<p>My guidance counselor offered to write me an additional letter to Yale urging them to accept me--I was deferred SCEA.
My question is--would this be wise for her to send another letter? I know that she thinks very highly of me, and I appreciate her offer, but I don't want my application to seem too redundant or over-the-top.
What do you think? Would it help or hurt my application?</p>
<p>By all means, if she is volunteering to send in an additional letter, take her up on the offer – it can’t hurt!</p>
<p>Also – all deferred candidates should:</p>
<p>(1) Write a letter to their admissions officer (you can find out who s/he is by calling the admissions office) and letting them know that Yale is your 1st choice school and if admitted, you will attend.</p>
<p>(2) If you have received an award or honor since submitting your application, let them know that, as well.</p>
<p>(3) Send in an additional recommendation from another teacher/counsellor to bolster your RD chances.</p>
<p>^ If I have previously sent in an update about awards should I mention them again in this letter or have they definitely included it in my file already? I don’t want to sound repetitive but I’m not sure how likely it is that they noted my first update.</p>
<p>^ How did you update them previously about your awards? If you sent in a letter, then doing so again is not necessary. If you emailed them, then I would mention it in the letter, as you cannot be certain the email was printed out and put in your file.</p>
<p>^ Yup I emailed it, so I’ll mention it again. As for the additional letter, I had already sent a supplementary letter the first time around. Do you think it will help for me to send another letter or is it too much? I know my counselor wrote a really great one last time and I’m not sure what else she could add besides the fact that Yale is my first choice.</p>
<p>^ “I’m not sure what else she could add besides the fact that Yale is my first choice.”</p>
<p>The key to sending in supplemental recommendations is to provide the admissions office with another perspective on the applicant. If the additional rec doesn’t add anything significant, then don’t send it, as it will just be repetitive.</p>
<p>^For all the above letters, when should I send them in by?
I have some major events/competitions in february-early march which could significantly boost my application, but I don’t want to send things in after they’ve already reviewed my application.</p>
<p>“By all means, if she is volunteering to send in an additional letter, take her up on the offer – it can’t hurt!”</p>
<p>Actually, it might. Here’s the thing: you were deferred, so they clearly believe that you are qualified to attend Yale and, given a slightly different pool for context, you have a good shot at admission. I do agree that updating them on awards and competitions is a good idea because it’ll bolster you even more in the context of the RD pool (I am assuming you already had an interview, but if you haven’t then that is a good place to pass on any new information). </p>
<p>But as far as having your guidance counselor send another rec urging them to accept you could be a little much. If the letter is devoted solely to: Let this student in! He/she seriously deserves it! Come on, Yale!, then the admissions committee might see it as a plea that actually adds nothing to your application (except maybe a bitter taste). If the letter is devoted to “new insights” into your personal qualities and accomplishments, then the committee might sit their wondering: Why didn’t she talk about this in her other letter? Did this student just undergo a sudden transformation? Again, it might come off as a last-ditch effort that annoys Yale admissions officers more than anything else. </p>
<p>Also, no need to remind Yale that it’s your #1 choice: a) you applied early action, so clearly, Yale’s up there among your top choices (if not at #1) b) how many other students do you think have Yale at the top of their list? Enough that it is really not a remarkable thing - definitely not worth calling an admission’s officer to disclose. </p>
<p>My advice: Be patient. In three months, you will be accepted into a number of universities (fingers crossed, Yale included) and you will have the great pleasure of worrying about which school to choose. </p>
<p>Good luck.</p>
<p>^ The advice given by WesternBlot is actually NOT what others recommend. Please see:</p>
<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/parents-forum/432844-do-you-call-school-if-you-got-deferred.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/parents-forum/432844-do-you-call-school-if-you-got-deferred.html</a></p>
<p>[College</a> Application Deferred? Here’s What to Do - CBS MoneyWatch.com](<a href=“MoneyWatch: Financial news, world finance and market news, your money, product recalls updated daily - CBS News”>MoneyWatch: Financial news, world finance and market news, your money, product recalls updated daily - CBS News)</p>
<p>[What</a> To Do If . . . you¿re deferred from your top choice school : The Application Process : : Careers And Colleges .com](<a href=“http://www.careersandcolleges.com/tp2/cnc/articles/view.do?cat=cnc.aa.the-application-process&article=what-do-if-youre-deferred-your-top-choice-school]What”>http://www.careersandcolleges.com/tp2/cnc/articles/view.do?cat=cnc.aa.the-application-process&article=what-do-if-youre-deferred-your-top-choice-school)</p>
<p>Sorry to highjack your thread a bit but I was wondering if it makes sense for me to send in a creative writing supplement??? I had been considering doing this for SCEA but decided not to. I already have several regional writing awards, and I thought the supplement might devalue the awards if the adcom happens not to like my style or something. But considering the deferral does anyone think it’s a good idea to send in a creative writing supplement as additional information?</p>
<p>Let me just note that applying SCEA does not establish that Yale is your first choice. I think the additional letter from the GC can’t hurt.</p>
<p>gibby’s links support the sending of an additional letter by the applicant restating interest. They mention nothing about additional letters of recommendation.</p>
<p>I am inclined to agree with WesternBlot: your GC’s (or any other third party’s) letter should be sent only if it provides additional supportive insight or information about you and not just reiterates your worthiness. There is a limit set on letters of recommendation and breaking the limit should be done only if it is clear additional relevant information can be conveyed by ignoring the rule. I will add that “relevant information” might include strong positive but recent comments from current teachers or notable but unrecognized accomplishments as well as formal awards and honors.</p>
<p>However you should feel free, and even advised, to send a letter yourself updating your accomplishments and confirming your continued interest.</p>
<p>Thanks Descartesz. I agree – that’s what I said in #6 response to the OP. It’s also the advice given by Sally Rubenstone, CC’s Dean:
<a href=“http://www.collegeconfidential.com/dean/archives/help-with-columbia-deferral-reversal.htm[/url]”>http://www.collegeconfidential.com/dean/archives/help-with-columbia-deferral-reversal.htm</a></p>
<p>I think a statement from the GC that Yale remains your first choice is sufficient reason to send the letter. From what I’ve read, at a private school the GC would be picking up the phone to make that point.</p>
<p>on a related note-- should a letter from my GC be sent as part of the mid-year report? (there’s room for a new statement), or should it be sent as a separate note to the admissions office?</p>