How many recommendation letters is enough?

Applying to College Common and Coalition Application
1

The school I am applying to needs:
1 counselor rec
1 teacher rec, 3 max
0 other rec, 2 max

I have my counselor rec ready, as long with one from my AP Gov teacher (knew me 1 month) and one from a filmmaker/teacher who got to know me personally over a summer program (I am applying as film major). So that is 3/6 for the maximum amount of letters…

Should I add one more which is my orchestra teacher? We once did a video together where we help raise fund for the music department. I choreographed a fight where all the music teacher fought together. I am afraid that the admission readers might be reading too much. Besides, orchestra isn’t a close subject that will help me in film.

2

If the school allows extra recs, and the extra rec says something that the others don’t, then by all means submit it. My general advice is that recs should be limited to “Required+1” for those schools that allow add’l recs.