<p>Michigan State House of Representatives
XXXXXXXXXXXXX
State Representative</p>
<p>Dear University Admissions Counselor,</p>
<p>I am writing to recommend "my name" for admission into your university. "My name" and his father, State Representative "fathers name", are personal acquaintances of mine. "My name" and his father live near me, and "my name" has spent time at the State Capital in Lansing.</p>
<p>"My name" is a courteous, caring young man who is involved in his community. He has participated numerous community service projects such as the "blank" River and "blank" Creek Cleanups and the "blank" Organization newspaper sale during the Christmas holiday. "My name" has been involved in numerous extracurricular activities at his school such as wrestling, cross country, and the school Philosophy club.</p>
<p>I am sure that "My Name" will be an asset to your University. He will make a positive contribution to the College or University he chooses to attend. I highly recommend "My name" for admission. If you have any more questions, please feel free to contact me.</p>
<p>Very Truly Yours,</p>
<p>Signature XXXXXXX</p>
<p>Typed Name XXXXXX</p>
<h2>District XX Representative</h2>
<p>Mainly I am worried this recommendation will hurt me. Does it sound real? I am really upset with how he wrote it because I worked in the State House on an internship and it was a lot work. Now I think it looks like I am name dropping. I really dont want to ask him to write a new one because he is really busy. The main question is would this rec hurt my app, not do anything, or be positive. Also does it sound personal and dry or like it really gives insight to my character. </p>
<p>Another issue is some of the extra curriculars he mentions arent on my transcript I missed to many meetings for Philosophy Club credit and I didnt have room to put the newspaper sale on (my school limits how much you can put on your transcript)</p>
<p>Plz keep all personal grievances (sorry if mispelled) to yourselves and just plz be objective and answer the questions (I dont want to hear about government corruption or anything) </p>
<p>It doesn’t really seem to give much insight into your character. The writer mainly just lists the activities that you have been involved in - something that the admissions officers can easily learn from reading your application. The letter in my opinion would not add anything to your application; considering that universities request that any supplemental recs you send in bring insight into a different side of your character, I wouldn’t send this in as it doesn’t do anything, and will just take up time.</p>
<p>The fact that the ECs aren’t on your transcript shouldn’t be a major issue though; one of my letter writers mentioned some clubs I was involved, which I didn’t end up listing on my application because of limited room and the fact that there were other ECs I had devoted more time and energy to.</p>
<p>hmm… sorry to say this, but it sounds generic. granted, I haven’t read an outstanding rec that everyone claims they all have. but, like CDN_dancer said, it just reiterates all your activites, which clearly can be seen in your application. Are you applying to top notch schools? if so, i say don’t send it in.</p>
<p>not really the schools im applying to are Case Western, Boston University, Kalamazoo College, University of Miami, Michigan State University and schools mostly on the level of MSU</p>
<p>It sounds like a formula letter, from a pol who is used to getting requests for letters from connected parents who seem to think this rec is going to grab the attention of the adcoms and give their kid a push. The adcoms are going to take a look and chuckle; maybe they’ll compare it to the other generic letters of rec they’ve received to see which ones have better wording and it’ll make the office bulletin board.</p>
<p>Sure, its true that some pols can help push a kid into some school buts its not going to be in writing; over lunch at the club or a phone call to his pal the politician will mention “this kid Joe” and ask his buddy to see what he can do to make sure “someone takes a look at his app”. The implications are always understood, never stated. When you ask for favors the first thing you learn is to couch things vaguely so its all deniable later if someone accuses you of favoritism or influence-peddling. “I NEVER asked for Joe to be admitted even though he failed half his classes senior year, I just mentioned the son of a friend was applying and to make sure he got a fair shake” the pol can truthfully tell the investigative reporter.</p>
<p>You want a letter that makes a difference, get one of the adult sponsors of the creek cleanups to write a letter extolling your willingness to pitch in and make your community better, how you recruited dozens of kids from your HS to help out, how your enthusiasm and dedication impressed everyone who saw you. Or get the person who supervised your capitol internship to explain what you did, how you did it, the warm feelings all the staff holds for you and how you set the standard to measure all interns since you were there, to describe the slew of complimentary letters they received from satisfied members of the public who were pleased with how effectively and expeditiously you handled their requests. Those are letters adcoms will notice.</p>
<p>Well first off, this rec is not going to help, it’s way too generic. Secondly, why did you put this on the internet? I mean, you can be identified…not many people have fathers who are state representatives for Michigan who are applying to college next year. I would ask for a CC admin to remove this thread if I were you.</p>
<p>I got a recommendation letter VERY similar to that one when I applied to schools, although it was from a teacher. I wouldn’t worry about the extra-curriculars not being on the transcript, but I would worry about the letter itself. </p>
<p>government corruption, ***?</p>
<p>Anyway, you have three options: </p>
<ol>
<li><p>You don’t use it. You tell your GC that you simply don’t want the rec sent with your application.</p></li>
<li><p>Ask for another one. Extremely awkward and it will be even worse if he writes another poor one.</p></li>
<li><p>Send it everywhere.</p></li>
</ol>
<p>Personally, I went with option one, but only because I had two other good recs lined up, and option three is certainly the worst of the bunch. That letter is like…THE generic letter that I’m sure admission committees sigh over while reading. Do not send the letter. Why don’t you ask someone else from the internship to write you a letter? That would be much better- – surely they could offer insight into your work ethic and character.</p>