I moved schools after my sophomore year of high school. However, my freshman and sophomore year I was captain of my cross country and track team, mainly due to the fact I was the most dedicated and somehow had the most experience( it was a big school yet small team due to lack of interest and motivation). Anyway, my coach really like me a lot and we had a close relationship. We lost contact after I moved to a different school in my county which had an amazing running program. My coach was a great guy but, even when he talked his grammar was off and sending team texts as well. He always said before we ran, " we gone run fast today." He does not have a college education but, would it be bad to get a recommendation from someone who is not going to write very well educated? I feel kind of bad even asking this but I am just worried he won’t be able to write me a great recommendation because of that. Now, I do have other outside recommenders so this is not essential, guess but I just wanted to know thoughts about that.
More to the point I would not use a coach from grades 9/10 who you have lost contact with. If you do send a supplemental recommendation (they are not necessary) I would use someone who has known you more recently. Additionally, I wold not recommend that you send in more than one one supplemental/non-academic recommendation so choose wisely.
Why do you recommend only sending one non-academic recommendation? And thank you for your response! My concern if that my teacher recommendations are not going to be as strong because it was a new school my junior year and I was not as close with my teacher and did not open up easily( yes I regret that now).
You need to look at what each college you are applying to will accept. Most colleges want 1 guidance counselor LOR, 1 or 2 teacher LORs and at most one supplemental LOR. The teacher recommendation is academic in nature – how you performed in class etc. and the fact that you moved schools in 11th grade should not negatively impact those letters, especially if you were in the class for the entire year.
Most people do not send any supplemental LORs. They are really meant for that one special person who knows an applicant extremely well in a non-academic setting and can add meaningful insight. For example a boss who the applicant has worked for for years, a coach or music instructor who has mentored the applicant for years, a clergy if the applicant is deeply involved in his religious community etc.
There is a saying on CC – “the thicker the file, the thicker the applicant.” The fact that you are considering asking for a LOR from a 9-10 grade track coach who you lost touch with is showing me that you are aiming for quantity over quality. Admissions officer will spend the same 10-15 minutes on your file no matter how much you send (and trust me-- they are definitely not looking for extra things to read) so common wisdom is that you should not muddle you application up by sending in more than admissions officers want to see.
But in the end it is your application and your choice.
I agree…Your recommendations should be primarily from your core teachers. Only use outside recommenders if 1) they are requested 2) you have a special situation where it makes sense.
Thank you so much! I think I am going to have my current boss give me a recommendation because I lived and worked with him for 2 months in the summer.