Colleges don't require letters of recommendation, send some anyways?

Applying to College Common and Coalition Application
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<p>NOTE: Whoops, I realized I posted this in the wrong section. Sorry! </p>

<p>The colleges I want to apply to (Univesity of Florida, Florida International University, Florida State University, and University of Central Florida) do not mention sending in letters of recommendations.</p>

<p>First I was wondering if anyone knew if these colleges do indeed require one (or more) letter of recommendations sent? I know for sure FIU doesn't require any. But for the others, I researched and I'm still not 100% positive. </p>

<p>Now my second question: since I'm assuming they DO NOT REQUIRE letters of recommendation (based on my extensive research on these colleges) should I send two to each anyways? I read on some places that some people think it's important to have recommendations and to send one or two just incase even if it isn't required, while others say if they don't mention it, don't send it. If I do send the letters, would they consider it extra, unnecessary junk as part of my admissions or do you think they would appreciate the letters of recommendations? I mean, would it hurt to send one or two just incase? </p>

<p>I don't want to find out after the deadlines that these colleges do require recommendations. And if they don't require the recommendations, I don't want to find out afterwards that they wouldn't mind letters of recommendations. </p>

<p>Does anyone know what college admissions would most likely think if I sent in one or two letters of recommendations even if it isn't required as part of the admission application?</p>

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<p>For example, for FIU, I was told the letters don’t impact my admission to FIU, but I would still like to send one anyways. </p>

<p>There was another thread on Florida State University (or was it the University of Florida?) where even though the letters aren’t required, people sent some anyways since they thought it was important to show how teachers viewed them on academic standards.</p>

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<p>My oldest only applied to smaller schools (lots of essays, teacher recs, . . .) but my second is applying to some larger schools. I was stunned to see how compact some of the applications are–some don’t even require a writing sample. </p>

<p>You <em>are</em> getting one recommendation through your guidance counselor’s report. What I’ve been hearing in information sessions is that sending in too much can actually annoy the admissions office. </p>

<p>If you’ve somehow missed that a school requires a recommendation, the admissions office should let you know that your application is not yet complete. Many larger schools have this info online, but you could always e-mail someone a “just checking to see if you have everything for my application package” message.</p>

<p>What I think I’d tell my kid is that if there is <em>one</em> school you really want to go to and you think you’re a borderline admit, it probably can’t hurt to send in an extra recommendation. But don’t overwhelm them with paper they don’t want.</p>