<p>Again, I offer my comments as one who writes numerous letters of recommendation and one who evaluates many on admission committees.</p>
<p>Admission committees can read student transcripts. We are well aware of the varying level of difficulty of AP and honor classes. Let’s face it, we see a very large number of applications! At a certain point, there is an incredible similarity or at least equivalency of applicants. The student’s essays and their letters of recommendations augment and highlight the unique aspects of the applicant. Teachers rank students not on just their grades or their course load. We rank students using intangibles not apparent in the transcript AND we are comparing students against all students we have ever taught (be that 1 year or 40 years)-which is why the ratings of senior teachers often have more weight! They are calibrated over a large number of students!</p>