<p>Columbia requires a third LOR from an adviser but the evaluation form is the same one as it is for professors. I had my adviser do the letter but he did not fill out the form b/c he said he thought the questions did not pertain to him (things about classes etc.) Also note that i met him ONCE at the beginning of the year at orientation. Has anyone else had similar issues with an adviser letter and how did you resolve them. I already have two solid letters from profs but I'm worried this could bring down my chances</p>
<p>I was dealing with the same issue. My departmental advisor had no idea who I was (and I don’t blame him; this school’s huge). So I emailed Columbia and asked what type of information they were looking to get from the advisor. And I got the sense that it wasn’t so much for the same purpose as LORs from professors. I think it’s just more to see if we’re on track with academic progress towards a degree and to make sure we’re not on academic probation or in bad standing or anything like that. </p>
<p>My advisor couldn’t attest to any personal attributes about me - so I felt that it was kind of useless sending that in because it didn’t serve a purpose other than to fulfill a requirement they had for admission.</p>
<p>Ok, yeah all i really got was just a letter saying that I was on good academic track and taking all the classes required towards my degree. Do you know if your advisor sent in the common app evaluation form and sent that in too?</p>
<p>I’m not sure if the Common App provided him with that form as a designated “Advisor”, but if he did send it in, he told me he would only be able to check the “not able to assess” box, or something along those lines. And I think that was fine with them as well. They just want an advisor’s rec so that they will be able to evaluate the context of our classes and scheduling.</p>