for top schools, how many recommendations is too many recommendations?

Applying to College
1

<p>for top schools, how many recommendations is too many recommendations?</p>

2

<p>Too many is beyond what they request. If they ask for two, then give two. If they require two and give you the option for a third, then send either two or three. If they ask for two, don’t give five just because you can.</p>

3

<p>4 or 5 should be too much…just get the 2 or 3 that are the best ones.</p>

4

<p>I know this girl who is getting like, 7. She’s our val, it’s so sad. But yeah. Don’t do more that 3.</p>

5

<p>I did 3 teacher, 1 counselor.</p>

6

<p>I think that you should have 2 teachers, 1 conselour and 1 outside person who has some influence (coach, tutor etc)</p>

7

<p>Here’s what they say in admissions: the thicker the file, the thicker the kid:</p>

<p>On definite “don’ts” in the admissions process </p>

<p>Current admissions officer, Ivy League university </p>

<p>“There’s an expression in admissions circles: the thicker the file, the thicker the kid. Don’t send in every newspaper clipping of your son on the high school honor role. That’s just redundant if we have his transcript.</p>

<p>Admissions officers want this to be a hands-off process. If a parent calls them repeatedly, that’s almost always an automatic rejection. They worry that parent or student might become a nuisance to the university for the next four years. They just don’t want to be contacted all the time.”</p>

<p>[Dirty</a> Secrets of College Admissions - The Daily Beast](<a href=“http://www.thedailybeast.com/blogs-and-stories/2009-01-09/dirty-secrets-of-college-admissions/full/]Dirty”>http://www.thedailybeast.com/blogs-and-stories/2009-01-09/dirty-secrets-of-college-admissions/full/)</p>

8

<p>4…</p>

9

<p>What I did was required + 1. Any more than that is bad.</p>

10

<ol>
<li>They shouldn’t need any recommendations and know your name based off the numerous news headlines you make.</li>
</ol>

11

<p>Anything beyond the requirement is too many, I say. I mean, colleges go through 20,000+ applications. I doubt they’ll read all the 4 or 5 recommendations.</p>

12

<p>Yeah, three is sufficient. I only had the third because my JROTC instructor was dead set on doing sending one because of my leadership position in the organization.</p>

13

<p>Three is fine. Colleges know and understand that you can get a lot of rec letters from a lot of sources. So, choose the very best qualified people to write these letters for you. If you send fluff, they’ll expect more of it once you’re admitted. </p>

<p>7 from the valedictorian? I think that’s a sign of under-confidence.</p>

14

<p>

</p>

<p>Son’s classmate who got into HYM sent a total of 5 recs: 2 teachers, GC, 1 EC, 1 job</p>

<p>Mother called admissions office at least once that I know of and spoke to regional rep.</p>

<p>Like most things said by ad coms, the standard advice is only marginally true.</p>

<p>But note that the kid I cite sent extra recs to highlight other aspects of app, not just more academic teachers.</p>