<p>At my high school, guidance counselors are required to write rec letters for each of their students. In addition, I asked my three AP teachers (English Language, US History, Art History) from junior year to write my rec letters. They taught the classes that I worked hardest/performed best in, and I'm involved in extra-curricular activities (Habitat for Humanity, Scholastic Bowl, photography; respectively) sponsored by each of them. I know they'll write me really solid letters, and my friend who got into SCA last year had two of the same teachers (and the same counselor) write hers. The only thing that I'm concerned about is that my three teachers know me really well whereas my counselor really only knows me as "that pale girl that makes too many schedule requests."</p>
<p>I looked online and found that USC requires 1 letter while SCA requires 3 letters. I have exactly four letters... which should I send to USC and which should I send to SCA? Or am I allowed to use a USC letter as one of my SCA letters?</p>
<p>If I'm applying to two different SCA programs I can use the same three letters for both, correct?</p>
<p>Last question: does USC want us to mail the rec letters ourselves? I mean, if the author of the letter seals the envelope and everything are we allowed to address them or should the author do that?</p>
<p>The SCA programs–if I understand correctly–want recs based on the actual program. For instance, for Screenwriting, you’d want to get 3 recs from people who can testify for your writing or screenwriting abilities/achievements. </p>
<p>However, I could be wrong…I’m applying to the Screenwriting major too, so if anyone can clarify for us both, that’d be great. :)</p>
<p>It’s been a couple years since my son applied, but I’m almost certain you can use the same letters for USC and SCA. And yes, same letters should work for 2 programs within SCA. USC wants a counselor letter for sure, but I would send at least one of the others if you know it will be a good one. I think even counselor + 2 would be fine if they all say different things about you. For SCA, I would go for letters that testify to your intelligence, creativity, writing ability and general work ethic.</p>
<p>^Do the SCA ones have to be specific to the major though? Like do they have to be about writing/screenwriting for Screenwriting, filmmaking for Production, etc? Or can they be more general recs like the ones you might send to USC?</p>
<p>They can be general, but ideally addressing at least one or two of the categories I mentioned. USC doesn’t expect its SCA students to come in knowing everything about film or screenwriting - they are looking for bright, creative and motivated students who want to learn what SCA has to offer. I think my son was helped by having a great rec from a digital media teacher, but also submitted a rec from his favorite English teacher.</p>
<p>Sorry, but one more question: do you think it’s a good idea for me to have 3 different English teachers–all of whom can attest to my writing ability and passion for writing (among other qualities)–to write my recs for the Screenwriting major? Or would they prefer a diversity among the teachers/people? </p>
<p>I think you should get more diverse letters that all still relate to the school… I got an english teacher and a photography teacher, for example.</p>
<p>Also, is it okay if one of the recs comes from someone who is not a high school teacher? I mean, my 8th grade English teacher knows me better than any other teacher; I was in Poetry Summer School with him for 3 years, Latin Club for 1 year, wrote for his school newspaper when I was still in 5th grade, had him for English in 8th grade of course, he witnessed me starting to write a novel in 8th grade and read the first chapter, and I’m pretty sure he’ll be able to read one of my actual completed scripts so he could have some insight on my actual screenwriting abilities too.</p>
<p>Also, sorry to take over your thread, dreamupsided0wn! Hope you don’t mind me asking similar questions here. :P</p>
<p>In general, colleges want to see recs from the past two years (junior and senior, preferably) so they get current feedback that you are the motivated, talented, inspired, capable student that will thrive in college. </p>
<p>I’m not sure that more than one teacher who knows your writing ability/English proficiency is needed, since your SATs will show this and your SCA writing samples will clearly reveal much more. The SCA recs can be from out-of-school adults, so if you work and your supervisor thinks you are amazing, that shows maturity. Same with any special programs, ECs, internships… You get the idea. But your talent will have to speak for itself.</p>
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