<p>< I was wondering if the paragraph on that flaw of mine detracts from everything else mentioned or adds to my classmate’s credibility.></p>
<p>You are not being paranoid at all. That could definitely hurt you. Colleges want people who are independent and can manage themselves BY themselves. Some teachers, like yours maybe, add some criticism in the essay to make the recommendation and the student seem more credible (that no one is perfect and everyone has flaws). But the one he (don’t know the gender) mentioned is NOT a good quality at all. College is all about time management; you wouldn’t have time to do stuff at the last minute and complete them in acceptable standards. His < this behavior is understandable> is NOT cool; there are many who take 7 AP classes per year and still get straight A’s (you really think they have an “understandable” mediocre time management skills?) Of course, I don’t know who you are. You may be really good at time management but just not in the eyes of this teacher. But the admissions won’t know that so they will have to draw conclusions based on what they read.</p>
<p>Also, the stuff about dedication to complete works when they are due = too generic; more like a blah blah blah statement that every recommenders put in. The part that says NAME leads <….> is useless too; they already know this from your ECs or personal essay section. Being the type of student you are, the colleges know that you’re a good student and the teachers mentioning obvious qualities of the applicant sounds like the teacher have nothing better to say….</p>
<p>Okay, the POSITIVE ASPECTS of your application. The admissions want to get to know the type of person you are, and they appreciate recommendations that highlight a person’s good/best personal qualities. Your teacher does an OKAY job of this. Colleges assume that you’re a good kid, and a teacher confirming that and going beyond with words like “respect” and “kindest souls ever met” and “always smiling” and “positive ‘infects’,” etc. is good, including that last paragraph he writes. However, the problem is that this is common in recommendations. Colleges want to see a personal anecdote from the teacher as an example of the type of person you are and what you DID. They want to see you in action. So if you can have your teacher give some examples of all the kindness and blah blah blah (yes, at this point it’s almost blah blah blah) he’s talking about, that part of your recommendation would go from OKAY to GOOD/VERY GOOD depending on what he writes.</p>
<p>The WORST part lacking in this recommendation is academics. Colleges care about your intellectual firepower and such. They want the teacher to highlight your academic qualities, too, and in this essay he does a poor job of that (maybe really poor, as he even lists an ACADEMIC flaw). A good example would be like “NAME is one of the best students I’ve had in all years of my teaching. His insightful questions and thirst for knowledge is beyond any students I’ve ever taught. I’ve been to NAME’s other classes a few times and have observed her showing the exact same quality: the love of learning. For example, …” Stuff like < Although she is a brilliant student who is consistent in her studies and work> doesn’t add much light unless he can explain what makes you a brilliant student. </p>
<p>Overall, I would give this recommendation a 5/10, meaning 50% tile.</p>
<p>< Also, what is your opinion on a recommendation from a fellow classmate?></p>
<p>Only if the colleges require one. Unless you really REALLY believe that that classmate of yours can put a shine on your good qualities that no one else can. He would need to paint a good picture of who you are, with lots of examples.</p>
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<p>K now I’m listening to <a href=“http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KaWMvYpHXjs[/url]”>http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KaWMvYpHXjs</a> in order to calm myself down. Sorry for too much criticism. Hope they helped!</p>