Hello, I’m currently applying to Early Action at Harvard. I’m a dual-enrolled student, and I was wondering if I can use one of my college professors as a teacher recommendation. Thank you for your time!
P.S. Using the Common Application
You can, but what would this person say that’s not already covered by your HS teacher recs?? H is more interested in how you fare amongst your HS peers. Unless the college prof has something very different to say, I wouldn’t submit it as the 3rd supplemental. I definitely wouldn’t send it in as one of the 2 primary LoRs
The flip side: If you are the only high school student in a classroom of undergraduate and graduate college students, AND this professor thinks that your intellectual promise, maturity, and writing ability matches or surpasses student’s that are four years older, then it might be worthwhile supplemental recommendation.
@gibby that is exactly the case. I live in a rural area, and I’m typically the only dual enrolled student in my classes. The only problem with using a college teacher, is that it requires them to input a high school where they teach. Is there any way to get around that?
Have your high school teachers complete their recommendations on the Common Application, and have your college professor send in their supplemental recommendation by snail-mail. Make sure they include your legal name, date of birth and high school at the top of their letter.
I don’t think I can submit the application without two teacher recommendations though. I could put the college professor under the other section, but I already have another recommender. This would raise my total up to four recommenders if I had to get another teacher to submit it.
I have heard you guys say that using more than 3 recommendations is bad. So, would it be that bad to just put my professor as an other recommender, and get another high school teacher?
2 HS teachers + 1 GC + 1 supplemental rec from your college professor is fine. Anything more than that risks detracting from your application as it is unlikely that any additional recs will add anything new to the conversation.
@skieurope The problem is that I already have one supplemental recommendation that has been submitted. However, I believe that this college professor is my best recommendation and would significantly add to my application. That’s why I was hoping I could put him as a teacher instead of a supplemental recommendation.
^^ That’s understood, however, the requirement for freshman applications is two (2) high school teacher recommendations, as colleges want to know how your high school teachers compare you to your peers. So, you need to select another high school teacher. Those are the minimum requirements. Then, you need to add the college professor as a supplemental recommendation.
@gibby @skieurope Thanks for the advice guys! I guess I’ll just have to go with the extra recommendation then.
When my kid was applying to H they did exactly as skieurope suggested. 2 hs, 1 gc and 1 college professor for recommendations