<p>Did everyone who applied get this request? It came via email yesterday. Just wondering what it might be used for.</p>
<p>Everyone gets the request. It goes into the applicants file along with all the other recommendations–counselor, teacher, etc.</p>
<p>Having or not having one doesn’t make a difference in how a applicant is evaluated.</p>
<p>It is a chance, however, for a family member to bring to the attention of the adcomm any special circumstances/skills/talents etc that might not get mentioned in teacher or counselor letter.</p>
<p>Thank you, WayOutWestMom :)</p>
<p>WayOutWestMom, DS is a match for Rochester and applied EN. His mom was going to write a letter for him – do you think it will help with scholarships or should she skip it?</p>
<p>Unless your son has some significant achievement that is not going to show up otherwise, I don’t think a family rec will influence scholarship consideration. For scholarships, the adcomm looks at objective achievements (academic and extracurricular) rather than at character-references. </p>
<p>And TBH, a family rec is really a non-objective character-reference. (Don’t we all think our kids are pretty terrific even if we do recognize their shortcomings?)</p>
<p>But, if your wife wants to write one–she should write one.</p>
<p>WayOutWestMom -</p>
<p>I submitted my application over 2 months ago at the end of December…but I only just received this Family/Community Recommendation form in an email yesterday. I thought it was a little weird but didn’t think much of it, however my dad is more weirded out and irritated by it. He thinks U of R should be near reaching an admissions decision for me by now, and that it’s very late to be sending us additional application materials (which is true). He wonders if they sent it because they’re on the fence about my decision? Could that be a reason they sent it so late…could it be the boost I need to get accepted? I also find this odd because I thought I was a pretty strong candidate for U of R, but I don’t know…now that my dad mentioned that possibility I’m getting worried. Do you have any explanation for why they would send me this extra recommendation in mid-March?</p>
<p>Thanks for your help. </p>
<p>Hi katelyn–</p>
<p>I doubt it’s anything so dire as your dad is imagining. A more likely scenario—the work-study student whose job it is to sort applicant files just noticed you were never sent the family recommendation form and sent you one so that the intern can tell the boss you’ve received all the forms you were supposed to.</p>
<p>Hahaha, I like that last scenario. My son got in with good merit and no family recommendation. I mostly agree with your dad, though you could email and see whether it is important if you want.</p>