<p>As you all know, you have to select two teachers who usually write you 1 recommendation each. I want to know that if i am going to apply to mulyiple universities, can i just get their recommendations, and change the name of college so the recommendation letters would fit for all school? Because otherwise, the teachers have to write each university a recommendation letter. that would be a lot of work. hope to see reply, thanks</p>
<p>I would like to know this as well and I can't seem to find a straight answer to this question.</p>
<p>Usually, students never see the recommendation letters. It's wise to check the box on the recommendation form that says that you waive the right to see the letter. That way, colleges feel that what the teaches wrote was the truth -- that the teachers weren't shading the truth in order to avoid being sued by you.</p>
<p>The teachers write one "to whom it may concern" letter and then copy it to send to the various colleges. At some high schools, the teachers give the letter to the GC, who copies it and sends it to the colleges.</p>
<p>This is fine with colleges, too, because they know that it's hard enough for teachers to write recommendation letters for dozens of students. They don't have the time to write separate recommendations for the many schools that each student is applying to.</p>
<p>hardly i have seen anybody with different teachers' recommendation letters for different schools</p>
<p>ohh...but i was thinking that by addressing the university, it shows more enthusiasm. and it shows that the student will contribute to that particular school. is there any way to do that? thanks</p>
<p>"ohh...but i was thinking that by addressing the university, it shows more enthusiasm"</p>
<p>Mainly what it shows is that the teacher probably has more time than do most public school teachers, who may have lots of enthusiasm, but literally need to send 100 reccs because of their teaching loads.</p>
<p>The colleges judge the content of the letters, not whether the letter is written specifically for the college. </p>
<p>When it comes to student's essays, that's where the colleges want to see that the students have taken the time to individualize applications. .</p>
<p>"When it comes to student's essays, that's where the colleges want to see that the students have taken the time to individualize applications. ."
Common APPs certainly kills this...................(dont worry, theres supplement for different schools)</p>
<p>thank you for the reply. I also noticed that some universities accept both the common app teacher evaluation forms and the schools' own forms. but the content are different. Is it better to use the school's own form or just give my teacher the common app teacher evaluation form?</p>
<p>I figure that if you're applying with the Common App, then give your teachers the Common App recommendation forms. If you're applying with the college's own application forms, then use their recommendation forms, too.</p>
<p>Ideally each app would be specific to the college with unique letters geared to each. But unless you have super-uberly-awesome teachers that's not going to happen. Most people have two teachers just replace the college name as their way of "adapting" to a different college.</p>
<p>I asked around several people I know who got into Ivies and selective colleges about this stuff and all they advise is simply choose teachers who know you well and you won't be in a stew over the content of the letters. Pick the right teachers and your letters will certainly be fine :)</p>
<p>Still, I have a petty query for those whose teachers let you see the recs ( just out of curiosity ): How long are your recommendation letters ? Do they usually exceed one A4 pages or what is the length standard for a rec letter ? I'm a little bit worried that my teachers may write short ones, and so don't contain an adequate amount of information :)</p>
<p>"Is it better to use the school's own form or just give my teacher the common app teacher evaluation form?"</p>
<p>Give both and let the teacher decide. </p>
<p>Often the teachers just write a letter and don't use any form at all. This si something acceptable to all colleges, which understand that most teachers don't have the time to individualize recommendations for each college a student is applying to.</p>
<p>Can anyone help me with my question ? Thanks in advance 4 your reply ^_^</p>
<p>The length of the letter varies with the teacher.Usually the wealthier the school is, the fewer students the teacher has to write recommendations for, and the longer are the teacher's letters. </p>
<p>Colleges realize this and take this into account when reading the letters. They know that affluent public schools and private schools have teachers with the time to give lengthier letters than do the poorer schools.</p>
<p>Also, it's not the length of the letter that matters that much anyway. The content is what matters. Specifics that provide more information than what's in the rest of the application are much more important than a long, vague letter.</p>
<p>To get the best reccs that you can, give the teacher copies of excellent papers/tests that you did in their class, and give the teacher a written reminder of other impressive things that you did in the teacher's class or activities that s/he advises. Also, let the teacher know what you're planning on majoring in, how you selected the colleges that you applied to, what your career goals are, etc. This will help the teacher provide specific information in their recommendation. Don't feel that doing this is immodest. No matter how caring, no teacher will remember these kind of specifics about you without reminders. If a teacher wants to help you, the teacher will appreciate getting this kind of help.</p>
<p>the common app schools all have the same rec format. other schools may have different things they ask, etc so you have to give them all to your teacher. give all the recs at the same time and give them way before the deadline. that way your teacher can get them done and you wont be skrewed for college apps. </p>
<p>if a school offers the common app use it to save yourself and your teachers some time. the application is to show the college who you are so not using a school's specific app doesnt hurt you.</p>
<p>Thanks Northstarmom once again for your thorough response. It's of considerable help to me :)
But I'm still a little bit perplexed. For instance, my teachers have an adequate amount of time in hand, how long is a detailed rec letter supposed to be ? I asked one of the seniors at my highschool a couple of days ago and he revealed that his recommendation letter wasn't long and so much detailed though the teacher whom he asked fairly likes him ( just nearly one A4 page. And the worrying thing here is he and I have the same teacher )</p>
<p>My mom is a high school teacher and often writes recs for her students. They usually run one page, single-spaced. (Yes, I get to read them. :D I usually help proof-read/edit them [not normally the content, however].)</p>
<p>I would be surprised if, even in wealthier schools or districts, recommendation letters ran longer than 1 page. Even if the teachers can write more, the admissions folks don't want to read more, given the number of applications they have! Teachers know that. And it takes more time and is harder to write succinctly than it does to be verbose - remember 500 word essays?</p>
<p>I would not worry if your recommendations are only one page long.</p>
<p>Thanks NSM, that's very good advice that 10 books by "professionals" have yet to tell me :)</p>