only do they discuss your performance in their particular class or classes, but they may also write about your motivation, intellectual curiosity, energy, relationships with classmates, and impact on the classroom environment. It is important that you solicit recommendations from teachers who have taught you in academic subjects, who know you well, and who have seen you at your best. It is also preferable that letters come from teachers who have taught you during your junior or senior year of high school. We do not encourage supplemental letters of recommendation.

[rubberfall]

With over 30,000 applications to get through, I’d stick to one additional lor at the most. Less is more.

[asappebble]

Thank you for your insight @gibby & @rubberfall!!

@gibby : For the additional reccs, one would be from my research mentor and the other from the mom of a young student who I tutored and mentored in literacy this past year and will continue to tutor my senior year. I’m having a lot of trouble choosing between the two since they would likely talk about different aspects of who I am. Do you think in this case it would be okay to send both? Or should I ask both to write one and then have them send it to my counselor, who could review them and advise me which one would be stronger in the admissions round? Thanks so much again; the questions you wrote that are important for an academic environment as well as the info you provided from Harvard and Yale regarding this topic is so helpful!!

[lookingforward]

The research mentor, if this was part of an established institution. Little chance a mom can hit points that are relevant to an admit review at Harvard.

But make sure this mentor will focus on the right high points adcoms need to see. No sense for H to read a confirmation you participated, that you arrived on time, dressed neatly, etc. And not too long.

[gibby]

DO NOT send the additional letter from the mom – that just screams like you’re trying to hard. Send the one from the research mentor.

[compmom]

One of my kids sent two extra letters as parts of an arts supplement (music teachers) and I am quite sure that is what got her in.

[BrownParent]

Do not send the one from the mom. It doesn’t sound like an unusual special circumstance and of course she will say nice things about you. It isn’t about finding people who will say nice things about your. 2 extra letters are really too much. Just pick one.

[CollegeEducation]

@asappebble Pick one that is relevant to your interest and achievement. And the rec letter should be powerful enough to separate you from 37K applicants, including applicants with perfect GPA, perfect Scores and lots of tutoring experience and ECs.

PS: tutor and mentor has become routine ECs among applicants. My kid didn’t even list tutor and mentor in EC section.

[FakeCat]

when i went to the yale tour ( i don’t remember what they said harvard tour), they said 2 recs. (+counselor i think, more is a no no). you should only have a third if its from the head of NIH organization that you internship at or whatever.

[compmom]

They all say that but if your major interest and work is outside of school, it is essential to provide extras (2 tops). But they better be key to your application and demonstrate something really special.

[asappebble]

@lookingforward @gibby @compmop @brownparent @collegeeducation @fakecat Thank you all so so much for your responses! I really appreciate the feedback. I think I will probably just submit one extra from my research mentor. Thanks so much again