Hi,
Just wondering if there is any difference in how UCAS and the Common App expect students’ letters of reccomendation to be structured and who should write them? Should I ask my teacher for two varying letters or will one suffice for both?
Thanks
It can be the same, but for the UK having subject-specific input is important. So, if you are applying to read English, whoever writes your LoR should focus on your suitability for the English course, including specific examples of work you have done that impressed your teacher(s)- including why it was impressive. The more competitive unis will want to know that you can handle intense, sustained workloads. It will help your recommender if you provide them with the selection criteria for the course that you are applying for (available from the website) (in addition to the other info you have already gathered for them, such as the accomplishments that you want them to remember about you!).
Thanks-also about my previous thread, considering I got a 4 on AP euro, do you still think it’s not worth it to retake my 700 in SAT lit?
Ah- I’ve been thinking about that, and honestly, I don’t know. Sitting AP Lit would be stronger than a re-sit, but it means you have to get the 5 in May. On the other hand, if you don’t re-sit it and then don’t get an interview offer you’ll likely kick yourself, though, so if only for that, I’d say go ahead!
I am also a little confused on this. Singer my daughter is applying for chemistry it seems like she should use for IB chemistry teacher as a reference. However her references is asked to predict her grades in all of her subjects which she would not be able to do.
Several options, @VickiSoCal, and the best one probably depends on the specific people at your daughter’s school. Her GC (or equivalent) can write the rec, with input from the chem teacher. She could ask each of her teachers to give predictions for all her subjects to the Chem teacher. My D had her subject teacher write her LoR and she just told him what the predictions should be in her other subjects, and that was fine.
In the US it doesn’t really matter to the school what the prediction is- it changes nothing for them if they predict a 750 and the student comes in with a 650 (or a 450 for that matter). There is little reason for anybody to inflate predictions, because if it is part of their offer the student has to actually achieve the mark or they lose their place*.
*yes, we all know people who were able to keep a place after not meeting their offer- but they are outliers, and it is typically either a minor difference or a minor part of the offer. I also know people who missed their offer by as little as 1 or 2 points and lost their place.