<p>Apparently my guidance counselor is refusing to write any written reccomendation letters and will only fill out the form for all students (with rating boxes).</p>
<p>Is this going to be held against me?</p>
<p>Also, for my teachers recommendation, my teacher told me after the fact that since she has taught for 40 years she never rates a student with the first column ("best of my career"), and she believes that placing all check marks in top 5% looks bad, so she gave me an even mix of top 5, and top 10%. How is this going to work for me? She said that she thought the admissions officers would take her time teaching into account. Should I try getting one from a different teacher to make up for these two things? I have one who would guaranteed give me a higher rating, and a great written reccomendation, but I dont know if it is to late as I submitted my online app yesterday.</p>
<p>1) if the places you are applying expect a GC rec then you need to have your parents get a letter from the principal or other responsible party explaining the GC won't write one. Otherwise it WILL be held against you.</p>
<p>2) This is why you should ask teachers if they get can write a strong letter of rec. Back in her day colleges weren't that competitive so top 10% was fine for almost any school. She's out of touch with the modern college climate and what adcoms expect. Get another teacher, and if its not too late I wouldn't use this one.</p>
<p>Im not sure if the University of Michigan requires one, from the impression I got reading the website it seems it is optional. Any one can verify this?</p>
<p>Does anyone know how you do two teacher reccomendations for UofM? I think it may be to late to not use this one as I sent it out yesterday.. Plus, I would have to give my new teacher a week to write the reccomendation letter, and if thats the only one I have wont it delay my application?</p>
<p>And btw, I did actually ask her if she would write a "strong" reccomendation letter, and according to her she said it is. Apparently this is as strong of a letter she gives. The past students I talked to asking how she does reccomendations apparently were satisfied, but they are applying to local community colleges. Meh</p>
<p>U of M only require one recommnedation, so if you already sent out your app, and everything is complete, they might have already decide on your app when your second rec comes in.</p>