<p>I know this question has kind of been asked before but not hte exact one that I am aksing now.Is it a good idea to send in info that is NOT specifically related to my interests so not a tape of me singing or a video of me playing volleyball, just something extra. The schools I am applying to have not said anything about not wanting extra info. Should I?</p>
<p>If it's not too much of a hassle then do it. You don't have to send it to all the schools, just your favorites.</p>
<p>I would ASK first. I know some of our schools are only asking for the 3 recommendations (math, english and school) others are asking for more. We plan to ask the schools only requiring the 3 if they will want the additional recommendations. I would not send it without asking. But that's just me.<br>
I know others feel differently.<br>
I review grants in my job (I see that as a similar process to reviewing applications) and we do not look fondly upon applicants that send additional info without asking. If everyone did that, we would be reviewing soooo much more info and quite frankly, we wouldn't look at it. Which is my long way of explaining why I feel you should ask first.</p>
<p>Thank you guys. Ill send them a short email :)</p>
<p>If you have a number of applications, I wouldn't go to the trouble of asking every single one -- if we're talking about extra recommendations -- as I think you'll get a good idea of what they all think after approaching a couple of schools with the question.</p>
<p>What I found out from my sampling of asking this is that they actually appreciate an additional recommendation or even two -- provided that they add insights not found elsewhere. One reason they limit the recommendations that they ask for is because kids entering high school generally don't have a long list of adult names to draw from who can provide informative recommendations. If the additional recommendations help them get a better sense of who you are, the schools I spoke with said they appreciate the added information. But don't seek out redundant references or operate under the assumption that more is better. You don't need a second reference to corroborate what the first one said.</p>
<p>But, if you play cello and soccer, maybe your orchestra leader and soccer coach could both provide recommendations. But if you look to your private cello instructor and your orchestra leader, you should be certain that they will be addressing different traits and qualities (perhaps the instructor speaking to your perseverance and dedication while the orchestra leader addresses your ability to function as part of a larger group and make individual sacrifices for the benefit of all).</p>
<p>If you're submitting material that clarifies who you are, that's preferred. If you're submitting material that amplifies who you are, you're just making work for the AdCom readers.</p>
<p>But, yeah, be sure to check this out for yourself -- particularly if you're talking about submissions that are not in the form of recommendations and submissions made subsequent to the completion of the application file -- and get a feel for where the schools come down on the specific materials that you're thinking of submitting.</p>
<p>BTW: Linda S's point about applications being like grant applications is spot on. You not only need to show that you're deserving (because that's what everyone is trying to do). You need to show the school that they're deserving. Make it come across that you two are fated to be together. Or think of it like building a bridge -- you reach across to them and make sure you build it so that they reach across to you: "I need you and you need me...so let's do this!" I think a lot of people put together applications that only go one way. They either try to prove that they really, really want to go to that school. or they try to prove that the school can really use someone like them. And you want to prove both parts of that equation.</p>
<p>Here is a little blurb from the Canterbury web site...sometimes the info is right in front of us...
[quote]
Students with special talents should not hesitate to submit portfolios or videos of independent work or activities.
[/quote]
So, browse around web sites too before you call, you might find the answer.</p>
<p>Alright, I'm applying to ten different schools. Apparently I never found a common recommendation form for the optional recommendation. So, all the schools have a different form. How am I supposed to ask my recommender to write ten forms? Should I ask them to write a essay answering all the questions in every form and check the boxes?</p>
<p>I'm applying to five schools, and picked four different people to do my recs, with one peson (my fav.) doing two.</p>
<p>There are a number of ways to approach this and I contend that there's no one "right" answer.</p>
<p>My personal suggestion is to give your recommender several of the forms with your personal information pre-filled on each. Or let the recommender take a look at them with you and choose one...and then go back and fill it in. (I would erase all indications of which specific school each form's from; even though schools will recognize it or not as their own form, they need not be told which school it's from.) Let the recommender choose which form s/he prefers to complete and then give the recommender stamped, addressed envelopes to each of the schools you're applying to.</p>
<p>The key point here is for the schools to receive valuable adult third-party insights into who you are and what type of boarding school student you will be. Your goal is to assist the schools to that end.</p>
<p>I believe that, as a rule, schools understand that you are likely applying to more than one school. I also believe that they also understand if you're not inclined to create excessive burdens or hardships on people who are being asked to help you -- and the schools -- with the admission process. If there's an exception to that...then I'd be interested in knowing and I'd really want to know if that sort of attitude extends to facets of the school that you'll be interfacing with as a student.</p>
<p>Don't take my word for it, though. You should call a couple of schools yourself and gauge their perspective for yourself. When you call, explain that you're applying to several schools and are deciding which form to give to your third recommender. Ask the school if you need to make sure that the recommender uses the form that they provided you. I did this. None of the schools cared what form was used. Remember, you're being considerate to a recommender who is providing them with important information about you. Generally speaking, they're not so anal retentive about seeing their school's logo atop a form that they're going to penalize you for being kind to someone they want help from.</p>
<p>There's yet another option that may be worth considering if you're antsy about letting a school see that your recommender is using some other school's form: don't have the recommender use any form at all. In fact, one of my son's recommenders made the unilateral decision to write a narrative, eschewing all of the prepared forms from the schools. He was a Latin teacher at a couple of northeast boarding schools so I didn't question his judgment on that. Then again, he didn't ask. He just told me that that's what he was doing. </p>
<p>Again, if the information helps the committee understand who you are, it will be good. But if someone wants to just write a narrative, you can't stop them, but you have to make a judgment call, however, as to how much leeway you'd give that recommender. I would encourage those who aren't so familiar with the boarding school admissions process to stick to a form in order to make sure the recommendation stays on point and sticks to areas of interest to the admissions committees.</p>
<p>You have to balance your anxieties and desire to be faithful to the instructions you've been given against a desire to be considerate to your recommender and then weigh all of that still further against how strongly you believe each school wants to see their particular form returned to them.</p>
<p>Good luck!</p>
<p>Im sorry, I think I was misinterpreted. I didn't mean recommendations. I was more thinking about just anything extra. Like Olivia did a collage last year right?</p>
<p>But thanks for all your help!</p>
<p>cookie - I think this topic has morphed into more than you started.<br>
We pretty puch agreed that extra recommendations are ok without asking - but you might want to ask bout the form to use.<br>
We also kind of agreed that you should call or look on the web sites of at least a few of your schools (top choices maybe) to see if they want it or not.</p>
<p>Cookie, perhaps if we understood exactly what you were thinking of sending, it would help clarify the answer. When you say
[quote]
NOT specifically related to my interests so not a tape of me singing or a video of me playing volleyball, just something extra.
[/quote]
what are you referring to? </p>
<p>People send in extra items when it does pertain to their interest: e.g., dvd of your performance in the Nutcracker, portfolio of your artwork, dvd of you playing volleyball. Oftentimes, the student will send the information directly to the department head. </p>
<p>Personally, I would not send additional information unless it would help explain who you are (a recommendation from an additional source: religious leader, boss, coach...), or something that directly pertains to your interests and is something that you are planning on pursuing at the school.</p>
<p>hmmm. i would explain about what i was thinking about sending in... but from what i am reading, unless it relates to a special interest of mine, it probably isnt a good idea to send in extra info. thank you so much for all your help. i appreciate it :)</p>
<p>Here is another thread on this topic for you to consider:</p>
<p>And a post from a someone who posts here from time to time who says he's faculty member at a top boarding school and seems credible:</p>