Are teacher recommendations absolutely necessary?

<p>I'm the type of person who always feels like I'm bothering things. I should be asking for recommendations but I'm nervous about putting my teachers on the spot or something for my recommendation. A couple of my schools say don't send recommendations at all and the rest said limit it to only one because they don't want to read basically the same letter 10 times and recs are neither required nor recommended. Everyone seems like teacher recs are a big waste of time and kind of annoying.</p>

<p>So will it look BAD on me if I don't send a recommendation? Obviously it won't for the school that doesn't want the recs, but for the schools where it's no big deal- will it look bad on me? I've already sent an application without a teacher rec and I got in, but I'm just worried....</p>

<p>Sorry if this is confusing. My brain is all over the place today.</p>

<p>You can answer your own question.</p>

<p>If it is neither required nor recommended as you said, you will be fine.</p>

<p>You don’t look bad.</p>

<p>I just don’t want it to look like no one wanted to write me one…because I know one of my teachers would. And my guidance counsler is pushing me to ask for one and my parents are and all my friends are getting them, but the admissions officers are saying it’s not necessary…at the same time I don’t want to risk my acceptance. Haha maybe I’ll just e-mail one teacher and if they say no I’ll decide not to do it. Thanks for your answer though!</p>

<p>“the rest said limit it to only one”</p>

<p>Well then you had better pin down one letter, or drop those places off of your list, hadn’t you?</p>

<p>I’m sorry, I don’t understand…</p>

<p>Nervous about putting your teachers on the spot? Don’t let that bother you. It’s your future we’re talking about here, so don’t let something this minor ruin it.</p>

<p>It’s not too hard asking for a recommendation. Some teachers like doing them (IDK why, but that’s what my teacher told me lol). But trust me a good recommendation will push you in to college if you are on the border between acceptance and rejection</p>

<p>the ones that don’t ask for one do not evaluate any. Simple. those who ask for one or two?? You better produce or face strong likelihood of rejection</p>

<p>If you have a school that says don’t send them, don’t.
For a school that says its optional, it’s your choice (you seem to be leaning towards no).
For a school that asks for one (ie ‘limit your LOR to only one’), you need to send one. Your application will be considered incomplete until one is received. Depending on the school your application will not be read, or it will be read but negatively impact you because you didn’t follow directions and are missing a LOR where other candidates have one.</p>

<p>The answer is YES it will look bad if a school asks for teacher recs and you do not send any.
Teachers know seniors are asking for teacher recs for college. Not one of them will be surprised. So practice in the mirror before asking a teacher and go ask. </p>

<p>And blueiguana, you might as well learn right now that optional does not mean optional. It really means you better send whatever optional thing is being asked for. Optional really means mandatory.</p>

<p>okay, I suppose I’d better start asking around. Thank you all so much!</p>

<p>Lakemom is right…when a school says something is “optional” they mean that they want to see if you are interested enough to take an extra step, because admitting you is “optional” too.</p>

<p>I’m always open to others opinions. I don’t think approaching someone with “you might as well learn right now…” is the best way to get your point across. Nonetheless, I’m not one to toss out a message because the delivery was harsh. Good advise to the OP. And while I think you can look at ‘optional’ within context of the school and the strength of the applicant, I do understand it is the current mantra on cc that optional always means required.</p>

<p>haha thank you all! I got one today so I’m good to go!</p>

<p>Glad you asked for one, you definitely need it. That is one of the things high school teachers, especially those teaching junior and senior year classes, are just expected to do. It is part of their job, so don’t feel bad about asking. Things are pretty easy with the common app now… the teacher writes one letter, and it can usually be uploaded to all the schools that need it (or have asked for an optional letter). Definitely do send it to the optional schools as well.</p>

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<p>OMG yes. I’m the same way. I hate feeling like I’m bothering people. But I guess I’ll have to get over it with all the scholarships and colleges I’m applying to.</p>

<p>haha it’s nice to know it’s not just me. :)</p>