<p>Most of the schools I am applying to require at least 1 letter of recommendation from an academic teacher, but on the Common App, they give you the option to put in more. I put down a history teacher and my theatre teacher. For the subject of the theatre teacher, I put "other." My theatre class is a graded class. I understand though, that it is not technically "academic." It is only an EXTRA letter of recommendation. I did submit one academic (history). Is this acceptable? Are the admissions committees going to see this and be angry that I didn't "follow directions?" I think that I will email the schools individually, but I was wondering if anyone has done this, or tried this in the past?!? Thank you!</p>
<p>Don’t worry. My D submitted 2 apps through the common app last year (for MT schools). One was an English teacher, the other was theatre teacher. None of the schools said a thing. She also had letters of recs for voice teacher and a professional theatre director in her portfolio, which she took to auditions. Some schools looked at it - others didn’t. And D had plenty of nice acceptances.</p>
<p>Definitely don’t stress over this! The added letter can only be seen as helpful and the only thing that can “count against you” is too much contact with the schools about your status, unless they are asking you for more information. </p>
<p>This process is stressful by nature but stay focused on your audition for each school and on getting materials in on time for all applications. That’s all you really have responbility for at this point!</p>
<p>Let’s say a school asks for 2 recommendation letters. Should I send 2 academic letters (such as English and Math teachers) or 1 academic, 1 artistic (such as English and Chorus)? And what about those other recommendation letters from directors or vocal coaches? Are those just to be brought to the audition?</p>
<p>After messaging MOST of the schools…I have found that almost ALL of them are TOTALLY FINE with a letter from a high school chorus, theatre, band, or dance teacher. I would check with specific schools, but most seem okay with this!</p>
<p>I sure understand the confusion. I remember asking a school (I think it was Penn State) the same question and they (the undergrad admissions folks, not the theatre folks) said they DO want to see what artistic people have to say about you - they are not only interested in your math teacher’s opinion. I remember being rather happy and surprised with that response from academic people.</p>
<p>Another area that was difficult for us was where to send the voice teacher’s letter, as she could not make the electronic version work (being not of this generation). Does the letter go to the undergrad admissions or to the MT people? If you are in this boat, make sure before you make those address labels because many of the schools are huge and you don’t want your precious letters lost in oblivion.</p>
<p>What makes all this "fun’ is that when you apply to one school, you are applying in many cases, to two different organizations at each school (1. admissions and 2. musical theatre) and you have to make both parties happy. So each application in many cases is like two applications, times all the schools you must apply to if you are female - whew! :)</p>
<p>I am hopeful that both the MT folks and the undergrad admissions folks somehow get to see all the letters so both parties get the full picture. But I do not know for sure. Any insight into this from our college prof CC friends?</p>
<p>Hello! I am a transfer student, and I recently went through this stressful process of applications and auditioning.
Do not fret! I think it was a great idea that you included that extra letter, and since your area of study is going to be theatre it’s only smart to include a reference from that department. Whenever I went through the common application process, I included both academic and artistic letters of recommendations. As long as you cover all of your basis, you will be fine!</p>
<p>Hmm. Maybe it wasn’t Penn State. Letters go directly to the School of Theatre there and obviously those would all be “artsy” letters. But for those schools who don’t want letters sent to the MT people, but only to the generic admissions people, still include an “artsy” rec so they can see who you are when you are in your element! :)</p>
Whenever I went through the common application process, I included both academic and artistic letters of recommendations. As long as you cover all of your basis, you will be fine!</p>