Hi CC Community,
I’m in the process of finalizing my application to Columbia University as a first-year Early Decision applicant and I’m trying to maximize every aspect of my application (as one should). Currently, I am trying to figure out the best way to use my (limited) allowed number of letters of recommendation through the Common Application. If you could let me know your thoughts on my strategy please let me know!!
Counselor Recommendation: this one was straight-forward, my counselor completed and submitted a letter on my behalf. He knows me personally, helped me 1 on 1 in planning my schedule with the high school principal while he was determining what classes are being held during what hours. Having taken significantly more difficult classes than almost anyone in the high school, I’ve worked closely with him for three years and he knows what I’m like as a person and how I get involved in innumerable extracurriculars. Hopefully this should help more than the basic, non-personal letter from most counselors. Thoughts?
Teacher Recommendations/Evaluations: I chose my two teachers very carefully. The first is an English teacher. This gentleman taught me in AP English Language and Composition, but aside from that is actively involved in the same ski racing club as my family. He sees the dedication and countless hours I put into my primary extracurricular and has repeatedly claimed I am “the” top student has has had. Additionally, he was the first teacher I had when I transferred to my new school at the start of junior year. He enthusiastically talked to my parents about how it was “as if I had always gone there” and quickly made relationships with my peers, but also the faculty. The second is a science teacher and HOSA (health occupations students of america) advisor. I’ve had her my junior year in Anatomy and Physiology and this year in Health Occupations (which is actually a two-hour class with) with lots of outside the classroom interaction. Specifically, she took me to the HOSA State Conference in Grand Rapids for four days and the HOSA International Conference in Orlando for five days. She is less familiar with my other extracurriculars, however, I’m thinking she’ll be able to talk about my passion for the medical field and sciences (I’m applying with the intention of being on “premed” track to be ready to apply to medical school). As she has spent essentially two weeks total with me outside of school/our town, I think she’ll be able to write on an equally personal level and speak of my character, etc.
Other Recommender: this is the big one I am questioning. Columbia allows you one “Other Recommender” on the Common Application. The instructions state it can be an Arts Teacher, Clergy Member, or “Other.” I am going with the “Other” category. In the summer, I work at a Youth Sail School as a Senior Instructor. For three summers now, I’ve spent time working one-on-one with a student and have almost personally taught him how to sail and provided an intro to racing. His father is a Columbia University post-doctoral graduate and is nationally and internationally respected/known in the field of law, having been hired by the Department of State, Department of Justice, and serving the World Bank as an “independent expert”. He knows me personally and I’ve had innumerable conversations with him about college/plans and specifically Columbia. In-fact, he introduced me to Columbia. I think this letter could be hugely beneficial as he can speak to my responsibility and work ethic as he has observed me working in the summer for three to four years, eight hours a day, five days a week. He said he would “be thrilled to compose a glowing letter of recommendation” that is Columbia-specific. He is genuinely excited that I am considering Columbia and I can attest to the fact that he would be the first to call and tell them to admit me (if only that was allowed, haha 
). What do you think about the idea of using his letter as my “Other Recommender?” I think he can talk about my sailing (which is a huge part of my life), my professionalism, maturity, and just really speak on a personal level that my other recommenders don’t see.
Let me know what your thoughts are!! Thanks.