Hey, so on the common app it says that Harvard allows up to three recommendations and 2 “other recommendations”. I really want two people who have been heavily involved with my extracurriculars to write me one, but would 4 recommendations in total (2 from teachers, and 2 from the “other recommenders” ) be excessive? I know adcoms get frustrated reading too many recs, so I don’t want to irritate the adcom reading my app. I don’t ABSOLUTELY need the other recommendations, but i think they would be super important since my teachers don’t really know anything about my extracurricular involvement.
Yes. 2 teachers + GC is standard. 1 supplemental rec is fine IF it adds something. More is excessive, and more likely to hurt than help.
Ok thanks!
It depends. My daughter had two recommendations from teachers in a performing art, and I think they made the difference. However, she submitted an arts supplement and the letters were enclosed with that. I would call admissions and ask their advice. Perhaps you could include information on your extracurricular and send the letters separately, or maybe just sending them in the common app is best.
Call admissions and tell them you think these letters are important in filling out the picture of who you are (don’t say important in getting in!)